Scoliosis Surgery Journey (Part 3)

22nd August 2016

We arrived at KLIA after 1-hour flight. I bought a SIM card with data service for me and one for call only for Mom. I bought Maxis and later I found that the tariff was more pricey than Digi. So I always suggest my friend to buy Digi rather than Maxis (not a promotion, just a suggestion). I went to taxi counter and had our taxi coupon. We were hungry but we were more tired. We decided to head to Anjung Penyayang directly and would find some food there. As we entered PPUM, the taxi driver did not know where Anjung Penyayang was. I followed ci Susan's instruction how to tell the taxi but we still couldn't find it. The driver did not really understand English and I tried my best to speak Melayu. After asking the pedestrians and staffs several times, we finally find the Anjung. The driver then told me that he is not a Malaysian, but Indonesian, from Pekanbaru. I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. Screaming in my heart "Why you didn't tell me earlier? T.T I would have just spoken Bahasa." My heart then blamed me for not asking him. It was a funny experience. lol.

We checked in at Anjung and found a nearest cafetaria for lunch. Ci Susan told me a cafetaria at another building , across the road or something like that. We just want to have lunch and quickly go back to our room so we picked the nearest cafetaria. It was a bad decision. I should have just listened to ci Susan and walk farther....  I'm not a picky eater but the food was really really hmmm....  not recommended. We went back to our room and took a nap. Ci Susan came in the evening and took us to have dinner. I forgot what Mall it is. We had our dinner at Simple Life and it was nice. It was my first time meeting ci Susan in person. Ci Susan also showed us the basement way to hospital since the next morning I would be admitted. From Anjung, we just need to walk to Menara Timur.

23rd August 2016

At about 8 a.m., we checked out from Anjung and walked to Menara Timur. Thanks to the sign there, the direction was a bit complicated but I could simply follow the sign and get to Menara Timur. I chose single-bed room. Single-bed room provides you a sofa-bed. My mom slept on the sofa-bed and we did not need to pay hotel anymore. I think single-bed room is a good choice if you come with only one guardian. It saves the hotel cost. However it is not a good choice if you have two guardians. One of them would be sleeping on the chair. You must book a room at Anjung for your guardians. 

As the nurse took us to my room, I was asked to change to the hospital's gown. The nurse gave us a briefing about the rules there. An auntie came and measured my weight and height, asked me to fill a questionnaire. It was like pain measuring scale. The questionnaire had a lot of questions. I had to admit that I was so boring to answer it. I was 45 kg and 150 cm at that time. After that, sister Tang came and taught me the leg exercises and how to move after surgery. Next, Prof. Chris came and did a thorough check on my body. He took some blood of mine for the blood test. He also explained to us every risks that might happen after the surgery. Btw it was my first time meeting Prof. Chris. He is very tall, as tall as Prof. Kwan. I wonder whether there is height qualification to be a spine surgeon. lol.

Starting from 11 a.m., I started taking the test. First is echo, spirometry, MRI and CT Scan. It was my first time to take MRI. I never imagine that MRI could be that scary. I was asked to lay down and put in a very small cylinder space. I was not allowed to move and had to stay still for about 1 hour. It was a very enclosed space and I was nervous. The space fits exactly only for our body. I was given an emergency button on my hand. I could hear the sound like vibrating metal. Every time I took a gulp, I could hear the vibrating sound changed and it made me more nervous. After a while, I suddenly felt like going to sneeze. Oh my god... I did not know what to do. I could not spread any virus there. I pressed the emergency button and I could hear the microphone sound told me to hold, 5 minutes left. Oh my god. I kept praying for the sneeze to hold. I just could not sneeze there. Fortunately, 5 minutes passed and I could sneeze outside. Phew~ I hope I never have to do MRI anymore. It had to be the first and the last time I had MRI.

About 7 p.m., I finished all the tests. I was then allowed to change clothes and eat (I had to fast for the CT Scan before). I changed my outfit and asked the nurses where the cafetaria was. They told me the cafetaria at the next building. My mom and I went there and packed our dinner to eat at the room. It was much better than the previous cafetaria. There was a mini market next to cafetaria and Mom bought a pack of Milo and some biscuits. I washed my hair cleanly as I know after surgery it might be difficult to wash my hair. The nurse did not tell me anything regarding to the test result. I was very very nervous. Since my surgery could not be done if the any of the tests showed bad result. I was worry. If the test result was not good, what should I do? I kept shaking my head and flushed away my bad thought. A lot of my friends sent me encouragement messages. I kept praying that I believe God will give me the best, whatever it is.

At about 9 p.m., I asked the nurse if the doctors had told her what time my surgery would take the next day. Still no update. At about 10, a nurse came and told me that I had to fast starting from the next day 6 a.m. The surgery might take at 1 p.m.. Oh my god, so I passed all the test? Yo yo yo yo yo! I was very very happy and relieved. I told my friends & family and ci Susan about this. I thanked God many many many times and went to bed excitedly. 

24th August 2016

I woke up at 5.30 a.m. and had my breakfast before fasting. At around 6, some nurses came and gave me a new hospital's gown to change. I braided my hair into two. Tied up my bangs. I read it from another patient's blog that braid will prevent our hair from frizz. I tied up my bangs using rubber since bobby pin will not be allowed during the surgery. 

At 8, Prof. Kwan came and did another thorough check on my body. He also took the picture of my back. He told me the pain degree I would feel after surgery. Next Prof. Chris came to get our consent to do surgery. At 10, I was brought for Xray, then to neurology department where I had my SSEP stuffs installed. After that I went back to my room. 

excuse my pale face

just finished from the neurology department

SSEP stuffs were installed all over body !

My surgery was postponed to 2 pm. At 1 pm, I entered the ... I forget the name of the room. It was not operation theatre. It was outside the operation theatre. Prof. Shanaz, the anesthetist, checked me and injected the infusion needle on my both hands. Ci Susan and Ci Shierly came too. Ci Susan accompanied my mom and Ci Shierly stayed in the operation theatre. They made a group chat on Whatsapp to update the surgery progress. My number was invited to the group too. Mom did not really know about smartphone so Ci Susan that told mom the update. I was then pulled to operation theatre. It was my first time entering an operation theatre. The light was too bright. I could see three of my Xrays shown on the big display. The doctor told me to inhale something then not long after that, I fell asleep.