I finally decided to address the stubborn wart on my left foot and went to Sunway Medical Centre on Wednesday to see the Foot and Ankle doctor. The consultation was brief, lasting less than five minutes, and cost RM80. The doctor took one look at the corn on my foot and quickly diagnosed it as a viral wart. He then referred me to a dermatologist, mentioning that if he were to treat it, I would need minor surgery in the operating theater to have the wart removed. A surgery in the OT would cost a minimum of RM10k onwards.
The Dermatologist Consultation
After waiting for an hour to see the podiatrist, I had to wait another hour to see the dermatologist. The consultation with the dermatologist was a bit longer, around ten minutes. The doctor gave me two options for removing the wart:
Frozen Liquid Nitrogen: This method would be painful and could be a lengthy process. Blisters might form on the wart’s site, and I might need to return for additional treatments if the wart doesn’t wither away. It could take weeks before the wart dies and peels off.
Laser Surgery: This is the recommended option as the process is relatively quicker. However, the local anesthetic injections required for the procedure are painful, which worries me because I have a low pain threshold.
Insurance Hurdles
Currently, I am facing a problem with my insurance. The claims officer does not approve the laser procedure, stating that it is for cosmetic purposes. I find this very absurd because the wart is causing significant pain when I walk. I spoke to the dermatologist’s nurse, asking the doctor to write another pre-admission form to the insurance company to clarify the medical necessity of the procedure.
Whether the insurance approves it or not, I have decided to go ahead with the laser surgery next Wednesday. The pain when I walk, especially when my foot lands on its side, is unbearable. If money can buy me a better quality of life, I am willing to spend a few thousand bucks to be pain-free again.
Moving Forward
I look forward to walking without pain and being able to run again. Every step I take now is painful and it’s making me feel miserable. I have not exercised for over a month. I pray that the insurance will approve my request for the laser procedure and that the surgery will not be as painful as I fear. My goal is to regain my mobility and live without the constant pain caused by this persistent wart. Here’s to hoping for a smooth procedure and a swift recovery!
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