Around noon time, after sitting at the lounge for four hours, I heard the receptionist calling out “companion of Yee, Edmund”.
The nurses let me inside the recovery room. There were four patients there, plus Edmund. Gastroenterologists earn a lot. Imagine if there are 4 patients every morning, that’s 30,000 x 4 = 120,000 plus the consultation fees of at least 300,000 / month. Kayong mga bata, magdoctor na lang kayo. Makakakita pa kayo ng iba-ibang klaseng hemorrhoids.
My husband was wide awake when I saw him. When I had the colonoscopy, I had difficulty opening my eyes from the anesthesia. Eto naman, gising na gising na. Mas mukha pa akong inaantok sa kanya.
Naiinip na sya, he wanted to leave right away but the nurses were still preparing some documents. Dati, when I was in the hospital, pag-naiinip sya, pinakikialaman nya yung dextrose ko, binibilisan nya para maubos na. But the nurse would come and put a new one. Tapos lalakasan na naman nya kasi ang bagal daw ng patak. Buti hindi ako nalunod.
The doctor came with the most unglamorous colored photos of Edmund’s esophagus and pwetpwet. I will post a copy. That could be the end of our long term marriage and Facebook friendship.
I tried to strike a conversation with Dr. Basco, the specialist who did the colonoscopy. He didn’t remember me a bit. It was an awkward moment. His face looked totally blank. After he did my colonoscopy kasi a few months ago, he exchanged pleasantries with Oyen and talked about family and travel. Nalimutan na nya, Well, in fairness, he has hundreds of patients or maybe thousands. How could he possibly remember each patient? And I think it’s really better that way.
Can you imagine if he has a photographic memory? If he sees me at a restaurant and instantly remember me. “Hey Annie! I remember you, you are my patient, ikaw yata yung namamaga ang almoranas at magalasgas ang pwet? Wait, I think your intestines were reddish and how are your internal and external hemorrhoids?” Okay na lang din that he doesn’t remember me at all.
Health reminder: When you’re 40 and up, have a routine colonoscopy and endoscopy. If you have bleeding or a family history of colon cancer, then maybe do it sooner.
