Friday, July 31, 2009

Marriage is......

A commitment.
Its success doesn't depend on feelings,
circumstances, or moods ~
but on two people who are
loyal to each other and
the vows they took on their
wedding day.

A partnership of two unique
people who bring out
the very best in each other and
who know that even though
they are wonderful as individuals....
they are even better together.

*Barbara Cage*

Friday, July 24, 2009

Be healthy don't be sick

Since I arrived in Australia I have been visited the doctor in a regular basis contradiction when I was still in Jakarta I rarely see the doctor, well dentist is an exception though :)

My first visit to doctor because I got flu, horrible one because of the cold weather makes it even worse and I also need doctor certificate for work. Called up all GP (general practitioner a.k.a doctor) around neighbourhood but they won't take me because I am not register as a patient on that clinic arghhh, checked out GP list on the Yellow Pages but none of them will take me either, the fastest they can take me as a new patient was mid of July, bear in mind I called them early June.
I almost in tears that day and I miss Jakarta so much, I won't have any problem if I were in Jakarta I can just pop in any doctor/clinic/hospital without any problem.
I knew from the news that there is shortage of GP in Canberra but I never thought it will be this difficult :(.
In Australia you have to register to a specific doctor or medical clinic, you can't just show up at any medical clinic like in Indonesia and you have to make an appointment first if you want to see a doctor.

I finally got information about walk in medical centre about 10 minutes drive from where I live so I went there and boom the waiting room was full of people and there are 75 people in front of me! So I have to wait for 3 hours until they call my name and the doctor just take 5 minutes to see me, what a process!

I found out why this particular medical centre is full of patients because they do bulk billing so what you need to do is showing your medicare care at the receptionist and you don't have to pay for the doctor you just need to pay for the medicine (if any), what a convenient condition.

The second visit to doctor when I hurt my toes, I fell of at the fresh market twisted my feet and slammed my toes to the floor. The result is swollen foot. But I tried to put ice pack everyday to reduce the swelling, but after 2 weeks with no progress then I give up and go to see a doctor. Good thing the xray result shows that there is no fracture on my bone, otherwise the recovery times will take such a long times.

We have registered to medical clinic not very far from where we live but they haven't get back to us with the result, so until then we have to queue for hours just to see the doctor.

My third visit to a doctor was on Thursday night last week when I feel sick, has massive headache and my throat hurts every time I swallow. Again, we have to wait for hours until my turn.

My fourth visit to a doctor was yesterday when I found out that I have swollen in some part of my joints, and every time I take a deep breath or cough I feel pain in my left chest. oh no.... What now? :(
We tried to be at the doctor as early as possible so we don't have to wait for hours, but apparently we were not early enough. There were 17 people in front of me and 4 doctors, not too bad.
This time doctor diagnosed me with allergic reaction towards the antibiotic medicine he gave me and I might hurt my chest wall during my bad cough. The allergic reaction is a rare condition as the antibiotic is a common medicine that doctor gave to patients. The doctor is pretty good, he asked me to do some tests: blood, urine and chest xray just to be sure. And I will see him tomorrow to discuss about the result, hopefully nothing serious.

My conclusion about the whole medical experience is that maybe my body still adjusting with the whole Australian things, the weather, the fresh air and no pollution and the medicine at the same time :)

I am sick of being sick, I want to be healthy as I used to be, and I will be!