On Baby A's birthday, the c-section surgery went as planned. I walked into the OR around 9:30am and was pushed out around 2 hours later. W was instructed to wait outside while the team was getting me prepared for anesthesia. He then got invited to come in and sat next to me while the team worked on getting Baby A out of me 😂. W was a good DJ and Baby A was born while Taylor Swift's Shake It Off was being played. So...did I feel any pain during this life-changing surgery? No, I didn't. I had a spinal block. I never felt any type of pain during the surgery. Getting the anesthesia injected - however - was the most uncomfortable part of the surgery. There was a lot of pressure. I felt my back being pulled or pushed, or something. It just felt very uncomfortable, not painful, but very uncomfortable. It was also hard to try leaning toward the source of that uncomfortableness. Learning to relax while being uncomfortable was a very hard thing to do. But it was necessary. Once it...
This Thursday we finally went to our provider for our much delayed yearly physical. The last time we had it done was in the summer of 2019. That means we were supposed to get our bodies checked last summer. However....the pandemic happened so every preventative care appointment we made last year either got pushed or canceled (several were rescheduled then got canceled by the provider to minimize exposure and to save healthcare resources). It was understandable, and we wanted to stay away from healthcare facilities, unless necessary, to avoid exposure. To be honest, as 2020 got close to an end, we began wondering if the cons on waiting out on preventative care would outweigh the pros (pros being staying away from any germ and possible exposure to any virus, and cons being not catching something early on). When 2021 came, we decided it's time to get a checkup to put our mind at ease. This post documents our day of the appointments and our experience of care during this time of pandemic.
這個星期四, 我們終於去做慢了好久的歷年身體檢查. 上次做身體檢查是2019年的夏天. 因為疫情關係, 所以去年全部的預防性檢查 延後的延後 取消的取消 (有幾次是醫療單位主動延後然後取消 為了減少接觸跟保留醫療資源). 這個我們很能理解, 而且我們自己也想盡可能避開接觸醫療機構, 除非是真的覺得是必要的. 不過說實話, 當2020快結束的時候, 我們也開始想身體檢查延後太久會不會弊大於利. 當2021年到了之後, 我們決定該是做個檢查也為了心安. 這篇是紀錄疫情期間做身體檢查的經驗.
Our provider is Kaiser Permanente and our family doctor is Dr. Kawahara, so our first pick was to schedule with her. It's very easy to make an appointment online so that's what we did, though we had some trouble to book in-person appointments at first. Due to COVID, the location we went for our last yearly physical was (still is) temporarily closed. So we chose Beaverton Medical.
我們的醫療單位是Kaiser, 我們的家庭醫生是Dr. Kawahara, 所以我們最初是想預約給她做檢查. 網路上做預約很簡單, 所以我們就直接網路上做檢查的預約了, 不過 "面對面的檢查"預約 有比較難預約. 因為疫情的關係, 我們原本看家庭醫生的地方暫時不開放. 所以我們選了Beaverton Medical這個分區.
When making an appointment online, the website asks for reason of a visit and has a list of options to choose from (can only pick one), alongside any appointment you should make based on what's on your file.
網路上做預約時, 網站會問 為什麼要去看醫生 並提供一串的選項讓你選(只能選一個), 也會有根據系統裡病人資料提出的需要預約的原因.
We tried to schedule our in-person appointments with our family doctor but there was no available date for us to choose from, even with 3 months in advance on the system. So, we thought to check for availability with other doctors and found available dates with several doctors. Unfortunately more than half of them only had spots for virtual appointments. Our thoughts were "gotta have a physical exam" and "must have bloodworks done" so in-person was what we were aiming for. So we spent quite some time looking for just doctors who could do in-person appointments. Then, we checked their specialty, reviews made by patients on Yelp and other websites and decided to go with Dr. Bachelor. We found a date that allowed us to schedule back to back appointments so we could get done around the same time. The appointments were made 3 weeks in advance. We each got a confirmation text 2 days before the exams. The text said to reply "Y" for Yes on the appointment, reply "N" if need to cancel. We both texted back with Y.
