St. Luke's Medical Center BGC: My Hysteroscopic Polypectomy Experience!

St. Luke's Medical Center - Bonifacio Global City 

So I was diagnosed with Endometrial Polyp (tissue growth in the uterus lining). How it happened, how it was confirmed -- will discuss it later. This post is not to describe how the actual Hysteroscopic Polypectomy was carried out. I have no idea as well as I was under general anesthesia. You can probably check reliable medical sites for the procedure. But what I'll share are more of my own experiences from check up, lab tests, to preparation, and recovery.

Some things to note:

• I had the check ups, labs, and procedure done at St. Luke's Medical Center BGC
• I have a health card, which is Maxicare
• I also have PhilHealth

DETECTION

December 18, 2017 : Bleeding. Not even two weeks from the time I had my period for December, I had bleeding during an activity that I thought I had my period again. When I checked while seating on a toilet bowl, there were blood droplets, not just stain or spotting, so I placed a menstrual pad. But the following morning, it's gone

December 20, 2017 : First Check Up and Pap Smear. Went to St. Luke's Medical Center to find an available Maxicare-accredited OB-GYNE. This is how I ended up with Dra. Elsie Pascua. I told her what happened and she immediately did a Pap Smear (collection of sample cells from cervix). She also asked to perform a Transvaginal Ultrasound.

Elsie P. Badillo-Pascua, M.D., FPOGS

Obstetrician-Gynecologist

Minimally-Invasive Surgery

Laparoscopy, Robotic Surgery

St. Luke's Medical Center Room 225 Medical Arts Building  32nd Street Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City 789-7700 local 7225	Clinic Hours: Monday - Friday 3:00PM-5:00PM Saturday 11:00AM - 1:00PM First come, first serve

Note: For every test/lab and checkup, I need to have it approved by Maxicare (Room 325 Medical Arts Building). If Maxicare office is closed, you can go to HMO Concierge (GF, Main Building)

Summary:

1. CHECK UP WITH OB-GYNE. Check up with Dra Elsie Pascua (Room 225, Medical Arts Building). Did Pap Smear
2. MAXICARE APPROVAL (LAB/TEST). Went to Maxicare (Room 325, Medical Arts Building) to get Letter of Authorization (LOA) for Pap Smear and Transvaginal Ultrasound
3. PAP SMEAR SPECIMEN SUBMISSION. Went to Pathology (2F, Main Building) for Cashier/Billing. Showed LOA. Given a receipt which will be shown to Women's Health Care Unit (2F, Main Building) for Transvaginal Ultrasound. After billing, submitted Pap Smear specimen. Result is after 2-3days

December 27, 2017 : Transvaginal Ultrasound. Went to Women's Health Care Unit (2F, Main Building) for Transvaginal Ultrasound. I just presented the receipt and waited for my name to be called. Inside the room, I was asked to wear a hospital gown but no need to remove my upper garments. A resident OB performed the procedure thoroughly by inserting an ultrasound probe through the vaginal canal. Result can be obtained after an hour.

Maxicare LOA and PhilHealth Benefit Eligibility Form 

CONFIRMATION

January 04, 2018 : Results. Claimed the Pap Smear and Transvaginal Ultrasound results from Pathology and Women's Health Care, respectively. Went to Dra. Elsie Pascua to show the results. Confirmed that there's endometrial polyp and would need to perform Hysteroscopic Polypectomy to remove it.

This is how she described the procedure: An instrument with a camera will be inserted through my cervix to check my uterus. Once they see the polyp, it will be removed right then and there. The procedure will last around 20mins but I can already be discharged after an hour. The procedure will require anesthesia.

She asked me to get approval from my health insurance, Maxicare, and complete the requirements/documents so I can schedule the surgery with her. So after seeing her, I went straight to Maxicare for approval and to check other requirements.

Summary:

1. FOLLOW UP CHECK UP WITH OB-GYNE. Went to Dra. Elsie Pascua to show Papsmear and Transvaginal Ultrasound results in which she confirmed Hysteroscopic Polypectomy is needed
2. MAXICARE APPROVAL (PROCEDURE). Went to Maxicare to have the procedure approved. It was approved (outpatient) but required to check my PhilHealth Benefit Eligibility.
3. PHILHEALTH BENEFIT ELIGIBILITY. Went to Billing (GF, Main Building) to ask for PhilHealth Benefit Eligibility Form. Better to have your PhilHealth ID ready. I didn't have mine but they were able to pull it out. If benefit eligibility shows "YES", then that's the only PhilHealth form you need - this is my case. Otherwise, you will be asked to obtain the following: 
   • Member Data Record (MDR) / PhilHealth ID
   • PhilHealth Claim Form 1 - Signed by HR
   • Certificate of Contribution

January 08, 2018 : Schedule the Procedure. Since I'm good with Maxicare and PhilHealth, I tried to schedule the procedure by calling the secretary of my doctor. But she mentioned that I should go directly to my doctor as we need to align for a schedule and she'd be giving Admission Instructions, so I went there. 

at the Holding Area, ready for the procedure! 

PROCEDURE

January 11, 2018 : Hysterocopic Polypectomy. I was originally scheduled on January 09 but due to Operating Room availability, it was moved to January 11. With this, I had to secure another LOA from Maxicare as the previous one has expired. PhilHealth Benefit Eligibility Form should be reprinted on the day of procedure. 

