It was my second time doing MRI but this time the venue was at Singapore Waiting Hospital instead of Raffles Hospital. To compare them, both places had very friendly staffs but the seats and waiting time at Raffles Hospital were more preferred.
I waited for around ten minutes at the registration counter and the nurse asked me to go over to the MRI department after she keyed in the details into the computer. After a while, the Pilipino nurse told me that I had to wait for another forty-five minutes. I was quite irritated at first because they could have booked a later timing for me instead of making me wait so long. Nonetheless, I did not show any temper for her friendliness.
The sudden call from Vivi to meet me up for a movie caused more anxiety than ever. It was such a rare chance and yet I knew I was definitely going to disappoint her.
I took the chance to go down and collect my medicine at the pharmacy. It was actually issued about a month ago but I gave up waiting in order to go and meet Vivi.
Back at the waiting area, suddenly, the nurse called me into the operation room for the doctor wanted to see me. I was shocked as the previous time for my back it was much simpler. After waiting for quite some time again, the doctor finally came out and looked at my left calf.
He sounded it serious, which was totally different from those specialists and I was once again being messed up in my brain; I did not know how good or bad the condition was. Then, I was told that I would be given an injection so that the blood flow could be visualised better. Then, he sticked masking tapes around the lump.
I was escorted out to change into the gown and later, waited again, before going back into the operation room and into the actual room. I was then put down on the bed and given ear plugs. The funny guy (operator) tied my leg so that I would not be moving around, to avoid causing any blur image.
So, I was pushed into the high class coffin-like cabinet and the familiar noises started again. I was however, still managed to doze off for around twenty minutes. The funny guy came in when I thought he had already forgotten about the injection. He started chatting with me in order to distract me.
His effort was of a minimum help as I was focusing so much on the needle. Halfway through the conversation when he was relaxing my muscle on my left elbow, I announced that I was afraid of needle.
Of course, since it had to be done, I faced it without any hesitation. I hated the feeling of the needle stayed inside my flesh, poking into my nerve for so long. I was too tired to lift up my head to witness it being removed, partly being cautious of not changing position of my leg. As he placed a cotton wool over and placed my palm on my right chest, I confirmed the needle was out.
Another ten minutes of non-movable life began and I could not even exert any strength using my left leg. The greatest fear was to have a cramp in that freezing room even though one of the nurses had so thoughtfully and sweetly covered my feet with a blanket; it actually caused some discomfort with the weigh pressing down my toes.
As the scan was over, the Pilipino nurse came in and removed the equipments. At that moment, I realised it was another hell moment for me as she removed the masking sticks from my hairy leg. Nevertheless, she was so gentle and careful, giving me less pain than expected.
I was surprised to see two scars instead of one after removing the plaster
Immediately, I rushed off to meet up with Vivi at the MRT station. Since she had forgotten to bring money, I helped her to top up her Ez-link card. It was followed by a short moment at my house. She grabbed a tin of biscuit and we filled our stomach while having a great chat. Soon, I had to send her home to discover her Ez-link card was not with her as we boarded the bus.
She was gloomy on the way and I went to the Outram MRT instead of going home straight. I was a fortunate man for the operators at the control station were holding her Ez-link card; it could be a reward for I always returned lost items.
I set off for her house immediately. After receiving her slow SMS replies, I confirmed her parents were not around and was glad I did not make a wasted trip for I was on the bus already. Subsequently, I realised she was going for tuition soon and waited for her downstairs her house.
The surprise visit was not enough to cheer her up, probably because it was not the first time already. The disappointment grew as the return of the Ez-link card was insufficient as well. She was just too tired.
After walking her up to her tutor’s house, I went home alone again. It was a blessing to get to see her but I was guilty to cause extra weariness on her.
It was probably the last visit to the Orthopaedic Surgery at SGH.
Waiting time was around fifty minutes and compared with the previous times, it was real fast. There were many patients and I thought I had to wait for at least two hours. Anyway, I dozed off as usual and was shocked to see my number suddenly; I did not know how long they waited for me.
