It’s amazing how hospitals are so similar to hotels, except that different terms are used. We “check into” a hotel but “admit” ourselves into a hospital. We “check out” from a hotel but are “discharged” from hospital (makes me feel like a rechargeable battery) Anyways, the biggest difference is when you’re presented with the bill, and you’d better have the cash, or a rich uncle, or good insurance coverage. But more of that later.
So on June 16, I dutifully admit myself into one of the private hospitals here at 2 pm. I had to take three tests as it was a prerequisite for GA (General Anesthesia) First I go off and get an ECG done, followed by an X-ray of my body, and lastly a general blood test. Looks like I passed these three tests because nobody came by later to inform me that “I’m sorry, Mr. Yeoh, but…” I am then shown my room, which would be my temporary abode for the next two days. My roommate was an Indian guy; we exchanged pleasantries but didn’t talk much as he had his own circle of friends on the first night, and it was pretty hard for me to go to sleep. But go to sleep I did, because the following morning would be my eye surgery.
On the morning of June 17, I awoke early. Well you can never wake up late in hospitals, because along come the nurses to prod you to take your body temperature and your blood pressure (mine’s perfectly normal, btw) I took an early shower—must look and smell good for the op huh? Don’t want the surgeon to faint, lol. I also had to go on a fast—no food and no drink (water included) allowed from midnight until the operation was over. I didn’t mind going without food, but without water. Jeez, my throat was parched as a dying man in the Sonoran Desert.
At about 8:30 am the nurses came, asked me to put on an operation gown (yuck) and promptly wheeled me on a gurney to the operating theater. I was thinking, wow, this is great, let’s get this over with. Correction—I was put on hold in the waiting area for over 3 hours, and it was freezing in there. I mean I just had that disgusting gown on, with another thin white sheet as a blanket. All this while, I could hear the chatter from matrons, nurses, surgeons, etc. I drifted in and out of sleep, I was getting impatient, but there was nothing I could do except wait…and wait. Oh yes, they must have put in a bucket of eye drops to dilate my right eye, so my vision was getting blurrier and blurrier by the minute.
Finally, Mr. Lee (my ophthalmologist and eye surgeon) enters and checks my pupil for dilation. He gives the green light, and from there things move fast. I am wheeled into the operating theater with blinding speed…I can still see the lights above me going as if I am in a speeding car. We reach the operating theater and the anesthetist is already there to prep me. And here’s the funny part—he pokes two needles (pretty painful) into my hand to administer the anesthesia, but somehow or other, it doesn’t work (jeez I must be stubborn) No problem, he decides on the nitrous oxide. Believe me, this gas is potent—he puts the mask over me and tells me to inhale deeply. In about 5 seconds I am fully asleep.
I am now alerted by the sound of nurses, asking me to get up as they prepare to transfer me to my room. Wow, where did the time go? I’m groggy as I am wheeled back, with a patch on my right eye. I am now blind as a bat. Just a couple of hours later, I am wheeled to Mr. Lee’s office, where he removes the patch to check my eye. And thank God, everything’s alright. My eye is patched up again and I spend the second night in hospital.
The following morning (June 18) I get another checkup from Mr. Lee, and he’s satisfied, so I can be discharged. He gave me some instructions to follow, I have to put two different eye drops in my eye 4 times a day, and no swimming for at least six weeks—bummer! He says that my vision will continue to improve as the pupil dilation wears off in three days or so (remember they poured buckets into my eye) So I arrive home, unpack my stuff, take it easy, and start writing this post.
I would like to say a big thank you to Mr. Lee for his expertise—people say I am wonderful fixing computers, but look at this guy—he restores sight. I would also specially like to say thank you to my wonderful friends, especially Crystal, Leisa, and Doris, to my friends here who supported me with their prayers and friendship. I am deeply touched by your caring nature.
And by the way, the bill came out to a whopping $1850USD—fortunately my insurance will take care of most of it.
I think I’ll be repeating the whole thing again in the near future, for my left eye. Ah, the fun never stops.
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