I went to the hospital today, and
thanks to @jaydr and @jjmusa for their counseling offline. The plan was to go to a private or specialist hospital in Lagos. I told Jay and Jj my concerns and they agreed that my concerns were valid. They helped me make some arrangements and found some good private hospitals, However, these hospitals were very expensive. The thing is, I didn't really care, I just wanted to get good care, even if it warranted spending a lot.
I reckon that life is very important. I still feel that my brother lost his life because of an underlying issue. He was probably asymptomatic and didn't show any symptoms until it was too late. While I've been managing my health issues quite well, I feel I need to go the extra mile to get myself checked and get a doctor's appointment. @jaydr felt I might need the general assessment of a GP and even if I felt I needed tests, it was better for me to get their assessments.
After a lot of cajoling from my aunt, I decided to firstly go to a general hospital, even if I knew, the process of going to a general hospital can be stressful, my aunt agreed that a general hospital would be the best option as there would be more specialist to attend to me. Well after everything, I must say it wasn't a pleasant experience. The people I saw were in their hundreds. The exhaustion was crazy and after about 4 to 5 hours of endlessly waiting, I got to see the doctor, I saw a naked man in the office, he had a terrible case, but I had to tell the doctor about my case.
I told the doctor about my concerns and he asked me if I had any symptoms, I told him I didn't. I told him I was anemic, but after checking, he said I wasn't. I insisted I was, but he said I wasn't. I told him about my heart concerns and he asked me to do a scan. He wrote a medication for me and asked me to return with the scan, I went to the lab section of the hospital to do the scan, and the people I met there were the worst people ever. I waited an extra hour before they did the scan, but they said I had to come back on Friday as the doctor to read the scan wasn't available. I was devastated.
I thought I could see that doctor before evening, but unfortunately, the people in the lab section didn't want to work. They were lackadaisical and inhumane, and even with the intervention of my aunt, they still insisted it had to be Friday. I had to leave because I hadn't eaten anything. It was quite the distance, but it wasn't as far as going to the general hospital in mainland Lagos. So I'll need to go to the hospital again on Friday, to get the final reading of the scan and see if I needed more scans or medication. But then, the doctor has written some medications for me and I have paid for them.
I still feel quite uncomfortable with the doctor's initial ruling, I felt I was anemic, even if little. But then, to allay these fears I still need to go for a general body check-up. The doctor was certain my vitals were good, but I should buy the medications to help me further. However, I still felt I needed to look more into my system and check my total body function. I'm going to also run some blood tests as well. Sometimes people are healthy, on the outside, but asymptomatic to other things on the Inside.
People are sick, a lot of people are sick and it's a crazy revelation for me. It still hurts. My brother didn't feel sick but he still passed. I'll have to wait till Friday to go again.
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So sorry about the experience
Here are a few things I wanted to share
To go early.
If you want to be served early, then go early. Most GH operate like a bank, first come first serve, except your case is an emergency.
You don't tell a Doctor what you think your disease is, just state your complaints, fears and concern
Many times patient come to tell the Doctor and even argue with us from what they read on Google, they mostly be having Thyphoid and Malaria in Nigeria, but no one comes to say they have HIV or AIDS (even if they know they have it). This almost got my colleague infected while managing a man who was HIV positive. Drs go through a lot.
When you told the Dr you were anemic, to A Doctor, that is a deep diagnosis. But I understand it was a concern to you, it could have been shared as such. I m sure if you had told him some of the symptoms, like dizziness, weakness, fainting spells, palpitations, headaches etc, he would have taken you even more seriously. To the Drs mind, you are bringing a fact before him, for which he can not accept unless he has proven beyond every doubt that you are right. And to prove this they go from mere observation, to specific tests, not speculations or subjective feelings. So, sorry about that as well.
Anemia is a complicated outcome of many conditions and should be taken seriously, there a clear signs a Good Dr must pick and these signs vary for different races and genotypes. As some Genotypes may experience a smooth life at really low PCVs while others won't. So it is quite a funny reaction, I feel the Doctor was right.
Finally your last line, people are sick.
I m glad you realized that, the mere sight of patients I saw in a GH while I was much younger as a patient made me shake off my own sickness, and I went home better. When I saw that people were wishing to have mine. It is very important to value your health when you have it, a friend ones said "Good health is under valued".
Health is wealth and I must say, it is very exemplary what you are doing to seek for proper medical review.
I appreciate @jjmusa2004 for his support as well.
Once again, sorry for your loss.
We are here to help the best way we can.
