it felt like a week that was never going to end with all that medications and pain i had to go through. finally, had my check up visit with the doctor this morning and i have been given the all-clear to start back on monday. its been amazing unbelievable that i was only at ‘work’ for 4 days and then had more than a week off on medical leave. the doctor said this morning that when he first saw me, he seriously thought that i was just 1 day away from being admitted to the hospital for some care. but he was amazed at my calm and composure. i guess it was all too painful then for me to be hysterical and freaking out. i only turn hysteric and broke out in tears when the medication he gave me worked and i saw the horrible skin on my face peeling off and showing my original skin. in the other words, when i was so unwell and in pain, i didnt feel upset. i wasnt freaking out, i was so calm. i even thought that its funny and joked with friends on facebook how crap i looked. i only broke down in tears when i was feeling better and saw my conditions improving… i know its weird.. most people would be the other way round…
all i can say, its been adventurous, scary and painful. but it gave me the courage and taught me new things in life, dont keep quiet, take things upon myself, really ask for help when its seriously needed. and dont just trust any doctors just because they have gone through medical school and are called medical doctors! i found out that i m actually emotionally stronger than i thought of myself to be. i survived almost 2 weeks on my own with all the pain, the fear, without freaking out – only when i was recovering and showing signs of improving then i broke into tears. its is also a very painful way to find out what i was actually allergic to. i found out who truly cares and loves me when i m truly sick and down. i appreciate what my friends have done for me over the last 1-2 weeks. without any one of you, i would probably be dead by now. and the last few months, i have been plagued with nothing but ill health and so susceptible to virus and bacteria that i really need to treat myself better, never overwork or worn myself out again and take better care of myself.
sorry mummy and daddy. 48 hours after you send me off at the airport, you received texts of me being in A&E and then receiving news and pictures of a disfigured face, followed by news of me on 1 week sick leave and hearing my tears over the phone. i m fine now. will present the girl that you always had when you see me again at the end of the year. all of a sudden, being “smothered” isnt a bad thing afterall.
photos of the latest of the aftermath of my allergy: 
pigmentation on skin producing uneven skin tones after the allergy and rash subsides.
Categories: daily talk
January 29, 2010 · Enter your password to view comments
Categories: bad times · daily talk
to my friends who read this… I am sorry that the previous post was password protected. If you like to read it (which I dont encourage, as there is a very long story and horrible one attached to it) you may either email me or send me a private message through Facebook.
then for today, I have not been this happy and this excited for a long long time. I finally embark on my new journey. getting myself registered as an Early Childhood Teacher and this registration will take a year. I will be doing alot of work and be out on various postings and placements. First one is actually next week. I will be working formal office hours and its very hectic. But I am very happy and i think i will enjoy the busyness.
Will keep this post short and simple. i know this is for me, especially for me…..
Categories: daily talk · loves & likes
January 25, 2010 · Enter your password to view comments
Categories: bad times · daily talk
i had a little adventure this morning. a heart-stopping and thumping one – almost drove me to tears. i woke up this morning at 8am, to a very swollen face, eyes and ears. i hesitated for almost 30 mins before deciding that i should ring for some help. i rang jess who is an intern doctor, woke her up from her sleep and told her what has happened to me, afterall when she picked up me from the airport on thursday, she was aware of my allergy. she came round as soon as she got dressed and we went back to the clinic that i went to on thursday only to be referred to the ED (Singapore’s A&E) as the GP thought i might need antibiotics intravenous . I was seen almost immediately, partly there was no quene and waiting. Blood presssure, heart rate were taken and, i then waited for the doctor to come round and diagnose me.