一開始, 試著預約跟家庭醫生做"面對面檢查," 但系統顯示連著三個月我們的家庭醫生都預約不到. 所以, 我們想到 那就找其他醫生 也找到有醫生有空位可以預約. 不過很可惜大約一半的醫生都只接受"網路看診." 我們當時的想法是 "必須做身體檢查" 跟 "一定要抽血" 所以面對面的檢查對我們來講是必須的. 所以花了一小段時間找可以親面檢查的醫生. 接著, 在Yelp和其他網站上查看那些醫生的評價跟專長, 然後決定預約跟Dr. Bachelor做檢查. 我們找到一天可以連坐兩個預約 這樣我們兩個人可以差不多時間做完檢查. 看醫生的預約是提前三個禮拜做的. 檢查的前兩天也有收到確認看診的簡訊 簡訊上說 確定看診的話 回傳"Y" 需要取消的話 回傳"N". 我們都回傳了Y.
On the day of the appointments, we got a severe weather warning! A snow storm was coming (and is still here lol) and the prediction was Oregon could be experiencing record-low temperature. The forecast was for the snow to pick up in the evening. Our appointments were for 4:00pm and 4:45pm. The snow had just started as soon as we left home. We got there at 3:45pm with our double masks. From my experience for check-in (for COVID testing which was done outside) last summer, a temperature checking procedure was done outside of the building before anyone could be let near the entrance. This time, it was snowy and very windy outside so we weren't surprised that the temperature checking was done inside the building. After our temperature was checked, we checked in at the lobby on the first floor. Then, walked up to the 3rd floor and waited at the seating area next to the entrance of the exam area. A nurse called my name at about 3:55 PM. As soon as I started walking toward her, she saw W behind me, then she looked at her clipboard (patient info has a headshot of the patient) and back to W then said "Oh are we seeing you too? Would you like to be seen at the same time? We can see you both at the same time or separate, it's up to you." W and I looked at each other and said "Sure! Let's do this together!" The nurse led us to exam room #8. The exam room was just like most other exam rooms I've been to in Utah and Colorado. It's private, has an exam chair, a sink, a small couch, and another chair for the doctor.
到了身體檢查的那天, 我們收到了暴風雪警報! 當時預計會是Oregon近年來最低溫的幾天. 預報是說雪會在傍晚開始加重. 我們的檢查預約是下午4點跟4:45. 我們離開家的時候雪才剛開始下. 下午3:45的時候, 我們帶著雙層口罩到了醫療中心. 根據我去年在同一個地方做報到的經驗(去年夏天在醫療中心外面做了COVID檢查), 在門口外面 有一個檢查體溫的步驟 沒檢查不能靠近門口. 這次, 門口外又是大風又是冰雪, 所以不意外體溫檢查是在走進入口後 在室內做的檢查. 我們體溫檢查完畢後, 就到一樓的櫃檯報到. 然後走樓梯到三樓 在檢查區門口旁的等待區等待. 大概3:55的時候, 一個護士叫了我的名字. 正當我走向那位護士時, 護士看到我身後的W, 然後看了手上的資料一下(病患資料上有病患的大頭照) 接著對W說 "喔 你也是來看診嗎? 你們要不要一起? 我們可以一次兩個人同時檢查 看你們想不想這樣." W跟我互看了一下 然後說"好啊! 那就一起吧!" 然後護士帶著我們去了8號診療房. 房間跟其他我在Utah和Colorado待過診療房很類似. 是獨立房間, 有一個診療椅, 一個洗水槽, 一個小沙發, 還有一個醫生的椅子.
After we got settled in the exam room, the nurse chatted with us for a bit and did an intake with each of us. So we took turn to sit on the chair and got our blood pressure, weight, and pulse checked at the chair. While one person was on the exam chair, the other person sat on the couch next to it. For weight, the chair lifted up! This was my second time getting weighted like this. I liked that a lot and felt like a little kid with my feet dangling in the air hahahaha.
在診療室裡 護士跟我們聊了一下 然後開始了intake. 一次一個人坐在診療椅上 量血壓體重脈搏. 有人在診療椅上的時候 另一個人就坐在沙發上. 量體重的時候, 整個診療椅會舉高! 這是我第二次這樣量體重 我滿喜歡的 感覺像小孩然後腳騰空晃 哈哈!
