Week 23 (Part 1)

4th Jun (Mon)

Yesterday, while waiting for the transport outside PPHCSC to go church, Uncle Tang (Uncle Tang is usually very early at the venue) was not there, a neighbourhood neighbour was mentioning previously while talking to Uncle Tang, she notice that his mouth has dropped, she was worry he might get a stroke and need to find out.

After my mum boards the transport to the Day Care Centre.  I decided to pay Uncle Tang a visit (he has given me his address before), but nobody answer the door.  So I make my way to the supermarket to buy grocery.

Before going to the supermarket, I made a stop at the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) office at the Hospital to make enquiry.

Before my mum goes to the Day Care Centre in Feb 2018, the ex-chairman wife of one of the RC in my Constitution has tell me to go Meet-the-People Session to see MP to apply for wheelchair for my mum as she see my mum having difficulty walking.

Recently, an Uncle, a frequent at PPHCSC Friday breakfast, I bump into him, told me to go Meet-the-People Session see MP request for a wheelchair for my mum as he see my mum having difficulty walking.  He told me he has gone to the MP to apply for a wheelchair for his wife and there is 90% subsidy.

Then another round, the ex RC Chairman came and tell me to go Meet-the-People Session see MP apply wheelchair.

All the while, I have no intention to let my mum sit wheelchair, yes, she walks very slow, but she still can walk, so my view is she can walk, let her walk.

There's a day, I went to ask the Executive Director of PPHCSC, Ms R, Ms R is helping out at the weekly Meet-the -People Session.  She was telling me no need to go see MP, if go, only fill up form.  She was also saiding, the decision lies in me, if I were to let my mum sits wheelchair, my mum might not wants to walk, in which I was thinking too.

Yesterday, Uncle Choo and his son was at church, after the service, father and son went to the hospital visit Mrs Choo, while my mum and I went Harbourfront.  On the way back home, bump into them at the bus.  Was chatting with Mr Choo, where he mention his wife now doesn't have the strength to walk and the helper has to wheel the wife around.  That's what worry me too, if I were to let my mum sit in the wheelchair.

At the AIC office, the lady was asking me, can my mum walk.  My reply is yes, my mum cam walk, but very slow, beside my mum doesn't feel breathless when she walk. She then was saying, if my mum can walk, let her walk, why let her sit wheelchair.

If touchwood, my mum really needs wheelchair, when my mum has appointment with the Doctor in the hospital, tell the Doctor, they will arrange for the Occupational Therapist to do the assessment and put up.  I have to pay 10%.

Then went to buy grocery and then lunch.

Sausage, ham, egg set @ $6

Add $1, comes with garlic bread, which I find it had turn cold and not so nice already.

And a mushroom soup

After unpacking the grocery and rest for a while, I decided to go and knock on Uncle Tang's door, again, nobody open the door.

As my mum has been having a cough since last Thursday, and she doesn't wants to see doctor, so I went on behalf of my mum to the General Practitioner that my mum sees before she was admitted to the hospital the other time and was given cough syrup.  The best part is no payment from my side is required (my mum has the Pioneer Generation subsidies).

A date with a female doctor

During the Home Improvement Plan period, the skin around my breast develop rashes.  I thought it will go off, but it did not. So I thought I will go see doctor after the Home Improvement Plan finish.

I did not go to the General Practitioner that my mum see as he's a male doctor.  Beside, the fee will make you jump.

It has been a long time since I last see doctor.  Went to Jurong Polyclinic, I understand that nowadays, polyclinic accept making appointment prior to seeing doctor.  But I did not, want to see if the waiting time is as long as donkeys years back when I went.

When arrive at the Polyclinic, scan my Identify Card, take a number, wait for the number to be called.  The staff ask what's my problem, told her rashes around the breast area, she ask me, female doctor, yes, I want a female doctor.  Then take a number, proceed to the waiting area to see doctor. Whole process from registration to seeing doctor, takes me 2 hours.

After seeing doctor, proceed to the pharmacy, take number, wait for number to be called to collect medicine.  After taking medicine, proceed to payment area, take number again, wait for number to be called to make payment. Time taken, 1 hour.

Was given a cream, clotrimazole cream

And a powder, minazol powder

From the label, then I realise that it's fungal rash, thought it's just rashes.

Cost of seeing doctor and the medicine $17.12.

Consultation fee for Singaporean is $13.20.  Saw also that consultation fee for child/elderly is $6.80.  As for the clotrimazole cream, it's a standard item, cost is $2, Government Subsidy $1.50, so payable amount is $0.50.   As for the minazol powder, it's non standard item, cost is $3.42.

