Roll On: What Malaysian Should Do When The Got Sick (Part One)

More writings on pharmacy! Yay!!

Ok, yada yada, I'm a graduate of Pharmacy in UKM, yada yada, let's talk health.

These are few notes for you guys to practice when you got sick later and I only put the word "Malaysian" since I wrote this based on my limited experience with Malaysian compared to what I have learned in UKM. Apart from that, it is also because there are few things that I think Malaysian may not know that they need to take extra attention. My writing is just so long because I love you guys and I really really want to share these important things. So I have to do this in parts.

Oh my gawd that is so confusing. I don't have any good idea for opening so let's just gets to it.

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#1 Learn how you're feeling when you got sick. 

A simple cough and cold or some small rashes should easily be detected by you. Some runny nose, feverish, a little fucking-annoying cough. If so and if you guys are like me (cheapskate and lazy) just go to a pharmacy and tell them those. Sometimes they will ask some more questions like how long it has been, or if your coughs produced sputum, what colour the sputum is, etc etc. Tell them EVERYTHING especially the part where how long you have been sick. It will save a lot of time and money if you can get your medicine straight from a pharmacy. A pharmacist is trained to properly medicate you for simple diseases and also helps to detect if you actually got something more serious and have to meet a doctor. That is why it is best to tell them all.

#2 You must learn about your surroundings

Some diseases are hard to diagnose. A friend of mine has been coughing for almost the whole semester before they can finally detect that it was tuberculosis. Don't worry, she is okay now. 

It wasn't the doctor's fault, we have seen the doctors, for a few times too, and do all sort of check-up. The bacteria is just so good at hiding themselves. The key is to know to keep on checking it with the doctors. The most important thing that got us keep making her seeing the doctors is because we lived in Chow Kit. Chow Kit is filled with immigrant workers and not to mention, we have started doing our training in the hospitals. The chances are high that she might contract tuberculosis from these situations.

Apart from this tuberculosis issue, we also have multiple cases of dengue fever. When anyone got a fever, it becomes a habit to go to Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) straight away. HKL usually will take blood samples to really make sure about it. Though actually if you got a fever for only a day or two, it won't usually manifested on the blood test. So you still have to be super cautious and take notice if your fever is taking longer than usual and if it feels not like your usual fever. Again, if you went to the pharmacy, make sure to tell them everything. These professionals will always take notice of their surrounding health issues so it's good to tell them everything. This will help them to remind you if you need extra examinations or not.

#3 Don't forget to ask for your prescriptions!

When you saw the doctors in the regular clinic, they will give your medicines straight away. Basically, you meet a doctor, get medicines and you are set to go. But did you know that most healthcare systems in others countries like British and United States do not work like this? You have to see a doctor and get checked. Then they will give you the prescription where you have to buy from a pharmacy. Usually located near them. 

They have a separate system so that each profession can practice freely and you will get the benefit of double checking. Not to mention, the power to choose where you can get your medicine or the kind of brands you want. Besides that, it made the doctors practice a little bit truthfully since they won't gain profit from the medicine. They can then will truly make sure if you need the medicine or not and focus more on checking you properly as they are now not loaded up with the pressure about selling the medicines they have. 

But for me, the most important thing this system is good for is because the patient gets more alert on the actual medicines they are getting which was not the case in Malaysia. Did you know it is your right to get that small papers containing the list of medicines you need? That you can just not buy it at the clinic and buys it at other pharmacies instead? Actually, some of us who knows do this practice of taking the prescription and buys it at a pharmacy because it was cheaper. I think a parent of a friend of mine also did this and the funny thing is, her parents are doctors too.

to be continued

That is all for Part One. Anyway, if you are interested to become a more responsible patient, I would really suggest for you to read Perang Melawan Mitos. These are actual doctors with actual experience and actual truth. You can learn so many things from this book. Read a review by Astro Awani HERE,

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