URTI

When my stress level is increased due to lack of rest and sleep or fatigue from long working hours; I am prone to frequent bout of Upper Respiratory Tract Infection “URTI”.

Start off with high fever, nose block, running nose and finally cough. I am not sure why, usually, right after the running nose has been cured, prolonged coughing will set in. The most difficult and annoying part of the coughing is that to get the 1^st successful phlegm out of my lung; and if I consume the drowsy cough syrup; it will make me sleepy and it is a struggle to drive a bus safely.

I was not well for the entire week of 14^th June; as I was on PM shift for this week; and due to lack of sleep, even though, I self-medicated with antibiotics, cough and flu medicine;  I could not fully recovered from this bout of URTI.

Both of my eyes started to become very red; and when I woke up in the later part of the morning, I could not open my eyes to see my way to the bedroom attached toilet.

Since my health condition is getting from bad to worse, in pain, I summoned my courage to visit a Polyclinic Doctor in the morning of 22/6/2015.

On 21/6/2016, I was on PM shift duty. I end shift duty at 0145hr on 22/6/2016. I reached home and hurried to bed by 0300hr. I keep reminding myself, that I must get up by 0730hr, and to be at the Woodlands Polyclinic to collect my Q number by 0800hr.

The ground rule is that my company only recognizes MC issued by Polyclinic, not private clinic. I have no other choice and have to wait for my allocated consultation time at 1145hr. Found a chair and surrounded my some other 600 patients at that time; I am tired, sick and just patiently waited for my number to be called.

Eventually, at 1220hr; my Q - no. pinged and I finally got my chance to see the Doctor. The consultation was quick and over in just less than 5mins. In my heart, I was actually not disappointed for waiting some 4 long hours to get a chance to consult the doctor. The doctor is actually very caring and without my asking; issued a 2 days MC and told me to go to the pharmacy counter to collect my medicine.

To my surprise, there was a long Q at the pharmacy counter too. After joining the Q for about 15mins, the public address informed us that, a 2 hour Q time is needed further before, I can collect my medicine.

Since, I am already half dead by now due to lack of sleep and started to get grouchy; having waited for 4 hours to see the doctor earlier, and now I have to wait for another 2 hours to collect my medicine; I just give up and drove back home to sleep and continued to self-medicate for one more day.

On 23/6/2015, I went back to the Polyclinic to collect my medicine in the morning, in less than 20mins. While in the hurry, to beat the anticipated Q; I was fined for parking offence of SGD30/- for not putting a car coupon earlier.

Previously, all I need is 30mins to see a private and family GP and certainly been issued with a  recognized MC to go by. 

Moving forward, I am still learning how to take extra precaution of not catching an URTI. I will be mindful to eat extra fresh fruit and more vegetable to boost up my immune system. 

However, what still puzzle me most is that, my purpose of visiting the Doctor is to get well soon or asap; however, because of the long waiting time to consult a Doctor and then to collect my prescribed medicine, its actually, making me more weaker as such…..