Leaving the hospital, I said: “Doctor, I am a victim of ageism. I remembered what I learned about ageism at the celebration of the International Day of Older Persons in October 2019, when the Muthande Society for the Aged took part in the Age Demands Action campaign supported by HelpAge International. I immediately recognised that I had experienced ageism. When I was examined by the doctor, she put the stethoscope to my chest without first unbuttoning my shirt and told me “You are very old, and your heart is old too.” She only wrote a referral to the local hospital. I asked “Nurse, how are you going to get the correct reading?” She looked annoyed and replied “Look, I’m in a hurry, the doctor will be leaving soon.” When it was my turn to have my blood pressure taken, the nurse put the monitor over my jacket. On the day of my hospital appointment, it was a very cold so I wore a big warm jacket. I was examined and referred to the cardiology department of the district hospital. When lockdown restrictions were eased, I visited a local clinic which referred me to my local hospital. I took painkillers but the pain only got worse. It was during the pandemic, when older people were advised not to use public transport and to stay home. One day in 2020 I felt pain on the left side of my chest.
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