Today is the day for my follow-up check-up. Before, my check-ups were twice a month, then it was reduced to monthly, and it's now every three months. It's been a couple of years since I first started my treatment for lupus, and even now, the memories of the day I was diagnosed are still fresh for me. It's probably one of the saddest days in my life because that diagnosis meant that I would never be healthy again. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that will stay until I die, and even though I'll undergo various medications, there's no cure for it. So what is the use of my medicines or maintenance? Well, it helps me to keep my immune system calm because we Lupus patients have a pretty rebellious immune system.
Unlike normal people, ours are oversensitive and react violently whenever there's something foreign happening in our bodies. It kills everything—even our own healthy cells. That's why way back the first time I experienced getting Lupus attack, the clinic doctor confused my condition with dengue and anemia because my platelet, white blood cells, and even red blood cells numbers were all abnormally low. Thankfully, I was diagnosed just before it destroyed my kidney and other organs, so despite being diagnosed with it, I can still say I'm fortunate compared to other patients who were diagnosed too late.
Before I make this sharing a flow-blown medical discussion, let's go back to my check-up today. It was still past 4:00 A.M when we made our way to our first ride, which was a motorcycle that would take us to the multicab stop. Since we went out early, we were able to arrive at the hospital early. Our commuting time took almost a couple of hours, which is why it was already 6:00 A.M when we arrived. There are already a considerable number of patients waiting, but thankfully, since I have a PWD card, I was able to get the priority number. However, despite having the priority number, it still took time before we were able to pass the triage and assessment. Plus, after that, we still need to wait for my specialist to arrive.
It took almost four hours of waiting because usually the specialist who monitors my condition arrives at almost noon. So why come early? Well, it first-come, first-served, and there's a limit to the number of patients she caters to that day, and since she's one of the few specialists in the hospital and she's only present on Fridays, we need to be sure that I won't be part of the patients who will be cut off. I already did it once before, and it's really a waste of money, time and effort. That's why it's a must for us to be early. Fast forward, it's almost 12:30 P.M. when we're finally able to went out of the hospital. What happened today was not different from my past check-up days, yet today felt more challenging because I have another responsibility after the check-up and that one is definitely challenging.
How about you? Have you experienced a grueling check-up experience before—especially in a public hospital? Well, if you have and you want to share, feel free to comment it down. That's all for now everyone, and I hope my little sharing sustained your interest even in a wee bit.
Salamat!
All of the pictures used are mine, while the first picture was edited in Canva.