home for a week

Resting at home for a week for a not-so-fantastic reason.

I fell down a flight of steps last saturday at my dad's office. Slipped and *pong* my head on a step. damn #$*&(@#

Image of that scene still replays in my head.

I sat at the bottom, in Conrad's very tight arm, holding me upright. I kept screaming to let go of me, let me have some space. I was holding my head in pain. squirm abit cuz i can feel the pain pan out through the bones and whatnots at the bottom left of my head.

Next thing i heard my sis (cindy) saying, "there's blood".

"Hold me up." I was brought to a chair and darling standing in front of me, holding my head and me in his tummy.

I could still give instructions - Cindy, quickly finish off the work and I need to get home. Call lil'aunt to pass daddy's message to her.

By then, my blood had sock through the first set of tissue Conrad was holding on the wound. And sitting there, waiting.. pain seeping in, uncertainty creeping in, image replaying in my head, fear overtaking.. i started crying crying madly. I kept claiming that there is a dent, there is a dent!!

In actual fact, cuz surrounding area suddenly swells up so big and sizzling up a big bump. It was like a volcano crater top, lower in the middle of the crater.

I was whisked home, tissue on the wound kept seeing blood whenever i fold the tissue, tear dropping like mad, conrad's hand on mine.

There was a moment i let fear got the better of me and the 'real-est' repeat of the slip-and-fall happened in my eyes. That split second, my right arm reflexes to shield my head from the impact. When i open my eye, it feels so real, so there.

Maybe that is what ppl call shock. Even the replay in mind was so powerful for my reflex to work.

Well, got home, mummy was shocked too. drove to clinic nearby. Family doc (chinese) was closed. Went to an Indian doc. [ok, i am being racist here! cuz he proves himself to be *#($&#(@]

Indian doc asked 2 'nurses'who looks more like wet-market auntie in t-shirt and home shorts to clean up my wound.

What? That's it ah?! My head leh! Ask 2 unqualified nurse to do the job and you? drink kopi ah?

When i was done, He was laying on his chair, playing his handphone, either smsing away or playing some game. And said, okay, go out and wait for medicine. Go Singapore Doctor better.

Thanks leh. well, at least he is truthful to us abt his skill level.

Isn't doctor's job to save life? or in my case, mend wound? For so much that they study, I seriously don't think it is for prescribing fever/running nose/cough medicine only lor!!!

Well, I laid on the mattress and to clean up the wound and disinfect it, they place a piece of newspaper and ask me to put my head on it! waht?

I was tearing like mad, no longer pain-driven but helpless ness driven!! wah-piang ooi! i have been bleeding for over an hour and u ask me to lie on newspaper. Think of the seriousness of the injury to the patient vs the quality of healthcare service!!!

Now, the more-like-wet-market-auntie-nurses conversation goes:

A: bring the light [pah - covered in cob-webs! - witness Conrad + my mummy]

B: use which disinfectant huh? the stero-something run out liao leh

A: use the other one lor. have lah.

B: why use your finger to apply the disinfectant? [piang-so clean leh!]

A: why cannot?

B: So SLOW! use the cotton wool lah

A: She already wa-wa-crying. Use cotton wool she sure cry more one.

B: okok, then use gauze.

A: done liao ah. stick the tape.

B: okok, giveme the tape. aiyo, turn horizontally lah.

A: vertically also can lah.

B: horizontally.

A: okok, chincai lah.

BIGGEST SHOCK OF MY LIFE FACING MALAYSIA CLINIC DRAMA!

Doctor/Nurse did not even ask how i fall or check the impact, see my iris (to know if i am conscious or can react). Oh and they suggest to cut my hair!!! *xiao!!!*

And doctor suggest a brain scan. Ehrm, i am not sure about that, but my 2nd opinion doctor did only x-ray.

watever, it is just unrealiable in m'sia. sigh.

Rush out to Singapore Mt E A&E.

Once the nurse heard that I knock my head, they arrange for me to sit down, check blood pressure, check wound, check my pain-level.

Just by the way they treat patient, it gives the patient a big boost in confidence of the treatment crew and doctor.

Joke: i went to toilet and next they ask me to give them urine sample. I went Ops! and laugh..

See doctor, went x-ray, stitch, take medicine and go home. Step by step. with professionalism.

Ok, u can say I am comparing a clinic vs hospital. But look at the attitude of the doctor and nurses lah!

If i compare hospital (Mt Austin - Tun Aminah Hospital) vs clinic in sg, guess who wins? Let me give you an episode of hospital (Mt Austin - Tun Aminah Hospital - located on the RHS of highway before one reach Jaya Jusco!!!).

My old 80-y.o. grandmother went to that hospital for check up and cleaning of her wound (she charred her face, arm and neck - why? cuz she tries to save forest fire that attack her oil palm plantation, which she herself created by burning joystick etc). You know what painkiller the doctor prescribe to her?

It caused her to vomit, feel so giddy she can't sit up the next morning.

Painkiller Morphin! waht@!)$(*#

craziness going on across the causeway man!

Back to Mt E. During stitching:

Conrad holding my feet throughout the whole process. Like those hospital bed, I lie my face on clean white blanket looking sheets with real blanket to cover my body and feet.

Doctor put on a piece of paper to focus on the stitching area. Numb it first and go.

I seriously can't imagine the stitching process if i had done it in jb. I really don't know what to expect and hey mind, stop thinking about it pulzees...

First stitch done. I can feel the tug when he pull the stitches to tie the knot.

2nd stitch - halfway. {pug!}

Doc: can you see the stitch?

Male nurse *ponder* for a good 5sec, i think he's wondering if it's a trick question to his upcoming promotion, he gave his honest answer: I don't know

Doc: i mean can you see where is the string?

Male nurse *squirnt his eyes real hard* in his mind, pls let me spot the blue string among the mess of this young lady's hair and don't mess up my promotion to Head Male Nurse next yr, he gave another honest answer: I can't see.

Not sure if i was already feeling so calm and at ease by sheer comparison to jb-clinic-encounter that i feel totally sure under the needle and knife of Mt E doctor who lost the 2nd stitch string.

I was laughing in my heart when it happened.

Doc: ah, it's here. [he pulls] & i feel the tug.

3rd stitch. PULL. i can so feel it man! Guess he was trying to make sure it's secured.

See, biased opinion. I mean when a person has positive thinking of Mt E doctor, I think he's trying to make sure it's secured.

If it happens to scary-jb-indian-doctore, i would be crying out thinking heyman, i can do a better job than you!! *&(*#@)@#!

Ok, Mt E A&E Doctor Sng is good! old and wise looking. i like him. feel safe when doctor is older.

All in all, this episode blasted Sgd 500 on DB's account.

+ review on tues - cost Sgd 98

+ upcoming removal of stitch. I will give a final grand sum.

Ending thots: It pays to be handled by experienced and safe doctor. And we have topay alot in Singapore for good clinical experience.