The specialist looked young. I thought he could do something to help me but he explained he was helpless with my condition. I asked him to write a letter to recommend me for downgrade and he said he would write everything truthfully but could not guarantee it. I reminded him of my knee problems and he promised he would indicate them as well. Then, he asked me to go back a year later.
This screwed up hypocrite did not keep his promise and he was certainly not an upright doctor, as if I had stolen his girlfriend. I opened the “recommend downgrade” letter for the MO as I was leaving the hospital to realise that he had only include my MRI report, which I already had, not stating the knee injuries like Osgood Schlatter disease and another problem which I did not know the name that was rubbing the knee caps. Anyway, he only suggested light duty for me and never mentioned anything about downgrading.
I swear I would never name my future son “Darren”; whatever “Lim”, whatever “Song” and whatever “Cheng” sound so disgusting. Why go to the doctor since they cannot cure nor help you?
One year later I would be out of army already and how do I get the money to see specialists?
I finally got back my MRI report. I could have got it from the Orthopaedic Surgery and Neuro Surgeon specialists the previous time but somehow I was possessed.
Anyway, I visited the Neuro surgeon specialist today and he told me to just wait for another half a year to see if my condition had worsened before doing anything. He simply printed out my MRI report and thought my condition was too mild for an operation. I told him I must do it before ORD and he laughed.
To the specialists, they have seen too much similar cases that they presume most of the problems are very minor ones and obviously do not want to care too much until things get worsened.
Damn the first few Orthopaedic Surgery specialists (though I cannot not remember them anymore) for not sending me for MRI earlier; The X-ray report had already shown problems to my back and they must be thinking MRI was too costly – more than four hundred bucks – that they hesitated.
The problems will eventually worsen, may not be now or tomorrow, may not be a week or a month later, but definitely one day. Can someone ease my suffering?
Sagittal T1 and T2W images, axial T1 and T2W images from L3 to S1 and from S1 to S2 were done. The lumbar vertebrae are labelled using C2 as the landmark.
Normal signal is seen in the lumbar discs. The disc spaces are preserved. The alignment of the lumbar spine is normal. No focal abnormal signal is seen in the vertebral bodies.
Mild disc bulging is seen at L4/5. There is no significant spinal canal or neural foraminal stenosis.
The conus medullaris ends a L1 and appears normal. Subarachnoid cyst is seen involving the left S2 nerve root.
CONCLUSION Mild disc bulging is seen at L4/5. No focal disc protrusion is demonstrated. Subarachnoid cyst is seen involving the left S2 nerve root.
With so much hope, I brought them along to the hospital on Friday. I knew my MRI report was out already and I thought I was going to be downgraded soon, but I had never expected for the worse.
It was not that bad afterall, just that it was dragged again. The specialist was majored in bone problems and since it was not slip disc, but another thing (I seriously do not know the term) which was pressing on my nerve on the spine also, he referred me to another specialist after scheduling a two-month appointment for me.
As long as my problem could be cured, I did not mind all the troubles but time was running out soon. I could not have another long appointment as I would be out of army soon in about another half year. I also hoped to be downgraded before ORD.
So, the highest priority now is to find the problem to my six years of suffering with my back and solution to solve it, and same goes for my other injuries like the knees and feet. Next, I must be excused from all activities that would worsen my aching like range (can cost me a week of aching), guard duty (more problem to my foot) and carrying of heavy loads. I must get my rightful PES status I deserve - PES C at least.
Currently I have a medical certificate from the specialist to excuse range, guard duty and heavy loads. I hope the coward MO would buy it.
Yesterday was a strengthless day with my back aching tremendously, which had weakened my whole body. There was soon nothing I could do to stop myself from dozing off while resting.
