A Conversation With My Mum’s Cardiologist

Last Thursday was my mum’s follow up with her cardiologist at the National Heart Center.

I like Dr Anders from Sweden and my mum and I were very glad he was taking care of her medical case.

As I discussed mum’s case with him, I asked why 2 types of blood pressure control meds were given.

Atenonol was meant to lower heart rate, thereby lowering Blood Pressure (BP).

Yet Amlodipine was prescribed and this raises BP?

Why?

This was my test question to Dr Anders to see how he would tackle my question.

He gave a good valid explanation. Amlodipine opens up all the arteries and makes the heart pump faster to replace blood flowing out.

Light headedness and dizziness would then follow as blood pumping freely. This raises BP.

Before meeting Dr Anders, I had spoken to Prof Fong, physician of Duke of Yore. Prof Fong had explained to me the effects of both drugs.

Dr Anders passed my test. He is one of 2 branches of cardiologists – “electrician”, whereas the other branch is the “plumber”

Dr Anders was impressed about my knowledge and asked me how I knew so much.

I shared with him that I mentored under Dr Oon Chong Teik and I was short of getting a degree to practice. Plus I have been invited before to address the graduating cohort of doctors at NUS Duke Medical program.

Dr Anders gave me the greatest acknowledgement and that was when he lifted his stethescope to hand to me.

I laughed and continued to give feedback on how to make the Heart Center more elder proofed and elder friendly.

He felt that I should be hired as a consultant to the center to improve patient work flow. I would like that but I doubt they would as I have a sharp tongue.

I had given them a couple of written feedbacks before and they realised that much could be further improved for patient care.

All I wanted was a better Heart Center to support seniors.

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Infect – One Word Prompt

If anyone is down with the flu or any kind of coughs or colds, one must mask up to prevent others from getting infected.

To avoid getting others infected, please practise good hygiene.

Wash hands thoroughly with soap, antibacterial wipes or with rubbing alcohol to disinfect self on reaching home, after toilet use, shaking hands. (*I have become slightly obsessed with antibacterial wipes like Adrian Monk of popular TV series Monk…haha but I am not OCD!)

In 2003, I was an employee in the Institute of Mental Health hospital in Singapore.

It was in that year that Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) was brought into Singapore by a young woman who travelled abroad and brought it back to Singapore.

SARS was unknown to all and the etiology of the disease was off the books.

All we knew was that people were dying from it in Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Shortly after, a suspected SARS infection broke out amongst the inmates of a ward in the hospital where I worked. Patients in that ward came down with flu like systems.

As SARS was deadly, the government put us on a lock down and the entire hospital was quarantined to prevent transmission. We were called a “cluster”

The military took over and told us that that we will be shot to death if we broke away from lock down to contain this cluster “outbreak”.

We were made to sign and agree on this so that the army will not be held accountable for our own death if we decided to escape.

We were ferried daily by army trucks like prisoners from hotel to hotel and chased out like lepers when hotelier found out we could potentially have SARS.

That week was a traumatic one as we were all tested and awaited results.

We did not know if we would ever see our family again.

I put my heart and soul into work and consoling those who broke down emotionally. I did not know how to be afraid.

I laughed and joked with my colleagues to keep spirits up.

Laughter is infectious and after that harrowing week, we learnt it was an Influenza B infection.

I lived.

My colleagues lived.

We were reunited with family and were relieved.

But we, in the National Healthcare Group lost doctors, nurses and health workers in the isolated SARS assigned Tan Tock Seng Hospital as the communicable diseases center.

To our unsung heroes who battled a war called SARS – I salute you all who put self in the frontline of a pandemic, exposing self to infection, despite mask or gloves as you treated and cared for those infected.

This post is written in memory of the fallen health care workers 💜💛💚💜💛💚 and the loss felt by their families and children they left behind.

Abrupt – One Word Post

My sincere apologies for this abrupt post.

My mum has been hospitalised for cardiac issues this morning…unsure if it was a heart attack and I am sorting her out now.

I will post when I can as I have my hands full.

I do have scheduled posts to keep all in good spirits.

