Listen To The Family Doctor Or Surgeon..??

I swear sometimes i wonder if my family doctor’s advices is really right..??  Usually i donch get to talk to him personally unless i have an appt.  So if i get thru’ the secretary.. she would tell me to either google it.. or that she would asked him… and then of course.. we donch hear from the office ever again.  Well. unless we call again.

So i was told by my family doctor not to shower .. because the lapo surgery didn’t heal one hole .. as you can read . from my journal here.  A follow up with my surgeon on Monday.. and i asked him if i can shower now.. he looked at me.. as if i was crazy..!!  and told me.. ” YES..!! SHOWER..!! SHOWER..!!”  well.. not as dramatic.. but i know that look..!!  he must think i must be real dirty by now..! i haven’t showered for 2 months to date.

Yes..!! you heard me darn right ..!! so can you imagine.. how dirty i am…!! oh i sponge bathed and all.. but you know how clean one can get with only a sponge bath.  And yes. i finally got to shower..!! but boy..!! am i upset ..!! and don’t know what to think of my family doctor.

Paying The Hospital Bills

With the series of hospitalization and blood transfusion.. and other tests done to me in the hospital during my recent stay, I am glad that it wasn’t anything like when i was pregnant with my daughter.  For those of you, who are thinking of coming to Canada.. without proper permits.. and legal papers.. don’t even think about it.  Well .. unless you have plenty of money and can pay all your hospital bills using authorize.net.  Because medical bills and medication is darn expensive i tell yer.  Blood work alone can kill..!!

Changes To The Body After The Operations

Yes.. I do see some changes .. in my body. .after the 2 surgeries.  I’m still in alot of pain..and i seems to be breaking out in some acne on my forehead.  i can’t helped but think that my body biorhythm had all changed because of what they took out.  i won’t call my family doctor about it.. else she probably tell me to google my acne treatments and i’ll prolly get more upset than ever .. and have another outbreak.

So I Was At The Doctor’s

Yes.. ! i was with my surgeon on Monday afternoon at ambulatory care.. and nope it didn’t take too long.  The lapo surgery left me with this hole since 2nd July .. and i have 2 options.. according to the General Surgeon.. Dr Murphy.  One is to cut it again.. and the other is to leave it alone. I told him.. “Hell no..!! i’m not coming into the hospital again..!”  so that pretty much tells you what happened next.

And seriously if you asked me.. i still donch understand how i could have bowel obstruction . .when i was moving my bowels on a regular basis.. after my full hysterectomy ..and the removing of that humongous fibroids.  But as usual.. i’m not really getting alot of answers.. nor any light as to what to expect next.

I’m scheduled to see him again .. 3 months from now.  JOY..! oh.. ! and to come back if i have any complications..!  like i want to.. !

Dealing With Diabetes

I had known that i have diabetes for a few years now.  But I never thought i had it .. because I’ve always ate healthy and all.  I strongly believed that it is my current lifestyle that had caused me to be what they called controlled diet diabetes.

When i tell ppl that i am diabetic.. they imagine the worst, but it is not true.  I’ve always controlled my sugar intake.. and now that i’m recovering from my surgery.. i’m raring to go out and exercise and help my sugar level to go down.  I just started on Metformin .. half a table each time .. twice a day.. by my own request from my family doctor.  And I get alot of tips for meal solution from www.splenda.ca and learn how to eat right from www.diabetes.ca

Having diabetes is not the end of the world.  If you’ve ever met me.. you wouldn’t even think that i have diabetes.. because i eat everything in moderation.  I take coffee with 1 cream.. and no sugar. and i do eat chocolate and all..  but not often.. and a bite or two.. and that’s it.  Everything in moderation is my advice to anyone who is diabetic.. and walking is really good.

Public Nurse Versus Family Doctor

We had actually made plans to bring Missy Moo to our family doctor for her needles before school.  And although I know that the family doctor will do a good job.. i also know that he wouldn’t have that kinda time to walk us thru’ the process and explain to us or Missy Moo of the pro and cons.. like our Public Nurse in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia would.

I have alot of faith.. and alot of trust in our public nurses.. for they really care from the heart.  From our pre-natal classes.. to visiting our home.. when Missy Moo was a baby.. and then her first needles, they were all done by them.

