The Meds

I am now in my Singapore home and recovering nicely after my surgery on 15th May. As I mentioned in my previous post, all went well with me only needing keyhole surgery. Although there is one more extra hole then the previous three in my surgery last year, I am thankful that I only have to heal from a keyhole surgery as opposed to a full bloom open one.

Anyway, I am thankful that this time I didn’t developed any fever that would need me to stay an additional night. As comfy as the hospital bed was with all the gadget, the frequent waking from the nurses to take my temperature and blood pressure and their mini ekg machine really get on my nerves especially if I was in my deep slumber. Getting back to sleep is such torture after that.

My bandages are due to be off on 20th and my appointment with the doctor is on 28th May. I am right now contemplating staying in Singapore for the whole duration especially since I don’t feel like travelling now and sitting in the bus for a solid 5hours but who know I may change my mind once my bandages are off. We’ll see.

In the meantime. I am taking it easy, making sure I walk around to get rid of all this carbon dioxide that they pumped into me for the surgery.. so.. don’t walk behind me.. lol!

Cheerio…
LadyJava

 

Blogging from KK Hospital ward 44 Bed 6

My surgery went very well. Dr Wong managed to remove the cyst using keyhole surgery although I had prior surgeries before at the same place and susceptible to adhesion…. And no cancer as well. Yeayyyy!!

Recovery is also going as well as can be expected. My doctor told me that if all goes well I can go home tomorrow.. double yeay!!

Oh.. apparently for blood circulation purposes, my doctor prescribed me my very personal masseuse from 4am to 8am this morning. Awesome!

Meet her below..

 

Cheerio
LadyJava

Surgery Day is Finally Here

So the day has finally arrived.

After numerous visit to my doctors and doing tests and countless blood drawing (I hope it’s not going to the vampires..lol), SURGERY DAY is finally here. I had a detox day yesterday which sees me running to the toilet every few minutes and despite that I still managed to launch my client’s website (pat pat on my back). Yeay!

I am getting ready now for my “check-in” to Kandang Kerbau Hospital. That’s gonna be home for the next three days or so (longer if the doctors have to open me up instead of keyhole surgery).

Can’t wait for all this to be over and maybe I’ll visit http://www.famous-smoke.com and get me some cigars to celebrate.. lol!

Prayers

Cheerio…
LadyJava

 

First Commenter
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15th May Surgery

I’m back from Singapore. Fast eh? Anyway I returned to a house full of testors paint smell coz apparently Azwaj was trying to cover up some minor crack in the car. Anyway..

My trip to Singapore went smoothly even though I traveled on Sunday (a pleasant surprise indeed). I arrived in one piece at around 9pm.

I didn’t receive any calls from the hospital with my CT scan results the week before so I really didn’t know what to expect but I was hoping for all good results. Unfortunately during the appointment, my doctor told me that although the CT scan didn’t find anything abnormal, he still couldn’t rule out ovarian cancer for now. He told me that he can only confirm cancer or otherwise once he has access that “solid” mass during the surgery. So basically he would proceed with the keyhole surgery, take out the mass, send it to the labs while I am still under and find out. If it is negative, he would close me up and that will be the end of the surgery. If, however, it is positive, then he would take the necessary action to remove the cancer cells.

He also told me that since I have had repeat surgery on the same spot, the risk is also greater as adhesion might have occurred and depending on the severity of the adhesion, open surgery might be needed instead.

So my surgery is now confirmed for 15 May 2012 while the pre-ops is going to be done on 2nd May, two weeks before the surgery. What fun!

 

First Commenter
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Mariuca

My First CT Scan

So despite the initial hiccup of my CT scan appointment and the feeling of needing to hit my doctor with an angle iron, the CT scan itself went smoothly without any hitches last Thursday, 29th March 2012.

I arrived on time and it was nice to see the nurse remembered me from the day before.  She greeted me, went through the same checklist that I had the day before and proceeded to prepare me the procedure.  I was given four glasses of  plain water to drink within a hour. They also put in an IV needle on my left hand. This will be used for the contrast dye.