Thanks for your kind understanding as I go through a stressful time now.

Gaaaarrrrfield where are you? I need a hug☹☹☹☹

Thumb & Foot – Which First?

I saw Dr Looi Kok Poh today.

It has been about 5 years since he operated on me and removed my ganglion cyst.

His booming voice never changed.

He was happy to see me and I was happy to have him treat me.

My thumb was assessed by him and he said that I had “trigger finger” – I will require surgery to remove the tendon sheath that was inflammed and strangling my thumb’s mobility.

For now, he will inject pain killer and steroid to bring the pain and swelling down.

Next was my foot. No biggie but I have chronic plantar fascitis that needs to be surgically resolved and repair the tear.

So the process of injection began for foot and thumb. The anasethethic jab hurt me more than the steroids that follows.

But wait, how dumb am I…of course painkiller numbed the long needle haha!

So now I walk with a limp and a very numbed thumb!

I am disallowed to do any exercise such as brisk walks etc as I need about 22 days for my foot to heal. Last shot before the obvious surgery required if this fails.

For now, I am alive!

Dr Looi only charged me for one jab. Else I would be $600 poorer. He was so sweet and kind to charge me only $342 plus consult of 2 hours.

Now I sincerely pray my thumb and foot heals.

Still Hacking Up Furballs

I was glad to consult Dr Lui this morning.

It seems that my unusually more stiffness in hands and legs were brought on by the antibiotic, Cravits, that I was taking at 750mg per day.

It was Day 3 of Cravits and the stiffness was so pronounced that I almost tripped.

Dr Lui caught this side effect very quickly and changed Cravits to Klacid. Dosage was 500 mg, twice a day for a week.

He said that one of the side effects of Cravits is tearing of tendons. He was really worried.

I am glad I did not tear any tendons! Phew!

I was given Dhasedryl, Flumucil and Seretide for my cough.

In my “delusional” or “blur blur” mindless moment, I popped 1gm at one go.

It was such a high dosage that I reeled from it.

Thankfully I just needed the drug to taper off but it made me feel even more ill.

I can feel Cravits leaving my body system as my hands are not that stiff now.

Looks like Cravits now joins my rejected pile of 254 drugs + Cravits = 256!

Ahh well laugh I must as I have another week of antibiotics to finish.

At least I am not eating spicy Indian curries🤣 though I admit that I am a great chilli eater!

Yet Another Scare

It is past midnight in lil red dot and I have just returned from A&E at Singapore General Hospital where my mum is warded for a heart condition.

Whilst at today’s visit with my dad at his geriatrician’s clinic, my mum suddenly said she felt unwell.

Dr Yip sprang into action, checking my mum and said that her heartbeat is missing a beat. He said mum would need an ECG to check further.

My own heart at that point also missed a beat as it meant that I must quickly take mum to the A&E to do an immediate ECG as prescribed by Dr Yip.

Meanwhile dad had a list of things remaining at the hospital – blood tests, collect meds at pharmacy and pay his bills.

Dad’s mind can no longer do this himself and he wanted to just sit.

I quickly took both to a cafe in the hospital to have lunch. Meanwhile I dashed off to another building to seek out his missing order for blood test. I told both mum and dad to sit, eat and wait for my return.

Arriving at the clinic, I sought help from a lady in patient services to check through the system for dad.

The lady seemed to be “lost” and time tick tocked away. I told her I would return and asked her to continue to search for it whilst I ran back to the cafe.

Back at the cafe, both mum and dad had finished their lunch. I wolfed down two pcs of soon kueh or turnip filos steamed in rice flour.

I told mum to sit under a shaded garden in the hospital to wait for me whilst I took dad for his blood test.

I arrived back at the clinic and yes, they found the blood test order. Dad was quickly processed for the tests and I dashed back to get mum to go to A&E.

By now, dad said he was pooped out tired. So I told him to sit in the garden whilst I take mum to A&E. I needed him to sit and not wander off else I would be missing a forgetful dad.

Arriving at A&E, the wait said 1hr and 47 mins. I told mum to sit and wait her turn whilst I dashed off to get dad.

