Friday, February 11, 2011

331. 76-year-old receptionist retires today Feb 11, 2011

My receptionist Jame retires today. He is 76 years old and has a severe hunch to 45 degrees forward. Last week, he fell off the plastic stool and fortunately landed his bum on the floor without fracturing his hip. He complained of a back pain but said it was nothing.

"My mother lived past 90 years," he said.
"How about your father?" I presumed he would live to 90 years.
"Around 50 years," he replied.

I advised him to see the Polyclinic as he had both lower limbs swollen and some non-healing wounds on his left lower leg above the ankle. "The Toa Payoh Polyclinic is closed for renovation," he said. I phoned 100 and got the Ang Mo Kio Polyclinic address for him to get a thorough check up of his hips and his hunched back. The General Practitioner prescribed tight bandages for his lower legs and advised him that he had higher than normal cholesterol after pricking his finger to test for diabetes.

No other exam. I asked him to go to Singapore General Hospital Health Screening Unit to get blood test, heart check, ultrasound and colonscopy. "How long can you live?" I asked. "Better to enjoy your life without having to work 5 days a week," I advised.

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