Parents | Mom's TTSH Visit

Took off from work again today.

Mom sure has so many medical appointments scheduled for her since we decided to transfer her medical care from a Private GP in Pasir Ris to public Medicare subsidised by the government.

Woodlands Polyclinic, under the umbrella of SingHealth as referred her to Tan Tock Seng Hospital for her backache she has been having for the past 3 to 4 years.

It was her first time receiving medical service from the hospital. Her appointment was at 10:30am Medical Centre B1A . We reached there 5 minutes late and got our queue number 2203 at Room 5.

Dr. Fong Shee Yan name was at the door. She was called less than 5 minutes after we sat down at the waiting area when the last number flashed was 2202.

A nice an smiling Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Fong asked a series of questions about her walking conditions and her fall four years ago.

She was then referred to Radiology for X-rays on her spine in a forward and backward bent-over position to see her spine movements.

An MRI scan was also issued to be done.

It is to check her nerves as the Doctor believes that movement of the spine may pinch her nerves making her sometimes, loose feeling or pain and cramps on her legs as she is complaining now.

It will cost us S$475.00 and not subsidized at all for a specialty procedure. We have to pay in cash when we come on that day.

Our queue number at the Diagnostic Radiology was A0045. We waited for another 10 minutes when she was called to Room 3 to change and her x-rays taken.

I was a tat uncomfortable to help her undress, and asked her if she would like Dad to come in and help her.

Instead, she surprised me with her mature and open outlook in handling the awkward situation than I could. "Don't worry, you are my child." That was reassuring for me when she was comfortable with the situation.

Less than 2 minutes, I was called back in and took her out to change back to her clothes.

Wheeled her back to B1A Room 5 to see Dr. Fong. We waited about 10 minutes before she was asked to go in.

As he expected, the last 3 vertebrate are displaced from the one on top whenever she beds forward. She suffers from LSS or Lumbar Spinal Stenosis.

That created some pinching on her nerves. In this case her right leg gets the brunt of it.

That explained the intermittent pains and cramps she suffered when she walked to much of accidentally put her posture at an awkward position.

The doctor explained that it was not due to her fall, but a normal degeneration of the spine when age catches up with you.

He quipped that he will be getting this same condition when he is at her age too.

The MRI will tell exactly which nerve is affected due to the slipped vertebrae and the next course of action.

Since there will not be any medication for such condition, the normal way would be to do physiotherapy to strengthen her back muscles to relieve the weight off the spine somewhat.

Since the pain is not consistent and extreme, surgery is not imminent, but surgery can relieve the pinching affect permanently if so chosen.

Made payment of S$50.20 and made a date for 30 March 2006 for two stops:

• 30 March 2006 at 8:15am - Physiotherapy Assessment and advise
• 30 March 2006 at 11:00am - MRI scan
• 7 April 2006 at 3:20pm - Dr. Fong consultation on the MRI results and next course of action.

Now must discuss with the rest of my siblings for these appointments and update the status of her condition. That's that for now.

The level of service has greatly improved and so has the infra-structure that looked cheery like a shopping centre than a gloomy, intimidating hospital, my Mom commented.

All 3 of us had Penang Laksa for S$3.50 each for lunch in Kopitiam Food Court at the hospital. Surprisingly delicious.

Met my wife at Park Mall Shopping Centre in Orchard Road.

She intends to rent a kiosk there for April 2006 and was there checking out the human traffic there since 10 in the morning by herself.

Looked good so far, so we went ahead to the Management Office on the 8th floor for the request.

The Officer, Joey Lee was lively and very nice to us. She already prepared a proposal for us taken the photos from our Chic Couture website to present and propose to her management for approval.

Keeping our hope to get the approval and start this 1 April 2006 for a month trial and to continue with another 2 months if the reception is good.

Went to MacDonald's at Singapura Plaza for afternoon tea and headed back to Causeway Point Shopping Centre in Woodlands for some window-shopping before sending my parents back home.

A full day. Made my leave off work worth while. I just needed a warm bath before I retire to bed.