I ran by the pharmacy to drop off the prescription. I would collect later as a missed queue number. The pharmacy would close only at 7pm.

Brought dad to A&E. Ran off to look for mum at ECG room and soon she was rushed to Critical Care Unit.

I was told to wait 2 hours for blood tests the doctor had ordered.

By now it was 6pm. Time to feed dad and pick up meds. Mum is safe in CCU.

Fed dad and picked up meds.

Dr Dutta at CCU informed me that blood work looks “ok” but mum needed to be warded in hospital under cardiology for more tests.

Mum needed some food so off I dashed back to the foodcourt to get her something to eat.

By now it was 7pm and dad said he was very tired. I left mum at hospital for admission and left the hospital to get dad to go home.

My mop of hair looks bedraggled and needed a cut. Dashed to the mall at 7.30pm for 10 mins K Cut.

Dad said he felt unwell. My heart skipped another beat. “Do you want me to take you to A&E?”

He said he just wanted to sleep.

Home sweet home for dad and he lumbered into bed without showering! Mum would have a hissy fit if she knew!

I left dad in his home and headed off to my home after I ensured he was ok.

What a day! Tomorrow off to visit mum in hospital. I hope there is nothing majorly wrong with mum.

I am tired. I did 13,166 steps. I am mentally and physically drained.

Gaaarrrrfield where are you? I need a Garfield Hug!😔🐺

In Memoriam – Dr Andrew Lee Yee Chun

I am sad that my general surgeon, Dr Lee Yee Chun passed away last Friday at the age of 73.

Dr YC Lee was introduced to me by Dr Oon Chong Teik, (*a reknowned Internal Medicine Specialist) when I needed several surgeries.

Dr YC Lee was interested in liver surgical procedures for liver cancer, gall bladder and stomach or gut.

He diagnosed my appendicitis when a gastro doctor said it was gastritis. That gastro doctor has since been sacked as he could have cost me my life.

Dr Lee’s surgical skills are superb. Each slice and dice he has done for me left me no surgical scars.

Through him, he performed 8 surgical procedures on me. All non eventful.

I am sorry for his family’s loss and the medical fraternity has lost a valued colleague and mentor for new surgeons.

My deepest condolences to his bereaved family.

Dr Lee, you are a kind gentleman with skilful surgical hands with a love for scuba diving.

Go in the peace of Christ. Amen.💐🌸🌹🥀🌷🌻🌼🌺

Theory – One Word Prompt

By now, my regular followers on WordPress and visitors would know of my medical challenges or I call it, life’s little lemons🍋🍋🍋

My theory for my suffering which includes more than 19 surgeries and multiple stays at Bates Motel is that I must have been an awful horrid mad scientist that was chopping up lab animals.

Aahh..karma is back to get me and so, I get sliced, diced, poke and prodded like a lab rat.

But my theory has its flaws. Hmm…🤔with each pain and suffering I undergo, I understand pain and suffering.

I  can understand the symptoms and how to fix it – in turn I share with others to get self checked when I hear or see their symptoms.

The people I meet are ignorant to medical intervention. Some tell me it was better not knowing! 

Gee…it is akin to a small problem not arrested and it becomes an ending when things are too late.

I met someone sitting for her turn when my mum was at the specialist.  She told me her first name and I blurted out her last name. I did not know her from Adam yet I could spout her last name on reflex.

My theory is we met in past lives. We must have! 

It seems she has a tumor growing in her and it weighs 5kg but she said that she is still asking the specialist if surgery was really necessary.

The tumor grows a kilo a month on average.

I looked at her and said firmly that surgery is necessary as at the rate it is growing in her tummy she will look like she is 9 months pregnant without a child in her. Her quality of life will be affected, not mentioning if the tumor is cancerous or benign to begin with.

I told her I survived each of my 19 surgeries. I sleep, I awake and it is over. I lived. I was prepared to cash in my chips.

My parting shot to her was to be brave and live for her family. Go for the surgery.

If that fell on deaf ears…at least I spoke from my heart.

Life is sometimes 🍋🍋🍋but with each 🍋🍋🍋experience, I come out wiser but sometimes with more pain.

