Halved in 27 Days...

I had my check up at Dungun Hospital yesterday.

On 3rd October 2013, my results were as follows:-
Total Cholesterol was at 7.0 mmol/L
LDL Cholesterol was at 5.2 mmol/L

Now it is...
Total Cholesterol is at 4.2 mmol/L
LDL Cholesterol is at 2.6 mmol/L

If you wanna know what the numbers mean, have a look HERE.

I am very surprised at the results. Thinking back it's probably due to my diet... I was like a horse for the 27 days... no, it was not due to the quantity I ate... It was what I ate... I was eating oats twice a day for most days. 

I also think it had to do with the fact that I was on 75gms of aspirins daily throughout that duration. Aspirins work as inhibitors (inhibiting clots), thus thinning your blood and increasing blood flow. There was an article I read about traditional ways to reduce cholesterol by using Black Wood Ear fungus. The article is here...

I actually have the ingredients bought but never got the chance to use it yet. The fungus works as inhibitors as well. I have friends who also told me that they used this recipe with success.

Therefore, it is my personal opinion that oats and the inhibitors worked together in bringing my levels down fast. How? I have no freaking idea... probably the inhibitors made the blood more fluid thus making it easier to absorb and transport the fibre from the oats to cleanse the arteries. That's just my 2 sen...

For those of you who have high cholesterol, no harm trying...

OS X Mavericks

OS X Mavericks is here and it's FREE! It's a 5GB download but I had it downloaded within the hour. I then proceeded to make a bootable USB Installer. You can get the instructions HERE... they now have it done in 4 steps whereas I did it the long tedious way. Anyway, I made it and kept it away. 

I then installed OS X Mavericks onto my notebook. It's a pretty long process. It took me over an hour to have it installed. 

The footprint occupies 10GBs after installation. After installation and downloading iLife, I noticed a flicker when it booted up. I thought it was a one time off... so I rebooted to see if it persisted. Damn! It was still there.

A video of the flicker at the end of the boot sequence. 

I tried to reinstall. Unfortunately, after installing the downloaded Installer from the App Store, the system would purge it from the notebook. Thankfully I had the USB drive made otherwise I would have to re-download the entire 5GB. I then reinstalled from the USB Installer. Another hour plus wasted. The damn flicker was still there. Sigh... 

Other than that flicker, everything worked fine. Of course there were a couple of applications that didn't work but they were minor applications and not the major ones. I deliberated on a Clean Install. I normally do a Clean Install but it was just too much work. Moreover, I had already downloaded and installed the new versions of iLife. That would mean downloading all over again. Sigh. Should I?

Eventually, I couldn't bear the flicker. Yeah, that's how anal I am. So, a Clean Install it is. Back Up the notebook..... Export my mailboxes..... Copy my iTunes Library..... Copy my files and folders... Copy my VPN key and certificates... Take note of my mail settings and whatever other settings...

It is a long process..... then I did the Clean Install. There's no turning back. It was much faster with the Clean Install. After the installaton, I rebooted and held my breath..... and crossed my fingers and my toes... YESSSSS!!!!! It's gone! The flicker's gone! Hooray!!!

Not only is the flicker gone but it boots up faster as well. It's up and running in 15 seconds now... it used to be about 20 seconds when I first got it and lately, about 30 seconds. BTW... this is a Mid-2011 MacBook Air.

I have always preferred a Clean Install... that's why I made the bootable USB Installer in the first place. It's very tedious but better as you get a clean and uncorrupted system and it forces you to do some major housekeeping. I put everything back in manually as opposed to using the Migration Assistant as I wanted it to be really clean.

I only struggled with VPN for a few hours as it was not connecting. After all the fiddling, I called my IT guy for help only to find out the system was down. Sigh...

Of course, there were some glitches. I have not been able to get the scanner driver to work and CCleaner is not compatible. I have not re-installed everything yet as I only want to install what I really need. Oh yes... the Google client auto mail setup doesn't work. I had to do it manually.

But so far so good... I'm loving it.

Exercise Stress Test

My wife and I drove to Kemaman Hospital for my Stress Test this morning. This is the second time this week. My original appointment was for 10:00am on Sunday. However, when we arrived there it was somehow cancelled. My name was there but someone had apparently cancelled it. I had two options; wait for 2:30pm or come back on Tuesday at 9:00am. We opted for the second option as 4 hours was a long wait.

