The One Thing You Should Never Forget at a Doctor’s Appointment

Yesterday, I went for my yearly gynae check-up, which included a Pap smear and ultrasound scans. My husband dropped me off at the clinic, and the plan was for me to call him later to check if he was free to pick me up, or else I would take a Grab home.

As I settled in at the waiting area, I reached into my bag to grab my phone. That’s when I realized—the one thing you should never forget when going to an appointment—I had left my phone in another bag! I must have forgotten to transfer it after running out for takeaway lunch earlier that morning.

I frantically searched my entire bag for over five minutes, hoping that maybe I had just overlooked it. But no, my phone was nowhere to be found. Now, I was stuck waiting for 2-3 hours with nothing to do but stare at the clinic walls. Isn’t that one of the worst things that can happen when you're in a waiting room? No phone meant no entertainment, no distraction, and worst of all—no way to call my husband for a ride home or to order Grab! In the end, I had to ask the clinic staff to help me book a Grab car back. Lesson learned: always double-check that my phone is in my bag before leaving the house!

As for my check-up, the Pap smear was, as usual, very painful for me. I have a very low pain threshold, so this procedure is something I dread every single year. But I know it’s necessary for my health, so I just grit my teeth, take deep breaths, and get through it whether I like it or not.

The ultrasound scans had a mix of good and not-so-good findings. I will only know the full results once I receive the scan report and Pap smear results in about 10 days. If I feel ready, I may share more about it then. For now, I’m just hoping that everything is okay.

This experience has reminded me why so many people avoid medical check-ups and screenings—fear of the unknown can be overwhelming. But at the same time, early detection can be lifesaving. No matter how uncomfortable or stressful it is, prioritizing our health should always come first.

Have you ever forgotten your phone at an appointment? How did you pass the time? Let me know in the comments!

With some leftover boiled sweet potatoes and chickpeas in the fridge, this is what I made - I mashed them up and added a dollop of Lurpak light butter. Yums!