It really is just a few clicks to book the appointment...and sometimes I myself don't understand my reluctance to do it earlier. Considering I had the problem for close to five years now and I only visited NSC once (when I was first diagnosed) + NUH once (2 years ago). And a couple of visits to one of those "my friend's relative's relative's son visited this doctor and he cured him" doctor, and a couple of unofficial TCM visits. No wonder people think I have given up on myself.

So I've been meaning to visit a polyclinic to get a referral first, but after a while I found out that it didn't really matter for a foreigner so I went ahead and booked my appointment. The doctor I consulted 5 years ago was no longer with NSC, so I randomly selected one that fits my schedule. Okay I admit I also tried to check FB to make sure that I got a male doctor coz I didn't want a female one. Nope wasn't comfortable with that.

I duno but I was half looking forward to the appointment as it may be the first step to getting better. The other half was worried in case I got bad news like "oh you have missed the golden treatment timeframe and now you are stuck for the rest of your life". Was even thinking I would skip the rest of the day (I took time off from work) if that is the case, to mourn. Attempted to make a mental list of questions to ask, but couldn't conjure up a list for some reason even though I have been giving this a lot of thought over the years, trust me. 

NSC is actually pretty convenient for me now coz it's really near to office. In my area some more. So arrived in good time and actually went in early. And because I never really prepared much, I didn't learn anything that I don't already know sigh. For instance, I only described how it had gone worse, what sort of ointment I have been using, and the doc only confirmed it got worse (based on my past record - note the singularity). I think I spent more effort trying to get him to speak in English because for some reason, he kept trying to speak to me in broken Chinese and sadly my Chinese level isn't too far from his now. What, so you think Malaysians can't speak decent English huh.

The one thing I didn't have to try though is to get him to recommend alternative forms of treatment. In the past 5 years all I have done is topical treatment. Whether it is prescribed by doc or self prescribed. I did have a bit of TCM but I wasn't even sure if that was targeting my condition which TCM practitioners of course don't believe is the case. So that wasn't counted. Anyway, doc said he can't prescribe oral medication before verifying that I can handle it so off I went to do blood tests and we'll have to see how again when I return to him in a few weeks. 

One thing I CAN do though, is phototherapy. Apparently I used to think they are really expensive like in the region of thousands per session. I don't remember why I got that impression from my first doctor or whether I just made it up myself unknowingly (and thus stupidly didn't think it was a viable option) (and stupidly didn't do further research on it too. Like I said sometimes I think I sabotage myself). Turns out each session costs $18. Yep. So without second thought agreed to go for it and immediately went for my first session.

Oh yea he didn't offer his views of how optimistic/pessimistic my condition is. Probably coz I forgot to ask too. Maybe it's for the best.

And because it's my first phototherapy session, there's a nurse to help me (so much for not wanting a female doctor to see me but oh well, it's an elderly nurse). Basically apply some liquid paraffin to help with absorption, then step into one of this.

Wearing only a G-string ROFL. The nurse said it so matter-of-fact-ly that I didn't manage to smile even though I find it amusing. To maximize exposure area la. Suppose to wear goggles or a hood too but because I had it on my face too, I don't have to. Just step in and close my eyes. Treatment only lasts a minute, think it can be longer but because it's my first time we didn't go too crazy. Anyway it can't be too long coz I will get sunburnt hahaha. Basically like an indoor tanning session. I don't have to consume a UV tablet prior (forgot why already) and the side effects aren't severe, the most pronounced side effects is of course tanning, think I can use some of those. 

Treatment is twice a week and not on consecutive days. The good thing is they are open from 730am up to 645pm so I don't actually have to miss work or take time off for this (was expecting to do that). Pre-booked some sessions, all after working hours. Then went down to the pharmacy to grab my prescription meds and off I go. During school days this would have been a bomb but I guess it's a lot more bearable now. 

Yep so that concludes my first treatment session. Actually went for my second one today. Not sure if this is the answer I am looking for, but at least it's a start. I hope.