Doctor came and recorded my history. he didnt think the swelling was caused by the seafood that i had on tuesday as its been a few days and when i showed him the medication that i was prescribed on thursday, he speculated that i might be allergic to one of the drug that i was given which was a kind of antibiotics and is also a type of penicillin (exactly as to what Jess had guessed). She stayed with me throughout the entire time. Jess is actually very smart for an intern. she made rather accurate diagnosis and her guesses were quite in-lined with the doctor’s at ED, and i think, she is even more accurate and smarter than the GP at the clinic.
my life wasnt in danger as i was clinically and physically well. i walked into ED and was not displaying any other symptoms except for the facial discomfort. I was given heavier dosage of steriods and antihistamines, afterwhich i was placed under observations for about 2.5 hrs and waited for the next plan of action. at 1230pm, the doctor came in and decided that i would cope with oral medication and no need for antibiotics intravenous so he decided to discharge me. i had another intern doctor friend who happened to be on duty and she came round to say hi after i was given some medication and resting. So when the doctor came in with the new prescription, he was relatively surprised as all these interns had their hospital and name tags on. he asked:” so exactly how many interns do you know?” I replied “heaps” 
He felt i was ok to go home with the medication and he even joked that i will be fine with so many intern doctors as friends. came home, was exhausted. Jess got me some lunch on my way home and while she decided to do some work while i sleep as she hang around in my house. She even cooked me dinner.
its been a relatively crazy day, scary in some ways for me as I never had some severe allergy before but felt very blessed that i have a friend in jess. I know she will be reliable and would never leave me if i needed her. i felt bad as she kept me company and couldnt do much studies or preparations for her upcoming presentation. What do i do without you, Jess?
at this point, the swelling has remarkably subsided though not completely but i am feeling much better.
Categories: bad times · daily talk
for the very first time in months, i felt the crisp, clean morning air cleansed my lungs the moment i open my eyes and there was no perspiration or sticky feeling on my body, instead, my body was kissed by a fresh cool refreshing morning air. Its been too long that i almost forgot how it actually felt. for the first time in months, the air that i went to sleep breathing was natural, no fans blowing at me, no air-con set to bring the temperature down… it was all natural and it does make one person feel fresh and relaxed when awake in the morning… however, was abit disappointed with the temperature once arrival. temperatures was in the mid-20s and i was actually dreaming and wishing for something lesser… a t-shirt was enough to tide over yesterday though i had cardigan and scarf in the hand carry, ready to bring it all out. and pjs last night was a tank top and cotton trackie – it was just good… not too warm and not too cold. a wee bit chilly today with the rain and slight breeze, but thats what i want…more if possible! (:
upon arriving yesterday evening at the airport, i decided that the rashes that developed overnight on the plane needed some medical attention. so jess drove me to the urgent doctors straight picking me up from airport. after consultation, realised that the rash was brought on by possibly a form of allergy, either through food or through contact with superficial substance. however, it got infected as i was travelling and didnt seek medical advice. i kind of speculated that, it could be seafood thats the most possible culprit. had some medication and i just want it to recover in time for the ID photo taking on monday.
arrived at wellington airport yesterday before jumping onto the domestic to dunedin, and the moment i stepped out of the plane into the terminal, i was greeted by customs officers, airport ground staff and even Duty free staff who were on duty as i walked towards the customs clearance, i almost forgot it was like to be back in NZ. i forgot that greeting in situations as such wasnt something weird or disgraceful or embarassing. No one will think i was trying to eat them up! i love it… its a completely different feeling to what its like at home. had some yarns with the custom clearance officer while he went through my documents and checked my passport…. this is NZ. this is courtesy! not some special kindness movement that encouraged some people to be kind and nice only on a particular day or throughout a particular week…
went to the supermarket this morning to do my groceries shopping. and i got to drive my car again after 3.5 months. no more squeezing and jostling on the public transport, or endless waiting for a bus or train to be less crowded. no more traffic jam that take up most of the travelling time. at the supermarket, everthing felt fresh and clean… and upon paying at the check out, had another few yarns with the check-out lady.. totally different from what it was like at home. if i was at home, just greeting and saying hi would draw stares from the check-out person, especially if it was a guy… guess that boils down to culture.
checked my mails and found out that classes and ‘work’ will resume on 25th Jan as scheduled. however, i will start everyday next week from 9am to 4pm and at the end of the first week next week, i will have a test that would covered what was taught in the first week. out on postings/placement on 1st Feb.. it seems to be moving really quickly but i am excited… very excited!