One of the first things the nurse asked me was if I was getting a pap smear that day. I told her probably not because it was day 2 of my period lol She understood and so I'll just need to make another appointment for it later. After about 15 minutes of talk with the nurse, she said she's gonna go out to let the doctor know we were ready, then left us alone in the exam room. W and I started scrolling on our phones and about 10 minutes later, a soft knock came at the door and Dr. Bachelor came in with a laptop.
護士最早問的其中一項問題是 那天要不要做子宮頸抹片檢查. 我回答那天大概不方便因為當時是月經第二天😴 護士很了解 說下次再另外檢查就好. 跟護士講話大約15分鐘後, 她說要去跟醫生說可以來看我們了, 然後就離開了房間 只剩下我和W. 我們兩個就在那划手機 划阿划, 大概10分鐘後, 一個很輕聲的敲門聲出現, 然後Dr. Bachelor帶著一台筆電進來了.
Dr. Bachelor was very friendly and we liked her a lot from the start. I brought the prenatal multi vitamin (SmartyPants) I'm taking and Dr. Bachelor looked at the bottle very carefully, went over the ingredients and recommended to aim for daily intake of 800 mcg of folic acid. She also reminded me to get enough iodine before and during pregnancy. She also commented it's very good to start taking prenatals before getting pregnant. After she finished checking each ingredient of the vitamin, she said everything looked fine just that she suggested to get 200 mcg more of folic acid (because the current multi I'm taking only covers 600 mcg). I told her I thought vitamin was only just supplement and we could still get nutrients from eating. She said the recommendation is 800 mcg/day from before conception and as long as my body gets enough folic acid then there's no concern, regardless whether I take it from vitamin or vitamin + normal eating. I pointed out the bottle shows this multi vitamin doesn't include any iron, and that I thought it'll be fine to add iron supplement later once/if we get pregnant. Dr agreed and said too much iron could cause liver damage and reduce zinc absorption and we knew zinc is linked to conception. She agreed to not include extra iron intake for now.
Dr. Bachelor很友善 我們從一開始就喜歡她. 我有把在吃的孕婦綜合維他命(品牌: SmartyPants)帶過去, 她有很仔細的看每一個成分 然後說 建議我每天攝取800mcg的folic acid. 她也提到要在備孕期間跟懷孕時都要注意攝取足夠的iodine. 也提到懷孕前先開始吃孕婦綜合維他命很好. 她看完每一個成份之後, 說那罐看起來一切都好. 唯一的建議是另外多吃200mcg的folic acid (因為現在吃的維他命含有600mcg). 我跟她說 我覺得維他命是輔助的腳色 因為平常飲食中還是能攝取到各種維生素. 她說 建議是備孕時期開始一天攝取800mcg, 至於是從維他命中攝取還是維他命+平常飲食 只要有足夠就好. 我自己也另外提起 正在吃的綜合維他命沒有包含鐵, 因為我覺得之後若懷孕以後需要的話再補鐵就好. 醫生回 她很認同還沒懷孕前不要自己多攝取鐵的維他命, 過多的鐵會導致肝受損 也會影響zinc的攝取 連帶到影響受孕.
We talked about family medical history and our lifestyle, what types of work we have and what kind of exercises we do. We told the doctor our doggo is our cue for walk, which helps with getting physical activity during this period of time. We all laughed at that 😎 W also asked the doctor about the vaccine. Since the priority is given to frontline healthcare workers, older populations and people with pre-existing conditions, later other frontline workers and teachers, W asked what are the chances of young adults without pre-existing conditions to get vaccinated. Dr. Bachelor said probably next year.
跟醫生討論了家庭病史, 生活方式, 工作性質, 平常的運動方式. 我們跟醫生說家裡有隻毛頭會提醒我們散步時間, 也幫助我們平時保持一定的外出散步分量. 講到這大家都笑了. W問醫生 現在疫苗都是優先給前線醫療人員跟老人, 之後還有其他前線人員跟老師等排在一般民眾前面, 既然我們還年輕, 也沒特殊病史, 她覺得我們大概甚麼時候才可能被排到可以打疫苗? Dr. Bachelor回 保守估計 大概是明年了.
