Dr visit

The buzzing sound don't seem to go away, so I visited Dr Ong on Thurs and she claimed there was some pus inside my ear and there's nothing she can do except to give me some antibiotics and then pray for the best.

I asked her many questions, one of which is what causes the injury? is there too much wax inside? Her reply is that it is clean, no wax only pus.

"What causes the pus and what should I do to prevent it from happening again? Should I clean it more often?" I asked.

Dr Ong replied, "It's self-cleansing. You don't need to do anything and please don't put anything that is smaller than an elbow inside, which means don't put anything inside .. don't clean it"

Abit irritated by my numerous questions, I think, she said, "You seem to have many myths in your head,"

I laughed, "That's why I need you to dispel them. I'm worry, you know."

"Come back after 5 days" she said, and then changed her mind and said, "no .. no .. after one week, I just remember the anti-biotics is now packed in a box of 14 and you have to take 2 per day" I looked at her .. I'm surprised my next visit to the Dr is dependable on the packaging of the antibiotics she prescribed.

My bill ... $85!! in exchange for 14 antibiotics, 10 Tab Sudafed Tablet to clear my nose and 30 Tab Serrazyme to clear my throat and phlegm (do i hv phlegm?) Of cos, the fee included the 10 mins of her consultation time as well. The time she spend dispelling my myths. Wah! that's rather expensive! I lamented at the high cost of medical bill. I wonder if the day will come when I can afftord to die but cannot afford to pay for my medical bill. **sigh**

By Sat, ie yesterday, the buzzing sound still don't seem to go away. I decided to go for a second opinion and visited my GP, Dr Koh.

I told him straight, "Dr, I need a second opinion" and told him about my 1st visit to Dr Ong and the medication she prescribed.

He listened patiently and then proceeded to examine my ears and said that as far as he can see, there's a minor infection in my right ear. Nothing serious. "Why do I hear the buzzing sound then .. will it go away" I asked. He replied patiently that it will takes sometimes for the antibiotics to work. He assured me that Dr Ong did what she can. That's re-assuring as my confidence in her is abit shaken when she decided my next visit by the number of antibiotics in a box. (14 .. 2 per day, so see me 7 days later.)

"The buzzing sound in the ear" he explained patiently, "could be due to some injury .. did you hurt your ear recently? sudden loud sound or loud music, etc ... most importantly, do you have flu b4 the buzzing sound?"

"No .. no .. no flu .. nothing .. not that I remember .. I don't use MP3 or walkman either .. got mobile but no ear phone piece either" I replied.

"Did someone, like your friend .. playfully hit your ear" he asked lightly.

"No, Dr .. not at my age .. " I laughed. I can't imagine any of my friends being that playful.

Unlike Dr Ong, this Dr Koh asked me more questions than I asked him. Not only that, he patiently explained to me the possible cause for the pus .. could be due to some slight injury .. even persistent coughing can sometimes hurt the eardrum. I liked him. Most doctors seem to be in a hurry to get rid of their patient so they got time to see the next one. More patients mean more money. But not Dr Koh .. he got time for his patient.

He then assured me that my ears are clean, no wax .. and that there is nothing to worry about.

"Does the buzzing sound disturbs you?" he asked. I looked at him and he added, "some people might not be able to sleep because of the sound"

"No, Dr" I replied, "It's abit irritating but I can still bear with it" I thought of telling him that I look forward to drifting to my dreamland every night and most of the time nothing seems to deprive me of that little pleasure. But changed my mind and keep quiet as it does not serve any purpose.

I then decided to ask him something else, "Dr .. I do have some problem recently, for instance, someone can talk to me and I tried my best to listen but nothing go in"

"Oh! that is your mind working .. no one can help you .. you are not interested, hence you switched off"

"Is that normal" I asked. I don't seem to have such problem before.

He smiled, "You got to take up something that is of interest to you"

"Like what?" I asked

"Like learning to cook .. you can train your mind to remember the ingredients you used, the portion, etc .."

I shaked my head, " No .. not cooking .. mahjong?"

"You can play mahjong but that doesn't mean your mind is working .. if your interest is not there .. you don't think" he said wisely. "Try Toast Master" he then suggested.

I smiled at the idea of seeing myself doing the ice-breaker and trying to visualise myself making my maiden speech in a toastmaster club. I'm flattered, Dr.

"Try and remember what you like to do when you are young ("am I that old now?" I wondered) and didn't get to do it .. find out what interest you and do it" my charismatic Dr suggested.

I replied that I shall tried and then I added, "It's difficult to grow old, Dr .. esp when memory lapse occurs and when pain starts to surface .. even my ears start to give me problem"

He laughed. "You are doing Ok .. you are fine" he assured me.

Before I left the room, I said, "You are very assuring, Dr. Thank you. I hope I am!"

He prescribed a small bottle of ear drop and my bill is $25. I happily paid the receptionist and left. Even without the ear drop, I think the price is worth the visit.

That's yesterday .. today, the buzzing sound is still there and I wonder if it will ever go away.

Today, Pope John Paul II passed away, leaving millions to mourn his death. I wonder why he had to suffer so much before he died.

He's a great man after all. A good and compassionate man. One who believe in human rights .. one who lead the Catholic community all over the world. One who touches the heart of millions. Someone mentions over the TV that his mere presence, his aura is so overwhelming, it can makes one cry. A very prominent figure, well known and well liked, globally.

Only a man of his calibre is able to justify the high cost the media have to pay for the best location to film his last journey. I remember hearing over TV recently that TV stations have been paying for that particular hot spot for years .. waiting for the right moment to film his last journey. I believe many TV stations have started compiling his life story or start working on his documentary the moment he is hospitalise.

At last, his suffering had ended and he's moving on to eternal life. I'm touched by his life story. That compassionate image that flashes on my TV set over and over again. May God bless his soul!