Archive for July, 2010

I was quite excited about winning a consolation prize at a contest recently. It was hard for me to find time and transport to attend the prize giving ceremony but there was no other option because the prize would be forfeited if not collected on that day. That is what it said in the letter sent to me.

So one fine morning, dear hubby took time off to send me there. “Do you know how to get to the venue?” hubby asked. When I said I didn’t, he said “Leave it to me.” Then he confidently drove me to the place and we waited half an hour to get in. When we finally did, we were told that we were at the wrong place!

Oh my goodness, according to the time stated in the letter, the ceremony would have started. I quickly called the organisers who told me that it was ok because it hadn’t started. So we rushed there and even had to wait another half hour or so.

Finally, the time came, there was drumroll and the winners were announced one by one. And then they said “And that is the end of our consolation prize winners.” and went on to announce the first 3 prize winners and there were streamers and everything and I was left sitting there confused. They had forgotten about me! Hahaha.

Another poor chap was left out too. The organisers apologised profusely and gave us extra door gifts.
So being left out, turned out not so bad after all. We had extra gifts. Hubby said he would have preferred to have me go onstage to shake hands and smile so he can take my picture. lol.

Yesterday, I received another letter to collect another prize. Hehe. However, hubby commented that he can’t take time off to help me collect it anymore. Poor man. He has sent me to many weird and out of the way places to collect this and that. I think he must be very tired of my little contest winnings. I must win something bigger next time. So says the contest queen.

I read about the rise in deaths and complications or serious illnessess due to infectious deceases everyday. However to be told that I have active tuberculosis is another thing altogether. Though tuberculosis is treatable these days one must be diligent in taking the medications to prevent the TB from becoming drug resistant and very much harder to treat.

I read that the risk factors for acquiring TB include close-contact situations, alcohol and IV drug abuse, and certain diseases for example, (diabetes, cancer, and HIV) and occupations (for example, health-care workers). I am none of those and have not been in contact with any persons in these categories. I am a housewife who is home most of the time!

I thought TB was an “old” illness and we were vaccinated against it. I have sought another opinion and did further x-rays and I do not think I have TB. Still, it has been a nasty shock and I realise that I must not take my health for granted.

It has made me aware of the importance of our own health and well being.

However as I read more, I become more depressed. Reading about cancer and HIV makes me feel down. My own mother died of cancer 30 years ago. Now 30 years on we have not found any cure and people are still dying. Surely, in this time and age, surely we should be able to find a cure for all these illnesses?

Fortunately there are people like Dr Ann Duerr who is an advocate in the area of public health concerns in the developing world. It makes me comforted to know that there are people working very hard in these areas of medicine and research.

Dr Ann Duerr is with HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN). HVTN is an international network of research scientists, communities and industry representatives who are working together with governments to test and develop a HIV vaccine.

Dr Ann Duerr ‘s work has contributed and continues to contribute significantly to the fight against HIV. She has many published works on the biological as well as the epidemiological determinants of HIV transmission.

Yes, it is indeed reassuring to know that there are many people working hard to fight AIDS as well as other infectious illnessess.

They say money is the root of all evil but sometimes it is good to have money. It can represent a big difference in services provided. For this post, I shall talk about the differences in health care services.

I was unfortunate enough to have to take 4-5 chest X-Rays last week.

At X-Ray facility No. 1, I had to wait in a room full of male foreign workers who were all there for FOMEMA health screening where a chest x-ray was included. When it was my turn, I was told to remove my top clothing and don a hospital gown that was hanging on a hook. There were about 2-3 gowns hanging on separate hooks. I presume that all the foreign male workers before me wore the same gown. The gown left a clear visible gap of my back for the male technician to view (not that it was very nice to view but still…..) I felt a bit awkward and uncomfortable. I hung my own clothing on the same hook where I took the hospital gown from. The changing room was in the same room as the x-ray room, just right beside it as a matter of fact, with a ring pulled cloth curtain.

