Yesterday was the second time I almost become a widow.

My hubby had been sick since last week. It was no big deal, just cough, a little fever, a recurring headache and some chest pains. People who know him will probably be alarmed when he called me to say that he is going home as he can’t tolerate his headache at work anymore.

He is not a wimp. He would even go on without feeling hunger or pain if he is at work. Refuses to take medicines unlike me when I can almost pop a pill if someone pulls one hair out of my head. I am a sissy and he’s not. Last Monday, he was cringing in pain and memories of three years ago came back to me.

Three years ago, I was home when the hospital called and told me he is incoherent because of headache. They had to take her to the nearest hospital in wheel chair because he could not walk. When I arrived, he was pale, cold to the touch and in severe pain. I massaged his shoulders and neck and found out it was as stiff as a rock. He was almost unconscious and I felt he would go, leave us just like that.

We had MRI, CT scan and all tests performed on him. The neurologist found a ’shadow’ somewhere in his head but suggested we go to another hospital for second opinion. We went and the shadow was gone. I don’t know if it was technical glitch or something that made the suspicious shadow to disappear.

After that incident, he was well (after one day confinement) and back to normal. The very next day, he upgraded his life insurance.

Yesterday, we all went to a polyclinic. We all had flu-like symptoms except fever for two days now. Mine and Pristine’s consultation lasted but only 5 minutes then we were out carrying our meds. My husband’s doctor, after performing some checks on him suddenly suggested EKG. Huh? He said he feels my husband’s heart rhythm seems not normal.

A nurse performed the simple procedure and handed it to the doctor. He then called the cardiologist and asked us to go there. WTH!? The cardiologist said there are some suspicious part in the EKG record and he wants to make sure. Asked him about any heart disease history in his family, asked him why he is so thin. People with heart disease tend to have difficulty in gaining weight. While talking to the doctor and learning of the diagnosis, his chest pain came back - more intense than ever. Was it psychological? I don’t know. After a few minutes, he was ok again. The cardiologist suggested a series of tests including treadmill test to see if his heart is really bad but he does not want to do it. He insists he is ok. The doctor could not do anything but said if something bad happens to you, I will not take any responsibility for it. Why can some patients be so stubborn?

Last night, I asked him to do the test so the doctors will know for sure what to prescribe. For Pete’s sake, he is just 32!