It was something like this

At the end of the fourth drink, the nurse called me into the CT scan room.  It was scary to see the huge machine but it was not like those tunnel things that I expected. Instead it was like one of those “Stargate” or something like a vertical buoy. I was asked to lie down on a platform attached to the machine. The nurse explained what will happened and that they will do a test scan to get me comfortable. I was left alone in the room as the machine “talked” to me asking me to hold my breath at certain times while the platform that I was lying on moved in and out of the “stargate”.

After the test scan was done, I was again joined by the nurse that explained she would now activate the contrast dye. I felt a warm sensation as the liquid entered my body through the IV. The sensation ended lasted about 2seconds or so and I was told to put both hands over my head. Now is time for the real scan.

The platform again moved in and out of the “stargate” and within 10minutes I was done. I was asked to remain lying down until the doctor was certain that they got a good scan.  They did and I was asked to get dressed and stay in the recovery room for about half hour to make sure I didn’t have any allergic reaction to the dye.  I was released after that half hour is up 🙂 yeay!

So now is the waiting period. The results would come back this week and if I don’t receive any call by this Friday.. then I should home free from cancer and I would just proceed with my keyhole surgery to remove my cyst.

Cheerio…

First Commenter
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Monica

Postponed CT Scan

On my visit to the doctor on Monday, I was supposed to get a date for my surgery but instead the surgeon explained to me that seeing how they are still not sure about the status of my “solid mass” they insisted that I for a CT scan to rule out ovarian malignancy before proceeding to remove my cyst.

I was scheduled to go for CT scan this morning at 9.15am. I fasted as instructed since 5.15am and was all ready for my first ever CT scan. Nervous? Of course.. since this was my first time but after reading up on risk and things and also talking to a few friends who had experienced it before, I was prepared.

The missed out Meds

So we got to the hospital bright and early. After changing to the x-ray drapery fabrics gown that consist of the gown and a kimono style outer robe, the nurse brought me to another room to get me prep. She did a preliminary checklist and noticed that I had declared I have asthma. She asked me if I had taken the “prednisoLone” that the doctor had given me. I asked her what’s that and she looked a little panic to be honest. I explained that the doctor didn’t give me any such meds. She asked me to wait a bit while she checked with the CT doc (is that what they are called?). She came back a few moments later and told me that since I was not properly prepared for the CT scan, they fear that I may have an allergic reactions to the contrast dye.

So guess what? I got my “prednisoLone” and a new appointment for tomorrow morning. Erggg.. I could strangle the doctor for making such a careless mistake in not prescribing me the meds but like I told my mom, there must be a blessing somewhere. I mean look at it this way. Normally CT scan appointments are almost always full, what are the odds that I got another one the very next day after my postponed date.. correct?

Anyhow, I’ve taken my first does at 9.30pm and my second dose is at 7.30am tomorrow morning. Wish me luck for tomorrow ya.. Oh and if anyone of you has done CT scan before, so share your experience..

Cheerio…

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***

Optimistic for Good Times Ahead

On my last post I wrote that I was going back to Singapore on Monday.. well it’s Thursday today and I’m already back home in KL. In fact I was home yesterday but since there were too many things to do, I thought I’d update my blog today.

Anyway, I do have to go back to Singapore early next Monday morning to make my doctor’s appointment at 4pm on the same day. Gosh, if this were flights to south africa instead of coach rides to Singapore, can you imagine the frequent flyer miles I’ll be raking up? But then again, if I was going to South Africa, I’ll be soaking up the the vacation mood that I’ll be in instead of somewhat dreading these doctor visits.

So I pretty much decided that I am going through another surgery  hence the doctor’s visit this Monday. I will meet with my surgeon to discuss procedures and dates for the surgery itself.  I am hopeful to eliminate any future needs for more surgery.  At last scan (only 7 month after my last keyhole surgery) the doctors found a cyst measuring 6cm and a solid mass that they worry might be cancerous in my left ovary so this surgery would be to remove that cyst and to find out for sure if that solid mass is anything to worry about.

