A(H1N1) Level Six

Maximum level now, even went to hospital yesterday in KL also need to declare health status before allow to enter.......

Accocrding to WHO, Phase 6 doesn’t mean anything concerning severity, it is concerning geographic spread... Pandemic means global, but it doesn’t have any connotation of severity or mildness...... hope this is true enough....

‘Watch out for BPA in baby bottles’

GEORGE TOWN: Consumers need to look out for baby bottles and other food and beverage containers containing bisphenol A, commonly known as BPA, which has been linked to cancer and certain disorders.

BPA is usually used in the manufacture of some polycarbonate plastics, such as clear, hard water and baby bottles.

However, more than 130 studies conducted over the past decade have linked BPA to breast cancer, obesity and other disorders, the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) said in a statement Thursday.

Six of the largest US manufacturers of baby bottles have agreed to stop selling bottles made with BPA, but it was reported that one company will continue to market its products overseas.

“This is a cause for concern as the Asian market, including Malaysia, may become a dumping ground for such unwanted products from the West,” said CAP president S.M. Mohamed Idris.

He advised consumers to opt for glass, stainless steel, or BPA-free plastic bottles which are marked with recycling codes No 1, No 2, No 5 or No 7 without the PC (polycarbonate) marking.

CAP has also written to the Health Ministry to call for an immediate halt on the sale of such products containing BPA.

14 days in HUKM (Final)

Day 10 (Saturday):
A boring as well, nothing much to do besides physiotheraphy of my knee. Of course, Saturday also waiting for PL to send the foods, you know la the standard of foods in hospital.

Day 11 (Sunday):
Having my 1st bath since 4th January 2008 with the help of my wife, not the nurse! 10 days without bath....... just imagine!

Day 12 (Monday):
A day that been waiting for...... the lab test result of the liquid sample aspirated from my knee. But waited till cow come home, result still not coming, knn. Later in the afternoon, Ms Tan came and asked me to lift my leg to strengthen the hamstring. From a leg that totally lost of power, i able to lift it within 1 hr and started to walk around with crutches, without much problem. Toi toilet, to watch TV, to bath myself......

Day 13 (Tuesday):
Still waiting for the lab result and yet no result till end of the day. Today also came another final year student (physiohterapist)Ms Heah and assisted me on the exercise. New exercises introduced to me.

Today, student of Prof Sam, Ms Tiong was being assigned by Prof Sam to handle me. Asking all sort of questions related to my injury, operation etc. Helping final year medical student. I am the white rabbit.

Day 14 (Wednesday):
Finally obtained the lab result and it was negative. Quickly asked for discharge. Dr Syed came and all the doctors, inspected and gave the approval to go home.

Now i am going to miss all the nurses, medical students, future to be physiotherapists and "neighbours". Hope to meet again, outside the hospital.

I must thanks all my colleagues, ex-colleagues, boss, friends, medical staffs, of course my wife and my family members for visiting me, taking care of me and the help during my 14 days stays in hospital. 14 days is the longest time i was away from home!


Part 4
Part 3
Part 2
Part 1

14 days in HUKM (Part 4)

Day 6 (Tuesday):
Early morning, the doctors came back and informed me that they will perform the Aspiration in ward, not necessary in OT again as my knee is swollen, full of liquid in it.

Doctors cleaned the area around my knee, inject some drug (local anesthetic) so that not that pain. But somehow it was pain like hell especially when the long needle touched my joint! A total of 85 ml of fluid was removed and sent to lab for analysis (swab & culture).

Day 7 (Wednesday):
Just after a day, the knee swollen back again. Today student cum future physiotherapist, Isniza or "Is" came and taught me some techniques to strengthen my muscle. I think she is from Johor as her IC show 01 code. I never asked anyway. Today also my parent balik kampung as i can't dischardged from HUKM yet.

Day 8 (Thursday):
Today was Public Holiday, no specialist around. A quiet day for me.

Day 9 (Friday):
The common thing in all government related organizations - WAITING. I was still waiting for the lab result of my knee's liquid sample. The doctors came in the morning and decided to carry out another aspiration on my knee. It is local anesthetic again and drug was injected into my knee. But this time around, only 5 ml of fluid removed after "searching inside out" my knee like treasure hunt. Imagine the hell pain! The drug only worked on the surface of the skin, not in the joint!

At 3.30pm, Dr Shaidi came with a shocking news, the fluid sample that was sent earlier detected with bacteria culture. I need to go through another OT and was asked to sign the letter of consent. The operation was performed by the final year master student from Arab & assisted by a local student.

