A Series of Medical Check Ups

As I mentioned in my previous post we had to return to PJ from the East Coast even though we were not too well to travel. We had a series of medical check ups scheduled for the 4th, 5th and 6th which we just could not give a miss, especially for the one on the 4th. Hence we proceeded with the trip back even though I was not too well to drive. But we thought there are rest areas every 40 kilometers or so, or every 15 to 20 minutes of driving on the highway, which would be convenient for us to stop and for me to do the necessary ‘job’ if I have to. Praise be to the Almighty for the protection he provided us when we made the journey back to PJ. We only need to stop twice to rest and we arrived home none too worse for it.

As planned, we went early to attend the scheduled full medical check at the designated location. This check up is a membership type annual check where they do full screening of one’s condition. From these screening tests done you will know your condition and if need be seek further professional advice on any specific condition found. A couple of years ago we joined a health club that promotes healthy living and provides facilities for them. The main attraction is the annual medical screenings and check-ups, apart from the use of the various health facilities provided, the gymnasiums and fitness centers, swimming pools and similar facilities, health and wellness talks, brochures and fliers and so on. So, the check-up on the 4th is one of the annual screening check-ups.

Wednesday, 4th May 2005. There were not many members scheduled for check up today, so it was quite a leisurely morning for us while we go through the various phases of the checks, starting with the complete urine and blood tests and followed by others like ECG, hearings, eyes, bone mass etc. One test that was done this year is the CT Scan. I have not gone through the scan before and the doctors there say that it not necessary to do the scan annually. Even three yearly would be too often but it is good to have it done just to see the conditions. I agreed and had the scan done.

All the above tests took us until about lunch time. We were given a choice of local or Japanese lunch. We chose Japanese. After lunch we had a session with the doctor who went through the results of the test in detail and provided advice on what to do, what to eat or to avoid, and in general how to take care of our health. However, the scan that I went through indicated something that is not so good. There is aneurysm, the doctor called it ‘infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm’ or swelling on the lower aorta at the abdominal region. The swelling is about 5.7 cm in length. The doctor advised me to seek further professional help from a specialist and prepared a referral letter. Meanwhile I made a phone call to Ram’s niece, who is a doctor, to help identify a specialist for me to see. She identified a Vascular Specialist and made an appointment for me to see the specialist two days later.

I went early, on Friday morning, 6th May, for the appointment with the Vascular Specialist in KL. He took a long look at the various CT scan films, did a physical check on me and advised me not to worry about it. Don’t all the doctors say that to their patients? Anyway, he explained that the aneurysm is small and could have developed over a long period of time or could have just happened recently. He would wait to see if there is any further development later before deciding if there is a need for physical intrusion for which the risk could be much higher than the effect of the aneurysm itself. The worst that can happen is that the swelling ruptures and an immediate operation to correct it become necessary then. Otherwise it is better to leave it as it is and see if there is any further or adverse development. I am to see him immediately if I develop any pain in the stomach region or numbness in the legs. He scheduled me for a review in six months time and do an ultrasound check then to reassess the condition. That indeed was a relief to me. I hope and pray that the aneurysm is just a passing discovery and does not develop to a worsening condition and that I can get on with my life as normal as can be, with the blessings and allowance of the Almighty.

The other scheduled appointments we had were those regular and periodic ones for Ram and me to get our prescriptions and continual medication. Those went without much ado and we got our prescriptions alright.

Having gone through all the test and check ups, and were assured that everything is ok for the moment, we were happy then to proceed with our plans. We were scheduled to leave for Sydney at 8.20pm that night. We started packing and got ready for the trip.

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