Lessons I Learned While Warded in the Hospitals!

Part 1: Imaging procedures & Blood Tests

In my earlier 3 articles, I have written on what happened in the 3 hospitals that I went to for my problems following a fall. In those articles, I have promised not to offer my opinions. Let the “treatment” process takes its natural course.

In this article, I change my approach. I am writing about what it was like to be a patient in the hospitals. I must emphasize that what I wrote here are just my own opinions and you need not have to agree with me. By writing this, I am not trying to criticise the medical profession. I salute you – doctors and nurses – for your dedication in helping the sick based on what you know or are trained to do.

  1. Imaging procedures

4 June 2024: On admission to Hospital A in Penang, I did an X-ray and learned that my bones were all intact – no fractures and my shoulder joints were normal.

A CT scan of my brain showed no acute intracranial bleeding and no skull fracture. The swelling of my head was outside the skull. According to the doctor this episode does not pose any immediate danger or the need for surgery. However, there is bilateral chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH).

6 June 2024: CT was done in Hospital B (Singapore) and demonstrated evidence of bilateral subdural hygromas. A subdural hygroma (SDG) is a collection of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), without blood, located under the dural membrane of the brain. They are commonly seen in elderly people after minor trauma (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subdural_hygroma).

MRI Stroke Screen was done on the same day. The result confirmed that the fall was due to a mild stroke.  There is a small acute infarct at the right lentiform nucleus. Multiple foci of susceptibility are seen in both cerebral hemispheres, worse at the frontal regions, likely representing hemosiderin deposition.

11 June and 12 June 2024: I was admitted into Hospital C in Johor. I did an X-ray to my lumbar to confirm once again that the bones in my lower back were okay.

I did a CT scan of the brain. And this was repeated the next day as a way of monitoring my progress. My situation had stabilized and there was no more bleeding (this was after my second fall).

  • Blood tests

4 June 2024: I did two blood tests in Hospital A (Penang) that gave me an indication of what had gone wrong with me:

  1. My HbA1c (Hemoglobin A1c) was at 13.6%, which was a very high value indeed. If you have diabetes, an ideal HbA1c level is 6.5% or below. If you’re at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, the target HbA1c level should be below 6%.
  • i-Stat Chem8. This is a single-use cartridge and requires 2 to 3 drops of blood. The cartridge measures sodium, potassium, chloride, total carbon dioxide, anion gap, ionised calcium, glucose, urea nitrogen, creatinine, lactate, haematocrit and haemoglobin.

The results of my blood were:

  • Na = 133 mmol/L – range138-146 mmol/L
  • K = 3.9 mmol/L – range 3.5 – 4.9 mmol/L
  • Glucose = 20.5 mmol/L – range 3.9 – 5.8 mmol/L
  • Urea = 4.6 mmol/L – range 8.0 – 26.0 mmol/L
  • Creatinine = 51 umol/L – range 53 – 115 umol/L

A note from the American Stroke Association of US said:

  • Over time, excessive blood glucose can result in increased fatty deposits or clots in blood vessels. These clots can narrow or block blood vessels in the brain or neck, cutting off the blood supply, stopping oxygen from getting to the brain and causing a stroke.

Here are some facts about the effects of low sodium in the blood:

  • Normal sodium levels are usually between 136 and 145 (mmol/L). Blood sodium levels below 136 mmol/L means I have low blood sodium (hyponatremia). Blood sodium levels greater than 145 mmol/L may mean you have blood sodium levels that are too high (hypernatremia).
  • Symptoms of hyponatremia can include nausea and vomiting, loss of energy and confusion. Serious hyponatremia can cause seizures, coma and even death. 

6 June 2024

Blood test results done in Hospital B in Singapore returned the following results:

  • Troponin T  14.6 High Sensitive.  Result is critical.
  • Sodium  133  Low                           (135 – 150 mmol/L)
  • Uria, serum  8.1   High                   (2.8 to 7.7 mmol/L)
  • Glucose, fasting   13.4   High        (3.6 to 6.0 mmol/L)
  • C-Reactive Protein    14.38 H        (<=9.99 mg/L)

Take note of the following:

Heart attack – Troponin T blood test

  • In general, a troponin level of 0.40 ng/ml or more can indicate a heart attack. Wow. I had mild stroke and this test showed I had a heart attack.
  • According to Apollo Diagnostics, the normal value of troponin T in the blood is generally less than 0.04 ng/ml. A value above 0.40 ng/ml may indicate elevated risks of an individual having a heart attack.

Relax! MedlinePlus (https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/troponin-test/) cautioned us that: 

Low in Blood Sodium – Hyponatremia

  • Hyponatremia can range from an asymptomatic condition to a life-threatening condition. There are many causes for low sodium level – including consumption of too many fluids, kidney failure, heart failure, cirrhosis, and use of diuretics.
  • Chronic hyponatremia can lead to neurological complications that affect a person’s gait or walk as well as their ability to pay attention …. these effects lead to a reduced reaction time and an increased susceptibility to falls and injuries.
  • According to Mayo Clinic, the most common reason for hyponatremia is having too much fluid (water) in the body. This dilution (watering down) effect on the blood makes the amount of sodium seem low. Another common cause is when the body loses too much sodium in the urine and/or sweat.

Author: CA Care

In obedience to God's will and counting on His mercies and blessings, and driven by the desire to care for one another, we seek to provide help, direction and relief to those who suffer from cancer.