Extreme ingrown toenail surgery (Zadek)

Got an ingrown toenail that just got worse with time - apparently one month is way too long to be dealing with for an infected ingrown toenail. Some more it's not something the GP can do in their clinic, and I've seen the local GP thrice for it already - after the third time, I made him write a referral letter when he realised that he can't do anything more for it. I was told that the surgical procedure (if any) would be a day care procedure, which is claimable (insurance-wise). 

In case anyone's wondering, my bro and mother have had it before, so the part about it running in families is kinda true. But never to this extent. 

Ended up in the nearest KPJ Hospital (both insurance agent and GP suggested SJMC, but as I wasn't driving myself...). I think because I didn't want to pay out of pocket (aka "claim insurance"), I got directed to the orthopedic surgeon's office after first going by the general surgeon's office. He's an affable chap with a toy car collection in his office that little boys would DROOL over. The initial consult probably took less than 20 minutes. He suggested doing the Zadek procedure (don't do image search if you're squeamish), but it's a quick procedure with local anesthesia to the toe. He was able to squeeze me in the following morning for the procedure. 

No before pictures of said toe, cos of the granuloma growing out of it. Even the podiatrists of My Feet are Killing Me would be bored by it. 

Fast forward to the next day. Registered, accompanied to the 3rd floor, got a bed, got changed, got wheeled into the OT after a juvenile circumcision. There were a few nurses and doctors present (presumably to observe?). The numbing spray was so cold it hurts (which I think was the whole point to distract me from what was gonna happen afterwards), but didn't feel much else other than the handling pressure. But it hurt like a mother once the anesthesia wore off.. I swore like sailor in the recovery area, forgetting that there was a kid who just got circumcised. 

The hospital administration part could be a lot better lah: Waiting to register was a bit PITA, I was in the hospital longer than the actual procedure, mostly from waiting for the insurance company to process the bill before I could be discharged, which to be fair, was already warned about (apparently I have to be there at least 6 hours for insurance to pay out?)

As I type this, I have this gigantic mushroom toe that I have keep dry or it becomes a gremlin (?). What's annoying is the dull pain and throbbing sensation where (I think) the stitch is when I forget the painkiller, and struggling to keep it dry while showering. I hope that it heals okay when the dressing is changed on Tuesday in the followup appointment. I'm hanging on to receipts in case the insurance company asks for it cos I think the pre-and post-consult receipts are also claimable?

TL; DR - I was in the hospital for almost 7 hours for a 10-minute procedure.

PS... 

• My mother gave me a bunch of "you should haves..." afterwards. Well, coulda, shoulda, woulda. I had to go to the initial consult myself while she waited outside the hospital building due to her pandemic paranoia. Which I understand given that she's in the vulnerable age group, but still. Private hospitals aren't supposed to be treating COVID patients anyway - they would have to go to the gahmen hospitals for that.  
• The procedure was (probably) quick money: 4 digit bill for 10 minutes (20 tops) of work. Damn worth the years of med school and specialisation lah.  
• I still owe my mother RM200 for the deductible. 
• One of the medications I got was some version of paracetamol. Talk about expensive AF Panadol (the meds were in the 3 digits - no wonder insurance companies want to gouge the clients more, cos hospital also gouge khau khau). 
• Honestly, I have no idea how much cheaper this would be if I were to pay out of pocket. I went the insurance route cos after years of paying premiums, I claim these things once in awhile... 
• I finally looked up what LASA drugs are (there were stickers on some of my meds): it's short for Look Alike, Sound Alike drugs. Which is a legit concern for pharmacists.