Hospitalized Part 2

The paracetamol had probably worn off on Monday morning, and left me to fend for myself. So my housemates arrived from Brussels, and found me sobbing in the room. Giler Drama kan. But I had to slouch and hold my ribcage the whole time while breathing for a good 5 minutes, before the pain went away. Pulled myself together, doa banyak2, inhale and drank some water to calm myself.

I called Quinn Healthcare, my insurance company because I wanted to ask if they would cover my expenses in Mater Hospital. I thought Mater Hospital was a private hospital, but alas, it was a Capalang University Hospital. First and foremost, they could probably improve by tenfolds on their hotline. I had to call 5 times, I kid you not, before I was able to talk to a customer service representative. I really hate machine operated operators. Anyway, here is what happened.

Me: Hi, I would like to inquire if you would cover my expenses if I were to do a checkup in Mater Hospital?
Operator: Well, that depends. Did your GP asked you to go for a checkup, or are you going to be admitted?
Me: Well, I don't know if I will be admitted, it depends on my test results now, wouldn't it?
Operator: Has your GP referred you to any PSYCHIATRIC ward yet?
Me: (thinking, ha? psychiatric? sama ke macam Trauma?).. Err, No.
Operator: Can you hold one moment. ( I think she was asking a superior about my case)
Me: Yes, hello, I just want to know if you would cover me if I did a checkup and if I was admitted in Mater Hospital, would you cover me?
Operator: For above €220 we should cover you. But did yyour GP tell you why he was referring you to a MENTAL Hospital?
Me: Hah? What? Not, MENTAL hospital, I said MATER Hospital. I'm not crazy, I just need to get a checkup done.
Operator; Oh, sorry, MATER hospital, yes, yes we do, but we only cover above €220.
Me: yeah ok, whatever.


So I hailed a cab and got the guy to send me to the Casualty Department. I didn't even know a casualty department and emergency department was the same thing. So upon registering, they clearly stated there that if you were a Non-EU, you had to pay €250 for registration. Cilakak, mahal gila. But, they asked if I had an insurance, so I gave them my card, and all was dealt with.Phewww..ha, thank god my company provided us with Essential Plus insurance. whatever that meant.

Upon registering, and them asking me my religion, I was called by the nurse. They did the normal tests as well as an ECG test. My heart was pumping like any other 23 years old, albeit the pain, and my temperature was normal. So after about 10 minutes, I was asked to sit outside and wait for my name to be called.

Little did I know, that it was going to be a long and arduous 9 hours wait, before I received any sort of treatment. Apparently, they prioritize cases by level of emergence. But i got a little irritated and angry when the lady beside me who could go out to have a smoke, could see the Doctor before me. Obviously, she wasn't dying either?

I sat there patiently, waiting for my turn. I had brought a book and an apple. Heh, what a good combination. I forgot to eat my lunch because I wasn't sure if it was hunger pain or otherwise. So I finished reading the book in between sobs. The lady seated beside me wasn't sure if I was crying to the pain, or I was over emotional about the book. Heh. There were times when the pain came abruptly and the sharp pain would get worse in between my sobs. Ha, sapa suruh nangis! I guess it was the pain and all the thoughts that I had about being all alone here in the Emergency Department, and not wanting to call my parents incase they get worried. The fact that I look no longer than 18, probably, made them more sympathetic. Kenapa budak ni sorang, sorang? But I suppose, they were all suffering as well.

I had almost given up on the Doctor, when they called my name. That's usually how it is, isn't it? You wait for 3 hours, and you feel like giving up, but then you have waited that long, so why not wait a little longer?

So Dr Mark, asked me a series of questions and took a sample of my blood. See I know I have tiny veins, from the times I donated blood, they always had a problem locating my tiny veins. Badan je besar, urat halus-halus. When he told me to lie down on the bed, I couldn't. The pain was too much to handle if I lied on my back. Drama lagi Mimi ni. But he said i had too, so I did, with my other arm resting below my head, so the pressure was on my arms, instead of my back. Then he told me to wait by the corridor until my name was called. I had to ask for the painkiller myself! Bodoh punyer Doctor. Ended up, he was an Intern with RCSI and happens to reside on the flat above Cycleways. He is my neighbour.Chaitpodeyh. Nasib kau comel.

Ok, siapa pandai cepat teka, kenapa ada sampai 3 kali kena cucuk?