I wrote down some questions on my phone before the appointment so it was convenient to just go over each question I had like that. Most of my questions were about conception & pregnancy. One particular question I had was about COVID vaccine & trying to get pregnant and women in their early pregnancy. I knew the CDC recommends everyone to take the vaccine whenever possible, though at the same time I also knew clinical trials were done with predominantly non-Hispanic Caucasian (less than 5% for Asian) and not much data on pregnant women and COVID vaccines. Also just because the vaccine is still so new and no one knows for sure about the potential side effects of a new vaccine years down the road, I wanted to hear her take on this. She responded with "it's a hot topic" and told us her take is "yes" on taking the vaccine even though everything about it is still new, because "the known risks of getting COVID (while pregnant or not) outweighs the known risks of receiving the vaccine." And...just like that, someone knocked on our door. Dr. Bachelor opened the door behind her chair and asked "what's up?" The nurse that took our vitals popped her head in and said "We have extra COVID vaccine and I was wondering if you two would like to get vaccinated?" What a coincidence!? Even the doctor turned her head back to the nurse and said "Oh wow! We were just talking about it!" W and I looked at each other for a second, and nodded at each other, then we both said "yes" at the same time. The nurse nodded and said she'll go tell another nurse that we said yes and get our names on their vaccine roster. After the nurse left, Dr. Bachelor continued answering our other questions. After all questions were answered, she checked our ears, breathing, and then asked us to take off our masks so we could open our mouth and said "ahhh" so she could look at our mouths. One person at a time. It was also during this the time of "open mouth and say ahhh" that one of us had no face covering. Then, she had us lay flat on the exam chair (it folded into a bed on demand) one at a time and checked our abdominal by pressing her hands on it. I was already feeling bloated because of my period, and her hands made me worry if I would let out gas in the exam room lol!! It didn't happen hahaha! The exams were done after our stomachs got checked. We were told to follow a nurse to get the vaccine first, then back to the first floor to get blood drawn for bloodworks.
在看醫生前我有在手機上記了想問的問題, 所以看診時就一個問題一個問題的問下去. 大部分的問題都跟受孕和懷孕有關. 其中有個問題是有關COVID疫苗注射在備孕中跟剛懷孕的婦女. 本來就知道CDC建議是大家在疫苗能打時就趕快打, 不過我也知道疫苗實驗大多是注射於非西班牙裔白人身上(亞洲人參與的不到5%) 而且沒有許多有關孕婦跟疫苗的數據. 另外就是疫苗本身很新, 沒有人知道究竟長時間下去之後 有沒有甚麼副作用, 趁著看醫生想聽聽醫生對此的想法. 醫生的回應是 "這是個很夯的話題" 然後說 "是" 建議還是能打就打疫苗(不管有沒有懷孕), 即使現在對於疫苗的資訊還很新 因為 "目前所知的COVID帶來的風險大於所知的疫苗導致的風險." 就在剛講完這個的當下, 突然有人來敲門. Dr. Bachelor把她椅子後面的門打開, 剛剛幫我們做檢查的護士探了個頭進來說 "我們現在有多餘的COVID疫苗, 你們兩個想不想今天打這個疫苗?" 怎麼那麼巧?! 連醫生也轉頭過去說 "哇 我們剛剛才討論疫苗!" W跟我互看對方一秒 然後都點頭並同時說"yes." 護士點頭後說去跟其他護士講一聲 然後把我們放上打疫苗名單上. 護士一離開後, Dr. Bachelor繼續回答我們其他的問題. 問題全回答完之後, 她開始檢查我們耳朵, 呼吸, 然後請我們把口罩拿開 張大嘴巴發出"阿"的聲音 然後她檢查嘴巴. 一次都是一個人坐在診療椅上被檢查. 也是檢查嘴巴的時候是全程唯一時候把口罩拿下來. 然後醫生要我們輪流躺在診療椅上(椅子會往後倒變成床) 她用手壓在腹部做觸診. 當時我因為月經覺得肚子很脹, 醫生的手下來壓的時候我擔心會不會瓦斯外洩 結果沒有哈哈哈哈! 腹部檢查完畢之後診療就算結束. 醫生有說 先去打疫苗, 然後離開前在1樓的化驗所要做抽血.
