Private Clinic --> Polyclinic --> Hospital

Yesterday, I've finally seek medical assistance after weeks and weeks of pain. It hurts when I saw my private doctor's face fulled of sorrow, as I told him one by one what had happened to me, and reoccurance of my illness... After all, he's one of the three doctors that have accompany me since my Juvenile Disc Propapse began at the age of 14. He directed me to the polyclinic for therapy session so that I do not need to pay, as well as a letter to my SAF MO, advising him to let me downgrade.

The letter came with two referral letters, which was wrote to my private doctor by 2 specialists. I wept as memories flowed into mind! The ambulance... Crying parents... No more exams, got to repeat a year... I hoped to trap all this stuffs somewhere in my brawny old brain, but somehow, the hypothalamus made a mistake, and caused me to cry all the way home... Below is the contents of the one of the 2 letters... The other contains too much medical stuffs... :-)

Dear Wah San,

TAY WEI SIANG

S8440091B

Just a note on our mutual patient 14 year old Wei Siang who was admitted to us by visiting consultant Dr Cheng Wei Nien on 16 Sep 99 with Juvenile Disc Proplase of L3-4, L4-5 confirmed by MRI. This is indeed a rare occurrence in children. After initial recovery he was discharged with a spine brace on 23 Sep 99 (impending school exams) but was readmitted on 25 Sep for inability to walk.

He had serve back and leg pain but no neurological deficit, but very limited straight leg raising test. It was decided and agreed to by his father that Wei Siang remain CRIB (completely rest in bed) for six weeks. He improved gradually and was discharged on 15 Nov 99.

He will be followed up but there is still on possibility of disc surgery in future if symptoms and signs recur.

I'll keep you informed of developments. I believe Dr Cheng will also be writing to you with his opinion.

Thank you and best regards.

Yours sincerely,

(Signature)

DR KHONG KOK SUN

SENIOR ORTHOPAEDIC CONSULTANT

DEPT OF ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY
ALEXANDRA HOSPITAL

HaiZ, those were the days... And all these caused me to have probia towards hospital and painkillers even till now... Thus when the doctor at polyclinic suggested to be admitted to hospital, I immediately rejected... And said will ONLY go if things got serious... He suggested me to go Alexandra A&E Dept for a better check up and book an appointment with the specialist... Now, I just hope that everything will turn out fine, just like the sun shines after a heavy downpour...