Last week was a routine trip to the USA again, apart from a presentation that was still in progress, my main concerns were trying to avoid DVT on the 18 plus hour flights to and from SFO.
Unfortunately, i came down with a bad case of flu, fever, shortness of breath and a racking cough on last Wednesday in the USA. I just blamed it on the variable weather over there. Monday Tuesday was extremely Sunny, Wednesday onwards it got really really cool.
So off to Walgreen, which is located at almost every corner, loaded up with Tylenol 3 in 1 fever 39.1 celcius, flu, cough mixtures, tablets and spent the whole Friday curled up in bed,, by that time, walking a short 20 metres, i got breathless.
One of the worst flus i ever had in my life.
Recovered sufficiently enough to check in for a 1am flight back to SG, surprisingly on the flight, i managed to get more than 10 hours of sleep.
Arrived back in Changi at about 11am, took twice the time to check out of the airport, walking very very slowly and spent sunday sleeping.
No idea there was anything called the Swine Flu as yet.
Monday reported to my GP, 37.7, who sent me home with some antibiotics and panadol, i actually junked most of the OTC medication i got in the states, they were really very strong. And gotten an xray at the Hougang Poly in the afternoon, yep no fever by the time i got there.
Well on Tuesday, i was called up by my GP, who said that i had to report to TTSH, as it was a MOH directive, at this time, i was already cleared of a fever, and feeling quick frisky.
Well, suspecting the procedure was going to be quarantine, i packed my laptop, my maxmobile, my travel pouch, my earplugs and toiletry bag.
I was actually thinking about how to get there, as i definitely did not want to take a cab or the MRT. I was quite happy, when i was informed that the ambulance would pick me up and bring me to the hospital directly, which was a godsend, the whole process was quick, from the moment i was contacted to the dispatch of the ambulance, so fast that i could not even manage to get my breakfast or lunch.
The whole process of registering, getting through Triage, getting swabs taken, blood drawn, was excellent, fast and professional.
The most impressive aspect was that the docs/nurses were fully armoured up, face masks (1-2), googles, visor shield for the eyes etc for the docs, disposable gowns etc, which is critical. If i had coughed while they were taking swab samples, i could have infected them instantly if i was a infected vector. Which i feel is essential, they were already taking very high level of risks.
By 3pm, i was in a single bed room, with aircon, and i spent the next 5 hours clearing emails. Was visited by my doctor and even the head of department, quite touched by that. I mean, would you go and check on a suspected vector, if it was already done by one of your direct reports?
Well, i have to be in quarantine, till tomorrow to confirm if i have the virus, which is all good by me.
I really appreciate the process in place to bring suspected cases, into quarantine to determine the status conclusively.
I was supposed to be travelling to Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Beijing, Hong Kong, all within the next 5 weeks and i really do not want to end up in the history books as the bloke who spread "Spam Fever" across asia pacific.
The only problem is that i am going to miss squakbox tonight, the most addictive entertainment program....
sayn
Unfortunately, i came down with a bad case of flu, fever, shortness of breath and a racking cough on last Wednesday in the USA. I just blamed it on the variable weather over there. Monday Tuesday was extremely Sunny, Wednesday onwards it got really really cool.
So off to Walgreen, which is located at almost every corner, loaded up with Tylenol 3 in 1 fever 39.1 celcius, flu, cough mixtures, tablets and spent the whole Friday curled up in bed,, by that time, walking a short 20 metres, i got breathless.
One of the worst flus i ever had in my life.
Recovered sufficiently enough to check in for a 1am flight back to SG, surprisingly on the flight, i managed to get more than 10 hours of sleep.
Arrived back in Changi at about 11am, took twice the time to check out of the airport, walking very very slowly and spent sunday sleeping.
No idea there was anything called the Swine Flu as yet.
Monday reported to my GP, 37.7, who sent me home with some antibiotics and panadol, i actually junked most of the OTC medication i got in the states, they were really very strong. And gotten an xray at the Hougang Poly in the afternoon, yep no fever by the time i got there.
Well on Tuesday, i was called up by my GP, who said that i had to report to TTSH, as it was a MOH directive, at this time, i was already cleared of a fever, and feeling quick frisky.
Well, suspecting the procedure was going to be quarantine, i packed my laptop, my maxmobile, my travel pouch, my earplugs and toiletry bag.
I was actually thinking about how to get there, as i definitely did not want to take a cab or the MRT. I was quite happy, when i was informed that the ambulance would pick me up and bring me to the hospital directly, which was a godsend, the whole process was quick, from the moment i was contacted to the dispatch of the ambulance, so fast that i could not even manage to get my breakfast or lunch.
The whole process of registering, getting through Triage, getting swabs taken, blood drawn, was excellent, fast and professional.
The most impressive aspect was that the docs/nurses were fully armoured up, face masks (1-2), googles, visor shield for the eyes etc for the docs, disposable gowns etc, which is critical. If i had coughed while they were taking swab samples, i could have infected them instantly if i was a infected vector. Which i feel is essential, they were already taking very high level of risks.
By 3pm, i was in a single bed room, with aircon, and i spent the next 5 hours clearing emails. Was visited by my doctor and even the head of department, quite touched by that. I mean, would you go and check on a suspected vector, if it was already done by one of your direct reports?
Well, i have to be in quarantine, till tomorrow to confirm if i have the virus, which is all good by me.
I really appreciate the process in place to bring suspected cases, into quarantine to determine the status conclusively.
I was supposed to be travelling to Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Beijing, Hong Kong, all within the next 5 weeks and i really do not want to end up in the history books as the bloke who spread "Spam Fever" across asia pacific.
The only problem is that i am going to miss squakbox tonight, the most addictive entertainment program....
sayn
