30 Jul, 2009 Thursday
I finally got myself admitted into SGH, after 8 days of diahorrea. My girlfriend says that I have a high threshold for pain. Ha! Ha! Actually, I scared to go hospital, knowing that I will be admitted. True enough, I stayed in the hospital for 5 days, from 24 Jul to 29 Jul.
Initial diagnosis was intestine infection. But all the tests done shows negative. Nonetheless, I was treated with 2 course of antibiotics and 2 types of anit-diahorrea medication.
The cancer medication and TCM medicine are stopped for the time being, for fear that it might trigger the diahorrea again, particularly the western medicine which list diahorrea as a possible side effect. TCM doc thinks that it is not likely her medication that trigger it. So, will resume TCM medication tomorrow.
The PET scan results was a mixed bag of results. Some cancer cells got improvement or stabilised, and some shows some deterioration. 2 new cancer cells spotted on the liver. So, the oncologist has to change the current cocktail of medication. With each change of medication, the costs just doubled. It costs approx $3K+ for every 3 weeks of chemo drugs. Then it increased to $5K+. Now, just for the new drug alone (one 1 type), it costs $2K for 1 dosage of medication for 2 weeks. And the doc will increase to 2 dosage per day. Luckily, I have the insurance company to cover most of the costs. Otherwise, will be bankrupt soon. So, friends, please go and review all your insurance policies, particularly on H&S to make sure that you are adequately covered (not that I am cursing you, but you never know what might happen).
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
I'm back!
20 Jul, Monday
Actually I have been back for a week already. But have been feeling unwell since last Wednesday. I have bloated stomach. Doc (TCM and oncologist) reckon that it is water retention. TCM doc thinks that it might have been a worsening of the condition in my body. Will have to wait till Wednesday to know the results from the PET scan that I will be doing tomorrow. Fingers crossed.
When I saw the oncologist on last Sat, he was actually quite pleased with my blood test results. Tumor marker has dropped from 193 to 148. But, I was wheelchaired into his room. I have been having diarrhoea since last Thursday. 10 times on Thursday, 7 times on Friday, 5 times on Saturday and 7 times on Sunday. Pengsan! The diahorrea is caused by the TCM medicine, which tries to help to purge the water out from my stomach. But, even though I only took like 1.5 dosage, it continues to purge out. TCM doc says it's because my intestines has become sensitive. So, willl purge out more. Strangely, the Western medicine given to me to help me to pass urine, so as to get the fluid out, does not seem to have the same effective effect as the TCM medicine.
Luckily, all these happen after I return from Lanzhou. Can't imagine who could take care of me if I have really fallen sick there. In Lanzhou, my itineary is do nothing but meditation. Morning 8.30 to 11.30, butt on the chair to meditate, with 10 mins break after each 40mins session. After break from lunch, I will usually go back to hotel room for 1 hour of prayer and quick nap. Then, it is back to the school for the action (a bit like taiji stuff) at 3pm. After lesson ends at 4.30pm, we usually stay back to practice until 5pm, then go for dinner and buy bread for my breakfast and supper and bottled water. I bought so much water until the boss recognise me. So, I ask for delivery. Save me the hassle. Evening lesson starts at 6.30pm with 30min to 45 min lecture and then follow by meditation again.
Honestly, the food there is not to my liking. Spicy, oily and salty. Still prefer my mother-in-law's cooking.
I actually never watch any TV prog when I was in Lanzhou. Only get to watch a bit of CNA when I had a stayover in the airport hotel in Guangzhou. The hotel (Pullman) is very good break after the Lanzhou stay, where the hotel room is not well lit. Well, a price for everything. In Lanzhou, it's a 3 star hotel (with dirty carpet) and in Guangzhou, it is a 5 star hotel.
The trip there is really like being out of touch of the earthly world. Don't know what has happened during these 2 weeks. Everyday is only about meditation. Thankfully, I have managed to clear the 2 main veins of my body, so that as I meditate more, the internal energy will be able to flow fluently throughout my body.
I am expected to meditate at least 5 hours daily. Sadly, haven't been able to achieve that since I return. At best, on average, it's 4 hours. This would mean a cut in my social lunch meetings with friends. Please bear with me for the time being. Need to stay focus on getting well first.
Praying very hard that tomorrow PET scan will produce good results and the doctors can figure out how to solve my stomach bloatedness.
Actually I have been back for a week already. But have been feeling unwell since last Wednesday. I have bloated stomach. Doc (TCM and oncologist) reckon that it is water retention. TCM doc thinks that it might have been a worsening of the condition in my body. Will have to wait till Wednesday to know the results from the PET scan that I will be doing tomorrow. Fingers crossed.
When I saw the oncologist on last Sat, he was actually quite pleased with my blood test results. Tumor marker has dropped from 193 to 148. But, I was wheelchaired into his room. I have been having diarrhoea since last Thursday. 10 times on Thursday, 7 times on Friday, 5 times on Saturday and 7 times on Sunday. Pengsan! The diahorrea is caused by the TCM medicine, which tries to help to purge the water out from my stomach. But, even though I only took like 1.5 dosage, it continues to purge out. TCM doc says it's because my intestines has become sensitive. So, willl purge out more. Strangely, the Western medicine given to me to help me to pass urine, so as to get the fluid out, does not seem to have the same effective effect as the TCM medicine.
Luckily, all these happen after I return from Lanzhou. Can't imagine who could take care of me if I have really fallen sick there. In Lanzhou, my itineary is do nothing but meditation. Morning 8.30 to 11.30, butt on the chair to meditate, with 10 mins break after each 40mins session. After break from lunch, I will usually go back to hotel room for 1 hour of prayer and quick nap. Then, it is back to the school for the action (a bit like taiji stuff) at 3pm. After lesson ends at 4.30pm, we usually stay back to practice until 5pm, then go for dinner and buy bread for my breakfast and supper and bottled water. I bought so much water until the boss recognise me. So, I ask for delivery. Save me the hassle. Evening lesson starts at 6.30pm with 30min to 45 min lecture and then follow by meditation again.
Honestly, the food there is not to my liking. Spicy, oily and salty. Still prefer my mother-in-law's cooking.
I actually never watch any TV prog when I was in Lanzhou. Only get to watch a bit of CNA when I had a stayover in the airport hotel in Guangzhou. The hotel (Pullman) is very good break after the Lanzhou stay, where the hotel room is not well lit. Well, a price for everything. In Lanzhou, it's a 3 star hotel (with dirty carpet) and in Guangzhou, it is a 5 star hotel.
The trip there is really like being out of touch of the earthly world. Don't know what has happened during these 2 weeks. Everyday is only about meditation. Thankfully, I have managed to clear the 2 main veins of my body, so that as I meditate more, the internal energy will be able to flow fluently throughout my body.
I am expected to meditate at least 5 hours daily. Sadly, haven't been able to achieve that since I return. At best, on average, it's 4 hours. This would mean a cut in my social lunch meetings with friends. Please bear with me for the time being. Need to stay focus on getting well first.
Praying very hard that tomorrow PET scan will produce good results and the doctors can figure out how to solve my stomach bloatedness.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
