Assunta Follow Up...warning...this is a VERY long post...

16 Feb 08

I had to rescheduled my appointment to this day (initially was 21 Feb 08) for Dr. Thye because the insurance had queries about the charges for the stupid eye doctor, who is only in the clinic on mondays 2-4pm ...@#$%^&*()

Anyway...back to the story...( i'm still cursing the stupid eye doctor!!! @#$%^&*(*&^%$#$%^&*)

About 2 weeks to 1 month before my appointment...i started noticing a few things about me

1) I'm having very bad headaches...mostly constant throughout the whole day
2) Had my blood pressure checked 2 times...about 2 weeks before the appointment...and i was registering low BP (99/65 & 108/67)
3) My hands and feet are super cold...even in the room with just the fan on...worse when its in a/c room...to the extend of it getting painful
4) My hands are no longer as red as last time...sometimes looks quite pale
5) I'm still going botak (losing a lot of hair)
6) My shoulders and neck is stiff like don't know what...

After asking around the forum (www.diabetesdaily.com - i'm so addicted to it now ^_^) and doing my own research...the only thing that popped up was...thyroid problems...to be more precise...hypothyroid... (means the thyroid not producing enough hormones for the body)

So took time off work...ask dad to send me to hospital...go get my blood drawn (2 full vials; 1 for HbA1C and another for TSH and Free T4 [thyroid function] test)...go get whatever stupid insurance letter done while waiting for the 1 hour to get out the lab results...call bro to see where he is since he's supposed to accompany me see Dr. Thye (on his birthday somemore...hahaha)...wait somemore...nurse telling me only my A1c results are out..then finally at 3pm...masuk see Dr. Thye (although it was my turn way long ago...as my file was lined up since 1.30pm...but because no lab results...go in also no use)

When i entered the room...Dr. Thye was on the phone...so while i was rummaging my handbag (yes people...i have a handbag...my one and only one...) for my notes and taking my time to sit down...Dr. Thye got off the phone and the first thing she said to me (will be doing convo style for the whole visit):

Hannah (H): As usual...my kiasu chart and log *gives Dr. Thye my notes*

Dr. Thye (DR): Hannah, hannah, hannah...so good la...

H: huh?? what so good??

DR: your HbA1c...i think your level is now better than your brother!!

H: huh?? what's my A1c??

Bro (B): I think so too!!

DR: *rumages through a pile of paper...and finally comes out with my HbA1c lab report* your thyroid results not in yet...

H: *takes a peak at the A1c result* WAHHHH!!!!! 4.4% SO LOW AH???

B: does she still has diabetes ah???

DR: of course... *looks at my notes and kiasu graphs* (Remember this please...good results doesn't mean no more diabetes...cannot take away like Datukship one...lifetime qualification ~_^)

H: I'm having some spiking problems...like that day i ate oat bran for breakfast...i check one hour later...it was 8.3!! from 4.4...

DR: What kind of oat bran??

H: not the instant type...the need to cook type

DR: you ate a lot is it?? oat bran shouldn't make you spike since its low GI

H: no ah...ok la...about 2 tablespoons...unless maid change it...but definitely less than my parents portion

DR: *laughs at me saying i'm eating less than mom and dad*

H: What about my thyroids?? I think i'm having hypothyroid...that's why i ask for the test...having a lot of the symptoms... *produces another piece of paper that contains the symptoms and my own kiasu notes*

DR: Hypothyroid??? stretch your hands...and open your fingers...*me stretches me hands with fingers wide open*... no problems la...if you have thyroid problems then your hands will be shaking!! what about your menses?? got palpitation meh?? (whatever the spelling...something to do with irregular heartbeat punya) *checks my heartbeat* ...ok ah...no palpitation

H: But my hands and feet are super cold even in just fan room..now a/c room at work even worse!!! My shoulder and neck are stiff!! I registered low BP 2 weeks ago...about 108/65 and 99/63...been having constant headaches and my Hair is losing like crazy!!!

DR: yalah...all those are symptoms of HYPO...not hypothyroid...but HYPOGLYCEMIC!!! (means blood sugar low)...see your A1c so low...of course you get all these symptoms...*checks my blood pressure*...where got low BP?? 130/70...still ok la...you must be very excited now...so excited to see me??? (cute la this doctor...hehehe)

H: must be too excited to see the A1c result...hehehe...then how you explain the hair loss??? I'm going to be botak soon d la!!!

DR: hmmm...that's odd...can't be januvia (medicine name) causing it... *checks her meds book...super thick...*... januvia doesn't cause hair loss ... *looks at me* ... you lost weight ah??? (she remembers me!!! i mean on face...not after looking at my medical records)

H: er...yeah...

DR: How much you lost??

H: around 10kg

DR: Wah!! Since when???

H: Since i got this lo...10kg in 5 months

B: ya...but she lost most of it in 3 months...these 2 months stagnant

H: ya...i lost 9kg in 3 months...about 3kg a month...these 2 months a bit stagnant but finally starting to move again

DR: hmm..ok...3kg 1 month is not too bad...what did you do??? plus your sugar levels are good...see your A1c...

