Friday, 29 June 2012.
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| Tapiolan Terveysasema. |
After I have confirmed the reservation, there is another
email stated about the reservation information. Here is some of the content in the
email:
Appointment details:
Time: 6/29/12 8:30 AM - 8:45 AM
Service to be provided: Glucose tolerance test
Location: Tapiolan laboratorio, Ahertajantie 2,
Espoo
BEFORE THE EXAMINATION
For the test to succeed, it is important that
you eat and drink as usual on the day
before the test until 8 p.m., when you begin
FASTING. Fasting means that you
should not take any nourishment at all until the
start of the test and during the test.
You may have one glass of water, but consumption
of soft drinks, sweets, mints,
chewing gum, coffee, tea, or any alcoholic
beverages is prohibited. Smoking is
prohibited.
BLOOD SAMPLES
A blood sample will first be collected in the
laboratory, and after this you will be
given a glucose solution to drink. The
examination lasts for 2 to 5 hours, and several
blood samples will be collected from you during
this time. You may neither leave the
laboratory waiting room nor eat during the
examination.
You should take some food with you to eat once
the examination is over.
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| Take your number here. For appointment, just wait for your name to be call. |
A day before the test I get an email about reservation
reminder. So that night after dinner, I have to start fasting. It takes about
20 minutes travel time by bus from my house and I have to leave early in the
morning on 7am. When I arrived I don’t know where the place of the appointment
is. I go to the information counter, and asked about the place. He said, “You
can follow the signboard and wait at the corner over there and wait for your
name to be called.” I follow the signboard and sit at the waiting area.
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| Waiting area. |
On 8am, my name was called and the first thing done is to
take my blood sample. I’m so afraid it will be pain because from my previous
experience at Malaysia, it’s so painful and sometime the doctor has to syringe
2-3 times at my elbow joint because they can’t find my vein. The staff asked me
to take a sit, and she gives me a pillow to put my hand. Later, she applies a
tourniquet on my right arms looking for the vein first. Then, she is
disinfected the area. Instead using a normal syringe, she used a venepuncture
using a vacuum system. Before she starts the procedure, she said it will be
sting. I close my eyes, and there is no pain at all. When I open my eyes, she’s
already taking a few samples in a vacuum tube. The procedure is so fast and
painless.
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| Inside the room. |
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| Lab equipment for taking blood sample. |
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| Venepuncture using a vacuum system. (Photo from google) |
Later, she asks me to wait because she wants to get glucose.
When she came back, she bought an Erlenmeyer flask and she pours the content in
a plastic cup. She said I have to drink it within 5 minutes period. The glucose
was so cold and it’s not very sweet as everyone said. When I start drink it,
she also start a countdown timer. I drink it within 2 minutes and she so
surprised because I drink it very fast. Before I leave the room, she said I will feel nausea,
stomach ache and headache. She said, I have to wait another 1 hour and she will
call my name again. She reminds me not to eat or drink during this waiting
time.
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| Erlenmeyer flask. (Photo from google) |
After 1 hour of waiting, she called my name. This time she
did the procedure at my left elbow joint. She can’t find my vein and she asked
me when the last time I take a blood sample from my left elbow joint. I said I
can’t remember exactly when, maybe last year. Then she said she will take a
blood sample at my wrist area. This time she used the butterfly catheter and
the needle is a bit small. This is first time my experience taking blood sample
at wrist area. I never know before this that instead of elbow joint, you can
also take a blood sample at wrist area. Before this at Malaysia, if they can’t find
my vein, they will syringe again and again until they found the vein at the same
elbow joint. This process is so painful. Also, if they want more blood sample,
they will syringe 2-3 times at my elbow joint instead of using a venepuncture
using a vacuum system.
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| Butterfly catheter. (Photo from google) |
I have to wait another 1 hour for taking a blood sample.
This time I waited at the sofa provided and I fall asleep. I feel very tired
and sleepy. I woke up just 5 minutes before my name was called. This time she
takes the blood sample at another wrist. She said this is the last procedure,
after this I can go to eat and drink. She also said that the result will be
known by this Monday since I took the test on Friday. I have to call Neuvola to
know my result. Before I left, she smiled and said “Thank you for being
patient.”
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| My wrist after taking a blood sample. |
I’m so tired, thirsty and hungry. There is a café/canteen,
so I stop by to see if there is anything that I can eat and drink. I choose a
cup of tea, yogurt, a cheese sandwich and a chocolate bar. I don’t have an appetite
to finish the sandwich. I manage to eat only half of it. There is a Weege Talo
Museum not so far from there, but I’m so tired and sleepy to stop by, maybe
next time. I can’t wait to going back home to take a rest. I walked to the
nearest bus station and wait for the bus no 10 but the bus arrived a bit late.
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| Inside the cafe/canteen. |
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| My foods and drink for breaking my fast. |
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| A signboard to Museot Weege Talo. |
Finnish to English Translation:
Terveysasema = Health Center
Tervey = Health
Museut = Museum
Laboratorio = Laboratory
One hour glucose tolerance test procedure:
Weege Talo Museum: http://www.weegee.fi/en-US
Tapiolan Heath Center:
Appointments and advice:
t.09 816 38 900
Mon-Fri 8-15
Open:
Mon-Fri 8-16
Patients Office:
3rd floor, open
Monday to Friday from 8.30 to 15
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Visiting address:
Ahertajantie 2
02100 Espoo
Website:
Google Map:
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