-HosPitalizeD-
The title is already self-explanatory, no? So yea, I was hospitalized. And ever since I posted such wall post in facebook saying that I was hospitalized, it sure drew lots of attention and concern from friends. Some were even shocked and had absolute no idea of what had happened. Hence, I think I owe everyone an explanation! =)
Other medications I'm on are:
Oh ya, my blood test, came out normal except eosinophil count. Mine was 20 and the normal range being only 1-6. That's real high, indicating an allergic reaction towards parasites. This should be the reason why I'm prescribed antihistamines.
The whole experience, was agonizing. Imagine having one breath, and hardly having any confidence that the next breath will come by. Struggling for each breath, grasping for air, and the intense coughing just made it even worse. Getting that severely sick, is also nerve-racking! I nearly cross the line of giving up, nearly lose my temper, tried so hard not to be sick mentally though physically i'm not well.
And, I felt lonely. yap, this is undeniable, and I felt sorry bout this.
Now, worry not, I'm getting better, though not fully recovered. It takes time to rejuvenate, for the time being I'm not able to jog or swim like I used to, my lungs are still weak. Walking up and down the stairs might already cause shortness of breath. So, I'll be carrying on with my medications, and some herbal soups prepared by my mom will do some help. Interestingly, the best exercise that I can do now which will aid in my recovery is, Blowing Balloons! Funny eh? I guess I should throw a recovery party and spur myself to start blowing balloons~ hahaz.
This experience, I shall remember..
And lately I realized, I still have so much yet to be learnt in Buddhism. I would like to grab hold of the present, learning the Buddha's teaching mindfully, and strive to be a wholesome being. Since life is so unpredictable, this present life I'm having, might just end at anytime. So u know, gotta live with no regrets.
Cheers everyone!
It all started during my pulau trip (which was superbly exhilarating and FUN! Did snorkeling, kayak-ing, bathed ourselves with super cooling water; and, had I mentioned the kayak? haha. alright, this is way out of topic) So, moving on, it all started with some mild symptoms, which were red spots on my thighs and legs, then there comes the itchiness. Applied calamine lotion once used for my chicken-pox; prescribed a cream by a doctor in a clinic to be applied locally to lift the itchiness; and not until I consulted a dermatology specialist in subang jaya medical centre then only an accurate diagnosis is made.
I was infected by hookworm larvae, a skin disease called Cutaneous larva migrans. Cracking ur heads off wondering what the hack am I talking about?? Take a closer look: here, u have a microscopic photo of a hookworm:-
look familiar? I hope not, this photo might traumatize ur dreams, make it into a nightmare. lol.
And on a macroscopic view, u'll have these: (viewers' discretion is advised)
Spot the worm-like tracks? so here the story goes. Hookworms are parasitic worms living in intestines of mammals most commonly dogs and cats. The eggs will be present in the faeces of infected dogs/cats,and they hatch into larvaes which *patiently* awaits (since they can survive up to 2 weeks without finding a host :/ ) until the unlucky person a.k.a ME, so happened to pass by that spot. So, they penetrate into ur skin,and live right under it, causing allergic response such as rashes and itchiness. And one fine day, they start to move/ travel under the skin, leaving a distinct conspicuous red track, turning u upside down since it can be intensely pruritic!
Treatment? People might opt for cryotherapy, using liquid nitrogen to freeze locally that particular area, crystallizing skin cells while spontaneously kill the larvae. And OBVIOUSLY this is not my case! If I opt for that, the only thing I'll get is whole part of my two legs getting frozen solid, skinless. Lolz. Coz I'm severely infected.