A date with General Practitioner

My mum High Blood Pressure medicine is finishing soon and that means she has to go back to see the doctor.  At first she was telling me, ok liao, no need to see doctor, no need to take medicine.  Reply her, I am not the doctor, u go see doctor, if doctor said no need to take medicine, then no need to take.  Told her also, after see doctor, we go eat the sliced fish mee sua at the stall u patron before.

While at the clinic waiting for her turn to see doctor, she was grumbling about the other day at the hospital seeing doctor. But inside the room, she become quiet and didn't talk much to the doctor.

As her cholesterol was a bit high, the doctor ask her if she wants to take medicine or control her diet. She reply take medicine.  The doctor perscribe 3 months high blood medicine for her.  As for the medicine for cholesterol, told the doctor 1 month first just in case she doesn't want to take the medicine.

Phew, lucky my mum still have balance from the Pioneer Generation Subsidy of $540 per year, so no payment for that visit.

After that, we went to eat, where I order sliced fish mee sua for her (didn't take picture of it).

It has been a while since I had porridge, so order porridge from the chap chai rice stall 

Had steam egg, salted vegetable, sliced fried fish fillet @ $3.80.

When I took the medicine from the registration staff, I only saw that the packaging is different.  It was only when reach home that I realise that for the high blood pressure medicine, it's 10mg whereby the label states 5mg. As all the while, the medicine my mum took is 5mg.  Is either the doctor increase the dosage of the medicine or the staff mistaken give wrongly.  Went back to the clinic to check with the staff. Ask her how come the label states 5mg whereby the packaging is 10mg. The staff change the medicine to 5mg.

Lucky I told the doctor 1 month medicine for high cholesterol, my mum change her mind, she doesn't wants to take the medicine, she wants to control her diet.

See Doctor

Picture taken from website.

Nowadays, my mum has this problem of not passing motion for few days.  And also she doesn't like to see doctor.  So I have to be the "patient", see doctor on her behalf.  I bring along her Identify Card and Pioneer Generation Card to the doctor.

Picture taken from website.

On 2nd Aug, the doctor prescribed a bottle of dhactulose syrup for my mum.  No payment that day.

On 16th Aug, same problem, doctor prescribed a bottle of dhactulose syrup for my mum.  This round, also no payment .

On 31st Aug, same problem, this round, the doctor prescribed 2 bottle of dhactulose syrup for my mum.  This round, I paid $13.  

I was curious, previous 2 times, she doesn't have to pay, how come this round, she has to pay.  Or has she used up the subsidy capped for this year.  I decided to call up Chas to find out.

Picture taken from website.

The officer gave me the breakdown of the claims history.  As my mum is seeing the doctor for chronic condition, there is still balance for this year and I was told the unused balance, can't bring forward to next year, next year will be a new balance.

As for the pass motion problem, it's under common illness which will be $28.50 subsidy per visit, subject to maximum 4 visit for the month.

I overlooked and did not read on it, but now at least I have a clearer picture of it.  As those visits which I do not have to pay for it, receipt was not issue. This round, I made payment, receipt was given.  Saw that the consultation fee is $27 (my mum is seeing a General Practitioner), 2 bottle of dhactulose syrup cost $12, plus GST, it's $41.23.  Minus off the $28.50, and the rounding up of $0.23, so have to pay $13.  So to said each bottle of dhactulose syrup cost $6.

What I was told :

On 2th Aug, the claim was $28.50 (with 1 bottle of dhactulose syrup)

On 26th Aug, the claim was $28.50 (with 1 bottle of dhactulose syrup)

Still figuring out the amount paid on 31st Aug.  Think I will go ask the clinic when my mum finish her chronic condition medicine in October.  Hopefully she can pass motion on her own instead of relying on the dhactulose syrup.

Dhactulose Syrup

My mum's appetite can be quite good at certain days and at certain days, her appetite, ok only.  At first, i notice that she doesn't pass motion frequent.  But i didn't take note on how many days then she did her business.  Recently, i thought that i will take note on it.  The last time she pass motion is on 23rd July, after a week has passed, she didn't pass motion and i was quite worried.  She do have input but no output.  Oh dear, cannot lah.  The day, the Social Worker came (2th Aug), mention to him about it and ask my mum to see the doctor, the reply get from my mum is tong long lah, don't want lah, don't want to see doctor.  So i thought i will take things into my own hand.  I took my mum Identity Card and Pioneer Generation Card, went to the usual Doctor my mum see, i ask the staff at the registration counter, my mum didn't pai sai for many days, can i buy the medicine on behalf of her, the registration staff ask me to see the doctor on behalf of my mum.  The doctor prescribe Dhactulose Syrup (60mls) for her.  10ml/s to be take 3 times a day. 

