New Fast Fact - History

Two new fast facts have been posted on the side gadget, one based on the History of the Philippines and the other around the naming of the Philippines.

Medical and Pathology

So, I booked into the travel doctor as my GP is over 3 hours away and I have not seen him or another Doc for over 6 years (Yes I know, bad! But I have been keeping up to date with my dentist appointments mum, I am the pin up boy at the dentist) So, he takes me into the office and starts reading the letters sent to me out loud, nil eye contact, at all.  Originally I thought he was doing this to assist me with understanding what was going on, nice one I thought. However when I posed a question ("so Doc which tests will I need to have?") he came out of his concentration trance and looked at me blankly, and said 'yes'.  I was not in the room at all, oh here we go...

Now the fun began, got to wee into a cup, stand on one leg and do a squat (I think he was having a lend of me - this was tricky), abdo squash and a cough :) Quickest medical exam in history.  The documents said that only certain pathology tests were required if family or personal history indicated that it was required, but I was sent off to have ALL the pathology tests done as well as an ECG.  I thought it was all ok in the end... may as well get a full workup to see how the body is ticking really.

Went out to the pathology room and they turned me away as I had not fasted, as one of the tests required.  Oh well, back there again the follow day, no food in tummy.

Short wait, then ushered into a little dark room, by Drill Sargent Major ("sit down!" - "no not there, there!"). Again nil eye contact, or comforting smiles, greeting etc; focus purely on the referral sheet and the process.  She put the elastic band on my arm and started prodding,  got a little nervous, she was prodding for a long time and did not appear to be happy with what she was not feeling.  After a bit she found a vein that she was happy with and reapplied the band.  Needle straight in (nice one doc!); got 3 test tubes of blood out relatively easy..well with a little shaking of the tube on the last one to help keep the stream up...oh feeling a little woozy.  With no warming up or personality showing, I tried a little of the Bevitt charm and wit... Nil reaction...rejected :)

Off to the ECG in another little dark room, "take off your shoes and shirt". My reaction time was milliseconds due to the commanding nature of the Drill Sargent Major.  She places 8 stick on electrodes over my arms, chest and legs; attached the wires and then tapes them down hard...these are going to be fun coming off!  Again nil communication or instructions on what was gong on or what I was required to do.  I shortly found out that I was required to do nothing! "don't move!" she directs as I was trying to turn my head toward the machine to see what it was doing; I could not help myself, I am fascinated by all these medical things.  Ok, now that all bleeps and pings were recorded, Sargent Major came over and started to remove the electrodes.  I flinch as she rips the first of the tapes and electrodes off, providing a mini wax treatment to my chest.  She grins and says "oh sorry" with a little chuckle to herself.  At last a bit of personality! Slightly masochistic but some personality :)

Already I am learning so much; preparation, discussion, and a little bit of human pleasantry and personality goes so far in an unusual or new situation!  Results to be sent to the medical people and then I will know what vaccines I require and another visit to the GP.

New Gaget and Language Course

To assist me with my preparations and keep enthusiasm peeking, my mate has been posing me a question about the Philippines each week for me to research.  I have placed the first two sections in the Fast Facts section of the blog.  I hope to add a new fact each week until I head out.

Also, bit of a bummer but the language course I enrolled in was canceled.  So the plan is to see if the teacher will do private lessons or for me to start looking at internet based courses.

Off to the medical and pathology tests this week...Will be interesting to see what it is like to be on the other side of the medical profession, it has been about 6 years since I last saw a doctor...