So, a deworm drug, Albendazole, or Zentel, will do the trick. Taken via GI track and they'll act systematically to the whole part of the body. Or, if u're able to bare with the itchiness, it'll go off in 2/3 months ( MONTHS? are u kidding me?! ). And hence, I started forwarding messages to all my friends who did go to the Pulau trip as well,and yap, they all had the same yet much less severe symptoms and they got their own medication too. =)
So, fun facts:
a) The next time u're at a beach and u had the thought of trying bury urself with sand just like we did,
try finding a spot where dogs and cats don't poop on alright?? =)
b) and, the dermatologist that I consulted as mentioned before, actually cheerfully took out her camera handphone, and snap a few shots of my leg! According to her, mine is the worst case ever and that photo, is worth keeping as a collection for her career. Did that just brighten my day? yes, in a weird way though. haha.
However so, that's not the thing that had been kept me suffering for so long until the extent that I had to be sent to the hospital. I had bacteria infection, particularly at the lungs. Hence I had high fever of 38 degree Celsius (hit 40 degree Celsius and i'll be as hot as a desert, instantly dead as well), shortness of breath and non-stop coughing. My last asthma attack was 7 years ago, roughly when I was 11 years old, and all these familiar symptoms started to resurface. Ventolin inhaler (salbutamol) did not show a positive outcome, so I had to be nebulized in the hospital, at a higher dose, higher duration and more oftenly done.
Other medications I'm on are:
a. Prednisolone, a corticosteroid drug, used to reduce swelling, redness and itching of my legs. This is also part of the treatment for asthma.
b. Terbutaline, a fast-acting bronchodilator, this will dilate my bronchi, allow better air flow in the lungs and clear off the wheezing.
c. Theophylline, for respiratory disease such as asthma. Have numerous side-effects and I'm asked to monitor myself, in the case of having hand tremors, then I should reduce the dosage.
d. Loratadine, an antihistamine drug to treat allergies.
Oh ya, my blood test, came out normal except eosinophil count. Mine was 20 and the normal range being only 1-6. That's real high, indicating an allergic reaction towards parasites. This should be the reason why I'm prescribed antihistamines.
The whole experience, was agonizing. Imagine having one breath, and hardly having any confidence that the next breath will come by. Struggling for each breath, grasping for air, and the intense coughing just made it even worse. Getting that severely sick, is also nerve-racking! I nearly cross the line of giving up, nearly lose my temper, tried so hard not to be sick mentally though physically i'm not well.
And, I felt lonely. yap, this is undeniable, and I felt sorry bout this.
Now, worry not, I'm getting better, though not fully recovered. It takes time to rejuvenate, for the time being I'm not able to jog or swim like I used to, my lungs are still weak. Walking up and down the stairs might already cause shortness of breath. So, I'll be carrying on with my medications, and some herbal soups prepared by my mom will do some help. Interestingly, the best exercise that I can do now which will aid in my recovery is, Blowing Balloons! Funny eh? I guess I should throw a recovery party and spur myself to start blowing balloons~ hahaz.
I've learnt that my own health should be much treasured and well taken care, no more overworking myself then. And I've learnt how suffering it is to have a sickness, to be overnight alone in the hospital, and this might make me more understanding towards people around me who falls sick. I'm now better prep to be a future health care professional! *wink*
This experience, I shall remember..
Wishing everyone good health and hence able to pursue in life's endeavours.
And lately I realized, I still have so much yet to be learnt in Buddhism. I would like to grab hold of the present, learning the Buddha's teaching mindfully, and strive to be a wholesome being. Since life is so unpredictable, this present life I'm having, might just end at anytime. So u know, gotta live with no regrets.
Cheers everyone!
I feel sorry also.. hope u will be in top fit condition soon and we can go gym again together haha..
Cheers... may u be well owes...
lots of happening huh,
thank you for having the blog update..
hehe,
thats what the doc said to me when i am a kid, balloon..
well, blowing baloon is bored, u can try play flute~:D
hahahah
take care,
miss u so, see u soon
And kaizen dad, I miss u playing flute~ Buy one for me! XD
Never heard u played chinese flute before though. When's ur personal recital? =) I'll be the first registered audience!
take care! exams coming soon, huhu!
yeap exams coming soon so all da best! for aylwin and yeanhui above too!haha