We arrived at 9:15am after a 75-minute drive. The clinic was full. It was a long wait... I was the last patient. It was a traumatising experience. One of the patients, a pakcik, had to stop his test as he had an attack. When it was finally my turn, the doctor sat down and have a chat with me first. probably because I was the youngest patient there. He didn't think I needed to do the test. I related what happened to me a few weeks back but he still didn't think I needed the test. Nevertheless, he decided to go through with it for peace of mind. 

I was required to sign a form acknowledging that I understood the risks of the test and that a heart attack was a possibility. The doctor encouraging me to push for Stage 7.

The stress test is basically a test where you have the ECG attached to you while you are on a treadmill. Then the speed and gradient is increased every 3 minutes. Your maximum heart rate is determined before you start... which is 220 minus your age. Mine is at 178bpm. The goal is to be able to achieve 85% for your maximum heart rate.

My results are below... I achieved 101% of my maximum heart rate. Click on the picture for a larger view.

I stopped at 13 minutes. I could have pushed to Stage 7. I stopped due to the following reasons:-

1. The appointment checklist states that you should not consume anything 2 hours prior to your test. My test was scheduled at 9:00am. Therefore, I have not had anything to eat... I only had a cup of coffee at 7:00am. So, basically I am already dehydrated when I started. It was after 11:00am when I started.

2. During the test, they did not have any water on standby and my throat was dried out.

3. My leg muscles were sore...18% gradient is very steep...

Basically, my legs and throat gave up... not my heart. : )

My next test will be in Dungun Hospital on the 30th. Hopefully my cholesterol would have gone down significantly by then. In-sya-Allah...

Check Up!!

I had to visit the hospital again yesterday for a follow up check up. Mainly, for another blood test as the two other tests they did when I was admitted was not complete. Some reagents were not available it seems.

So, my wife and I arrived at the hospital. We went up the the registration counter and showed them my letter from the doctor. Obviously, they had no idea what the letter was for so I had to explain that I was asked to come for a check up. She asks for my IC and after paying RM1, she gives me my number and asks me to wait. Just like that.

Okay.. so I am number 1049... they are currently at 1024. The waiting area is freezing. Fully air-conditioned. My wife needed to go to the washroom so I accompanied her there. After her washroom visit we went back to the waiting area but decided to sit outside as it was freezing inside. We sat where we could see the number display.

After waiting awhile I met the co-owner of Tenggol Island who was there for a check up as well. Some chit-chat and off he went to register. After several moments, he reappeared with his blood samples and informed that he was sending his blood sample to the lab and wait for the results there.

At that moment I noticed something was wrong. I observed closely inside... there were two desks where they did preliminary checks. Blood pressure, temperature, etc. They were only at 1031 then but I decided to go inside instead as something was definitely amiss. After sitting for a couple of minutes, I hear the nurse call out names and they would move to the desks.

I walk over and ask the nurse if she had called my name... haaa.. she did... she asks me to sit down and looks through the registration card and letters and asked what I was there for. The problem with the documentation on hand it did not specify what I was supposed to go through. It had a brief history of my admission and what they did bit nothing specific on what needs to be done on this visit. I explained to the nurse that I was supposed to have a blood test. She looks through my card again makes a decision... blood test and ECG she informs. She takes my blood pressure as well then explains clearly what I needed to do.

I went to room number 5, the ‘blood test and check up’ room and handed my forms. There were two ladies there waiting. Inside they were trying to get some blood from a child. Probably 2 or 3 years old so you can imagine the ruckus inside. While waiting, I read the notices plastered all over the door and wall. One of the signs stated that blood tests would be give priority over check ups. The nurse pokes his head out and asks me if I was still fasting. Yes, I am... and I am about to faint soon... it’s almost 11am... hahaha. Soon the child came out and my name was called. As I walked in, the two ladies state their discontentment to the male nurse as they arrived first. Sigh... you should have read the signs. Blood taken, they hand the samples back to me and tell me to send it to the pathology lab and wait for the results which I knew as the nurse had explained to me earlier. I deliberately hold the sample in front of me as I walk out the room. The two ladies gave me a look. Like I care?

I send the samples to the pathology lab. They tell me to come back in an hour. It was 11:15am then. I then go back for my ECG test at room 8. Another child was in the room so it was quite a wait. My turn... the nurse asks me if I had chest pains. I said No... not now, only the other day. To which she replies, “Dah tak sakit baru nak datang?” Hmmm... was that necessary? Anyway, I politely informed her that this was a follow up check up.

