(Going to) See a doctor in Melbourne

I thought about the title of this post for a bit after writing out the entire post and whether it is appropriate given that till now, I haven't actually seen a doctor. Decided to go on with it since that had been my intention but just haven't been able to manifest the seeing part.

I tested positive for COVID a few days ago. It's no big deal now but I think I am quite possibly one of the minority now. It seems that there have been more people who have caught it than not caught it at this point. I didn't figure I would catch it in Australia given how wide and open it is. Incidentally, I was having this conversation with Renee a few months ago in Perth about how even without all the masks mandates and everything, it is far easier to catch COVID in Singapore than over here and the conclusion we came to was because its more open, even in the big cities. Anyway, on hindsight, now is proabaly as 'good' (I use good liberally here. There really isn't any good time to get it) as any to catch COVID. I have a good 3 weeks before my flight back to Singapore and technically now is my lull period. The only irritating thing was having to shift my car servicing down the line which might clash with my work schedule next week.

Anyway, the 2 days after testing positive were bad symptoms-wise. There was no differentiating of night and day and I was essentially confined to the bed, toilet and the kitchen for water. Things are much better now to an extent where I am starting to consider the kind of exercises I can do to build up my fitness for my work later on.

BUT, this post isn't about COVID. It is about trying to see a doctor here. Or at least my attempts to. 

D-1: So the day before I officially tested positive with the ART test kits I brought over from Singapore, lets call it D-1, I had some slight cough - fairly innocuous and nothing to suggest it was going to be a big-ish thing. We even suspected it might be due to all the cashew nuts I ate the day before. I even went to Woolies to get myself a packet of coconut water (half off!). No sore throat, no fever, I could still taste food and all, but even then, I decided to take a ART test just to confirm - negative. Started to feel a little uncomfortable in the evening, so popped 2 paracetamols and called it a night.

Day 0: I woke up with a splitting headache and a fever. Life is miserable. The doctor in me self-diagnosed as lack of rest, popped another 2 paracetamols, hope that they take effect soon cos I had to send the car for servicing that afternoon at 2pm. At 10am, I thought to myself, what use if buying health insurance if I was going to self-medicate at home everytime I fall sick? By then, the first round of paracetamols are taking effect and I'm starting to feel a lot better. Googled for a nearby GP, found one within a 500m walk, put on a mask, grabbed my passport and headed over thinking I'll get seen, given meds, be sent on my way home by 11am. Right? No.

GP1 - I walked up to this dingy little house and thought to myself, this isn't right. There was no one around, weeds overgrown but it does say ______ Medical Centre. I go up to the door and tried to open it but its locked. There was a sign that says its opening hours. Yeap, it is supposed to be open. There was also another sign that says to please book an appointment through their website. I went to their website and there was no appointment booking page, only a message function at the contact us page. So I dropped them a message, was it possible to come by without and appointment and if not, when is the earlier appointment date. Till this date, I haven't gotten a reply.

I waited for a bit and decided to go to another GP in the suburb centre. I can feel my headache and fever coming back.

GP2 - Walked another 10 min to the centre and GP 2. Thank god its open. Sorry we don't take walk-ins. You have to make an appointment. Our earliest appointment is tomorrow afternoon. She also asked if I had flu-like symptoms, and said she can't make the appointment if I had flu-like symptoms. But the receptionist was really nice about it. I asked if there was another GP around and she gave a me a location. 

GP3 - Sorry, we don't take walk ins. But one appointment just cancelled on us at 1.40pm if that was ok. Otherwise, you have to wait to make after hours booking - which opens at 4pm today. She also asked if I had any flu-like symptoms - fever, cold, cough, sore throat etc. I said yep, a slight fever and headache. Sorry, then we can't see you unless you have a negative PCR test. Can I use a home test kit? Sorry no, you have to go to this place in Port Melbourne, book an appointment with them, get a negative PCR test, then book an appointment with us, and come with the PCR results, then our doctors can see you.

I'm sorry, what? How many hoops do I have to jump through just to see a doctor? And what is this we cannot see you if you have flu-like symptoms? Does that not describe at least 50-70% of illness? I mean, fever has got to be right up there when you ask for symptoms of ANY illness. And this whole appointment thing is just mind-blowing as well. How does one get an appointment for the day if he wakes up and feels terrible on any given day if the next available appointment is tomorrow? Does he suffer through it for 1 day and hope the doctor gives him an MC tomorrow to cover for today as well?

GP4 - At this point, I'm just like screw it. I went home and tried to look for any GP near the car servicing place. I thought I could drop the car off, and then walk over to the GP to get diagnosed and medication. At this point, I wasn't sure how the system was going to work and thought I probably might need to go to the pharmacy with the doctor's prescription to get my meds and all. Just like the old days. Found one with brilliant reviews, called to book an appointment at 2.45pm. Again, really nice lady, got me in, explained the price structure and asked if I had medicare or health insurance and then "Do you have flu-like symptoms?" I said yep but I took an ART test yesterday and it was negative. At this point I was ready to get rejected yet again. Fingers crossed, waiting with bated breath.

Ok we can see you with that. Those words were music to my ears. Cue Prince of Egypt AST When You Believe.

5 minutes later, I thought I should probably just take another ART test just to double confirm yknow.

Then the dreaded thick red line across T showed staring angrily back at me. Fking hell.