Terribly Sick

I never felt that unwell until last Wednesday. My chronic cough returned for the past two weeks. Finally went to see a doc on Monday and was on antibiotics. The cough was so bad that I could hardly breathe. There was so much phlegm and itchy-ness in the throat that triggers the non-stopping cough until my face turned red and tears swell around the corners of my eyes.

I thought it would have been better after seeing the doc on Monday. Wednesday morning, I was choked by my own cough, waking up at 5am, coughing in between my sleep. While bathing, I vomited a POOL OF PHELGM. Can you imagine one vomiting a POOL of PHELGM? It was about 15cm circumference on the toilet floor, covering with white colored, bubble formed phlegm that slowly flow down into the drainage. I was shocked but glad those sticky evil phlegm was forced out from my body.

Upon reaching the office, rushing off for the last day of our course, I suddenly shivered and quivered in the room. Although the room was exceptional colder than the first day, somehow, I knew there is something much wrong with me. The sudden itch in the throat occurred again, I rushed off to the door, with pairs of eyes, full of curiosity and concern following behind me.

Upon reaching the nearest toilet, I started to vomit and vomit and cough and vomit. Liquified phlegm mixed with stomach juices were vomited out uncontrollably. I stayed in the washroom, I dun know for how long, before the cough subsided and I returned to the room for my course. The cold was unbearable. I knew from that instant, it was not just the cold temperature from the aircon. I froze and felt my body heat increases. The cold wind blew and stung my skin like needles pricking through the pores. I felt nausea and the head felt heavier.

Nevertheless, it is my last day of the course, I didn’t want to leave just like that. I stayed on till its break time, and I went to the washroom again, to vomit.2 hours later, it was lunch time, I vomited again. This is the first time I ever laid on my working desk with pillow supporting my head. I shivered in the cold, went to the washroom to change into a cardigan, and put on a jacket, and I still felt as cold. I sipped some hot green tea, and within a few minutes, again, I vomited out the green tea.

Some colleagues whom returned back to the office saw the condition I was in and were concerned. One rubbed ointment on my neck and another advised me to quickly go to the clinic, and passed me some plastic bags in case I vomit again along the way.

I finally relented and called for a cab, rushing myself to the nearest clinic. My tempt hits a 37.7 and my body started to ache. Dr Loh gave me a general check up and suddenly asked, "How do you get here just now?" "By cab...." I replied. "Do you know H1N1 is still active? Is anyone at home?" she continued. "Yes, only my mum but she hurts her knee I don’t want to trouble her" I replied. "Ok, then I shall arrange for an X-Ray check up for you tomorrow morning" said Dr Loh.

After prescribed me with some medication and 3 days mc, I waited outside at the counter to collect my medication.The heavy down pour outside the clinic made me felt even worst, having to brave through the rain, the lower half of my jeans were already soaked by the acidic rain. I slumped onto the sofa and explained to mum of my early returned. The body ached and the internal heat seems to be brewing.

After popping the pills, I changed my clothing and hide into the blanket, hoping to get some warm.2 hours passed. I woke up feeling even worse than before. My back seems to be burning the bed. The internal heat seems to be burning and melting my organs. I sat up slowly, making my way to the kitchen and grabbed a thermometer. It is 38.1 now. The fever did not go down. It was then that I started to monitor my body temp every 15mins and realized it just went up and up and up till it finally hits 38.5. I slowly made my way to the washroom and wet a towel to place on my forehead and neck.

20mins passed and I measured again. The temperature dropped slightly now to 38.2, then 37.5 then back to 38.2 and 38.4 then dropped again and up again. I thought I was dying and if the fever keeps increasing, I thought to myself if I will incinerate myself on the bed?

It was 7pm when my parents came back and bought my porridge. I managed to finish half of it before slumping back on the bed for some comfort. Baby came around that time to visit me after work, and fed me another round of medication.It was only until midnight when the fever finally subsided.