Waited till almost 10pm, the nurse asked me to get ready and i was pushed into the OT again. With nice music was on, nurses and doctors around me, considered in naked, the hell pain process begun. The cold like hell OT was just another damn hot hell for me. I was sweating from the moment they inserted the needle into my knee due to pain. The doctor even ask me to get ready for another OT as they can't find the fluid, asked me to get ready for full anesthetic, luckily they succeefully cleaned the infected knee. The painful process took almost 40 minutes. The pain just can't be described in words. I never suffered such a long period of continuous pain before. The ops finally ended in 10.50pm and I was finally sent back to ward at around 11.20pm.

FYI, my MIL went to seek some advice from "ang kong" regarding my story of ghost disturbing me. The "ang kong" did tell something to my MIL, that i will need to undergo another OT before i can be discharged and they never told my wife. Kheng! It had happended finally.

Part 3
Part 2
Part 1

14 days in HUKM (Part 3)

Sorry for the delay. It takes me about two months to continue my story. Of course the delay was due to 12th General Electi0n, then i was very busy in work since then.

Day 3:
A tiring and painful night for me. The nurse came and measured the blood pressure and provided the pain killer on 11pm, then again on ~6am. Each day four (4) times without fail. At 7am, the fluorescent light in the ward switch on. Hey man, you got to wake up, it is breakfast time and get yourself ready for the doctors and future young doctors. You will become the white rabbit for them. Hey, i felt proud to be able became their white rabbit.

Few doctors then came at about 8am and reminded me to keep my leg straight till Monday. OMG, which mean i can't move my leg and had to sleep on the bed without leaving it for more than 72 hour.

Day 4:
Sunday, "no-doctors-day", only normal Medical Officer came and wrote some report. Actually my left knee is a bit bend and harden, i think out by 10 degree. Because if i kept it straight line, it is not comfortable to sleep. But i need to pay the price of not listening to the doctor......

For the past few days, i did not have enough sleep due to pain that i suffered and things that we can't see disturbing me.

Day 5:
Wake up early morning preaparing to go home. At 8am, all the doctors came including the surgeons and surrounded me. The nurse was called to open up the bandage. The wound was ok. But one thing was not ok, very not ok. My knee was infected with bacteria, i was the "lucky" fella, maybe less than 1/1000 possibility and i just got it! It is now became a complication case. Damn. Doctor gave me antibiotic and the powerful pain killer "Arcocia" 120 mg. Now i need to stay at least one more week on this number 10 bed.

Swollen being observed at my left knee, very tension around the knee. The surgeon, Syed, suggested to open up the knee again and washed in order to remove the bacteria. Further discussion with the head was needed.

Today also started the real pain, the pain i called hell pain. Doctor lifted my ankle and place on top of a pillow. My bend knee now was force to become straight again and imagine the pain. After about 1.5 hour, the pain only gradually reduce. In the afternoon, the physiotherapist, Ms Tan, came and taught me four (4) techniques to strengthen the muscles, strecthing the muscles etc.

My parent reached KL today. While waiting for them, I slept in the afternoon and i was disturbed by the "good brother". While sleeping with my right hand placed below my head, i was shaken up by someone. Again at night about 9.20pm, i was waken up in my dream. In my dream, all the surrounding area was spinning and i felt so dizzy and cold. This incident not only happened to me but to my neighbour, the Pakcik opposite me and the Indian Muslim brother as well. The also experienced it, for example, Pakcik wife was "lebam" all over the body and the pakcik also heard someone walking through the walkway to toilet in 3-4am but no one is there. Our indian muslim brother felt dizzy, his wife being pushed by something while standing talking to her husband, etc. More ghost stories from the nurses after i was discharged from hospital. And you know what, the nurse told me that 3rd floor is left empty and the lift sometime will stop there and open the door. To scare you further, the bed i slept had patient that pass away...... And when i told the nurse my experience, she smile at me and replied: "hehe, katil awak ni tidur pernah ada patient mati".

Part 2
Part 1

白花野牡丹

Chinese medicine with many uses. Pick the flower bud and sun dried it. My mom told me just drink it like tea by adding warm water. They claim able to reduce cholesterol, migraine , diabetes. Some of the uses found in the web. Anyway, the plant is very hard to grow.