Thank you for the lengthy reply. Yeah, well the doctor felt like he was in a haste, so I just wanted him to know directly what my complains are. That was why I told him directly that I felt I was anemic. He however felt I really was low on blood like that. Although I've never felt better than I currently am, and maybe because of this too. However he wrote me some medications and tests. It's just that the lab technicians are such terrible professionals.
He also recommended a few things I should do and and wrote that scan for me. Unfortunately I'll have to go back on Friday. I've spent quite a lot, and sadly I'll continue it on Friday.
I'm too tired at the moment and I might need some days off anything to be better.
Thanks for the guidance and everything. You're right, people are truly sick, I saw a lot today, even with my teary eyes and grieving countenance.
I have nothing much to write about those ones, they are mostly employed low grade professionals as they may not be able to afford high paying salary. It’s all part of the bane the health industry is facing.
I had to say again, if this face was the far the Doctor saw, you definitely were not anemic when he saw you. But like I said tests will prove it out. Yeah he must have done that to help you as well. Get well quick Chief.
Normally, general hospitals are always like that. They are filled with population of patients and most of the nurses always behave that way.
If you are not satisfied with the doctor's ruling, I think you should look for another competent hospital to visit in order to be certain of your case. I think you need a confirmation to avoid stories that touch.
It's a good idea to check your whole system. I wish you well, bro.
The doctor seemed competent, but he was in a haste and he did write some medications for me. Which is one thing I picked out of the whole thing. However, the nurse and other personnel I met there were very terrible, terrible work ethics and terrible attitude to work. Because of them, I'll have to go back to that hospital again. However, on my own I'll run these tests I think I need to run.
I don't know how to put it but, men! General Hospital in my country is sick sorry I have to put it that way,
I recall the last time I visited the hospital it wasn't a pleasant experience, worst I've ever heard and I don't ever wish on going back there... it's crazy but then again the private hospital will squeeze every penny from your pocket...
I hope you somehow find solace, a safe haven from all of these ...it can be draining, i pray you quick recovery man... really!!!
They're a bunch of crazy people in that place, however I need to go there before I decide if I should turn to a general hospital. I'll do the tests I need to do, and then decide if I want to see a specialist. It's not an experience I want to have again. Public hospitals in Nigeria is corruption and terrible attitude to work.
Heal quick....you will be fine
Most experienced people I know always recommend that one goes to a general hospital, but the issue with the hospital is that most of them, (if not all) are not organized.
Hopefully, everything will go well on Friday
That's the recommendation I got too, Plus Jaydr also suggested I do the same before thinking of a private hospital. The system is terrible there, and I didn't think I want to experience such, I hope after Friday I'll not have a reason to go again for a long time.
Yeah....It is well with you.
I agree with you sometimes there are underlying issues or sickness that we rarely discover because it doesn’t affect us at that moment.
General hospitals can be stressful because people are too much and there are few doctors and nurses but there are quite good than most private hospitals because some are not qualified. If you find a good private hospital, it would be better. I am sorry about your health but it is a good thing that you are being conscious of it.
Take good care of yourself like you do, stay strong for us and everyone who needs you to. You will be fine.
We wait till friday.
A lot of people feel healthy and look healthy without actually being healthy, and this is a big concern, and this is why I took the decision to rectify some issues in my life.
I don't think General hospitals are the best, they only have more specialist and qualified personnel. However, I think in the future I'll turn to good private hospitals.
Thank you for your kind words, I appreciate.
I am glad Jaydr and Jj are helping out. It is very nice to see. I hope things get better soon. General hospitals can be devastating, and who knows if the doctor even checked you well. Smh.
Let's see what Friday will bring.
He wrote me some medications which I've bought, so I need to return on Friday to see the result of the scan and also do my own personal blood work in a better laboratory.
Yes, you should. You are doing very well. I am very glad.
It is baffling that you insisted you are anemic and the doctor insists you ate not. It is good you went for a scan and I hope the thorough check helps you in looking after yourself properly medically.
He probably felt I wasn't anemic after he'd done his check, but I was feeling the way I was. In reality it was a messed up procedure, one I wished I wouldn't have to return to.
What a terrible experience. Nigerian hospitals are a nightmare usually, except the high end private ones. It's like none of the staff really want to be there. They don't seem to value human life much either.
I wish you a speedy recovery bro.
