Day 1
Came home with a painful back. Slipped disc ke, Babah ? Entah, he answered. Sakitnya macam masa kita kat UK dulu, he said again.
We didn’t sleep that much that night. Him due to pain and me because he kept tossing and turning.
Day 2
I have low blood pressure, he said. He went to the doctor for the back pain and was prescribed pain killers. Doctor asked for a returned visit to check on his blood pressure when the pain has gone.
He called to complain of dizziness.
Another sleepless night.
Day 3
Urged him to go to SJMC for a check up. Finally relented at 8 am due to intense pain that had spread to his tummy.
Went to see that Dr Chan, the family GP at SJMC. A nice doctor with excellent bedside manners (he is also a mind reader. Before explaining about something that I have totally forgotten about, he asked if I am an Engineer. When I said yes, he said Engineers are smart… Well not this one, doc ). He sent my husband for X-Ray. Found nothing with the X-Ray. Very concern about his stomach ache and loose stools. Asked if Babah would mind being referred to a surgeon. He suspects appendicitis.
Went to Dr. Foo’s clinic. A looooonnnnng wait. Neither of us had eaten, bought some sandwiches ( went to the canteen all nice and clean, came back to my husband with a soiled tudung. Dipped my tudung in one unfortunate person’s mee curry ). Forced Babah to eat a sandwich.
Dr. Foo wants Babah to be admitted. Ordered ultra-sound, blood and urine test. What are all the tests for doc ? asked me. Well….. he said, I want to make a proper diagnosis don’t I ? Wishing Dr. Chan was the surgeon instead.
Went to the administrators outside, waiting for a room. Heard she said on the phone needs a single room. Possible emergency operation. Our heads snapped up ? What ? We said in unison. Admin looked sheepish. You don’t know, ke ? Here, the doctor wrote it here…., she said and checked the file. Well, what a way to break the news to us.
Was sent to give blood and urine sample and after that was sent to do the ultrasound. Since Babah had some sandwiches, can’t do the ultrasound properly. Have to wait 3 more hours.
Insurance agent Al and Hafiz came to help with the admission. Excellent service, guys.
At that time it was already 1 pm and Babah had only had a measly sandwich about 10 am. One hungry guy entered his room, one hungry girl tapau-ed delicious SJMC nasi briyani and ate in the room while the hungry guy looked on.
3.30 pm Babah was wheeled for the ultrasound. Came out looking shocked because they found a small stone on his left kidney. Pulak. So we sat on his bed feeling relieved that he won’t be operated on after all. But still he can’t eat or drink until the doctor came. “Puasa, ye ?” Said the very friendly nurse.
So we waited. And waited and waited and waited until the day turned to dusk. Let me go and buy food, okay ? I offered. I’m so hungry, he said. What are you going to buy ? I smiled. Let it be a surprise, kay ? Said I. Please bear in mind that I am very hungry, was the parting reminder.
I walked to Sheraton Hotel and came back with nasi ayam and club sandwiches. Babah was delighted. Right, all we have to do is wait until the doctor comes, said I. And we waited and we waited and we waited some more. The friendly nurse was very apologetic and kept checking on Babah’s well being.
There are only 2 surgeons left, she explained. Some went for conferences and some went for holidays. So Dr Foo is very busy. He has surgery the whole day. Okay, we said and smiled and bled inside.
11 pm doctor came. The stone is too small to cause you any pain right now. Besides it is on your left side. The pain is on the left side and we are pretty sure it is your appendics. It is up to you, we can operate now or tomorrow. We ummmmm-ed and aaaahhhh-ed and Babah decided to have the surgery the next day. Okay, Dr Foo said. You can eat now but you must fast after breakfast.
When he left Babah said he doesn’t want the doctor to operate on him while looking so sleepy.
So yeay !! we can eat. But Babah’s appetite was small. Maybe the worry about the surgery, maybe angin dah masuk perut….
I didn’t sleep. Neither did he.
Came home with a painful back. Slipped disc ke, Babah ? Entah, he answered. Sakitnya macam masa kita kat UK dulu, he said again.
