throwaway_2000
Junior Member
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2022
- Messages
- 6
- Reaction score
- 3
Hey, I'm in the same boat as you, NSF with less than 4 months to ORD. In response to your previous question about whether 11B covers it, it covers if your procedure is done before ORD.I understand. Is it possible to even get it done within less than 6 months? Like how quick was it to arrange for an appointment?
Here's my timeline:
12 Jan - Polyclinic appointment
09 Mar - Urology Consult
05 May - Anesthesia Assessment
19 May - Surgery
timeline can be adjusted by about 2 weeks because of my covid scare that delayed my original urology consult.
1. Make an appointment/walk-in to any polyclinic
I made an appointment via Health Buddy app at Eunos Polyclinic (relatively new so more slots) on 12 Jan 22 and headed down. Just describe to the doctor if you have phimosis (tight foreskin) or balanitis (inflammation) and then hear what the doctor has to say. Usually they'll recommend circumcision for phimosis but don't quote me, if unsure just ask the doctor. In my case, I just told him had tight foreskin, painful during erections and I wanted to see a urologist. The doctor will then ask where you want to get it done, in my case I chose the closest hospital to my home and then he'll write a referral for you. Then you'll go to the nurse who will help you book an appointment with the hospital you chose and give you a urology consult date.
2. Urology Consult at Hospital
I had an appointment originally booked for 15 Feb, so roughly a month after my polyclinic consult, but had to reschedule 9 Mar because of a covid scare. During my appointment, I just described the same thing as when I went for my polyclinic consult and told her I ORD in Jul. She recommended circumcision and said she'd try to slot me earliest before my ORD, at that time was 19 May. She told me still need to watch the covid situation because circumcision considered elective surgery, so it'll be the first surgery to be cancelled if there's a huge spike resulting in limited medical resources. Then I was taken to a room and then did a physical exam (height weight all that) followed by financial counselling and signing of authorization form for the procedure.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
From this point on is what would've happened based on what I was briefed on by the financial counsellor/nurse, but after reading this forum and checking with my insurance agent if my Integrated Shield Plan covered circumcision, I ultimately decided to go to a private hospital to do it since it was covered and more or less won't be cancelled due to uncertainties due to the pandemic.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Pre-admission Anesthesiology Assessment Appointment
As the surgery will be done with GA, I was told I had to come down about 2 weeks before the surgery date
(5 May) to do an assessment of suitability for GA. Most pass this but its just to see how much anesthetic is needed and whether you can take it, just a general blood test I assume.
4. Surgery
Basically fast on the day itself, there are different instructions for surgeries conducted in the morning and late afternoon. I was never assigned a time, just a date because they had not firmed up the operating schedule. I was told they would inform me nearer to the date. Surgery should take 30min - 1h and then after you wake up you'll need to pass the test, which is to urinate, then collect medicine then can discharge alr. You'll need somebody to pick you up, so you dont have to go walking around to the pharmacy and all.
Final Notes
I just want to thank the people that have contributed to this forum in any way over the last few years, whether it be asking or answering. I started looking for solutions to phimosis at the beginning of my ns life, and came across this thread. Took me close to a year to seriously start considering circumcision as a last resort because of discomfort when erect and other issues. This thread really helped me understand that this was a medical issue and I wasn't just facing it alone. I have mine scheduled in Apr now and will post updates/seek help then. Really thanks to all of you for contributing to this somewhat "unspoken of" issue.
Last edited: