As it could be a while before I can eat solid foods again I visit the Husen Café, next door to the hotel, for a breakfast of Nasi Lemak and and a Kopi (hot, sweet coffee).   Then over to KL Sentral and another pre-paid taxi.   This time I am able to give some better directions and arrive at the dental clinic in around half an hour. Its only a minimal wait before I'm in the chair at 11am and getting very nervous.

The plan is to do the one implant into the upper jaw first however, the first few moments have me in a slight state of panic. After several injections to numb the area he calls for a scalpel and I can sense him making an incision. He then calls out rather urgently "Is there anyone there...anyone....can someone come in here". Oh good, I'm thinking he's cut an artery or something. Mouth artery - is there such a thing?? Anyway it turns out he just wanted some gauze and his assistant was too busy with the suction (no doubt draining away my life-blood) to be able to get him the gauze.   "You have done this before Dr. Ahmad, haven't you?" is what I'm thinking.

Its about an hour before the first implant is in place and incisions have been sutured. The lower jaw is to take a little longer as there are two implants to be inserted and the procedure requires some modification to my lower jaw bone as well as drilling the two holes for the posts. It takes about another 90 minutes before it is all completed and sewn up with both dissolvable and nylon stitches.   I'm sent for another x-ray to check positioning etc.

I'm not real happy when Dr Ahmad is sitting there shaking his head while looking at the x-ray. It seems there is a minor problem with the covering of the upper implant and he tells me the safest option is to reopen the incisions, resolve the issue and then re-stitch it. Fantastic I'm thinking because about now the anaesthetic in my upper jaw is wearing off and its starting to feel sore. Still, not much I can do about that - so its another couple of jabs and back in the chair for another 20 minutes or so while it is all fixed up.

Despite the issues - and my chicken-shit fears - Dr Ahmad and his staff have been reassuring and professional throughout and my confidence in a successful outcome is much higher than it was when I first set eyes on their clinic. The nursing staff take me through the medications I am to take away with me. Clavomax for an anti-biotic. Xepasone for the swelling. Mefcid (Ponstan) and Naproxen for two levels of pain relief. Gengigel as a mouth-wash and some other non-descript stuff to gargle with. Whew !! The plan now is to come back on Monday afternoon for a final check-up before I fly home on Tuesday. I then need to have the nylon sutures removed after 18-20 days. Volunteers anyone??

There is a problem when I try to make a payment.   Apparently Citibank are not permitting the transaction despite there being plenty of credit available on my card. A phone call to them and they tell me its a security feature as they noticed "unusual spending patterns" on my account. Fair enough, I guess. Don't normally make $5K purchases in KL every day. Once I confirm its really me and I'm really here, they tell me the account restrictions will be lifted in about 10 mins and I should try again. Thirty minutes later and its still not working.   Not sure how is more worried now - the office manager or me ! Another call to Citibank and another 10 mins identifying myself and the account is unlocked while I am on the phone and the account is settled.

The receptionist offers to get the driver for me again.   Don't worry about it, I tell her.   I've got this cab situation under control. After all, I can wave after a taxi just as well as he can. Dr Ahmad has suggested getting an ice-pack to help reduce the swelling on my face - "Otherwise you might need a mask to hide behind when you fly home" he tells me. Hmmm, very re-assuring. Could be tricky as I have no freezer - or even a fridge - in my hotel room. So, finding a Baskin & Robbins around the corner I manage to weasel a small Styrofoam box and small quantity of dry-ice from them - which they eventually are kind enough to give me free of charge. An hot/cold pack from the local pharmacy is purchased and then I'm on my way home. I figure I might as well just catch a cab all the way back to KL Sentral rather than stuffing around with trains and this driver seems to know an even quicker way and we are back there in about 25 minutes.

I've been advised to only have soft foods for a few days - and only cold stuff for the next day or two - so following instructions I buy a smoothie which I take back to my room, follow it up with one of the strong pain-killers and head off to bed after making a Skype call to Bryony.     I've missed her every day since I've been away and I really could do with a hug tonight.   Only a few days to go and I'll see her happy, smiling face again.