Of snobbish doctors & pharmacy technicians...

I thought i've learnt my lesson but apparently, i did not. And that's how i ended up with Chronic Gastritis. Gods, having acute gastritis is bad enough, but chronic?

Damn, it's all due to CNY. During CNY, there's buffets, caterings, and even more snacks. The end result? i overate. Of course, the strong ice cold green tea i drank to cool myself down because of the recent heat wave in SG aggravated the situation.

My gastritis worsened because of it. On Friday, I tried to pre-empt the gastritis attack by taking Antacids but it didn't work. Gods! The pain! I was sweating bucketfuls of cold sweat and my temperature dropped to 35 degrees - The temperature of dead bodies. =X

And you know what's the worst thing? I have to go to the 24 hours medical clinic at Hougang Ave 4 because it's late at night and no other clinic is open.

"I think i'm suffering from gastritis. I took antacids but it didn't seem to work." I told the doctor All the while, I'm bending forward to ease the pain.

The doctor didn't even bat an eyelid. "aAntacids don't work that fast. It's a slow build up. I can prescribe you some meds. but i suggest you go to the polycinic to get a letter of reference for an endoscopy at the hospital."

Have you seen anything wrong? Nothing? Well let me tell you. THAT DOCTOR ON DUTY DIDN'T EVEN CHECK TO CONFIRM WHETHER IT'S REALLY GASTRITIS!!!

Come on, You gonna believe i have gastritis just because i told you? Glad to know I became the doctor! Wow, if that's the case, I've got cough, can you prescribe me some cough meds straight away? Don't worry, i will definitely sell it to those drug junkies.

And that lady doctor is super snobbish to boot. She kept referring us to the polyclinic to get even more prescriptions because it's cheaper and also to go there for the endoscopy letter to get the subsidised rates.

Her words probably meant well but the way she put it? She's freakin' looking down on us.

She prescribed me 2 weeks worth of meds for about 50++. She did recommend me to go for 1 month's worth but i figured i won't get it here. Within 5 minutes, we can leave. I won't put it at 5 minutes. I'll put it at 3.

Turns out the reason for her quick "consultation" is because it's 10pm - end of her shift. I'm her last patient.

Doctors with no ethnics or responsibilities. What is going to happen to our medical system?!

I have to wait 20 minutes for the prescription. Other patients who came before me got theirs first. AND It's 60 bucks for one week's worth - not 2. What the hell?

To add fuel to the fire, The pharmacy technicians didnt even explain to me whether to take the omeprazole before a meal of after a meal ("Just follow the instruction on the packages"). And it wasn't even written on the medication package. Fantastic...

So am I supposed to take it before a meal or after a meal? IN the end, i have to google the med's name and found out it have to be taken 1 hour before a meal, or at night before i sleep.

Stupid clinic...

The whole episode happened on friday night. It's Sunday now and i'm still feeling the pain despite the medication. It was never this bad before. Normally, gastritis will stop the moment i took antacids. Looks like my gastritis is worsening. Damn...