I cannot remember when I last did my pap smear. I dont think I had it done after I gave birth to Lil Isaac. Thus, it must have been at least 4 years ago. It had been so long until my gynea closes down his clinic in JP. With the inconveniences, all the more I procrastinated.
To make sure that I get my pap smear done, I made it as one of my new year resolutions. Yes, I am that pathetic.
Finally, I made an appointment for a pap smear last evening at the nuh gynea center @ jurong east. When I was on my way to the clinic, I received a call to tell me that the gynea was involved in an emergency delivery and had to cancel my appointment. There are no other gyneas in the clinic for the evening! I was super pissed but left with no choice but to cancel my appointment. That baby in distress leh, my is only a non-life threatening pap smear. Hmpf.
I was determined to get my pap smear done and google for gynea clinics nearby. I could have gone to any GP too but felt more comfortable going to a gynea. For some reason, I found one nearby, called up and understood that they were opened to 8pm. I should have suspected something when I was told that I could walk in anytime.
When I reached the clinic, I was greeted by one that looks like it is at least 20 years old. The registration counter was an old looking wooden one. Behind the counter were rows of wooden shelves with thick stack of paper patients' record cards. The clinic was pretty empty and I was the next patient in line. In the past, when I visited my gynea, I always have to wait for hours even with an appointment.
The doctor assistant recorded my personal data by hand, there was no computer. She then asked me for my dialect group, which I replied "Teochew", thinking why is this important, until she asked me if I would be communicating in Teochew with the doctor. What??!!! No! I couldn't help but wonder if an 80 years old doctor was sitting behind that door.
I had to do an ultrascan and had to have a full bladder. What surprised me was an old looking plastic cup that was handed to me instead of disposable cups. Water was from another seasoned looking water tumbler.
The doctor didn't look that old, probably in his 60s, but he was really eccentric. He was more like an English teacher than a gynea, stern but actually very funny. Lol. When I answer, "yup", "hmm", "ok", he will ask me if I meant "yes" and correct me.
During the scan, he said that he was checking if I have any cyst in my ovaries. When I asked if there are any, he said that he would have already told me if there were. After I was done with the scan, I was given "toilet paper" instead of tissue to clean away the gel. In this age, clinics use toilet papers??!!!
I was told to come back 10 days later to collect the report. No calls would be given to me. The doctor gave me a mini lecture on how to be a responsible adult to automatically report 10 days later at the clinic before I left his room.
The visit cost me $190. Guessed what? The receipt was hand-written and they only accept cash payment!
It was really a blizzard visit. After collecting my report, I think I probably will not go back to the clinic again. Lol. I wasnt at all offended but find it pretty amusing. I was trying to contain my laughter after leaving the clinic. Hehe.
Mummy Lim
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