Back from the past.

After a long time, a very old friend of mine whom I've known from Scouts (though I was in the Red Crescent); Elizabeth Koh inspired me to continue my posts via blog. Although I never really got to know her personally, from my observation (I used to go back to the school she studies in (also my secondary school in the 1990s) to help the BSM members), she is very friendly and polite.

After the knee surgery, nothing happened except that the good news, it's not cancerous. Thanks to everyone who visited me and gave me their support.

My friends are all doing well. I still keep in touch with Han Zhang and his gang. Deepak is as usual in India and Ihsan has gone to further his studies in the UK.

More to come in the next few days including an overview on world religion.

Day 5: Improvement and More Visitors

Things are improving and Dr. Bazam was happy except for the slight fever but that went away. Nothing much happened but I was happy to see my friends from the spiritual group my dad and I belong to. Slowly walking with crutches and calling less for help.

Day 4: Resting and Exercise :)

I decided to be bold and use the crutches they gave and the nurses taught me how to use. They told me to be careful. I managed to bathe on my own with abit of a wobble.

Morning went well. Mr Ananda came after Dr. Bazam left. I managed to eat on my own with minimal discomfort but hey that's a progress. I was just closing my eyes when my neighbour (also another Adrian, his mom and siblings) came to visit me. They're a very nice family I must say and the children are well mannered. Angie made friends with the nurses and I was a bit scared of her voice might disturb other patients. However, later I found out I was the only patient left that afternoon. We had a nice long talk on customer service, religion/spirituality. I learned alot on religion/spirituality from them. One thing I respect them that although they are Christians and the way my parents brought me up are slightly different, they respect me as an individual. After all, we are all human at the end of the day.

Evening was quiet and slept well without problems at night :)

Day 3: Resting

Woke up and asked for a bed bath which the nurses complied and helped me change my clothes. Breakfast was cereal and bread. Dr. Bazam then came in almost 10am saying he needed to take an X-Ray. The nurses took me on a wheelchair to the Radiology Department but I couldn't get out of the chair due to pain so they managed to accommodate using support and a different machine.

The day went well and in the evening, Dr. Bazam came back and said the X-Ray looks good. Woke up again at 3am and got another jab and was alright after that.

Day 2: Surgery

The day finally arrived. Had my breakfast at 6.45am, blood test later that day and just lazed around chatting with the nurses and my dad came at around 12. I was abit nervous of course but the doctor and my dad told me just relax and take it easy.

The idea of changing into a surgical gown is fine but the idea of not to wear your underwear sounds freaky. The nurse said it's not as if they don't know what I have underneath LOL!!! At 2.30pm, I was wheeled to the OR where my dad couldn't come with me. Took a deep breath and said bye to him. Went through a series of questions between the anaesthetist, OR staff and myself and finally agreed to settle with spinal anaesthesia with sedation instead of GA to reduce complications. The anaesthetist was good and the needles went in my arm and back with little pain which is normal. Then he injected the sedative into my IV and just told me I'll be asleep in 2 minutes. One minute I see him putting the ECG pads on my chest and the surgical cap on my head, the next thing I know, I am awake and they said it's done. Funny part was, I don't remember the oxygen mask being placed on my face (probably I was too dopey).

I was wheeled back to the ward and since it was spinal, they told me not to get up too fast and the medicine will last for 6 hours. My uncle and cousins came with my aunt, dad and grandmother along with George. Odd as it sounds, my dad fed me my dinner since I was groggy and couldn't sit up due to the spinal which hadn't worn off yet. Went to sleep well though I did wake up at 3am as I felt a sharp pain. Another jab and I was back asleep.

Day 1: Admission

And my journey begins!!! Woke up early to clear insurance matters, final checks on my clothes etc. needed, my medical card and other stuff. Packed some books to read to kill time.

My wish of wanting to see my grandmother before admission was fulfilled as Fabi brought her early. Aunty Karen was kind to drive my dad and I to the hospital and we checked in. Not the same room I got but same ward so got the same nurses (yay). Dr. Bazam came late at night (almost 11) but I was just closing my eyes. We went through the reports together and I signed the consent form. I had to fast for 6-8 hours so he suggested I eat early since my op is only 3pm the next day.

Birthday

Not much to call a birthday knowing you're going to be admitted for a surgery the day after your birthday. The day was quiet and in the evening, went to temple to pray and our family friends took us out. A nice dinner I must say and... I came home to just pack my stuff and hit the sack :)