One Hospital To Another

A busy week keeping doctors’ appointments at several hospitals.

Last Monday Ram had a specialist appointment at one of the Government hospitals in Kuala Lumpur. This appointment recurs once in six months. I could not take her to the hospital as I had to attend a meeting in Kuala Terengganu (KT) for which I did a day trip flying out to KT in the early morning and returning by the late evening flight. Ram’s nephew who was free that morning took her there. As is always the case the appointed time to meet the doctor was just an indication of when one is required to be at the clinic. The actual time one gets to see the doctor depends on when the doctor is available. If he/she has a ward case to attend to, and that is always the case in a large government hospital, then one can spend hours waiting for ones turn to see the doctor. This time was no different for Ram. She was at the hospital at just about 9.00 am and got to see the doctor only when it was close to noon!! Anyway, with the help of the nephew she was well taken care of. We normally bring along lots of reading materials for the wait.

Tuesday was my repeat appointment with the physiotherapist at the rehabilitation centre of another hospital. This is for my right leg and my right arm which are not functioning properly. I use a walking stick, I often mentioned this in previous postings, as a walking aid. The walking stick does help in lessening the stresses on the leg and knee. The rehab centre is very well equipped. I was previously shown how to strengthen my leg and arm muscles using the equipments they have. I have some similar equipment at home and I do use them daily and whenever I can to continue with the physical therapy on my own. When I am away in KT, and whenever I get the opportunity, I use the hotels’ gymnasium and their equipments to do the physical therapy plus swimming in the swimming pool since swimming is one of the best therapies for aching bodies!! The aches and pains are much reduced now and I can now move my hands and legs quite freely. Where previously I could not push my right arm to the back at all I can now stretch backwards and scratch my back quite easily without pain in the shoulders. I am slowly regaining the use of my right arm and leg. I can drive my car again, unhindered by the aching leg, although I am careful not to overdo it. So, on this appointment with my physiotherapist I was shown more ways of strengthening exercises and I look forward to regaining the full use of my right arm and leg. The aches and pains are still there, and I guess it will be a very long time before it will go off, if at all the aches and pains will go off, but I am not complaining. I am in fact thankful that I have only these aches and pains as I have seen others in worse conditions. I do not fret on the parts of my body that do not function properly as time can heal and I am very happy and thankful that other parts of my body are still function properly.

Wednesday was Ram’s appointment with her dentist. She has to do quite a few refills of old fillings and measure up for a row of missing teeth.

Thursday was my follow up appointment with the ortho surgeon of the hospital where I go for my physiotherapy to review the condition of my right leg and arm, while Ram had an appointment with the specialist in surgical department at another hospital (the same one she went to on Monday). I sent her to her hospital first and then proceeded to my appointment. I had to wait for more than two hours before I get to the doctor and after reviewing my condition I was prescribed with the same previously prescribed medication as they are working well for me. I hope the medication and the physiotherapy will lead to me getting back to my usual and normal daily activity unhindered. Ram too had positive response to the treatments she gets and is happy with the outcome. So, at our age we are happy that we function well and not handicapped, walking stick aside, and our quality of life is still maintained. My fervent hope is that I can drive long distances again and am really looking forward to it…… because………, we have plans to go the ‘pearl of the orient’ that is Penang, sometime in August and I hope I can drive there…….

MKI Ramblings Unlimited,
Petaling Jaya