Even though I needed not book in for I had medical appointment, I woke up early for the 8pm physiotherapy appointment. It was a blessing anyway for my effort to be able to admire good scenery; girls from ACJC were charismatic. I was queuing up for the shuttle bus when I realised there were few people there. I quickly took a peep at the signboard, which wrote the first bus timing as 8pm, forcing me to cross over to take the public transport.
I was twenty minutes earlier. The security guard told me no one had drawn the keys to MMI yet and suggested me to go to the canteen for my breakfast first. It was weird to be in an unfamiliar place alone, but the cost of the food certainly delighted me; I bought a fillet bun with a two bucks note and the cashier returned me $1.40.
I almost caught Kenneth on the lift but I was too weak to run. The next lift was fast and we met up at the door. It was good that I needed not wait for more than half an hour again this time; however, the eighteen instead of the usual ten to twelve gym items awaited me. I helped him open the windows binding and then had a chat at the counter while waiting for the laggy computer to run.
I started off with the hands cycling machine which I usually used to warm up with. It proved that my back had worsened once again, and my movement was restricted, paddling almost drew my tears down. I could usually do it smoothly, even to exceed the given speed, but this time I had to even reduce the resistance. I did not do the rest of the stretching and strengthening properly since I almost could not move my back.
I was the first and last person to use the gym, so hardworking like usual; unlike others who left in a while by not following all instructions. I called Ou Xiang (Peifeng) up for lunch but her hall was quite far away. I woke Robin up who told me he had an assignment to be submitted in less than two hours' time (And he was still sleeping?). So, I went home straight to eat the mini instant noodle.
I hurried off to Raffles Hospital after my lunch for my MRI. I was twenty minutes earlier and the nurse told me to leave the appointment letter on the table. It was weird for SGH (Singapore General Hospital) usually had a tray for that and I was worried that they might forget about my letter.
The ambience and the sofa-like chairs could comfortably put any patient well. It was just a few minutes after two, someone woke me up by calling for my name. I was then told to put on a robe before entering a room. Then I was given two ear plugs and told to lie down on the bed. I was then slide into the machine. It was a simulation of a coffin and I realised vampires might have installed air-con inside their "houses" that they were able to doze off comfortably like even though it was very noisy inside.
This question being asked in a pharmacy seemed so weird to me, until the pharmacist told me the capsules contained extracts from sea animals.
I finally survived through the pains to see the specialist for my injuries after the six months scheduled appointment. I was very concern about this meeting since something must be done soon before I ORD. I had prepared the listing of my problems in point form since I roughly guessed a different specialist would be seeing me again.
This time, the specialist suggested me to go for MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and it was the best decision any specialist had ever made. He indicated that there was another problem (Could be Osteoarthritis "OA") with my knees which the term used was ancient language to me, such that my knees were bonded with not only Osgood Schlatter disease. He said there was nothing he could do to help me but after bugging him a few times, he decided to prescribe some supplements to help me improve on my conditions.
Since the specialist I had seen for gastric problems on Monday specified that I should not take medicine with class "NSAIDs", this time I was not given all the old panadols that would worsen my health.
After paying up with my 11B (free-of-charge) and scheduling of the next appointment at the counter, I went to the pharmacy to take my queue number and then I went to the Radiology department to schedule for my MRI appointment. With request for an earlier date, the nurse scheduled me to Raffles' hospital on the following Monday, else I would have to wait for a month to take it in SGH. Though I did not like to go to unfamiliar place, I thought it would be a good experience, especially to be able to gauge the services of the hospitals.
I went back to the pharmacy and was surprised that the "Donna capsule" were ready for collection since I usually had to wait for an hour to collect my medicine in SGH; however, "Artrex" had to be bought from the pharmacy at block 4. Anyway, the pharmacist praised me for my good time management. I went over to the clinic "H" to reschedule my appointment to an earlier date since the MRI result would only take a week's time to surface out. After which, I went over to block 4 to collect the "Artrex".
After all the rushing, I finally managed to leave the hospital after 4pm. I would say it was a fruitful afternoon after all since the MRI was scheduled and the medicine given seemed be more useful.