We followed the nurse to the conference room where I did my volunteer orientation at (I volunteered at this location just until COVID outbreak began in the US). On the way over to get vaccinated, we learned that there were extra doses because 4 people reserved their spots for that day, but didn't show up. The vaccine doses had already been prepared and would've been a waste if no one took them before a certain time that day. Instead of letting the vaccines to go into waste, they decided to offer to patients who just happened to be at the medical center. There was another couple inside the conference room also getting the vaccine and it sounded like they were also very surprised at getting the vaccine that day. So, the couple, plus us two. Four people. We all said we felt very lucky to be at the right place at the right time.
我們跟著護士一起走到一間我之前做過志工orientation的會議室(我之前在這個醫療中心做志工做到美國疫情爆發). 再前往打針的路上, 我們了解了原來那天之所以會有多餘的疫苗 是因為有4個人原本預約了那天要去接受疫苗 但是沒出現. 疫苗已經事先準備好, 若沒有在一定的時間內注射 就變成完全的浪費了. 與其讓疫苗被浪費, 他們決定提供給當時在醫療中心的病人. 會議室裡當時有另一對couple, 聽起來他們也是很驚訝很臨時突然打COVID疫苗. 所以這樣算一下, 那對couple, 加上我跟W兩個, 剛剛好是四個人. 我們四個人都說覺得運氣很好 在對的時間出現在對的地方.
There were three nurses inside the conference room, each with a station of their own. W chatted a lot with our assigned nurse, about the vaccine side effects, what happens to the people who missed out on their vaccine that day, and the how on getting the 2nd dose of the vaccine.
當時有三個護士在會議室裡, 每一個護士有自己的一個處理空間. W跟被指派給我們的護士聊了一會, 有關疫苗的副作用, 跟原本預約來接受疫苗卻沒出現那他們之後還能打嗎, 跟之後怎麼接受第二劑疫苗.
The nurse informed us the second dose needs to be taken 28 days apart and that the 2nd dose is likely to bring on more intense side effects. She told us the first dose likely will only make a sore arm and maybe fatigue for a day or 2 and that we can expect cold-like symptoms (fever, sore throat, fatigue) after the 2nd dose.
護士跟我們說 第二劑必須在至少28天之後才能打, 而且第二劑很可能會帶來更強烈的副作用. 她說, 第一劑大概只會有手臂痠痛跟可能感到全身無力一兩天, 而第二劑之後可以預期的有一般感冒症狀(發燒, 喉嚨痛, 全身無力).
W went before me. He asked "will it hurt" and the nurse chuckled. I told him to look at the clock on the other side of the room and count down the minute. He did that and when it was my turn I also did the same hahaha!
W在我前面先接受疫苗. 他還問"會痛嗎?" 護士笑了一下. 我叫他看房間另一邊的鐘 叫他倒數一分鐘. 他照做了 然後輪到我的時候我也做了一樣的事哈哈!
After we received our shots, we stayed nearby for 15 minutes per the nurse' instructions. This was just in case either of us was allergic to the vaccine so that if needed they could provide care right away. We sat and walked around a bit, nothing happened and we said goodbye to the nurse after 15 minutes went by. Then, we headed to the lab on the first floor. One of the things we like about Kaiser is that "everything is located together." Before we switched to Kaiser, it was "have dr appointment in building A, go to the lab in building B for bloodworks, pick up prescriptions from a pharmacy in building C, and see a specialist in building D probably miles away from primary doctor's office." Now that we're with Kaiser, we can get all of these done in the same building. It's so much more convenient and takes out the stress of parking.
兩個人都打完疫苗之後, 我們聽從護士的指示待在附近15分鐘. 這是預防我們有對疫苗過敏反應他們可以馬上緊急處理. 我們坐一會也在附近走一會, 過了15分鐘後兩個人都沒特別感覺就跟護士說掰掰了. 然後, 回到一樓去化驗處的大廳. 有一點我們喜歡Kaiser的地方是 "所有東西都聚在一起." 在換到Kaiser前, 看醫生都是 "去A診所看醫生, 然後去B化驗處抽血, 之後開車去C藥局領藥, 可能還要開車去更遠的D看專科." 現在跟Kaiser, 這些全部都可以在同一棟建築物裡完成. 真的是方便很多省了開車換地方找停車位的麻煩.
