Check-up

Ben Contreras .

IT must have been watching too much movies about what’s going on inside an operating room. Death, blood, the attempt to save a life, the frustration of the doctor in his failure to save a life, and the joy of birth — these are but the mix feelings one gets in a hospital.

My brief experience came on Tuesday, July 17, during my medical check-up. The initial preparations brought me to an encounter with needles. They are, first for the blood test for prostate, second for the dextrose, and third for the blood chemistry.

Liquid intake without solid food for 24 hours was easy. I can always manage that. Then I was made to really fast — not even water intake — before the blood chemistry.

The moment of truth came when everything was ready for my colonoscopy and endoscopy. When I was rolled into an operating room, I felt a tinge of anxiety for fear of what’s going to be the result. Instead, I entered a room with lots of nurses like it was a marketplace.

Honestly speaking, I liked how the hospital took care of my needs and the procedures. Maybe, it’s true for many hospitals. But one thing I observed is that every time somebody entered the room, he or she never failed to introduce himself or herself, asked for my name to make sure that they entered the right room and informed me about what’s going to be done within the next few minutes or hours. The briefing had always been thorough.

Dr. Cherry Lou Pepino was very nice during my initial check-up for Medicard purposes. But it was Dr. Fanco Gudito who took care of the major test. I guess I was surprised to see him as handsome as Piolo Pascual.

Back to the OR… Thank God, it was Michaela Chacon who was my attending nurse. She was so nice that I couldn’t resist asking her name. She was heaven sent, and the granddaughter of Bro. Loloy Chacon.

From the information I got, the OR is the hospital’s money-making department. That day, the hospital was abuzz with patients. I feel happy for Dr. Ruben Go for the success of his hospital.

Once upon a time, it wasn’t what it is today. It was far from it, in fact. Today, Polymedic Plaza boasts of an ongoing multilevel parking building and annex buildings for more rooms. Success didn’t come easy, indeed. I simply would love to congratulate the doctor for his patience that led to the success.

The two major tests — colonoscopy and endoscopy — were performed by Dr. Gudito. A liquid substance was sprayed into my throat and I swallowed it. It put me to sleep and served as an anesthesia (minor) so I wouldn’t feel anything when instruments were inserted into my body.

It was over in a few minutes without me feeling anything. After that, I was brought to another place for an ultrasound. They checked my lower abdomen.

Except for high uric level and fatty liver, everything is okay. That’s enough reason for me to thank someone up there.

My deep appreciation and thank to everyone from the hospital for the excellent medical care I got. Thank you also to Medicard and Philhealth for shouldering the costs. With my experience, I now understand the importance and benefits of Medicard and Philhealth.

It was quite an experience indeed.