After a relaxing day yesterday of just lunch with a friend from Melaka and a gym workout, I had my long-awaited big day today.
It’s the day of my CT Calcium Score test to see the level of obstruction (if any) in my arteries, in case I can do without taking statins. I had recently been to a cardiologist who suggested that I should commence taking statins for my consistently high triglycerides and my borderline cholesterol.
The test is not covered by insurance in New Zealand and costs NZD545 to 660 whereas I could get it done at Pantai Hospital in KL for about NZD120 (MYR299).
This low price normally applies when part of an add-on to a bigger package but in their case it was a very straightforward pricing.
I ordered a car around 0915 and got to the hospital about 0945. For a private hospital, it was big and busy, much like a public hospital with a bit of waiting between steps of the process:
- I saw the receptionist who directed me to the Imaging department.
- In the imaging department, the administrators directed me to the self-service kiosk to check myself in. The kiosk gave a queue number and I waited patiently.
- After a few minutes, I was called up to do the brief registration paperwork.
- After a bit more sitting and waiting, I was called up to pay at the cashier’s desk. This was 30 mins after I had checked-in.
- Then I sat down and waited for my turn for the scan. I was called up around 1040 to wait outside the scanning room for about 15 mins while the previous patient was being done.
The scan itself was quick, taking about 5 mins. I lay on a horizontal surface and was slid into a white donut-shaped machine. Unlike the MRI, there was no need to remove any metal objects and I had my clothes on.
A couple of heart monitors were attached to my chest and I was asked to inhale and hold my breath a few times for the scan.
I was out of the hospital about 90 mins after arrival. Overall, I wasn’t too enamoured by the hospital, mainly because of the lack of clarity around the report:
- The administrator told me that I’d have to collect my results in a few days.
- But when I said it wasn’t possible, they asked me to send someone. The report would come in the form of a big folder.
- When I resisted, she checked with a colleague, they said they could email it.
- Finally, the radiographer also confirmed that the report can be easily emailed. It would be a brief report but there is also a CD.
I didn’t go any deeper into how the contents of the CD would be included in the email I was getting into the “it is what it is” mode. I was more interested in my overall score, perhaps, rather than detailed photos which hopefully wouldn’t show any obstruction.
The hospital gave an insight into Malaysian society and stereotypes:
- All the administrators were Indian. Perhaps considered efficient and good in English when dealing with patients.
- Most of the nurses were Malay, the major ethnic group in the country. They are generally gentle caring people.
- I don’t think I saw a single Chinese staff member.
I returned to my part of town and treated myself to an Indian banana leaf lunch.
My attempt to go the gym failed as I couldn’t make an arrangement with the person who runs it. It’s located in an apartment complex and for casual walk-ins like myself, an arrangement is required.
I finished my stay in Kuala Lumpur with a 2h blind massage. I didn’t realise how sore and tight I was. I guess, the workouts in recent days must be doing something.