At the entrance of the lab, we checked-in via a kiosk machine. Only had to enter our membership number and date of birth for check-in, then it asked for a phone number for notification for when the lab was ready. W got his "go text" first. I got mine about 5 minutes afterwards. The text also instructed which station to go to. The nurse who drew my blood was...very chatty with her coworkers. She told me to have a seat and I saw her chatting with other nurses about driving in the snow and who was just taking a break and who's gonna cover for whom. Of course the actual procedure was very quick, but waiting felt long. It also stung a little more than usual, which I wasn't expecting.
在化驗處的大廳 我們用機器完成了check-in. 其實只要輸入會員號碼和出生年月日就算完成了, 然後機器會問電話號碼 當護士準備好抽血時會傳簡訊通知(也可以選擇電話用講的). W先收到了簡訊 所以他先去了. 我大概慢他5分鐘左右. 簡訊上通知說要去幾號檯. 替我抽血的護士...挺愛跟同事聊天的. 她見到我叫我坐下之後 跟其他護士聊雪地裡開車怎樣怎樣然後討論誰剛剛去休息了誰要幫誰處理病患. 當然抽血其實過程很快, 但是等著被抽的時間覺得好久. 而且這次抽血有感覺到刺痛, 算是預期外.
After I was done with the blood draw, we were finally done with our visit to Kaiser that day. We spent about 15 minutes warming up the car and getting the snow & ice scrubbed out from the windshield. Whew that ice came very quickly! Then, we went to Uwajimaya to pick up some food for a quick dinner, then headed home and played Don't Starve Together with our friends online 😜 Our blood test results became available online just a few hours later. W is perfectly healthy and I need to watch out for my blood sugar, it's not in the range of diabetes but just good to be mindful of, as with anything. No one got recommended for prescription for anything (let's keep it up).
我抽完血後, 我們終於算是完成了這次的身體檢查. 花了大概15分鐘在車子裡熱車跟剷雪鏟冰. 冰雪堆積得滿快的! 然後我們去了Uwajimaya買了點熟食 直接當簡單快速的晚餐, 然後回家跟朋友連線玩Don't Starve Together 😜 我們的血液化驗報告幾小時後就出來了 網路上馬上能看到. W超級健康, 而我是要注意血糖, 雖然不在糖尿病的數值範圍 但就是要注意就是了. 兩個人都沒有被建議要吃什麼藥(要繼續維持!)👌
So far, our post-vaccine symptoms are just W with a sore arm for 3 days & feeling fatigue 2 days in a row, and me with just a sore arm for 2 days in a row but overall not so bad for me. W complained of the sore arm very often the day after the injection. He couldn't lift his left arm without pain (like when putting his hand on his computer desk for typing). I guess my sore arm was alright in comparison to his, I could wash my hair in the shower just fine 👀 My sore arm went away by day 3. W said his arm "suffered" for 3 days and the soreness lessened by day 4. As of day 6, there's no hint of soreness whatsoever.
到目前為止, 我們的症狀只有 W連續三天感到手臂痠痛跟連著兩天感覺全身很虛很累, 而我只有連續兩天的手臂痠痛 相對之下 我的狀況好很多. 打完疫苗的隔天 W抱怨了很多次手臂的痠痛, 他是左手抬一下下放在桌子上打字就哀哀叫. 我若是舉高手也是會痠但我還能舉高洗頭髮沒問題. 我的手臂痠第三天就沒了. W維持"很痛"了三天 第四天他說明顯好很多, 現在是第六天, 我們都沒任何特別感覺了.
We got the vaccines on Thursday. On Friday, we both got messages with instructions on scheduling for the 2nd dose for the vaccine from Kaiser. Also got our summaries of visit & care recommendations etc. Overall, this preventative care visit during the time of a pandemic was a very positive one. We both like the new doctor we met and talked about perhaps we'll switch our primary care doctor because it's been hard to try schedule any appointment with our family doctor.
我們是星期四打了疫苗. 星期五的時候, 我們兩個都有收到來自Kaiser的訊息 告訴我們怎麼預約接受第二劑疫苗. 也收到了身體健康檢查的診斷報告, 醫生建議等等. 整體來說, 這次的 疫情期間的預防保健看診經驗很正面. 我們兩個都很喜歡這次見到的新醫生 也討論到不排除可能之後直接轉到跟她, 因為我們的家庭醫生實在太難預約到了.
💗 CM
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