Summary: 

1. FASTING. Fasting is required and important. My procedure is at 6PM so no food and drink intake from 10AM (8hours) -- dreadful! TIP: If you can find a morning schedule or near the time you wake up, that will make fasting easier as you just sleep through the hours you shouldn't be eating or drinking.
2. MAXICARE APPROVAL (PROCEDURE). Around 3PM, I was already at St. Luke's Medical Center. Went straight to Maxicare for the updated LOA. TIP: If you can go earlier, better as sometimes there's a long line. 
3. PHILHEALTH BENEFIT ELIGIBILITY. After securing LOA from Maxicare, went to Billing to reprint my PhilHealth Benefit Eligibility Form.
4. OPERATING ROOM RECEPTION. By 4PM, I was already at the Operating Room Reception (3F, Main Building). Presented three (3) documents:
   • Admission Instruction
   • Maxicare LOA
   • PhilHealth Benefit Eligibility Form. 
5. HOLDING AREA. Around 4:40PM, I was called to change to hospital gown. All clothes, undergarments, accessories should be removed. For my case, I'm wearing retainers so I have to take them off as well. Even nail polish should be removed but the Anesthesiologist let me keep it
• Vital Signs. Weight, height, temperature, pulse, blood pressure were taken
• Medical History. A doctor went to check on me, asked why I'm having the procedure, past operations, history of ailments, etc
• Skin Test for Antibiotic. Antibiotic will be given before and after the operation so skin test is important to ensure no allergies with the medication. Something was injected on the skin of my forearm and was read 30mins after. It was a bit stingy at first. 
• IV Insertion. Took three tries before the peripheral IV was successfully inserted. 
• Meet Anesthesiologist. The anesthesiologist assigned was Dra. Josephine Mendoza Samaniego who explained how she'll provide the general anesthesia. She checked my breathing and also my heart rate which apparently is irregular. I was continuously burping due to my GERD and having anxiety as well. After providing antibiotic through IV, doctor advised to give Proton Pump Inhibitor to ease my GERD. 
6. OPERATING ROOM. Probably around 6PM when Dra. Elsie Pascua came. I was brought to the Operating Room. My blood pressure and heart rate were continuously being monitored. A mask was placed on me for oxygen, but it was also through it that the general anesthesia was given. I immediately fell asleep that I didn't even had the chance to see Dra. Elsie Pascua. 
7. RECOVERY ROOM. Past 7PM, I woke up in the Recovery Room. I was still feeling groggy and dizzy so I tried to nap some more. Since the procedure required General Anesthesia, it is best to have someone to accompany you after discharge in case you get dizzy, nauseous, etc. For my case, I went there alone and so when I woke up, I had to look for someone to accompany me. TIP: Have someone to go with you, or at least accompany you after the procedure.
   • Anesthesiologist Clearance. A different anesthesiologist went to check on me and asked how I was feeling.
   • OB-GYNE Clearance. One of the doctors who assisted Dra. Elsie Pascua went to check on me and explained the procedure they conducted. It was quicker than expected, only around 10mins. She also informed me of what to expect: bleeding and discomfort for 3days. The polyp will be sent for biopsy. Result is after 3-5days. It is also required that I get to pee before I'd be discharged.
   • Discharge Home Instructions. The nurse went through the discharge instructions and medications. I am not allowed to do rigorous activities nor carry heavy objects for a week. I should also see Dra. Elsie Pascua after a week.  
8. BILLING. I was provided documents to be presented to Billing but since it is already closed (past 10PM), went to Billing in the Emergency Room instead. The whole procedure is around Php40K-60K which was covered by both Maxicare and PhilHealth. I didn't have to pay anything.

at the Recovery Room, still groggy.... 

RECOVERY

January 12, 2018 : DAY 1. I just stayed and work from home on this day. I noticed light bleeding, enough to just use a panty liner instead of menstrual pad, and also slight discomfort similar to my period days.

January 13, 2018 : DAY 2. Light bleeding and discomfort still exists. It is whenever I pee that I notice that droplets of blood come out. There is also an increase in discharge.

January 14, 2018 : DAY 3. Lighter bleeding, a bit of discomfort, increase in discharge like lumps with tinge of blood.

January 15, 2018 : DAY 4. Way lighter bleeding. Almost less than 5 drops. No more discomfort.

January 16, 2018 : DAY 5. No more bleeding and discomfort.

FOLLOW UP CHECK UP

I am supposed to go for follow up check up after a week, January 18, however, the doctor is out and will be back on January 20.

January 20, 2018 : Finally met Dra. Pascua again after the operation. I presented the result which shows the diagnosis as ENDOMETRIAL POLYP. She said it's not cancerous and I should not worry. She asked me to go back after 6 months for a follow up checkup.

Hysteroscopic Polypectomy is a quick procedure and since you'll be in general anesthesia, you won't feel anything during the operation. The expected bleeding and discomfort after the procedure are not alarming and can be likened to very light period. The challenging part for me would be the fasting because [1] I have GERD and hunger triggers it, and [2] I was awake the whole fasting time (10AM to 6PM) -- imagine my "suffering" while browsing my feeds which are mostly food! If you're afraid of needles, that would also be a challenge because you'll be injected at least twice -- for my case, 4 times: 1 for the skin test, 3 for the peripheral IV (attempts included). Other than that, you should calm down... though it was really hard for me to calm down at that time because it was my first time to have that procedure, or to have any operation, in general (I'm not counting my normal delivery child birth).

It helped for me a lot that I had the procedure done at St. Luke's Medical Center. It is a very respectable hospital and is indeed one of the world's best. Somehow, I get that peace of mind that the doctors, nurses, equipment, etc are to be trusted and of best service. And that is really what I experienced. The staff and nurses are all accommodating and friendly. They would also keep you informed of what's happening and what to expect with every procedure being done (eg. skin test). The doctors would ensure they capture your medical history and foresee possible scenarios that may arise from it. The anesthesiologist, Dra. Samaniego, is very warm and comforting that having her before and right after I fell asleep made me feel at ease. 

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.