Patients become Doctors
It’s said that “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing” but when something makes life tentative, a little knowledge turns out to be that sorely needed crutch that illumines the dark recesses of the human mind. Such is the case that make patients in hospitals become veritable “doctors” – or so I found out.
In fact, some of these patients are walk-around Medical Encyclopedias to say the least. I found quite a handful of these patients-turned-doctors who foretold what would become of me.
A Face to Face Chat with a Cardiologist
I was fortunate enough to have a lengthy discussion with a lady Cardiologist at the ICU room. She poured through every detail in my Medical file and this was her opinion:
1. It’s not as serious as it was made out to be by previous discussions.
2. There will be a need for a sustained period of medication to correct my blood’s viscosity, breakdown any blockage in the blood vessels and enhance the heart’s performance.
3. Insufficient oxygen in my Blood tests suggests blocked blood vessels and a heart that is overworking.
4. Invasive surgery is highly unlikely unless I get careless with my medication and general health care.
I took the opportunity to ask this Cardiologist something that bugged me all through the time I was at the hospital.
Q: Doctor, could the gas reflux that I suffer and it has triggered all my chest pain occurrences also be the cause of my heart attacks?
A: Yes, from what you have described about you gas reflux incidents, it can also be the cause because the affected nerve ends of the oesophageal reflux are close/linked to your heart.
Q: Doctor, why do the other Heart Specialists refuse to take into account my oesophageal reflux when assaying my chest pains? They jump to the conclusion that its a heart attack based purely on the ECG prints and without any other supportive tests except for blood tests?
A: It is the way medical services is managed in hospitals. There isn’t the time to treat patients holistically. Specialists deal within their boundaries and once opinion is given, it ends there. We could get other Specialists in their field to get involved but they too will treat within their sphere of trained knowledge and interest and it ends there. Cross specialists holistic approach is very rarely practiced because we don’t have the luxury of time to sit around and speculate on results and theories.
Demanded to be Discharged
It was late evening of Monday Jan 17th that I was transferred out of the ICU room to a general ward on the ground floor. I bade farewell to those patients whom I became acquainted at the ICU.
To my horror, I found the general ward was over populated, the rest rooms were unclean and the patients turned the ward into a fish market. The Doctors and Nurses were unperturbed by the noise level inside the ward and did nothing to turn the ward into a room for convalescence.
That night I sat outside the ward on a chair meant for visitors at the hospital. I could not sleep with all the loud chattering that went on amongst the patients through the night into the wee hours of the morning.
I approached the Staff Nurse and requested that I be discharged from the hospital and be treated as an outpatient.
My request was granted after a final ECG reading proved that my condition had stabilized. My blood pressure was 122/86 that morning. My blood-sugar level was 6.2 after having had black coffee and a small bread bun.
I was given 4 months of medications and will have to return to the Heart Department on April 21 to be reviewed on my progress.
Hospital Cost
Having stayed for two nights and three days, the various tests, daily food and care and 4 months of medications, I paid US Dlrs 5.65 cents.
Yes, that would shock you right out of your seat. But it is true for citizens of Malaysia. Our medical costs are subsidized by the Malaysian Government and it is a tiny nominal amount of money that is paid at the Hospitals run and managed by the Malaysian Government ever since the country gained its independence in 1957.
Mind over Matter
As my parting words about this excruciating and life threatening experience that I have had to endure, I am not going to “preach” about the Do’s and Dont’s. At some point in our life we may have to face our own event, similar to this or we may be a witness to those who are near and dear to us as they face their agony.
Mind over matter is needed because there will be quite a good deal that becomes incomprehensible during those nervous moments. Some believe in the power of Prayer. I believe in the Power of the Mind.
Always, stay mentally focused and as much as possible, keep a conscious and inquisitive mind. It could mean staying alive during the very precious time it takes before help arrives.
NEVER ALLOW FEAR TO SEIZE YOU !!!
General Santos Time
