Got a letter from the insurance company this morning, confirming that my conditions are not 'pre-existing'. Glad that they are willing to pay for my colonoscopy and endoscopy (with an 'excess' of $500, which means I would have to pay for the first $500 in a calendar year for any claims I make).
I called the clinic quickly to make an appointment for the procedures. The earliest they have is this Wednesday, so I will be 'admitted' this Wednesday afternoon.
The lady over the phone said that I must arrange for someone to bring me home after the procedure because I will be sedated (as opposed to anaesthesia) and under NSW laws it is a requirement that I go home accompanied.
I can't think of anyone really. No family, no friends, no one, just me alone. I told her I have no one that I can ask. I wondered what she thought, poor kid maybe. Fortunately, there is a specialised cab service that I can hire to escort me home.
Then, there was the pre-admission form. The inevitable 'emergency contact' section. It had always been Jay until recently, or my Ex a few years back. Anyway, with much hesitation, I put down Jay's contact details. I don't think there ever will be a need for them to contact him. And also, I just don't want them to think I'm such a abandoned person, so yea, just a formality I guess.
For many, filling in emergency contact details is an easy, straightforward exercise. But for someone like me who's living overseas away from family, it's not that straightforward. It cannot be just a normal, ok sort of friend. It needs to be someone who is not going to feel shocked when he/she finds out that you have nominated him/her as an emergency contact.
It used to be my dad for many years. Even after I came to Australia, for the first two years, before I had my first relationship, I still put down my dad's overseas contact details. Not that I was so stupid to think that my dad would take a supersonic chartered jet to come to my rescue if I was in danger in Australia, but just so that if, in the unlikely/likely event that resuscitation failed, they would be informed of my passing, and the cause, and/or the murderer if identified, and maybe pass my assets to them. (Writing this feels kinda sad...)
Anyway, I am on low-fibre diet today. No fruits no vegetables allowed. Tomorrow (one day before the procedure), I will be on a 'clear-fluid' diet, which will consist of water, tea/coffee without milk, broth, jelly. And after 'dinner' tomorrow night, I will have to dose myself with a laxative called Moviprep.
The gastroenterologist is expecting a squeaky clean tube and hole, for the purposes of professional medical examination.
On a serious note, I hope there isn't anything too malignant. If there is anything wrong within me, please find it, and hopefully it's perfectly treatable.
Perhaps subconsciously I am feeling really upset and stressed with the things that happened lately. Last night, I had a full glass of wine. Having a full glass is a rare thing for me as I don't tolerate alcohol well. I felt sleepy almost instantly, and started to develop an headache. I went to bed earlier at around 11.30pm, but couldn't really fall asleep. At one point, just as I was drifting into sleep, I think I had a panic attack. I felt suffocated, my mouth was dry, and my heart was racing. I was scared, and I quickly stumbled out of bed, and switched on the lights. I wonder if that's how people feel when they get drunk.
Hopefully everything will go well :) God bless
ReplyDeleteThanks:)
DeleteHave a fun probe :P
ReplyDeleteIt's not really fun as it turned out. But much better than what I had expected.
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