As for the real meaning for my suffering – its cause and effect…my theory is still unproven.

I am prepared to offer whatever remaining years of my life left to whoever who needs it more. 

Dr Chomp’s Gift To Garfield Clan

I visited Dr Chomp on Saturday and our patient doctor relationship always starts with him dissing my ex employer Electrical Lord.

We then talked about everything else under the sun. We have a good friendship as we both think alike and laugh alike – loudly!😉

This time he went on to share his views on the Orange Man and we both wondered how long he would last.

Dr Chomp shared that he could not find Garfield in his frequent travels to USA.

So he gave me Tigger instead from the Pooh series.

It is feline and so we call him a distant cousin ha ha!

Thank you Dr Chomps 😊till the next quarter my pearly whites are cleaned and cleared of gum swellings!

Yes…I have a funny dental condition. My gums flare up like my autoimmune disease and if Dr Chomps do not manually use his ‘ice pick’ to dig out the clots, my pain in the gums or jaw will not abate.

So, every quarter, I pay for pain and spew blood clots😉

Ha ha! Story of my chomps!😃

Humanly Possible & And So The Story Goes #38

I had my stay extended at Bates Motel to receive not one, BUT THIRTEEN injections into my neck.

It was an excruciating experience that I never knew I could go through it. 

Thankfully in 15 minutes it was over as Dr Boey’s hands were skillfully deft and swift. 

It is often said that the doctor’s hands are pivotal. 

Dr Boey is my anaesthesiologist and when I had him manage me during my cervical corpectomy, he told me that inserting the rubber tube into my lungs must be done well else it is game over for me with instant paralysis.

This scared me out of my wits😱😨but thankfully it was non eventful.

Useful Fact on Anaesthesiologist that I would like to share:

[Anaesthesiologists are medical doctors who specialize in giving patients anesthesia. Anesthesia is only given to patients who undergo surgery to relieve pain or to put these patients to sleep for the duration of the surgery. 

An anaesthesiologist provides care to their patient before, during and after a surgery.]

When Mr EX heard about it, he zoomed down to see me immediately.

I admit at this point I realised that I still do matter to him.

Awfully kind of him except he was as always, rushing between appointments. 

Life of a CEO for him.

He made a dramatic entrance to my room and since the staff nurse was with me, he had to poke me.

He raised his voice and asked the Staff Nurse if I cleaned my posterior or his favorite usage of “back side”

Sigh! Thankfully the Staff Nurse knows of him and left us.

He lost his only audience.

I asked him why he is he so obsessed with posteriors. My million dollar burning question.

His smug reply was “not anybody’s back side, JUST YOURS!”

Aaargh😒if only you could see my invisible dagger stabs at him!!😕I was not enlightened.

I will not be unravelling this obsession anytime soon, his mysterious obsession with my touche! Sigh!

He tells me he has only half an hour to spare as he has to go into a meeting at 7.30pm.

He saw my fantastic dinner and helped me wolf it down. Least I could do was share my lavish meal which was too much for one person really😁

I did appreciate his presence as I would not like to be rushing about squeezing out half an hour to slot me in.

I learnt for the first time that he liked tiramisu cake and his eyes twinkled when he saw the green tea tiramisu served.

Macaron and all went straight into his tum tum and like the Phantom of the Opera, he breezed in as quickly as he breezed out!

His exit would not be complete with his further poke at “my touche” to which the story then goes….

ME

“Since you are so hung up on my “touche’s” state of hygiene you could clean it when I am ill!”

NOTE1

Intent was to stunned him to shutting up!

MR EX

“I will be disrupted by non backside-centric robot”

ME

“Aah good you are buying me a robot!! This way you can continue sing for supper or work for dough lol. 可是偶尔你也要出马因为机器要修吗!🖒(*translated to mean aah but occasionally the non backside centric robot will need servicing so you gotta do it😄😄”
This is where he took this point to exit and breezed out…

Silence ensues as the door closes on his exit.

I am non the wiser unfortunately and not much closer to solving case of the backside obsession!