This time.. we also know that we made the right choice.. because Missy Moo had puked.. and needed time to calm down after her needles.. and at the Public Nurse’s office.. they gave her time.. and even cleaned up for us.  Had we done it at the family doctor’s office.. i doubt it would have ended so well. All is well. .and we were given pamplet of what needles she had taken.. and what to look for ..for reaction.

If you are in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.. i strongly advice you to speak to our public nurses.. with regards to your child.  They are very good.

Needles For Missy Moo

We had been preparing Missy Moo for her needles tomorrow. She needs 2 more booster needles before she goes to school. One i think is for measles, mumps.. and the other is for her chicken pox booster. She doesn’t like it of course… and had been trying to bargain about it. But she needs it before she can go to school this fall. So wish us luck for tomorrow eh.

Gadgets For Hospital

The week that i had to stay in the hospital was the most miserable anyone could be put thru’.  Lucky for me.. Mr Moo was really good when it comes to electronic stuff.  With a HDMI splitter i got to watch my movies.. and listen to all my music that i want from my ipod.  I think anyone who had to stay in the hospital without these entertainment .. would be most miserable.

Different Perspective About Health

After going thru’ 2 surgeries.. one really look at things in different perspective about our health.  For the longest time, i thought that by delaying my surgeries was the best thing i can do for my kid… but i didn’t know that i could have killed myself.. because my haemoglobin was so low. I now take everything that have to do with our future really seriously.. and never want to procrastinate .. even things like to compare auto insurance quotes, I don’t leave it for Mr Moo anymore, I take the initiative to do it myself.  Afterall, everything needs to be carefully thought through.. and not leave it to the man to shoulder everything.

1.5 Months After My Laporoscopic Surgery

More than 1.5 months after my laporoscopic surgery.. 2 antibiotics.. hives, and oozing.. the hole is finally beginning to close slowly but surely.  I haven’t gotten to see the surgeon yet.. but i do have a planned appt the day i left the hospital for the 25 August 2008.

I’m pretty sure that if i was home in Singapore.. i would have been asked to see my family doctor .. at least every other day.. for dressing.  But here in Canada.. they don’t provide this kinda service.  Nope.. i’m not used to it.. but what can you do right…?? Spoilt in Singapore.. i guessed…?? or just better health care..?

Hives

i developed hives 2 days ago.. and don’t know what i’ve eaten or done anything different. I am taking benadryl on my own.. because i know that going to my family doctor.. he is 99% gonna prescribed the same.. plus i doubt i would have gotten to see him yesterday or the day before. Yes..! if you have a fever here on the weekends.. you go to emergency.. no doctors available around your neighborhood .. like back home.

Yes..!! so the emergency room in the hospital is pretty busy.. because there is no clinics around.. to tend to those minor illnesses. Sad .. i know.. but it’s just different here.

The Joy Of Health Care In Yarmouth, Nova Scotia

So happily i went home after seeing my family doctor on Monday.. who said stitch.. and then by fluke saw my surgeon for a second .. and he said no stitch.  As of yesterday.. i still haven’t heard from my family doctor nor my surgeon’s office.  So here I was sitting at my store.. wondering if someone would or should call me..??

Helllllooo..!!!!  i have a hole in my tummy..!!!!!!  So like any hopeful patient .. i called the family doctor and the secretary told me.. that the ball was at the surgeon’s office.  So hopeful again.. i called the surgeon’s office.. and the secretary tells me. .that the family doctor’s office was supposed to get more info and call her back.  *slap forehead*  JOY TO THE WORLD..!!!  HOLY MACARONI..!!!!  Very upset with my family doctor’s office is an understatement.. i don’t really know what else to say.

Stitch Or No Stitch

I had an appt with my family doctor to follow up on my hole from the lapo surgery. After taking 2 types of antibiotic, the hole is still a little red with a little pus. The family doctor say to stitch.. and was contacting the surgeon but when we left.. nothing conclusive.

We then saw the surgeon on the lift landing when leaving the doctor’s office.. i quickly lifted up my blouse a little to show him my would. He said no stitch.. but to put polysporin on it. So stitch or no stitch.>?? since the family doctor said it wasn’t gonna heal by itself..?? *sigh*

Waking Up After My Operation

The operation lasted for 2.5 hrs.. and i donch even know what time they sent me to the ward. I woke up .. knowing that Mr Moo was there.. and all i can say was .. i was in alot of pain. They must have given me morphone.. because i went back to sleep straight after. The whole day .. i was sleeping.. and trying to get rested. I know Mr Moo was there the whole time.. till night time. I was in alot of pain. I had a catheter, so i didn’t even need to get up to pee. I had IVs in me.. and i later learnt that they gave me another 3 bags of blood in the ward. The fibroids when taken out .. made my heamegoblin down to 70 something.

