how did it happen? it's a story in itself.... so here goes.
it started on tuesday midnight. i had a gastric attack, and after 2 gastric pills, i was sorted out.
on Wed midnight, the gastric attack hit again. but this time, after the gastric pills, panadol, antiacid, the pain didn't go away. the pain was a little different. gastric pains, comes in waves. this time, it was constant acute pain, that didn't go away. i tried to even induce vomit, but didn't feel better.
at 4am, i decided that i couldn't tahan anymore, called the customer service and ordered a taxi.
we (with my wife of coz) headed to the nearest hospital "International SOS", and didn't find anyone there. after 5 mins of calling out, someone finally appeared.
first order of the day, was painkiller to rid the pain. eventually it did go away, although it took a while, when the first "mild" dose didn't work.
The doctor then did ultrasound *what... did I look pregnant?*, but found nothing wrong with the other organs. i also did an ECG *in case there is heart infection*, but came out nothing. another ECG 1 hr later, confirmed nothing wrong with my heart.
Blood test showed a slightly higher count of white blood cells (possibly of infection), but nothing series.
after eliminating most options, it was thus left to it being gastric.
appointment made at the French-Vietnam hospital for endoscope, so made my way there, for an interview with the person who was going to do the GA whilst i do the endoscope *decided not to brave a tube sticking into my throat searching my stomuch, w/o one*.
then i headed back to SOS hospital to rest.
the SOS staff paid a lot of attention to my neighbor, where were going to be evacuated to bangkok for some treatment, but they kinda left me alone. the nurse did pop in every hour, to ask if i was ok, and i said "pain", then she left - doing nothing. great.
i got a bit fed up, and questioned why she wasn't giving me any medication, whether gastric or painkiller, and the nurse says I am already full of gastric meds. i get to take panadol though...
I questioned another staff, who called this canadian doctor, who reprimanded the nurse right in front of me, then reprimanded me (your job is to tell me that u have pain, not that it is gastric)... duh.... what on earth have i been doing whole day?
well, at abt 4pm, the pain started at where the appendix was, and another doctor (thank God, not the scummy one) eventually decided to sent me for CT scan.
they transferred me to a stretcher, i closed my eyes to enjoy the ride. suddenly, the smooth surface i being wheeled on, turned to rough pavement, and feel motorbikes zooming around! i opened my eyes, and i was on the streets of Ho Chi Minh! i soon reached the ambulance, and loaded in, then headed to another hosp.
after the scan, the accompanying nurse showed me the report which said "accute appendicities", and said that likely i needed surgery. i was quite pleased, coz they finally found the cause of the my pain/problems.
well, dr. scum received me back at SOS, and told me i had 3 choices: medivac to Bangkok (????), Singapore, or FV hosp in HCMC (best healthcare around, but not up to standard of bangkok or singapore). after consulting my bosses, and the SOS international folks in singapore, we decided to go FV hosp for consultation, and if confirmed needed surgery (dr. scum said likely don't need one, but only surgeon can decide), will fly offf to singapore.
halfway there, the ambulance turned around, and returned back to SOS.... the accompanying doctor, looked at the CT scan, and informed dr. scum that i need surgery. so arrangements was made to fly back.
at abt 8pm, the hosp started to arrange for my flight (and they started to be then really nice to me... sheeze). well, by 2am, i was transferred to hosp, headed to airport, loaded on the private jet... yes, the lear jet.oh Lear Jet, yes, pretty small, just enuf space for2 rows of chairs. they stripped one out, to fit in a stretcher (and me on it). lifted off 3am, reached singapore 5.30am (1 hr time diff), reach Mt Elizabeth hospital at 6ish, wheeled into operation room 7am.
just a 20min procedure, and i was wheeled back to my room, all drugged from the GA.
Surgeon did show me a pix of my appendix, and said that it was very close to bursting, and just made it in time, so thank God.
so, here i am, in singapore, stuck for a week or so. waiting to return to my family left behind in Vietnam HCMC. sigh....