I was told to press my chest in front of a metal plate (I am not very sure whether all the male foreign workers pressed themselves on the same plate or whether it was changed), the technician left the room and zaaaaap! Done. Or was it Zaaaap! and try again Zaaaap! Done. I can’t quite remember. The results took awhile so fearing that it may be misplaced or placed together with the stacks of foreign worker reports while I wait there for nothing, I went to the counter to ask when I could have my results politely. The person manning the counter answered back rudely. “You will get your results when your name is called lah!”

Finally, I got my results. Not a very pretty one. Very frightening in fact. It says that I have active tuberculosis. I paid RM30 for that X-Ray.

At X-Ray facility No. 2, I waited in a more comfortable room watching CNN while waiting. I was brought to a changing room. There were 2 maybe 3 changing rooms with doors that could be locked. I was told to remove my top and don two hospital gowns, one over the other. I don’t  know why two. Maybe it was because it was very cold so it is to make  you feel more comfortable or so that there wouldn’t be any gaps of skin shown. I could put my own clothing in a locker with a key. There was a picture showing how to wear the gowns. Worn gowns are discarded in a bin in the changing room.

After changing I was told to wait awhile. Then they called me into the x-ray room. This time the x-ray of the chest was to be done from the back. It was a very awkward angle. The girl techinician who was trying to assist me did her best not to touch me but when she accidentally did, she would apologise. As it was rather awkward position, they took the x-ray 3 times before getting it right. Sigh.

I had to wait awhile for the x-ray too. When I approached the counter, they told me that it was ready but they had to get it typed out first. I paid RM45 for that x-ray.

At x-ray facility 2, I noticed a datin with a two carat diamond ring. When it was her turn to do the x-ray, I noticed, she walked right out afterwards with the report. No waiting time.

So, yes, money talks!

Do I wish to have more money. For the differences above, yes I do but more importantly, I wish for happiness and good health.

These days, quite often when I read the papers, I would read about how we are now working towards a less exam-oriented education system for obvious reasons blah blah blah.

So it was to my utter shock when I was handed papers for my son to study when I went to confirm a place for him for Standard One next year. “Study this. He will be tested in February.” the clerk told me.

Huh????? The papers had sukukata, words and sentences in Malay. Wow! I thought he was entering Standard One to learn ABCs and 123s but now he will be tested in Malay sentences in February!?

Oh and not only in February too. He will be tested 3 times a year?????? That is what I understand from this article in the Star about the Literacy and Numeracy (LINUS) programme that was started this year 2010. The objective of this programme is to ensure that “ALL Malaysian children without learning disabilities should be able to read and write Bahasa Malaysia, and do basic mathematics by Year Four.”  Right. Right. Oh I see. So why is he being tested on Malay sentences in Year One on the second month of schooling??????

See what this mum has to say about the Linus programme. Here is another opinion from MYsinchew.com

After completing 3 days of antibiotics, I had fever and chills on Saturday and Sunday. Great, just great! Went to see a GP to get more antibiotics, fever and cough medicine.

I am still thinking of whether to go back to the National Respiratory Center for further evaluation. I am afraid of going there. Afraid of having to wait for long periods of time in a roomful of sick people with airborne respiratory sickness.

I am still wondering whether a radiologist had been too gung ho in stating I have active TB since this radiologist sees foreign workers in and out regularly for Fomema testing and wants to err on the cautious side…. the other way.

Should I sue the radiologist for mental anguish or should I kiss him or her profusely for getting me to seek medical intervention early? Sigh. I don’t know which.

The kids are recovering from their cough and cold now but the husband just caught it. We are perpetually caught in this unmerry go round of sickness. Round and round we go. This month alone, the boy has gone to the doctor twice (once was for vaccination), the girl twice, the man once, myself three times plus twice to the dentist. The girl has another upcoming doctor appointment and I have two more dental visits and one other doctor appointment.

$$$$$ flying out through the window almost as fast as virusses and bacterias flying in.