Thomson Medical Centre TCM - Physician Xia Ai Wei

I was feeling very lost because Dr Tan Kian Sing's prescription was always the same. Along the way, three people from my church spoke to me about another TCM physician in Thomson Medical Centre on three separate occasions. She was Physician Xia Ai Wei. I thought it might be a sign from God. Since I was losing hope with Dr Tan Kian Sing, I might as well try Dr Xia AW.

She was young and pretty and pregnant. Very patient. Spoke English. She said my body was yin in nature and that exercise is very good for yin people.  Her acupuncture sessions were like facial or spa sessions. The room was classy and relaxing. There was music playing. It was the best acupuncture experience of the three TCM doctors that I had seen. The powdered medicine tasted nicer because it resembled Liang Teh (cooling herbal tea) instead of disgusting bitter liquid. But the charges were also twice the market rate. In order to start acupuncture sessions with her, I had to pay a one lump sum for ten sessions of acupuncture. I paid $600 plus for 10 sessions. As a result, I stopped seeing Dr Tan for a while and consulted Dr Xia. 

During my third cycle of clomid, I went to sentosa with my husband. I went to Adventure Cove and was so happy that I had forgotten to take my last dose of clomid. I called NUH and Prof advised me to take clomid the next day which meant that I took it on Day 7 instead of Day 6. I didn't ovulate on Day 14 but I ovulated around Day 22 or 23 when Prof scanned my eggs. I told Prof that I was afraid to try for a baby this time round because it was late ovulation but he said, "Not to worry, we will manage it together."

So we tried. I was pregnant for the third time! I went to Dr Xia Ai Wei and told her. She told me to pray everyday. She did acupuncture for me but not around the womb area. I was shocked that she didn't prescribe medication. Why the fuck would I see a TCM doctor when she could not prescribe medication for me to help me to "Bu" my body and support the pregnancy? (In real life, I speak graciously therefore online I can unleash all my emotions! Perfect excuse to spew vulgarities) I was in for another rude shock when I called NUH.

This time round, I did not run to the hospital immediately. I remembered the previous time when I rushed to AnE to see Dr LC Cheng and he ordered the beta HCG tests which stressed me no end. I had always suspected that it was the stress and worry that had killed the embryo.

I had hoped that if I took things naturally, I might be fine. I called NUH for an appointment, and realised that Prof was away on a conference for like two weeks. When he was back, he needed to see the urgent cases. I could only see him a month later. You mean I am not considered an urgent case??? The nurse on the other line said that urgent cases usually meant life threatening. I felt cheated and betrayed. The nurse also told me to change gynae since Prof PC WONG wouldn't be doing delivery because he does not do delivery! I was devastated! What the Fuck! Heck with all the manners! Life is shit at that moment! Why didn't he tell me that he doesn't do delivery? Why would I want another doctor for my case? The nurse wanted me to consult another doc called Dr Anu. I asked the nurse if Dr Anu specialises in special cases, she said she recommend simply because she was free. Double Fuck. 

So I hung up and scheduled to see Dr Henry Cheng since he was the one who had prescribed me clomid for three cycles. This was the third cycle and strictly speaking, I was still his patient. Since Dr Anu was just a random gynae in NUH, I did not see any difference between her and Dr Cheng.

I went to see Dr Cheng with a mixture of emotions. I knew I would never feel the same as a normal woman - over the moon and filled with joy upon seeing a positive test. Mine would always be diluted with some irrational fear.

I told Dr Cheng that I went to see him so that he could prescribe some progesterone for me and I was not willing to do any ultra scan because it was very stressful. His face turned black and he sounded like he was trying to hold back his irritation when he told me that as a doctor, he needed to scan to know what was going on with him. Otherwise, what was the point of him being my doctor?

He was very firm and I relented. He did an abdominal scan and saw nothing. I told him my last date of intercourse and he said there was still chance that it was viable after doing some mental counting. Knowing that I was hugely disappointed, he told me he might have seen a small sac. He asked me to take folic acid and Bokey asprin. 

I was scheduled to see him next week. Before my next appointment was up, I had a physically taxing day. I had to do lifting moments repeatedly because I was supposed to check the stuff of my subordinate before she quit. I also needed to walk around to supervise an event. I had been working for 10 hours straight. I felt physically and mentally stressed too because I needed to check on the colleague. I discovered in the eleventh hour that she had not completed some work and it was her last day.

When I drove home, I felt this downward sensation backache. I already had a premonition that something was terribly wrong. When I reached home, I saw brown blood stains on my underwear. In order not to repeat the first pregnancy mistake of walking to NEX and taking it easy, I went straight to Thomson Medical Centre A&E after much drama.