My appointment with Tan Tock Seng Hospital's(TTSH) Orthopaedic Surgery finally arrived. A doctor from Marine Parade Polyclinic saw me on 12 August and referred me to TTSH. I had gone to the same polyclinic in April 2013 to see my backache problems. The lady doctor said I was fine. Well, the pain got worse.
I used to go to Singapore General Hospital's(SGH) Orthopaedic Surgery. My medical reports were with them. When I requested for my appointment to be at SGH, it was turned down. Family members were surprised that I was going to TTSH, they have bad experiences there. They think SGH has better medical professionals.
I arrived at B1A half an hour early for my appointment. I was seen by the doctor at Room 22 an hour later. After an examination, he asked me to go for an x-ray. His nurse told me to follow the yellow foot sticker on the floor to go to the x-ray department. Cute. No maze to play, it leads straight to x-ray....., a short wait and x-ray was done. I like the efficient and courteous radiologist and her male assistant.
The waiting area of the x-ray department has a beverage corner where visitors can help themselves to cups of hot Milo. I had one.
Then it was back to Room 22. Two patients later, my name was called.
Doctor studied my x-rays before telling me both the good news and the bad news. No slipped disc. Yayyyy! Bad news is I have degenerative disc disease,,,,,, getting old.... *sob sob*. It is a term used to describe the normal changes in my spinal discs as I age. This is a disease no one can escape as one ages.
The doctor prescribed physiotherapy sessions and B12 vitamin supplements.
After making my payment for my consultation and x-rays, I was directed to a counter to pre-order my medicine as the pharmacy was one level down and also to avoid a long waiting time. I was given a note which has a map to the pharmacy.
Once I reached the pharmacy, a girl scanned my ID and I just wait for my name to be called. It was fast as everything was computerised and a robotic claw handed my order to a pharmacist.
I wanted the images of my x-rays so I followed the orange foot stickers to the main x-ray department and paid S$30 for a CD-rom copy.
Not a bad experience at Tan Tock Seng Hospital for this appointment.
Do you have to go back again for follow-up?
ReplyDeleteYes, 6 months later. :)
DeleteOh so cute! Follow the foot stickers to the place you wanna go? :)
ReplyDeletehaha.... it's actually easy to find the places by following the stickers, especially for the elderly folks (some are illiterate, they depend on the bright colours).
DeleteGood to hear everything is well except for the degenerative disc disease. Take care! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you :)
DeleteSounds like a systematic hospital should be.
ReplyDeleteGlad that they have made improvements to cater to the patients and visitors.
DeleteIs the degenerative disc disease serious ECL?
ReplyDeleteIs there anything to slow it down?
It can be painful and can greatly affect the quality of one's life. Disc degeneration is a disease of ageing, and though for most people is not a problem, it could cause severe chronic pain if left untreated. I am scheduled for physiotherapy sessions. Hope it will help to alleviate pain and slow it down. :)
DeleteEverything in place, least hassles for patients, sounds good.
ReplyDeleteTake care dear!
Thanks sweetie.
DeleteTake Care :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Ken.
DeleteI hope the pain will healed.
ReplyDeleteplease take care!!!I
I hope so too. Thanks for your concern. :)
DeleteGlad to hear that it's a nice experience. I hate those long waitings in the hospital, very waste of time!
ReplyDeleteMy husband, sister-in-law and I used to wait for hours when we brought my elderly parents-in-law here for their appointments.
DeleteGlad for the improvements made.
Hi ECL! Where got old? Always young at heart, yes? So cute sad it seems cause getting old LOL! ;)
ReplyDeleteThank goodness it's nothing major and you are in the pink of health. Do stay well, happy Tuesday dear! :)
ReplyDeleteI had popped in to see your photohunt... I hope you will be feeling better and back with us soon.
ReplyDeleteThis is interesting to me in that I am also in healthcare. I love your system of "health". I feel that our system is focused on illness. Instead of B12 and therapy that would have been more likely treated with pain killers and drugs. It is a sad state of medicine that is practiced here.
Hope to see you 'hunting' again soon!