Tightness in the chest, tingles in the left arm, weird feeling in the throat. Not sure if it's the fact that I'm currently reading "Outlive" and am super paranoid, but I eventually decide to go to the doctor to make sure something funny isn't going on. It's a weird thing when you're searching Googlemaps to try to find "the best" public hospital. In the end, I settle for the hospital closest to where I live.
It's 8 pm on a Wednesday and the only available doctors are those in the A&E. There's a western couple also registering, the sign at the counter says the wait will be approximately 3 hours, I register and pay 180 HKD to see the first available doctor. I'm happy that I've brought my backpack, with my meds and my kindle. After 20 minutes, I see the triage station. I tell them my symptoms, they ask if I want a wheelchair. I decline. The A&E, is busy. Everybody is wearing a mask, some 5 odd patients lie in hospital beds, another 3 or 4 patients are in wheel chairs, the other 20 patients sit in the waiting area. It takes me around an hour to see the doctor, my blood pressure looks normal, but my heart rate is flagged. They take a chest x-ray and draw blood and touch and listen to my internals. I explain that I'm currently experiencing a bout of Shingles.
It's almost 10 pm by the time the x-ray and blood results have returned. I'm told there's no risk of cardiac episode or a stroke, that's a relief. But there's something odd with my blood test, something about my renal function. As such, they want to admit to the hospital to make sure everything is ok. That's both a relief and a new twist. The room is shared and the average age is probably 70 years old. TVB is blasting in the background, some patients are trying to sleep, some cough, most are on their phones. I change into my robes and they hook me up at a ECG. I'm given a chamber pot and some water. I wish I had brought a phone charger and a toothbrush. I email my new boss and let him know the latest with the situation, first week, already taking sick leave.
I ask about when I'm taking a urine test as I want to take my Shingles antiviral. There's a little bit of confusion around the issuance of medication and the fact that the medication does not have a used by date. After some convincing I am permitted to continue my course of antivirals.
I barely sleep that night, it's noisy and the nurses wake me throughout the night to check my temperature and blood pressure. It's a hard night, and i'm up again at 6 am. Breakfast is served at 7 am, medication is issued at 8 am and the doctor does rounds at 9 am. I'm told that the two concerns are my heart, which they plan to give me beta blockers to try and calm the ectopics and that my kidney readings are still high which the advice is to drink more water today and they will consider an IV if the readings don't come back in line. I ask about possible discharge dates, the doctor says that if things look good tomorrow, perhaps a Friday discharge.
I spend the day browsing the internet, reading, waiting for meals and chatting with my neighbour, he fainted at work and the ambulance brought him to the closest hospital. My kindle has 20% battery left and my phone as 30%, I ration both. They take more blood samples, and take a urine sample. I've gotten used to expelling waste in my bed. I'm starting to get a little restless in this ward. To the right of me, the man checks out he bids farewell to the room. There's some smiles, and some envy from the other patrons. I fear some people in this ward won't ever leave.
From 6 pm-8pm is visiting hours. It's nice to see people visit patients. Gifts are brought, fruit, noodles, books, teas. It's a nice moment. I read a little more and finish my book. I sleep with a t-shirt covering my eyes and much better that evening. Thankfully Albert, my neighbour has lent me his phone charger.
The following morning is the same routine, morning medication, breakfast, blood test. The doctor comes by and says as long as my blood work looks ok, I should be discharged by this afternoon. This is a relief. The morning passes slowly, I become fascinated with my heart rate on beta blockers, it's low, and I can see that every regular beat is followed by an ectopic. The nurse comes by after lunch and tells me I'm ok to be discharged, I'll just need to wait until 2 pm.
At 2 pm I change and pack my things up. I'm grateful for the care that has been provided during this time. The nurses and doctors albeit overworked were completely professional and tireless. After 2 whole evenings, multiple blood and urine tests and medication my final bill came to 240 HKD. Wow.
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