I strive to be optimistic for now and believe there are good times ahead in front for me and only worry about the implication after the doctor can finalize whether it is indeed cancer.  Till then, it’s the same jovial LJ here 🙂

Cheerio…

First Commenter
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Cystectomy Surgery Recapped - The Cyst

continued from Surgery Recapped: The Pain

Sunday, 19th June 2011

I anxiously await the doctor’s round this morning as I can’t wait for her to give the go ahead for me to be discharge today. When she finally came, I was sitting upright on my bed eating breakfast and the first thing she said was “Ah good to see you with a healthy appetite. That must mean you are feeling better.” I gave her my biggest smile and told her that yes I was feeling better and I want to go home. lol!

She inspected my bandages and see that all is alright and give me the thumbs up and told me that I can be discharge that day. Yeay! She instructed the nurses to change my bandages and to teach me how to remove my bandages when the time  comes.. She wished me well and moved on the next bed.

Moments later, after I’ve taken my shower, the nurses came to change my bandages. They told me that they had place waterproofing layer to the bandages so that they will remain dry as they healed. I am to remove the bandages myself on Thursday, 23rd June. However if there was any rashes or pain prior to that, I can either go to the A&E of KK or the neighbourhood polyclinic to get treatment.

When mom came at 11am, I had already changed and was watching Boldie on my phone. A while later, the nurse came with my discharge papers, my meds, my medical leave form for 25days and a new appointment date which is for 7 July. We packed up the rest of my stuff and say goodbye to the nurses and the ward at noon.

That concludes my three day stay at Kandang Kerbau Hospital  for which I underwent Left Ovarian Cystectomy and Keloid Scar excision surgery. Check out my cyst below…lol!

ovarian cystectomy

Cheerio…

 

Surgery Day

So the day is finally here.. Second surgery in my lifetime. Am hoping it won’t be as major as the first surgery but one never know what the doctors will find once they are inside you right..lol!

I’ve started my fasting since midnight. I was told at 6am I could have a light breakfast which consist of only a single piece of bread and tea with sugar. NO milk, the nurse told me. I’m supposed to check in at 11.30am at the Admission office on the 1st level of Kandang Kerbau Hospital. The nurse would show me my ward to get me settled. I can request to see the doctor before the surgery but there is no guarantee that would happen. A medical officer in charge that day will come by to see me and assess my health to make sure I am healthy enough to be operated on. My surgery would take place around 4.30pm.

Pray that all goes well for me ya..

Cheerio…

First Commenter Gets Linky Love from LadyJava.
Thank you for your comments.
***

Bill

The Cleanse is On

Prior to my surgery tomorrow, I was prescribed some cleansing meds to clean my system. At 10am, I had to take two tablets of Bisacodyl which is normally prescribed for people with constipation problem. As I don’t have any such problem nothing eventful happen.

Then at 4pm, I’m to take a bottle of oral laxative saline. As you may have guessed what that implied.. I’m literally rushing to the toilet every minute. I’m on my 10th round right now and still counting.

I am actually supposed to take another dose at 8pm but I reckon I will give it a miss if I can’t stand it any more.

In the meantime, I am also packing for my admittance tomorrow. I am packing light for sure, so I won’t be packing any nintendo ds games for sure but I will have my phone with me and since that is loaded with loads of boldie episodes, I know I won’t be bored for sure!

Cheerio…

It's A Go!

I’m home!!!!.. and got the go ahead for my surgery on 16th June. So all is set for the stage so to speak…lol..

The doctors and the nurses at the pre-admission office was all so friendly and knew me by name that I felt like I was wearing some form of name badges or something.  I reckon they were trained like that to make us all feel at ease during what would be a traumatic experience for some.

My pre-ops examination went very smoothly. My ECG and X-ray results were great. The anesthetist explained to me what would happened during the process and the side effects after the anesthetic has worn off. My blood was taken for blood type and blood count. They also gave me a checklist of what to do a day before the surgery, on the day of the surgery and on discharge day.