用途:

1. 藥用：味甘、酸、澀、性平。有清熱利濕、止血、消腫止痛之效
2. 園藝觀賞用。

In another website, they claimed this:

"我在林海山家门前看到一盆晒干的花蕾，问他那是什么花，他说：“这是野牡丹的花，我每天清晨天未亮就起来采，因为白花野牡丹的花最好在清晨时分，花未绽放前把它摘下，这样疗效会更高，对降血压非常有效。”哦，原来如此！“别小看这一盆花蕾，我可是花了两个多星期才采集到这么多的。”他边用手拨弄着盆里的白花野牡丹，边补充说：“野牡丹的叶子对治咳嗽也很有疗效，你大概不知道吧！”

2 Months after My Knee Ops

Wanna see my knee after operation? Here you are...... swollen at top left corner of this picture and scars all over my knee. Did 4 times of aspiration to suck out excessive fluid that accumulated in my knee, a painful process.



I am still using one crutch although i am able to walk without it anymore because some how i am not able to walk for long distance. When i said long distance, it is about 200 - 300 meter.

My knee is able to bend up to 120-125 degree at this moment without additional force. If with "force", it can bend to the maximum (140 deg), of course pain like hell...... It is very pain, can't describe by words....... imagine during our Jasmani class in school where teacher asked you to bend your body to measure how far you were able to touch your toe (one of the activities to get some marks for Jasmani class), it is actually strecthing to loosen up the ligament. My physiotherapist without mercy push my leg, degree by degree inward and hold it for 10 second, and repeat it for few times.

My quadricep still very weak. I can't straighten my leg yet using my quadricep muscle power. More exercise require ......

But one good thing is: I got privilege when going to banks, parking. They treat me as OKU. Of course i do not want it forever. Will keep the crutches in "muzium" soon......

4 more months to go before i can cycling......

10 more months to go before can fully active again in sport!

14 days in HUKM (Part 2)

DAY 2:

7.00 am: Wake up & ready for my knee ops.

7.30 am: A group of doctors including my surgeons came to examine me again.

7.50 am: Final call for me to get myself ready to OT. Have to naked myself and put on the ops' shirt. Kaw Lat. Some more need the help from the nurse to tie the strings of the shirt for me.

8.00 am: Climbed up and laid down on the bed that transfer me to OT, of course the nurse covered me with a blanket lah, or else sure "expose" one! The journey from Ward to OT was really like i was acting in ER. Reaching OT complexe about 10 min later. After confirming my name and i/c, i was transfered to OT 14, the number really sial! No wonder i needed to stay for 14 days.

Approx. 8.20 am:

Dr Salmah, the anesthesiologist, injecting the drug into my spine, it is epidural, like what my wife experienced during giving birth of HH. Pain like hell! And you know, i can't even sleep after took the sleeping pill, Dr Salmah need to further put in extra doses to get me sleep. However, i wake up about 2 hr later.

Approx. 8.30 am:

A group of five (5) ( i think so as i was almost fall sleep by that time) came in and prepared themselve for the ops. The OT was damn cold! Damn cold! I can't move my legs now, what ever they want to do on me, i can't stopped them.

Approx. 11.00 am:

I wake up after 2 hr plus of sleeping. Start to chit chat with Dr Salmah on every topics. What to do, too boring listening the sound of plyer, cracking sound, drilling sound, knocking sound, etc. The topics involved on personal life, on medical, on politic. I even asked her why she looks like chinese and i found out that she has 25% chinese blood. Her grandmother is chinese.

At one point, she offered me wanna to see what the surgeons were doing on my knee, therefore, from the small TV, i can see clearly what they did to my knee. Lasering, drilling, knocking, pulling using plyer, screwdriving. Seem like they were installing a mechanical knee for me. Haha.

Untill about 12.40 pm, my waist was pain like hell as i was not moving myself for more than 3 hr.

12.40 pm - 1.10 pm:

Ops was done, pushing me out from OT14 and rest for 30 min while waiting for report. Maybe due to the epidural, i felt very cold. Now i wonder why my wife had that effect also previously. Luckily, HUKM has the warm air blanket, kheng.

1.10 pm:

Transfer me back to Ward. Haiyah, can't move myself, the nurses did whatever they want to do on me, motionless. They help to change my shirt and covered my privat part with a sarung, luckily they never help me on that! Or else, fully expose!

When i thought the worst has gone, i was damn wrong! In fact, it was the beginning! The pain gradually came back and tortured me kaw-kaw. I had to keep my left leg straight till Monday, that was 3 days, to prevent i got the shorter left leg. For the record, i laid on the bed for more than 72 hr without leaving the bed! Another record breaking for me. I need to take pain killer, plus another 2 injections then only i was able to sleep at night!

