Q&A Portion

I was exhausted after a trip to the hospital to retrieve my test results, show them to our family doctor and wait for him to prescribe medications and lifestyle change. I slept over at my brother's place in Greenhills in order to cut down travel time. I was at Medical City at eight, proceeded to cardio department to get my last results and walked over to my doctor's clinic in the next building.

I previewed the results and with my limited knowledge of medspeak decided that nothing threatening was in there. Pancreas, liver, kidneys, heart, bladder - all working very well. I even exceeded the target for stress test. My only problems are fat deposits in my liver, slightly enlarged prostate and high blood pressure.

"You have to cut back on your alcohol intake, and avoid rich foods," Dr Quah told me. "That should help stabilise our blood pressure and give your kidneys a bit of a break." He also took out a list of food that I should take in moderation or avoid altogether. He asked me to focus on aerobic exercises and go easy on isometrics. "You're already muscular, you don't need to lift weights too much.

Damn, I can't even have too much water!

"I'll give you something for your prostate. This medication can also lower your blood pressure drastically so don't jump out of bed in the morning - you might fall down. Take it easy." He also enumerated the other side effects of the drug, including minor erectile dysfunction.

"Don't drink too much water when you retire at night. Your bladder will be too full and put unnecessary pressure on your prostate."

Then he proceeded to ask me some very private questions. As much as I don't mind him asking me these - after all, he has taken care of my entire family for nearly 15 years now - I didn't know how much to tell him. I am almost certain he doesn't discuss his patients' proclivities with other patients, unless maybe if there's something life-threatening that the next-of-kin should know about.

"How has your sex life been?" He knows I'm single.

"Good. I guess."

"What do you mean by 'good', " he asked. "Do you have a steady partner?"

"No, but I'm not that active in the sack." I lied.

"Hmm..." He didn't sound convinced. "What do you mean by 'that active'." Dr Quah is going Socratic on my arse. 

"I have sex about thrice weekly - on average. Is there anything I should worry about? I know about these things and I'm careful."

He just smiled back.



As God is my witness, I shall go hungry again...

 "I know about Han," he said cheerily as I stepped out of his clinic.