I also chose what kind of ward I wanted and guess what, based on my “income” level, I am also eligible for more subsidy.. Yeay!

Cheerio…

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Thank you for your comments.
***

Mariuca | Bella

Endometriosis – My Story Part 2

Continuing from my blog post yesterday…

So since I was not prepared for another surgery especially since the last one was only 2years ago, the next meeting was set for 24 May for me to meet up with a specialist to learn more about my condition and what can be done to help me with my situation. The meeting was indeed beneficial as it helped me to understand my condition more, the risk if I didn’t go through with the surgery and the risk if I did go through the surgery.

Basically if I didn’t go through the surgery, my cyst may rupture or twist and by then I would be in so much pain that I would need to through with emergency surgery. If I were to go through with the surgery, the risk would be bleeding, infection and blood clots. The good news is that all these symptoms can be controlled with medication and the percentage of that happening is real low.

The doctor also explained that although basically my surgery will be done laparoscopically there might be a chance he may need to open me up should any complications arise.

16 June - The Surgery

I had so many questions for my doctor that day and he answered me patiently and I didn’t feel pressured to do the surgery at all. Basically I was looking for reassurance that after I go through with this surgery my problem would be solved. He told me that if the problem still occur after the surgery is done, meaning my ovaries and my uterus are spic and span of any fibroids and cysts and cancer has been ruled out, he can prescribed something to counter the problem. After hearing that I was so relieved and after thinking about it and weighing the pros, I finally decided to go though with it.

 

When I went for surgery in 2008 in KL, there was no pre-op at all. They just took some blood to do some blood work and then ask me to come on the appointed date for the surgery. So when I was asked to come back on 2June, two weeks before my surgery,  for pre-op for this surgery, I know I am in good hands. I guess I will blog about that when it happens 🙂

Cheerio…

PS: Cost for consulting with the specialist? SGD25 only. I love being a Singaporean 🙂

 

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***

Bill

Endometriosis - My Story Part 1

After my surgery in 2008, nothing much changed in my condition. The situation still persist but since I didn’t really like doctors or my doctor in my particular, I didn’t pursue the matter. Then upon reaching 40 and pretty much knowing that there no mini me in the picture, I decided to just go and get myself some ecigarettes..lol.. kidding.. we decided that I should just go on hormonal pill to settle the problem instead.

I decided that I should get it in Singapore simply of economical reasons since I am a citizen there. Then a problem occur. Apparently, because I was 41 at the time, I was told they could not prescribe the pill to women over 40 for health reasons. I might get diabetes, high blood pressure, blood clots and a host of other problems that I don’t have currently. I was told that it is better to find out the reason of the problem and solve that problem instead.

 

My Fibroids Surgery from 2008

 

I was referred to a specialist at the Kandang Kerbau Hospital in Singapore and went through a series of tests. In January 2011.  I was told I had multiple fibroids and an unknown growth in my uterus. The doctor suggested D and C and while doing that they would take samples of the growth and check for cancer. As I was definitely not prepared for any surgery I asked if it was possible to wait. The doctors said yes and took some blood samples instead to check for cancer marker. I was told my cancer marker showed moderate levels of 70+ and that it is still alright to wait for my next appointment which was to happen in May.

Well.. it’s May now and so on the 11th of May, I went for further test and was told on the 12th that my cancer marker dropped to the 20’s level and that it was on the acceptable range and that some of my fibroids have reduced in size while some have increased. The worry now is that I had a cyst in my left ovary that might burst or twist which means I would need emergency surgery. The cyst is also the one that caused me to double over in pain each time my period comes. Typically cyst can contain water or blood and it my case is it blood which makes it all the more worrying. As I understand it, my condition is known as Endometriosis and it is estimated to affect over one million women (estimates range from 3% to 18% of women) in the United States.

Since again I was not prepared to go into surgery, another appointment was set so that I could talk to a specialist about the whole issue.. I will elaborate more of that in my next post.

Cheerio…

Other references:
http://www.medicinenet.com/endometriosis/article.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endometriosis