Due to anaesthetic, i can't felt that i want to pee until i felt very pain near my abdomen. I thought i want to pangsai, but the nurse did not allow me to move around to prevent the new joined ligament putus. They suggested me to do it on bed la, use pamper la, etc. Really siao, on bed! So finally, i choose to pee, and one thing the surprised me was that i can keep approx. 650 ml of urine in my body.

14 days in HUKM (Part 1)

You heard before 7 years in Tibet, now i have 14 days in HUKM.

DAY 1:

The day to check in. I asked my wife to drop me at traffic light near the Taman Bukit Jalil and i walked half an hour to Bukit Jalil LRT station. Took a train to Pudu Station and went to my MIL house. Spent some time there and drank some soya drink at Jalan Pasar, breakfast as well. About 11.00 pm took a taxi to IRB Maluri to submit some documents the official. While on the way there, the Malay pakcik tiba-tiba talked about Dr. Chua sex video and he condemned kaw-kaw the present BN-lead-government and said he will never vote for BN anymore. Wow! Surprised me! Settled everyting, took another taxi to HUKM. Reached there about 12pm.

After submitting all the relevant documents to the counter at lobby for checking in, i carried my small red back-pack with some shirts, pant, underwears, book, newspaper and even income tax documents to Ortho Male located at 4th Floor, without fear and in fact a little bit excited. Dunno why, maybe this is the first time stay in hospital and tomorrow also will be the 1st time go to OT and feel like ER-type of scenario.

Nurse Azizah was the one who arrange all the necessary stuffs for me including asking me to change into HUKM's patient attire, interviewing me and orientation.

Even the 1st day that i admitted to hospital at 12 noon, i already attracted four (4) future young pretty doctors. What to do ...... They (Patricia L., W.Y. Lou, Joanne C., Y.T. Bong) came and asked me to become their white rabbit. One by one tried on me - only my knee, turned here and there, pulled up and down, all sort of angles, like kamasutra. Then a group of doctors showed up and started taking photographs of my knees, drawing red line on it, etc. Actually they are documented it for teaching purposes. I should charge them instead!

And this day also was my last day to watch TV programme (called dunno what anak potianak) before i can watch it again 11 days later. Longest ever record for me to stay away from TV. I don't even had the chance to see the TV casing.

Back to Work

Finally i am back to work using crutches after 27 days of MC. I am still not able to bend my knee to the max yet and my quad muscle is still weak!

5 more months before i can cycling, 11 more months before i can fully active in outdoor activities.

My 14 Days in HUKM

It took 14 days for me to discharge from HUKM which normally 4 - 5 days for ACL Recons. Why? I got infected with bacteria.

In this 14 days, i suffered pain, experiencing the ghosts, seeing things that i bet you will never ever see it outside the hospital ...... In this 14 days also, i have new friends, from the nurses in Ortho Wad Lelaki, doctors, future doctors (all ladies, hehehe), physiotherapists (also all are ladies). Too many of them, i shall name them in another blog later, from my Day 1 till Day 14.

I experienced two OT in 1 week. Going through hell pain in 2nd OT! And i was thinking, when the animal is being slaughtered without anaesthetic, how the hell they are suffering.

As currently when i am blogging it, i can bend my knee to about 90 degree. Hopefully by next week, i can achieve 120 degree and then 140 degree.

So many people to thank. Speechless! Of course must thanks my wife and my family members!

And lastly, TIME TO CHANGE!! I even changed my ligament, why can't you make a change also in another 40 days time!!! Think now, think ahead!

Off to HUKM

Hello all,

i will be away for few days and stay at HUKM till maybe next week Monday for my knee ops, having my ACL change!

Till then, i will not blog, checking my email, chit-chat, read blog and lots of thing......

Good luck to myself. Hopefully no ghost and does not need to strip off to let nurse bath for me!

Life .......

Pre-Paid my Medical Bill (Part)

Just paid part of my medical bill. I should called it pre-paid! If not, i will not be operated on 4th Jan 2008. Now everybody want to implement "per-paid" system. Celaka!

Damn broke now! Can't claim any single cent!

Life..........

My Knee ACL Operation

The date postponed to 4th January 2008 instead of 3rd January 2008 and i shall check in on 3rd Jan 2008, ready to be operated by surgeon Dr Sam.

