Saturday Adventure: When a Phone Call Changes Your Day!
Singapore, 11 July 2026
Saturday morning started like any other.
I was not planning a trip to the hospital.
I was not feeling seriously unwell.
In fact, I thought it would be fairly normal weekend.
Then my phone rang.
it was the polyclinic.
The doctor sounded calm but firm. My blood test had shown that my potassium level was over 8mmol/L, and she told me i needed to head to Changi General Hospital’s Emergency immediately.
Now, I am no medical expert but I knew enough to realise that a potassium level that high isn’t something to ignore. High postassium can affect the heart and, in severe cases become life-threatening.
Just like that, my Saturday plans disappeared.
Off to CGH Emergency I went.
The next four hours were a familiar routine of registration, triage, observation, blood tests, an ECG, and plenty of waiting. Anyone who has visited an emergency department knows that waiting is simply part of the experience.
The medical team moved quickly because of the reported potassium level. My ECG was performed almost immediately to make sure my heart wasn’t being affected.
Thankfully, it came back normal.
Since I had also been dealing with a cough and quite abit of phelgm, the doctor took the opportunity to listen to my lungs as well. It was reassuring to know they weren’t just treating a blood result - they were looking at the whole picture.
The moment of truth came when the repeat blood test results returned.
My potassium was not over 8.
It was 4.7 mmol/L.
Completely normal.
The doctor explained that the original blood sample had most likely been haemolysed, meaning some of the red blood cells broke apart after the blood was drawn. When that happens, potassium inside the cells leaks into the sample, producing a falsely high result.
In Other Words … …
My blood test had accidentally scared everyone.
Including me.
Walking out of the hospital, I could not help but smile. 4 hours in Emergency because of a laboratory error was not exactly how I had imagined spending my Saturday.
But here’s the thing.
I am actually glad the polyclinic called.
Could it have been a false alarm?
Yes.
Could they have ignored the result and hoped for the best?
Absolutely not.
When it comes to something as serious as dangerously high potassium, it is always better to investigate than to take chances. I would much rather lose 4 hours of my weekend than risk missing something that could have been life-threatening.
This little adventure reminded me of something important.
Medicine is not just about getting the right diagnosis. Sometimes it is about ruling out the worst possibilities first. Tests are not perfect, and occasionally they given misleading results. That’s why doctors do not rely on numbers alone - they repeat tests, examine patients, and put all the pieces together before making decisions.
So yes, my Saturday became an unexpected adventure.
Not at a cafe.
Not on a hiking trail.
But in CGH Emergency.
Thankfully, I walked out with a normal potassium level, a healthy heart rhythm, and one more story to add to this journey called LIFE.
Sometimes, the best news you will ever hear is simply this :