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.