When i went back, ask my mum to take the medicine, she's quite cooperative.  The next day - Thursday (morning), when i ask her to take medicine, she throw tantrum and said i want her to lao sai (diarrhoea), don't want to eat, want to throw away the medicine.  In the evening, i ask her again to take medicine, she told me that she has pass motion, don't want to take medicine. And then tell me tomorrow then take medicine.

On Friday morning, ask her again to take medicine, again she refuse to take the medicine, only evening, then she take medicine (Maybe good mood at that time after bringing her go out jalan jalan).

Saturday, again, she didn't want to take the medicine.  Sunday morning, she did pass a little bit of motion, i dare not ask her to take the medicine as she's going Church, worried if she were to take the medicine and she doesn't want to wear adult diaper, if she were to pass motion, and outside will be troublesome.  Before coming back, at Harbourfront, i try to sweet talk her, telling her, come home, must take medicine, back home, she's cooperative and took the medicine.

Monday morning, she pass a little bit of motion, i didn't ask her to take medicine, but mix it with the cereal and then another round, mixed with the coffee she drank.

Finally, on Tuesday, she pass motion.

  

Follow up at the Doctor

 I mention in an earlier post my mum went to the doctor.  On the last day of the Lunar New Year, which is the Chap Goh Mei, while my mum is at the PPH Community Centre event, as I gave my handphone number to the clinic, the clinic called me up and inform me that the report is out.  As the event at PPH Community Centre, I was told it was from 9am to 12pm.  The clinic closed at 12.30pm and last registration is at 11.30am, so I ask the staff if it is ok to go on another day.  The staff replied ok.  It so happen the event ends early, at 10 plus, so after going back home, bringing my mum IC, Pioneer Generation Card, etc, we walk to the clinic. 

The doctor review the report.  I ask the doctor if my mum needs to take a lot of medicine, as she might be frighten if she see a lot of medicine.  As my mum cholesterol is high, the doctor said monitor first, ask her not to take oily foods, so didn't give her medicine on high cholesterol.  She was given antibiotics which she has to complete the whole course and also Zynor which she has to take once a time every morning.

As the doctor is a general practitioner, my mum case, he can't do anything about it.  He wanted to refer my mum case to the specialist.  I didn't take the letter as I wanted to ask for opinion.

The next day, which is a Sunday, usually every Sunday morning, I will go for my Zumba session at my neighbourhood there, there a lady who will be there, she's a Pioneer Generation Ambassador, so I went up to ask her, if my mum goes to see the specialist, will she gets any subsidy, she mention, if go to the Polyclinic and get a referral letter from the doctor, the subsidy, will be more.  If from private doctor, there is subsidy, but will be lesser.

So I enquiry at the Polyclinic, whether if I could bring my mum medical report from the private doctor and get a referral letter on behalf of my mum.  Was told have to bring my mum to see the doctor.

Visiting the Doctor

The Government has introduced the Pioneer Generation Package which will help Pioneers with their healthcare costs for life.

My mum meets the criteria as stated, which is Born on or before 31 December 1949, aged 65 and above in 2014, so she was eligible for the Pioneer Generation Package.

Recently, my mum health has took a turn, and she's the type who dislike to go to the doctor till yesterday morning, something "happen" and she called up her younger Brother, her younger Brother wife has manage to persuade her to go to the doctor. So her younger Brother wife came and together with my mum and her younger brother wife, we bring her to the doctor.  At the doorstep of the clinic and when it's my mum's turn to see the doctor, she was a bit hesitating to go in and her younger brother wife mange to "bluff" her to go in.

The doctor did blood test and took her urine for test.  The result will be out in 3 to 5 days and the clinic will called when the result is out.

Finger crossed.

As from what I understand, for Consultation, Pioneer Generation Card, they are entitled to $28.50 subsidy.  As for those test, I'm not too sure whether if there are any subsidy, at first, I thought the bill will be a shock, till when payment time, the staff collected $38 from me, then I know that there is subsidy.  So to say, the subsidy is $71.50 for the Laboratory Test.

When back home, my mum was grumbling that the medical bill, 100 plus, so expensive, so I have to sweet talk, by telling her, u have Pioneer Generation Card, there is subsidy, the balance, the clinic will get from Government, since Government introduced the Pioneer Generation Package.