Souvenirs from an unforgettable weekend

Last Sunday was one weekend filled with uncertainty and frightening thoughts, one which I do not like to repeat. Its actually reflects on my previous post Life is Fragile. On any typical Sunday in Malaysia, I will normally wake up and have my morning pee and then roll back into my “bunker” and watch the morning TV until, my bun is burnt by the morning sun.

Last Sunday was on the way to be a typical Sunday morning that is until, I woke up after my usual tussle with Rocky impersonating as my bolster, leaning heavily on the bed, with my surroundings spinning fast. It was like I was just KO by Rocky. I have lost my sense of balance. My first thought is that aiyah I am hit by Vertigo again. An illness I first experienced about 8 years ago while I was implementing an integrated IT solution for one of the leading Islamic bank in Malaysia. After a continuous month of late nights station at the bank IT center, I was experiencing spell of uncontrolled dizziness which could not be subdue by just swallowing panadols. My family doctor told me that I have Vertigo, which sounds like a name of a colour just like blue and purple.

However this time around, I felt different, not only the wall around me spinning and dancing around but I was perspiring, breathless and after a while I felt limb. Am I experiencing a heart attack? Is my time up? I shouted for my sister and I tried to reach for the phone to call my wife. I tried and tried but my hands and legs were hijacked from me. I could not command it to reach over and get the phone from the other side of the bed. I shouted again for my sister. I lay back down on the bed. My palm and hands were cold, felt like I have been stuck in a fridge for a long time. Sweats were emerging from my forehead like a tap has just been turned on.

My sister finally woke up, dragging her feet out from her room. I shouted at her that something is wrong with me. I asked for my phone. I called my wife, telling her that I am not feeling well. After a few calls, she decided to take the first flight back here. I slowly muster enough energy to change with the help of my sister, with one side of my head tilted to my right, not sure why it felt better in that position, I slowly make my way to the lift with my sister. We reached the outside of Gleneagles Accident and Emergency entrance in less than 15 minutes. My head is still tilted to my right as I staggered in.

The Medical officer on duty, point me to the nearest bed available. I told him what had happened and my worry of having a heart attack. I was then hooked up to the ECG machine and sounds of my heart translated to beeping sound were heard. I could hear that my heart beats was a bit abnormal, beep, beep, beep and then a stop and then it continues again beep, beep, beep and then it stops for a while and continues again. After my Blood Pressure (BP), pulse, total oxygen and ECG was taken, I could sense the attending nurses were slightly relaxed after the initial urgency. I felt reassure as this could be a good sign. I asked for my BP readings it was 127 and 83. Its normal and then I asked for my ECG readings. I was told that the doctor will talked to me about it later.

I was then pushed to the doctor’s room. I was told that I could have suffered from food reaction. I frowned; I told him that it felts more like Vertigo or heart attack as I have not taken anything since yesterday night. He told me all my vital signs are normal except that my ECG shows some breathing problem in which it was reported as marked with Sinus arrhythmia. I was then being injected with something to reduce my dizziness and my blood was also taken for counts of cardiac arrest enzyme. I was wheeled to a partition and was put onto a bed, waiting for the blood result.

After an hour plus, I was backed in the doctor room, he told me everything was fine for now and I could go back and he will write a letter of reference to see an ENT. I saw the ENT on Wednesday and was diagnosed with having Deviated Nasal Septum and Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. That is after some lectures of how the brain got disoriented by having mix input from my senses and some gadgets thrust into my nostril. Details of RM is RM302 at the Accident and Emergency (Plus) RM190 at the ENT (Plus) RM1800 for my wife ticket back here with a total of RM2292 for a weekend Fun. Below are the souvenirs. Oh BTW I am on medical leave today.....