The next day morning, smses popping into my phone as and when with regards to work. I have to reply and pass some impt info while making my way to the clinic for my x ray. Luckily Dad took half day to bring me to do my x ray, and collected the film immediately to be brought back to the clinic for Dr Loh's advice and comment. Else I would have to drag my way slowly to the clinics!

The x ray does not show signs of infection, except that my spine bone is a little arch, which she says it’s pretty normal. But she warns if the fever returns, just go straight to A&E and bring the x ray report along with me.

For a moment, I really thought I have got H1N1 and was so worried not for myself but the ppl whom I was in contact with. My colleagues, my parents, my baby.. I thought I would have infected them.The medications are making me giddy and weak. I spent most of my time stoning at home. Don’t know what to do. The heart was pumping fast and I felt so unease.

There are so much things I want to do but just do not have that strength to do it.Today, again I feel the warm on my back and the feeling of nausea. I quickly popped my pills again, hopefully nothing will happen tonight.

Sigh.............

Nike Training Run

Waking up at 5 47am, I was 47 min late. Rushing through my bath and brushing my teeth at the same time, I text Baby that I will be late. Thankfully he has also woke up around the same time (he is also late.......) and assured me that we will still be in time.

In the end, we took cab with the rest of his three friends/colleagues. Baby got me a packet of milo and bread bun to fill up my stomach while on our way to ACM.

Reaching there at 7:30am, we are still on time, in fact early for the event. The organisers were still setting up the tables for baggage deposit and counter for registration.

The top triathlete Mok Ying Ren, giving us some briefing and tips on how to train for our distance running followed by a warming up session for about 10mins before we spring off for our 5k training run. The organisers were very encouraging and supportive, some of them running back and fro to ensure all of us are running on the run route, checking on us if we are safe and running well, while standing by ahead of us and taking pictures of us. I dun know how many times we have turned and looked into the camera, forcing a smile while panting for air and perspiration dripping down on our faces.

The training run was an interesting and memorable one. This time, I completed the run in 40mins (way too slow..) but that was my best effort for the day. Probably the cough is hindering me, probably the tiredness, probably the hot weather, probably its just me.

Baby's friendly colleague saw us when we arrived and told us where to get our drinks. While cooling down, the organiser came to us again offering to take a picture of us (again) which I surprising obliged.

I am glad to have attended this training run and experienced running with a group of regular runners. Hope many more such events I could join!!!! Thanks baby for asking me along, else I would have missed out this memorable event. :)

Blood Donation

I did my 1st blood donation last friday!

It wasnt really scary. Recently, probably there was more campaigns about blood donations, the thing kept appearing in my mind. When I was in hospital, when I was at work.

So finally, when I received the reminder email about this blood donation drive held in my organisation, I finally buck up my courage and went alone.

The procedures were simple, filling up a form, getting a doc to did a blood pressure check, and all he did was to tick all the other 20 over boxes to certify that I am well and off I go and proceed to lying on the bed waiting to have my blood drawn. The nurses have a difficult time locating my veins because to them, it was too thin and soft. Finally they decide to drawn from my right arm and off I went, to change another bed.

The nurses explained thoroughly the procedures to me, then poke a syringe to inject some anesthesia, waited for a few more seconds, before pushing the bigger needle into the vein. I could still feel the aching pain when the needle was digging into my vein, deeper and deeper. I wanted to see what was done but the nurse shouted "Turn away ah, turn away, don't see"

The whole process took quite a while because my vein was soft and weak the the flow into the packet was not smooth. The nurse has to stay by my side and smoothen my arm to straighten the vein for the blood to flow better. About 20 mins later, the 300ml packet is full and its over.

Some iron tablets and a certificate was given to me while I rested at the sofa chatting with the student helper and I took a packet of raisins to munch on.

So much for the experience, it was all worth it. I come to realise that it is not truth that thin ppl are not suitable to donate. So long as your weight falls into the ideal (about 45kg and above), no major illness or unwell on that day, you can still be eligible to donate.

It is not that difficult after all, just look away if you are afraid of seeing needles. You be assured that you will be in good hands with the experience nurses to attend to you.

:)