We didn’t sleep that much that night. Him due to pain and me because he kept tossing and turning.
Day 2
I have low blood pressure, he said. He went to the doctor for the back pain and was prescribed pain killers. Doctor asked for a returned visit to check on his blood pressure when the pain has gone.
He called to complain of dizziness.
Another sleepless night.
Day 3
Urged him to go to SJMC for a check up. Finally relented at 8 am due to intense pain that had spread to his tummy.
Went to see that Dr Chan, the family GP at SJMC. A nice doctor with excellent bedside manners (he is also a mind reader. Before explaining about something that I have totally forgotten about, he asked if I am an Engineer. When I said yes, he said Engineers are smart… Well not this one, doc ). He sent my husband for X-Ray. Found nothing with the X-Ray. Very concern about his stomach ache and loose stools. Asked if Babah would mind being referred to a surgeon. He suspects appendicitis.
Went to Dr. Foo’s clinic. A looooonnnnng wait. Neither of us had eaten, bought some sandwiches ( went to the canteen all nice and clean, came back to my husband with a soiled tudung. Dipped my tudung in one unfortunate person’s mee curry ). Forced Babah to eat a sandwich.
Dr. Foo wants Babah to be admitted. Ordered ultra-sound, blood and urine test. What are all the tests for doc ? asked me. Well….. he said, I want to make a proper diagnosis don’t I ? Wishing Dr. Chan was the surgeon instead.
Went to the administrators outside, waiting for a room. Heard she said on the phone needs a single room. Possible emergency operation. Our heads snapped up ? What ? We said in unison. Admin looked sheepish. You don’t know, ke ? Here, the doctor wrote it here…., she said and checked the file. Well, what a way to break the news to us.
Was sent to give blood and urine sample and after that was sent to do the ultrasound. Since Babah had some sandwiches, can’t do the ultrasound properly. Have to wait 3 more hours.
Insurance agent Al and Hafiz came to help with the admission. Excellent service, guys.
At that time it was already 1 pm and Babah had only had a measly sandwich about 10 am. One hungry guy entered his room, one hungry girl tapau-ed delicious SJMC nasi briyani and ate in the room while the hungry guy looked on.
3.30 pm Babah was wheeled for the ultrasound. Came out looking shocked because they found a small stone on his left kidney. Pulak. So we sat on his bed feeling relieved that he won’t be operated on after all. But still he can’t eat or drink until the doctor came. “Puasa, ye ?” Said the very friendly nurse.
So we waited. And waited and waited and waited until the day turned to dusk. Let me go and buy food, okay ? I offered. I’m so hungry, he said. What are you going to buy ? I smiled. Let it be a surprise, kay ? Said I. Please bear in mind that I am very hungry, was the parting reminder.
I walked to Sheraton Hotel and came back with nasi ayam and club sandwiches. Babah was delighted. Right, all we have to do is wait until the doctor comes, said I. And we waited and we waited and we waited some more. The friendly nurse was very apologetic and kept checking on Babah’s well being.
There are only 2 surgeons left, she explained. Some went for conferences and some went for holidays. So Dr Foo is very busy. He has surgery the whole day. Okay, we said and smiled and bled inside.
11 pm doctor came. The stone is too small to cause you any pain right now. Besides it is on your left side. The pain is on the left side and we are pretty sure it is your appendics. It is up to you, we can operate now or tomorrow. We ummmmm-ed and aaaahhhh-ed and Babah decided to have the surgery the next day. Okay, Dr Foo said. You can eat now but you must fast after breakfast.
When he left Babah said he doesn’t want the doctor to operate on him while looking so sleepy.
So yeay !! we can eat. But Babah’s appetite was small. Maybe the worry about the surgery, maybe angin dah masuk perut….
I didn’t sleep. Neither did he.
To be continued…
3 comments:
Get well soon.
Wah...
penantian 1 penyeksaan!
nyway, from your 'pembaca setia',
get well soon for the hungry Dan...
Thank you for the well wishes.
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