They truly do not value human lives. What more important thing is that there is no check and balance, and these people are not properly evaluated for their jobs. The corrupt system makes everybody behaves badly. However they still have the right equipment and have far more cheaper. But at the end of the day having money for the right high-end hospitals is the best option
We rushed my brother the ER the other day, I understand it's painstaking to wait in queues just to get the medication/lab results one needs. Friday is far but hoping for the best. For now take care of yourself @josediccus Keep us posted and praying for your wellness 🤗
There is no ER in this side. Nobody here response to emergency. This is how better your health care system is more than the one we have here. The system can be better but the people who work there makes it worse. Thank you for your kind words. I totally appreciate
Doing health checks at regular intervals is a good habit to have.
I'm sorry that you found unhelpful and unprofessional people in your hospital.
I hope you will get good news about your health on Friday.
A hug
!discovery 25
Thank you for your kind words. Public health care in some country is really good, but not in my country. It's a total nightmare out here.
The general hospitals tend to be like that. They aren't really specialized for a lot of things. Personally, I doubt they could really do much until the tests are done and from what you said, it doesn't look like they plan on doing that anytime soon.
Well medical personnel here says the public sector are better because they have more equipments. The services are generally poor because the people in charge makes it so. I hope I get my test result on Friday.
Most of these general hospitals are filled with the laziest set of people you’ll find in the health sector. Assuming it was private, im positive you’ll get everything done today.
However, I guess that’s just how it is with people since they don’t know how you feel inside. Stay strong man, it’s only a matter of days.
Private hospitals can also be limited in the treatments they can give, unless the hospital is high end and very expensive as well. However they need to do better by having better human personnel and not the monsters they parade as nurses and doctors
You're right, we sometimes discover some ailments on routine general investigations however we are likely to work better when there's a focus of symptoms. Reason perhaps he asked for any symptoms. Some general investigations can be done annually for each organ atleast, probably for referencing if the means are available
Thank you, I just didn't want to wait to have symptoms to really take care of myself, if I feel something immediately off, even if it's not serious, I want to immediately begin to take care of things though. Thank you for everything. I really appreciate
You're welcome brother
You haven't been well for quite some time. It's good you decided to go see a doctor. Looks like conditions and staff in many public hospitals are not much different, regardless of where we live in the world. Maybe the UK is an exception in Europe, I heard they have a high-standard public health sector.
The public health sector in UK and the US is probably the best in the world. With that of US being probably more expensive though.
I can tell you that it's worst in Nigeria, more than any other country in the world. It's a shit show, but mostly we don't have an option
Hmm
Well, I also feel you're not anemic. I'm not sure but you haven't done a test to confirm that so don't say that yet. Also, general hospitals can be so crazy.
Just be patient and wait till Friday. They may answer you late just like today but you'd meet the doctor. Just be very calm. Don't worry. You're good. Don't forget that I told you to pray.
For the last time, be calm. Please
Well I feel anemic, and I'll probably run these tests soon enough. I just want to take the time. The hospital is such a chaotic place and it's sad the type of health care we have in Nigeria.
The way some medical Staff attend to people, is usually very annoying and inhumane, I experienced a lot with staff derelict to work.
Please use your medication pending the time you will go for the check up again
I think it's like this because a lot of them are not being checked or evaluated by their superiors or even external government moderators.
Thank you for your kind words.
That is one bad experience you have to experienced with general Hospitals in Nigeria. It is funny how you were insisting with the doctor that you have anemic, you probably didn't have it, it might be just your feelings. I hope you get better soon
I probably didn't, but I felt I was. He wrote me a medication and asked me to run a test. Unfortunately I'll have to go there on Friday again. It's a tasking venture
very sorry
Ondo state Hospital is having a revamp, so, we might be seeing an end to horrible hospital experience, there is also Mother & Child for pregnant women
It's so true that people can be sick without showing any symptoms. My mum had cancer and we didn't know.
It was almost late even the doctor said it's infection.
General hospitals are something else, after it was discovered that it was cancer, the doctors still played with my mum's life because she was on NHIS.
They knew they wouldn't get anything from the operation because of the health insurance, they continued to postpone her appointment every two weeks until we booked an appointment in a private hospital.
If we had waited one more day, I'm very sure it's RIP we would be saying.
I believe the doctors are competent but most of them including nurses lack empathy.
When you have health problems the only thing we want is a good attention, how sad that public hospitals treat patients so badly, here in my country that also happens very often, I hope you recover soon, blessings.
Nigerian government hospitals are synonymous to stress. I've also had my fair share of experience with them. I'm sorry about your experience. Do you feel better now?. Get well soon!
Sorry about the whole thing, any time we visit the hospital, I learn to appreciate God more for good health