Gifts For The Nurses

The nurses at the emergency room of Yarmouth Hospital .. were very kind to me.. during my emergency admission on the 2nd of July.  I was throwing up so much. .but they came and helped me.. everytime.. i buzzed.. and they never once showed me.. and ugly face.  Very unlike the nurses on the maternity ward were.. when I had my hysterectomy .. some 10 days before this.  The only nurse that really helped me then was a nurse by the name of Hilda .. an elderly woman.. who treated me like i was her daughter.  These good nurses .. deserved more than the womens gold watches that i was eyeing on… if i could afford it.   But i am gonna show my appreciation to them and the 4th floor nurses as well.. because the 4th floor nurses of the hospital .. did so much for me.. even my own sister wouldn’t be able to.. when i was sick.  Nurses like them. .deserved every penny the tax payers are paying and more.

Health Screening In Canada For Employment

Did you know that in Canada.. due to human rights and stuff.. an employee cannot asked the to-be employee to go for a health screen..??  I hear that it is called discrimination . .if you do that.. for if they are not hired on.. because of their disability .. it is against the law.  Yup.. ! you heard me right.. but employment screening for security purposes is allowed apparently.. but for only certain kind of jobs.. like child care .. and those government positions.  Very  unlike what i was used to back home in Singapore.. where health screening was a must.

Bowel Obstruction

As you all know.. my second operation had to do with bowel obstruction after my first operation to take out my fibroids and a full hysterectomy.  It all started on the 2nd of July .. when the clock turned 12am.. and at 1am.. i was already puking.. and by 6.30am.. i couldn’t even stand up.. from all the puking .. and pooping.  I had thought i was having food poisoning.. and that it would go away.. once i had everything out.  But i had not eaten anything different nor new .. so i just didn’t understand.. why i was experiencing bad spasm.

According to Dr Murphy, the General Surgeon for the hospital, he had gone in to clear some blockage in the bowels and also patched up a small hernia.  But not much was explained to me.. even after i’ve seen the family doctor and inquired about it.   I guessed they don’t see a need for them to explain it to us.. since it will probably be too technical..??  but i would have much preferred.. that they do what our doctors back home does.. and explain..the pros and cons.. and be a little more graphic about things.. and what to expect.. and what to eat. .and not.. and what to expect.

Anyhow.. with not so much of any idea.. about my bowel obstruction .. i became very paranoid.. that i needed to poop everyday. .and if i don’t i get very worried.. and sometimes.. couldn’t even sleep. I’m pleased to announce that my poopie session is kinda normal now.. and even though i am not as paranoid.. i wished i know a wee bit better about what to expect.  I think i’m just a sucker for information . .and the more the merrier.

The Hole In My Tummy

Yes.. ! i’m talking about the laporoscopic operation that i had like last month. One of the wounds didn’t wanna heal.. and i’m still on anti-biotics for the infection.. but it isn’t looking that grossed no more. But i’m still changing my dressing everyday.. and cleaning it with saline. I’ll be posting a picture up soon… come back and view it later. As of now.. i’m lying on the couch.. and writing on my lappie.. with a wireless keyboard.. with no FTP to my main computer.. where the pictures are stored.

Pictures uploaded as promised. Grossed looking eh..?? tomorrow i will take another picture to show you how it is healing.

Hospital Facilities

During my stay in the local hospital here .. they had offered the use of the tv.. and the phone for a charge. The tv was mounted on the wall but the position and the height of the TV wall mount was very undesirable.  The room was alirght and all.. but compared to the hospitals we have back home.. it’s really not the best for a long staying patient.  And when i said long stayijng…. it means.. someone who is there for more than a day. It can get very miserable in the hospital… i tell yer.

An Update – A Month After

Sorry .. i didn’t update you all about what’s going on with my health.  Well.. after about a month and a little bit after my hysterectomy .. and a month after the second.. i’ll have to say that i do feel a wee bit better.. although .. it still darn hurt when i walk too much .. or do too much.  I can’t shop alot.. and someetimes.. i get this darn cold sweat.. and i have to turn back home.  I resort to getting even my pet supplies online .. i kid you not.  I can’t wait till i am “normal” if you  know what i mean.