Result is NEGATIVE

Friday, July 03, 2009

I just want to make my stand clear in case all hell break loose for some of you who are more 'kiasi'.

Because of the sensitivity of my workplace, I was sent for swab test due to a super runny nose that made everyone in the department throw weird looks at me.

I was lucky in the sense that we were required to put on mask at all times (other than eating). Yes. They specifically stated the condition that you are ONLY allowed to take it off when you are eating.

What did not help was the occasional sneeze emitted from the direction where my desk was.

Let me add abit of info here that wearing a mask is not the best feeling in the world. Sure, I was already feeling a little lousy from what eventually was proved to be the common flu, but having on a mask did not make me feel any easier.

For instance, forgetting that the stupid mask was on, I actually drank water from the cup, which only resulted in a very wet mask and an even more upset Cindy.

What's a swab test, some of you may ask. It's actually the term for the test to prove whether you're positive / negative for H1N1. It's all the craze right now.

I want to write it here so that years down the road I can read back and recall that I went for this sickening test.

Of course, despite the discomfort this test brings, I urge those who have fever and flu symptoms to go for the test. Better be safe than sorry. At least your family members and close friends will not give you murderous stares because you left the house thinking it's the common flu but you actually passed it to all of them.

A swab test is called the swab test because it only involves swabbing. Got such word or not ar? Swabbing. Lol!

Other than the usual test for your Blood Pressure and your temperature (of which I had no fever), they will swab your nose and your mouth.

At least that was what I was told.

On my way down to the A&E, I was in no way scared or excited about the test. It was just SOP during the H1N1 period so I calmly went for it.

If I had known earlier, I would be so nervous I'd probably ask to go home to see my GP instead.

It involves swabbing your nose, they say.. Hell, yes. But what they did not tell you was that the cotton bud (those special super long kind) is actually sticked up as far back as possible.

Most of us cannot imagine how it feels like. I didn't either. But now I do. When something is stick very far up your nose (a term that I guiltily admit having used it to scold many people... e.g. I'm gona stick Chubby up your nose), it is something very uncomfortable and painful to the point that your eyes automatically tear.

But no, I did not look like a big crying baby when I was there. Just a tearing adult :(

My obsession with Egypt also made me know that when they are going to mummify someone, they try to keep that person as intact as possible whilst trying to remove their organs and storing them in Canopic Jars. What intrigued me was the way the brain was removed.

Apparently a long hook is put up the nose to reach the brain. They sorta mesh up the brain and then pull the whole thing out through the nostrils.

Now, now. Imagine that. That thought was running through my head in the split second the nurse was swiping my nose; I was really wondering if the damn thing actually did reach my brain!

At the back of my head I was also thinking: Jialat liao. If the nose already like that, the mouth must be not JUST swipe the lips or gum!

I was right. Damnit. I was right.

She warned me before she inserted the cotton bud: "Now, this is going to have a little gagging effect."

She was right too, man. But she was wrong about the "little".

Maybe it would have been better if she did not tell me anything and I was caught unawares. Because soon as she said that, I already felt like I was going to gag.

She swiped the right side near the back of my mouth first, and waited patiently while I recovered from my coughing fit.

But when she tried to swipe the other side, I could tell she was not as calm as I thought, because the cotton bud knocked right against my front teeth.

It was quite funny due to the seriousness of the situation where every single staff was wearing the N95 mask, even the nurse doing the swab for me was dressed in 'battle gear', go figure.

We laughed heartily while the Security Guards wondered what on earth happened.

But I stopped laughing when I realised she will need to swab the other side of my mouth already :(

Anyway, I was chauffeured home in some Maxi cab specially meant for potential H1N1 people. The nice driver was also in full battle gear. I must admit I felt like some kind of a freak. The air-conditioning was turned off and the windows were down to let air circulate within the huge vehicle.

Having experienced all the many safety precautions, I was very impressed. How on earth will the flu virus ever manage to spread in such kind of super play-safe and protected environment? I bet they disinfect the blardy vehicle once it reaches the hospital again.

Of course, let me reiterate that the result is out and that it is NEGATIVE.

I was only quarrantined for a mere 6 hours while awaiting the test results but I have to admit I could not even tolerate that 6 hours. Even Chubby was not allowed to be in the same room as me :(

It felt so... how should I say... so... blardy hell.. it feels very isolated and alone. And I assure you that the feeling sucked, although 3 out of that 6 hours was spent sleeping.

I think what was difficult was that waking up, you are not allowed to step out of the room (which I usually would because afternoon naps perk me up alot and I like to go into my parents bedroom to bug them and jump on their bed like a monkey. So what if I'm already 23!)

I ate my lunch alone in the room, and had to leave the plates outside my door. This was the same for dinner, where my food was left outside the door, a sharp knock, and then I could hear Marie 'running for her life' down the stairs and shouting as she went "Cindy! Your food is at the door!"

After a very sad and lonely TV dinner where I actually managed to catch that 7pm show on Channel 8, I believe the name of the show is called Dong Fang Zhi Zhu, I finally received the call from A&E that I'm cleared :)

One more thing I'd like to clarify was that I told a friend recently that I would not mind even if management sends me to CDC2 for duty. I mean, that is where all the action is, right? Wrong! A&E is where all the action is.

The area where we were waiting was situated right outside the A&E unit. I could glance past the security guards and see the Operation Theatre, or what looks like one, though of course, it was surrounded by those pesky curtains that block your view.

I was daydreaming halfway through because they made me wait there for quite a long time (I think it was to wait for the Maxi Cab to come back, disinfect and pick me up) when I realised that there was a lot of hoo-ha at the A&E corner.

What looks like a rather young girl was rushed in while the medics or the doctor or the whoever was asking "Got pulse already? No pulse? Got pulse already?"

One of the medics even almost slipped and fell but the rest were nonchalant as their attention was focused on rushing the patient in.

This is the kind of job that is not boring!!

CiiN Sniffed Her Pillow At 3:02 PM