3 cheers to my own return!
Categories: daily talk
as the day draws nearer to my return and new life back in NZ, the excitement is uncontainable. i try very hard to hide but i cannot. its not about regaining my freedom, but its all about returning to my life and starting on a new journey altogether….
WHAT HAPPEN TO US?
i wished that things between us werent so cold. we were good friends, best mates since we were in polytech…. this time when you heard that i have intention to carry on working in NZ, you refused to talk to me and didnt even bother replying any of my texts…. i wonder what happen to us… where was the trust that we both had in each other… where was the support that i could always find on you when i couldnt find it anywhere else….
all in all.. the last 3 months have been painful in some ways and enlightening in some.. at least now, i am clearer of my directions and closer to fulfilling a dream….
Categories: daily talk
yes… its been alittle too long since i updated this.. there has been heaps happening since the last update but i just couldnt be bothered to put everything down to words and perhaps laziness plays a minor part.
the latest would be, visa to head back to NZ is pending, but i have only a week left so thats rather stressful!
in actual fact, there has been so many things worth journalising about but once the actual moment is over, it does seem quite trival to even think about it. and in my very current state, i can alittle incoherent in terms of my thoughts and even my ability to string nouns, vocabs and adjectives together… so i will leave it to the next time… i will say more to come in due time… but not now…
i can see the incoherence seeping in so i shall stop before it gets any worse…….
Categories: daily talk
ever since being diagnosed with the infection in early nov, i was home-bound for 2weeks and was on medication and finally, early last week i was given the clear to head out – as in once i finished all the antibiotics i was clear to head out and i went back to do my relief work and also venture out more than when i was first back. however, i still avoid crowded places and take things easy… when just a few more days to the 1st of Dec, i decided that i do need to get my issues sorted and try and get my paperwork ready to head back to NZ….
nothing much except i did some pampering myself yesterday, pedicure and medicure. bliss….i even fell asleep! hahaha
cant stand that fat fingers and toes of mine but i love the colour! hahaha
Categories: daily talk
November 5, 2009 · 1 Comment
the blood test results came back and it showed that i had contracted a form of pneumonia known as mycoplasma infection.. for a normal person, <1:40 would indicate a negative result and 1:40 would mean equivocal, however >=1:80 means positive and my result was tested to be 1:160.
apparently if i didnt had it tested, my condition would have worsen and the infection would have increased and mum said that if it goes any higher, the doctor would have me hospitalised so as to give me antibiotics intravenous so that they can curb the infection as it had gotten too serious…but luckily i was tested earlier and curently can be treated by oral medication
for now, the medication is enough to bring it under control and curb it from worsening but the current symptoms presented will persist for a while and it will be a long road to recovery as i wouldnt recover immediately upon finishing the medication. the doctor also cant say if i m contagious or infectious as it depends each individual’s immunity and immune system… and with the horrible local weather, i was just unlucky to be the vunerable one and got infected…
i never thought a normal dry cough would lead to something so serious and i am actually quite taken aback, plus one of the other symptoms besides coughing is extreme tiredness and fatigue and it never struck my mum then that it could have been mycoplasma infection cos i was sleeping so much, ie i would sleep for 4-5 hours in the afternoon and still able to sleep at night at 9pm - we all thought i was worn out and jetlagged, well guessed i was worn out too otherwise i wouldnt have been so weak and vunerable.. and i am very grateful that i have a nurse for a mum.. if not for her, she wouldnt have the hunch and have me sent to see a specialist doctor so early and because of her job..she know who are the good doctors who would make accurate diagnosis and hence brought the infection under control.. i am actually very proud that my mum is greater than great! thank you mummy….
*my long road to recovery*
Categories: daily talk · random
