February 7, 2014

• A Lazy Heartbeat.

  It was in the month of December, prior to my 2013 end-of-year vacay in Hong Kong, that I went to my doctor to get a vitamin C shot.  It was to be a precaution to prevent me from catching that brand new mutant bird-flu-like virus that’s been going on in China called H7N9 (from which the new virus H10N8 is born).  As usual, my sensei doctor, who practices Chinese medicine, wanted to do a general check-up on me by checking on my blood pressure, my heartbeat, and the look of my tongue and eyes, prior to me getting the shot.  A standard procedure that he does to all of his patients.  No biggie.

  He started out checking on my heartbeat by softly pressing his index and middle fingers on the back of my right and left wrists, to feel and read the pulse.  As he examined me he felt my heart was beating slower than it should be.  He then measured my blood pressure.  He knows how I genetically have a low blood pressure at an average of 110/70, but this time the reading showed that it was a tad lower than we expected.  Not only that, my heartbeat measured at upper 50s per minute, when on average it should be at least 70s beats per minute.

  My doctor calmly shared his concerns, while confirming that my liver, kidney, pancreas, and inner abdominal areas seemed fine (yes, he got all that from touching my wrists).  I got all puzzled by his new finding.  I told him that I felt fine, though sometimes got tired easily.  I was not ill with any sickness, still went to gym on a regular basis, and ate normally. Knowing that I was to leave for Hong Kong soon, he advised me to return to the clinic after my vacation, for me to receive treatments to remedy my lazy heartbeat.  I succumbed to his request.

  Upon leaving the clinic, it then hit me.  I remembered the result of last year’s medical check-up at a hospital.  One of the many tests I took involved a cardio examination and a mammogram scan of my heart.  The doctor in charged explained that one of the two valves, which regularly open and close to regulate the blood flow to the heart, didn’t close properly.  A minor condition that a lot of people have, he assured.  However, a concerning condition enough for him to caution me to stay away from strenuous activities that may put a pressure on my heart, such as diving and heavy weight lifting.  It dawned on me that maybe, just maybe, this could be a possible cause of my lazy heartbeat.

  I took off to China leaving behind my worries.  The cold days in Hong Kong and Macau were filled with endless feasting that rejuvenated my spirit.  Endless smiles and laughter with the company of friends, old and new, eased my transition to adjust to the weather change and pace of lifestyle.  The company of a special someone had me longed to stay and be held captive by time capsule, with no urge to return home.  But to return home, I must.  There were no thoughts on my heart condition until days after my return to Jakarta, whereby a phone call from the clinic reminded me of my overdue appointment.  And so I went.

  To make the story short, I had to go through an ‘intravenous infusion’ for 7 days to get my heart to beat at an acceptable normal rate.  The doctor is my family’s doctor as well, and so I put my trust in him to make me all ok.  For seven days I would lay down for about an hour, looking up to the florescence lighting on the ceiling, the long intravenous tube dangling above me, and let the liquid worked its magic.  The most uncomfortable thing was looking at the needle tip dangling right above my face, a moment before it was inserted into the vein in my arm.  But I toughened it out, like I always do.

   

  After a weeklong of having my left and right arms pricked with needles and left with subtle bruises, I’m glad to say that the magic did work.  Each day they would measure my blood pressure and my heartbeat and record the numbers on my history chart.  The last time they checked, my blood pressure measured just a touch higher, and with the heart measured at 70s beats per minute.  If you ask me, yes, I do feel better.  And let’s hope it stays that way.  Because the last thing I want is to have another weeklong dates with needles.  Knock on wood. 

  • 10:56 pm
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