Three years ago 51-year-old retired army officer Ibrahim began noticing that he felt pretty tired at the end of the workday, but he thought this was just a sign of getting older. He still enjoyed talking walks in his Local Park and working in his yard at his Chittagong, Bangladesh home, but he just didn't seem to have the same stamina he once did. And from time to time he experienced pain in his jaw.
Then, while working in his yard one hot and humid day in July, the pain in Ibrahim’s jaw got much worse. Later that day, the pain returned while he was working in his yard but eased up when he finished. The next few days, Ibrahim went to work as usual, but he began to realize that each time he got up from his chair, the pain came back.
Worried Ibrahim called his family doctor for an appointment. After a quick exam and blood pressure check, his doctor told "You have a cardiac problem" and referred him immediately to Square Hospital in Dhaka, where an angiogram revealed a 95% blockage in his right coronary artery. His doctor advised him to get checked up at the best cardiac hospital in India.
“After spending a few days in Dhaka, we were looking for ways to book an appointment with Dr. Ashok Seth", said Ibrahim. Even after multiple attempts through email and by phone call, the family was unable to get through to the doctor. It was at this time that the family Googled top 10 interventional cardiologists in India and came across name ‘Dr. Ashok Seth’, and their search results turned to Vaidam’s ‘Doctor Page’. “We didn’t have much hope but still decided to contact Vaidam for an appointment with the doctor,” said Ibrahim.
Although the health rep was ready to give Ibrahim other options, the 51-year-old army officer was adamant about his doctor selection. “Getting an appointment with Dr Seth was going to be tough, considering that it was holiday season and many doctors tend to travel to outstation colder climes to beat the North Indian heat,” says Vaidam Health Representative Sapna Joseph. With limited options, but steely determination to get an appointment with the doctor, calls were made. In the evening of the same day, Ibrahim got a call from India to confirm his appointment with Dr. Seth on the 2nd May.
Ibrahim quickly made travel arrangements and arrived in New Delhi on the 28th of April. He made his way to Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi where he was awaited by the medical staff. Ibrahim still remembers the visit: "Dr. Seth sat me down, held my hand and listened to me. Then he explained the endovascular stent grafting procedure, and answered my questions. It was like a breath of fresh air."
Ibrahim had the stent grafting procedure, two stent grafts were put into place. Dr. Seth implanted two stents to open the blockage and to maintain good blood flow. After Dr. Seth successfully signed off on the stent procedure, Ibrahim walked out of the hospital feeling much healthier 5 days later.
Now back in his home country, Ibrahim feels extremely fortunate and is quick to provide an opinion based on his experience.
“I was extremely fortunate to have found Dr. Seth, who according to me is the number 1 doctor in his field. I thank Vaidam from the bottom of my heart for being able to manage the appointment and taking care of everything."