1. The Defining Moment

I went to bed early that Monday night of October 13th, but around 11.30 pm I woke up feeling like a ton of bricks was pressing on my chest. I sat up, took long and deep breaths, but to no avail. And then my wife came up after putting the grandchildren to sleep. I told my wife I can go to the clinic tomorrow, but she said NO! Go NOW! So off I went to our panel clinic, driven by my son-in-law.

There was only one doctor on duty, and the queue was not unexpected. When my turn came, I had to undergo an ECG. I was given some medication, plus a small pill to keep under my tongue. Then the verdict : The pain I felt was called angina, a precursor to a heart attack. The doctor gave me a referral letter to a private hospital in KL, Ampang Putri Specialist Hospital.

On the 14th, I was back at the office to handle certain issues, and to ask for a guarantee letter. On 15th I had a meeting at Sg. Buluh, and later returned to the office to pick up the guarantee letter. The question haunting me was : should I or should I not go to the specialist hospital … but I realized that it’s now or never. I have been postponing this for too long, and it’s time to face it head on.

Again, it was my son-in-law who sent me to Ampang Putri. The attending doctor, a middle aged lady, made a brief examination before saying she’s not the right person to handle my case. Off she sent me to the cardiologist, a stocky built doctor. There was the ECG again, followed by an echograph, and then a stress test which lasted barely a minute. I have to go for an angiogram, scheduled for tomorrow. I was immediately warded, and I didn’t even think of bringing a change of clothes. Nothing oral to be taken after midnight. Doctor’s orders.