AN EMERGENCY TREATMENT?

The clock stroke half past ten. The bell at the gate rang. Harith was awaken. Contractors doing the sewage system had arrived. I climbed up the slope to open the gate. They arrived unannounced although I have reminded the technicians to let them have our phone numbers.

It all began with people wanted to test the pump, downstairs and in the upstairs bathroom. I had to usher them, up and down. The whole chores took more than two hours. Harith was not asleep anymore. He was anxious with many strange faces around.

After they completed their task, we took some rest. I tried to distress myself. Only eight days ago, I went to check my cholesterol, it was 6.2... not much reduced? BP was 131/82. This time I was advised to take something for the cholesterol because there is a family history of heart problem. Obediently, each night after dinner I swallowed one tablet.

I remembered taking a few pieces of "murtabak" (a kind of pan fried pastry with fillings inside, if I could call it that) . At lunch, I had fruits. After Harith's lunch we went up to pray. By 4:00p.m, I was in the kitchen trying to prepare some dishes for our dinner. Harith came into the kitchen several times trying to turn the knob to the cooker. Oooooo! He knew it! I sent him away. Then suddenly it all happened.

My stomach felt extremely empty, I was trembling, sweating profusely, strong palpitations was felt... What? Oh no! I quickly took some food, prepared plain tea and sat down to eat and drink. After finishing what was meant to be a full meal, I was still trembling and feeling hungry. By 5:30p.m I was still eating (helping another portion of some rice, a few sticks of chicken and beef satay in peanut sauce). Soon after went upstairs with Harith to have Asar prayer.

By that time, I felt really fatigue. I lied down with Harith beside me. When his Mama came home, she asked if I was sick. I asked her if I was looking "sick"? So, I described what had happened. She wasted no time and rushed me to the hospital.

The emergency wing was not so full of patients. I was quickly put on a machine to monitor my heart beat and BP . They read 86 which was normal but I was still having palpitation. BP read 131/82. It was okay too. The student nurse ushered me into a big room with many beds. At least now this wing went through a real refurbishment. New beds, new set up and cleaner environment. What a face lift.

Dr.Tan came to take some blood sample for sugar testing. He was puzzled that the palpitations just never stopped even though the machine gave normal reading. I just smiled. Perhaps the answer was in my mind. I was quite certain I knew it.

That cost me more than two hours! I was in from 7:01p.m until 9:59p.m. The sugar level read 9.2 (?). After getting instructions for tomorrow's appointments, we left.

The next day Harith's Mama went to work without taking me along.

Those appointments have to be fixed first before going. So, Zaza was home, taking leave to look after Harith for me. I felt better. When Mama came home late evening, she mentioned the sugar level was actually 7.2 and not 9.2 as was mentioned by Dr.Tan. He was actually mistaken for another patient's reading. So the only test required was for the heart. The appointment is not yet fixed.

So much for the alarm! But ever since taking this tablet for cholesterol, I feel hungry all the time. Already I am a great eater by nature... and having big appetite ( as a close friend puts it)... means trouble to me...

Oh gosh! I thought it was a heart attack...