Now, the problem is to settle the bill 1st (to purchase the necessary accessories), CASH!

Money, money, money.

1 Month to Go

Yup, 1 more month!

No more, no less.

Health: Read It

My mother always ask me not to use mosquitoes spray saying that it will cause cancer. Maybe she is right! Anyway, i hate the smell of the spray even though i hate mosquitoes more. I think it is very common that preagnant ladies should avoid sitting inside a fogging area.

Beware of pesticides, pregnant women warned

By CHRISTINA CHIN


PENANG: Pregnant women exposed to common household pesticides are putting their unborn babies at risk of developing breast cancer later on in life.

Even the slightest exposure to chemicals used in gardening and on insects and mosquitoes could cause dormant cancer cells to develop, Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Asia Pacific scientist and PAN Aotearoa/New Zealand coordinator Dr Meriel Watts said at the PAN 25th Anniversary Conference.

Watts, who launched her book Pesticides and Breast Cancer: A Wake Up Call at the event Friday, said the book, which was a collation of scientific evidence spanning more than 30 years, provided compelling argument for preventing the exposure of women and girls to many of today’s commonly used pesticides.

"The book takes a very comprehensive look at 98 pesticides—including insecticides, herbicides and fungicides with the potential to cause breast cancer.

"One of the critical aspects is to see if these pesticides promote breast cancer cell growth especially at the foetal stage.

"Breast cancer is by far the most common cause of cancer in women throughout the world. The disease is also escalating in the Asia Pacific region. It is time for systemic change in our attitude to pesticides," she said, adding that the book which took three years to complete, was aimed at creating greater awareness about the dangers of pesticides not just for women who work in the fields, but also for expecting mothers and young girls.

Plasma Donation: 55th

Received a call from Pusat Darah Negara on Friday while i was in Jab Imigresen Kajang to renew my expensive passport. So, after finished my passport renewal activity at PKNS (not Kajang), i need to rush to Kepong for praying & then to PTD for my blood donation.

Seem like blood bank is running low of blood supply. If you are healthy, please donate your blood / plasma / platelet at PTD.

Open Monday till Saturday. Thursday & Friday open from 7am till 8pm, if i am not mistaken!

PLEASE DONATE WHILE YOU CAN!!!

It's 3rd Jan 2008

Booked the date, is 3rd January 2008, Thursday. So now i need to work hard for that date, i need to strengthen my muscle before i walk like a man into HUKM and walk out like a man as well later.

But i need to settle the bill 1st on 21 December 2007 which cost me RM 2,150.00 for Three (3) items.

1. Bio-Interference Screw (1 pc) - RM 700

2. Retrobutton - RM 1200

3. Gel Wrap - RM 250

This is the price i will pay for Single Bundle Technique. If i want to have Double Bundle Technique, then it will cost me more than RM 5K. Of course, Double Bundle is much better, you can play rough sport like soccer, etc. FYI, the above price is not include fees for Consultancy, Wad, surgery cost, knee brace, stretches, physiotheraphy, etc. Die hard man.

Right after surgery, i need to "live" in HUKM for 3 - 5 days. Then return to HUKM for physiotheraphy. Then after six (6) months i can start light training for jogging and cycling. Only after 12 months then i can fully into sports.

Still have no idea what i am talking about here? I booking a date for my LEFT KNEE to be OPERATED la. I am having ACL problem.

Surgeon will take out 1/3 of my healthy ligament from my leg, left 2/3 there. The 1/3 will be used to replace my partially torn ACL. Long way to go man .......

Learn more on Anatomic Double-Bundle ACL Reconstruction.

UFO in your eyes

Have you ever notice that there are many "UFO" in your eyes? Look at the clear sky, you can find "things" which look like protozoa, amoeba, paramecium floating up and down....... just like you are taking a pond water sample and magnifying it through microscope. Same-same one, serupa. Maybe it is the dust i have been collected since i 1st discovered it more than 25 years ago...... Or maybe they are the microscopic organism that live symbiotic with my eyes, protecting my eyes in some way (and the side effect maybe end up with wearing spec now).

Am i the only one who has this weird experience? I can't take the photo of it to show you all as my eyes do not implant any NanoDigCamera, if there are any in the market.

Haze is Back!!

Bloody haze is back to Malaysia, beware. Yesterday paper reported that there are 171 hot spots found in Sumatra. Damn it man, i hate to smell it, to see it and and to read it. I must close all the windows, doors......

"Can you smell what the Indons are burning?", The Rock dari Indonesia.