After my ECG test, it was time to eat. I was famished. We made a quick run to a warung nearby where I quickly gobbled down a Roti John and a nice iced coffee... which cost RM5. We then made it back to the pathology lab at 12:15pm and after a couple of minutes my results were handed over. Back to the waiting area, hand my results to the nurse and wait for my turn.

Finally I am called into the room. The doctor asks... Ammar? 

Ya, saya (Yes, that’s me)... 

She looks at the card again and repeats her question... Ammar? 

Ya, saya... I replied again...

Another look at the card and... Ammar Kevin? Umur 42?

Ya, saya...

Tak nampak cam 42... nampak muda lagi.

Thank you for the compliment. : )

She too didn’t know what I was there for so I had to go through the whole nine yards... explaining what happened on Sunday, the history of my high cholesterol, etc. 

My overall cholesterol is now at 7.0.

LDL cholesterol at 5.8

Blood sugar is normal she says which I think I saw was at 5.2.

Liver ok.

Heart ok.

ECG ok.

Looks like the only improvement is in my blood glucose. Last year's results here.

She sets my next check up for 30 October. 

By the time I left, it was almost 1pm. A full 3 hours and 15 minutes at the hospital for a check up.

Wake Up Call...

How often do you get a wake up all from The Almighty?

Will you even know if the wake up call smacked you right on your forehead? Most people won’t even know, I suspect.

Well, I got my second wake up call... I think.

I got my first call last year in early November.

Things have changed since I came here. I have not been exercising, I have stopped my statins and have lost control of my diet. How did this happen? Well... circumstances... one thing led to another.

Late Sunday afternoon, I started to feel some tightness in my chest. It gradually built up. When I got home from work I told my wife to get ready for dinner and that I wanted to stop by at the clinic to see the doctor. The pain was just mild... to my standards. Went to the panel clinic and after 45 minutes met the doctor. Explained the situation to the doctor and he suggested that we do an ECG. Alas, the machine was not working. So that meant we’d have to go to the hospital.

Went to the hospital, paid RM1 and registered. After about 45 minutes, it was my turn. Again, explained the situation to the doctor. She too decided to do and ECG and if it was ‘suspicious’ she would have to admit me for observation. So, ECG it was... the ECG was done and she said it definitely looks ‘suspicious’ and wants me admitted. She also does a blood test. I would have to wait for the results before being admitted. While waiting I asked if it was ok to go out for a quick bite. It was ok and off we went to McD for some porridge. 

After that we went back. MY HR Manager, F&B Manager and his wife were there waiting to check on me. How nice of them. I had informed my F&B Manager and FO Manager as they would be in-charge in my absence. After waiting a while I was admitted to the 6-star accommodation. This is the first time I have ever been admitted... hopefully the last. It was pretty late then. About 11:00pm. My wife then decided to go home to get some stuff and came back to accompany me.

It was difficult to sleep with the nurses chatting away. Just before 5am they woke me up to get my blood pressure followed by an ECG and another blood test.

Breakfast was served at 8:00am sharp. 2 slices of bread with jam... hardly any jam with a cup of diluted milk tea.

The doctor came at about 8:40am. She wasn’t happy with my ECG. She said it was still not normal. She would only release me in the afternoon. She said what I experienced was termed as ‘stable angina’.

Lunch was served at noon. Plain rice, some vege (with a lot of sand) and ‘asam pedas’ fish with an apple.

Tea was served 3:00pm. 4 pieces of biscuits with plain tea.

Before being discharged, another ECG and blood pressure test. I had to come back on the 3rd for another check p and blood test as the two tests I did earlier was not complete as they did not have certain reagents. On the 20th I would have to go to Kemaman hospital for a stress test.

I was prescribed statins (30 tablets) for my cholesterol... aspirins to dilute my blood, in case my arteries were starting to clog... and nitroglycerin, in case of an attack... no, not for bombs. Hahaha... I paid RM32.00 for the admission and medication. 30 tablets of statin at the local pharmacy would cost +/- RM200.00.

Last year, when I found out about my cholesterol, my doctor told me it was a lifestyle change. A lifestyle change means it was a lifetime commitment. I lost focus and determination... and this is the price.

I am very appreciative of my wife who has been extremely supportive. I am extremely impressed with how she handled herself. She was very well composed, showing her concern while remaining cheerful and positive. She went home and packed a bag of stuff and what she brought back to the hospital showed her level of forethought. She slept in the chair by my bedside... or at least she tried to. She didn’t nag me... she did give me a piece of her mind though... ever so subtly.

So, lifestyle change it will have to be.