Sharing Personal Experience

ANTICIPATE EMERGENCY

Always be aware of the nearest hospital and medical facilities available near you.  Ask yourself are they competent and if you unsure, do check around with other friends etc. 

Once you are sure of the nearest hospital for emergency, make that hospital the regular hospital for referral and follow-up check-ups.

If the hospital you choose is not the nearest hospital during emergency call, do bear in mind when there is an emergency, do not call '995' as they will send to the nearest hospital, but check the telephone directory and call the private ambulance instead.  Do keep these numbers handy if you do not want the nearest hospital.


WHY A PREFERRED HOSPITAL   Personal experience - without prejudice

In 2006, my dad had a fall in the morning and we called '995' which brought my dad to the nearest hospital where he was staying.  I call this hospital X.

He was treated in A & E and was subsequently discharged and was referred to the Polyclinic for outpatient treatment.

In one of his routine review the doctor discovered he has some abnormalities in his blood readings and was referred to the nearest hospital X.

At Hospital X, A & E, he was warded and we requested the Dr in-charge to test his bone density, in view of his recent fall.  He was subsequently discharged and the Dr gave calcium tablets for my dad and to come back for follow-up review in 3 months time.

Without informing us of the side effects, my dad had constipation which lead to his colorectal problem which I subsequently send him to another hospital Y via the private ambulance service.  I know if my dad would have gone back to hospital X, I do not think he will leave the hospital alive.This lead to my doubts in hospital X and my conversation with friends, confirmed that hospital X was unreliable which todate I try to avoid the hospital during his time.  As for now, left to be seen but my phobia of this hospital is always there and will be.

FAMILY PHYSICIAN

Always ensure that the elderly has a regular Family Physician instead of irregular doctor in the Poly-Clinic.  The regular Family Physician will normally spend more time advising the patient about their medical condition.  Always ask the Family Physician about the status of blood tests results or any irregularities.  Do keep the Family Physician informed if the patient is hospitalised or there is a change in medical conditions.


WHEN HOSPITALISED

Always accompany the elderly for any check-up or when they are warded in hospital.  Why? you may ask?  During my years accompanying my dad, whilst in the ward I have encountered numerous times  doctor asked him whether he has diabetes or high blood, without even checking his previous medical history.  I can imagine if I was not there, he might have been treated wrongly.

CAREGIVERS we have a MISSION to take care of our LOVED ONES, by giving your ALL from your HEART you will know your RIGHTS.   DO NOT ALWAYS take a TREATMENT as THE RIGHT TREATMENT, ALWAYS HAVE AN INQUIRING MIND!

My dad was diagnoised to have liver tumour and was scheduled to undergo chemotheraphy as his age 87 then was too risky for surgery.  Luckily through a friend's recommendation, we seek a second opinion and was advised to go for Radio Frequency Ablation (RFA) instead.  He undergone RFA and was discharged the next day.  Few months after, he went on a trip to HAINAN with us.  I can imagine should he have undergone Chemo, will he be still with us then.   From this experience, I always encouraged patients and their loved ones to seek second opinion as the treatment they be required to undergo, may or may not be the right one.  

In year 2010, there was recurrence of the tumour and we went back to the private hospital for treatment.

From these two treatments, we discovered that the treatment were not in the Medisave Table.  We feedback to the authorities and was finally approved for partial payment from Medisave.  As the medical treatment advances very fast, we must always understand the treatment type and if it is not claimable from Medisave, always ask WHY?

PARKINSON

In Mar/Apr 2011 when he was hospitalised for stomach ulcer and other tests were done on him, the doctor diagnoised that he has PARKINSON and prescribed him the medicine.  As the main caregiver, I was not convienced as his diagnoised was carried out by physiotherapist, occupation therapist and the doctor.  Luckily I did not let him take the medicine which has side effects, as during his followup 2 months later he was accidentally being assigned to the A/Prof in-charge who subsequently discharged him.  As Caregiver, we have a responsibility and if we are not convience, always challenge or seek another second opinion.

PNEUMONIA - without prejudice

We always heard that pneumonia is the number one killer for the elderly.  It is due to the infection of the lungs.  Does anyone 'dare' to come forward to 'claim' the cause?   Well from my father's experience. I have this experience to share.

Ask yourself, sometimes when you drink or eat too fast you tend to choke and cough?  Have you ever wondered why?  It could be due to some  water or food has entered your lung.

That's what exactly happened to my father.  It is very common to see him cough a few times whenever he eat.  We thought that this is common and the doctors we consulted said that it is alright.  If this is not addressed, what happened to him was the food started accumulating in his lungs which resulted in him feeling weak.  This is when pneumonia virus attack which resulted in him having to be hospitalised and has been tube feeding.
If you have elderly having regular cough when eating please ask the doctor to refer to the speech therapists.  They will test the patient swallowing pattern  to see if it flows directly to the stomach or lung.  Early detection will enable the family to decide on the type of diet to give to their loved ones.  

Was this told or made known to Public?  


QUESTION TO ASK ALWAYS

Always asked the following questions:

1.  Medicine prescribed - are there any side-effects?
2.  Purpose of Medicine - will it cure?
3.  Blood Tests - always ask for test results and compare the previous results.
4.  When in doubt - always seek second opinion.