I recently visited Apollo Hospital for a check up. The treatment I received from the hospital was painful and disappointing, to say the least.
I had general fatigue, and was feeling exhausted when climbing stairs. I had some swelling on my face. So, I just wanted to have a general check up. At the reception, I asked for a general physician.
The person at the registration desk sent me to Dr. Tallam Prem Kumar. He took my BP and weight. BP measured 110/150 and weight was 79kg. I am 36 and never had high BP in my life. This Dr. told me I am in deep trouble and need to get admitted immediately and asked me if I had medical insurance. He also said I might get some "cardiac issues" if I don’t get admitted immediately.
I said I don’t want to get admitted, but will first undergo the required tests before getting admitted. He gave a list of tests, which are usually part of a master health check up, and included lipid profile, random sugar, urine analysis, ECG, ECHO, X-ray of chest etc. He told me to meet him again next day with all the results. I did all the tests and met him again the next day. Per the test reports, my cholesterol and creatinine levels and were marginally high. Chest X-ray showed some congestion, which he said is because of excess body fluid in lungs. The swelling on my face, he said, is because of the excess body fluid, and had to be treated immediately.
After going through the results, he said I have to be admitted immediately and will have to remain in hospital for at least four days. He said there is every risk of me getting a "cardiac failure" and will not treat me or administer any medicines unless I am admitted. This is what he said, "I cannot treat you or give you any medicine in OPD because you have to be under observation when he is administering any medicines." He said when I take medicines, my electrolyte levels will fluctuate and if something (?) happens to me, he will be accountable for that.
The summary of his diagnosis based (?) the test results was this: I am in a very critical condition. I might have cardiac issues any time. I need to be admitted immediately and have to be under observation!
I was alone when I went to meet this Dr. What if I get a cardiac failure on hearing his words. Who would be responsible if something happened to me at that very moment?
I told him I don’t want get admitted right away, because I am staying with my wife and one and half year old kid and have to make some arrangements for their support as well as mine. He was not very happy with my argument. He asked me whom am I living for and that I am behaving irresponsibly. Finally, he said inform my family and get admitted ASAP to start the treatment. He wrote in my consultation notes that "In view of the systemic hypertension recently detected, the patient might get a cardiac failure and had been advised admission. But, the patient refuses." He asked me sign below that. I told him, I will talk to my family and meet him probably the next day. He gave me an admission slip, which had in it written in red "contact only me on admission"! Didn’t quite understand what that meant!
I decided to take a second opinion and met a cardiologist in Manipal Hospital. He took my BP which measured 90/130. After going through the test reports, he said I just need to bring down cholesterol and BP levels, which are marginally high, and have lots of fruits and salads, do some regular exercises, and all will be well. The chest congestion is probably because of a cold/cough, or a viral fever that I might have recently had. He prescribed some medicines for BP, cholesterol, and chest congestion.
When I asked why the other Dr. wrote “I might have a "cardiac failure", he just smiled! He said I don’t have a high BP, whatever reading shown in the reading was probably because of a “white coat syndrome”. In just a couple of days, I am back to my normal life, but under medication for BP and cholesterol.
Never go to Apollo especially to Dr. Tallam Prem Kumar. He will make you a heart patient when you are not one.