H: jaga makan lo...watch my carbs but i still eat carbs...still like my noodles...my pan mee...eat protein and vegs...then exercise lo

DR: wah...so how often do you exercise??? 3x a day???

B & H: Noooooooo lah!!!!

H: last time is exercise daily la...20 mins in the morning...but after start working d...no time to exercise...so now just weekends and when i can exercise lo...20 - 30 mins

DR: oh you start working d la...good good...work where???

H: Volvo as purchaser...buy spare parts...hehehe...so what about my hair loss??

DR: i think it can be due to you losing weight fast...so maybe that's what causing it...or it can be because you jaga makan...you might be experiencing nutrient deficiency...which can cause it also

B: Lost weight also can make hair drop ah???

DR: yeah...btw...want to ask you...where is Jalan Tepi Sungai?? *while looking at my file*

B & H: Tepi the Sungai... (yes...we said this at the same time)

DR: huh???

B: really...to come to my house you have to pass by the Klang river...so its really tepi sungai...are you familiar with Klang??

DR: yeah...my in-laws stays in Klang

B: which part??

DR: Palm Grove area

B: oh...very near...do you know MGS?? *Dr Thye gives blur look...obviously not orang Klang...hehehe* ...you know Teluk Pulai??? *Dr. Thye nods head*...behind teluk pulai there la...that's tepi sungai...

H: btw Dr. Thye...can you write me a letter to say that you refered me to the eye doctor for the insurance again?? cause they are questioning the bill by the eye doctor...

DR: why are they questioning???

H: Too expensive la...check power only rm55...i go my optician free.. not some special procedure also...*shows doc the insurance letter*

B: If i were the insurance also i question the bill...soooo expensive

DR: wah he charge that expensive??? oh.....

H: you write in the letter la...make it sound like i really really needed that referal...if not sure cannot claim

DR: So...for now...i think i stop the januvia la...just go on metformin... 500mg once a day la

H: i still have old 850mg metformin at home...can i use that first???

DR: ok...you use that first...then after that you just switch to the 500mg la

H: but i still have 5 weeks of Janumet at home woh??

DR: bring back to the pharmacy and return

H: can i have your phone number??? in case i need to ask you something???

DR: just call the hospital for my clinic phone...for now i don't have a personal number to give out yet...now ah...want to do decent shopping also cannot

B: aiyo!! just email la!!!

DR: don't email me!!! i hardly check my email...already got complained by a patient that i didn't reply his mail...just call this phone... i will answer if i'm here...*holding my time sheet* ...so what time you want to leave the hospital?? (that time was 3.30pm)

H: er...4pm la *doc writes on the paper*...eh eh now only 3.30...better write 3.45pm la...later i arrive early at workplace then they hairan

D: why so kiasu??? go work a bit late nevermind one la...

B: you already saw her kiasu graphs what...of course she kiasu la...new job somemore...hehehe

D: *doc changes my time to 3.45pm* ...so i'll see you the next time la...you wait for a while i'll write you your letter...keep up the good work

After a while...got my letter from the doc...went back to work...beeming all the way at my super good results...for those who don't know how good it is...i can confidently say...might be better than yours...no i'm serious...i'm in healthy normal people level now...in fact its 0.1% below the ideal reference of 4.5-6.4%...

At home...i took a closer look at the letter that Dr. Thye wrote for me...in typical doctor's handwriting...straining my eyes to get it...and here's what i roughly remember what the letter wrote:

"To whom it may concern

This is to certify that i referred Hannah to an ophthamologist to have her eyes checked as she was having blurred vision. Hannah was diagnosed with diabetes milletus then and retinopathy was possible due to her very poor control of her blood glucose level at that time, and this was possible through the blurred vision she was experiencing.

Thank you."

Walau eh...she's my favorite doctor man...how not to??? I told her to make me look like as if i really really needed the referal for the eye doc...and she really really made me look like i needed it...how leh you ask??? "retinopathy was possible due to her very poor control of her blood glucose level at that time"... although it was true...but wah...she sure knows how to tackle insurance people...hehehe

Btw...mom is so happy...that she's spreading my levels are soo good...just keep saying i'm at 4.4...only prob is...she didn't mention that its the average glucose level...heheheh

The end.

Told you this post is going to be super long...hehehhehehhe

Miss me??

Okok...i know i've been missing for a while...2 weeks to be more exact...but at least i'm back now right??...for now la...hahaha

So Happy Chinese New Year to all!!!...i know its a bit late...but better late than never...so mail me my ang pow if i don't see you...ok??..hehehe

So what's the update about me??
1) Had reunion dinner at home with uncle ronnie + Joseph and John + Jeevan

2) Went Tanjong Jara during the first 3 days of CNY...drove the whole 5 hours there but couldn't be bothered bout the journey back because was supposed to sleep in car...failed attempt...

3) At TJ, only activity...eat, swim, eat, sleep, eat, swim, eat,sleep, spa, gym, eat, sleep, gym, eat, swim, eat...balik...and yes...its in sequence

4) Am proud that i've only gained 1kg (although not so good) after whacking down all the CNY goodies and the food at TJ

5) Went back to work on the 4th day...and immediately found my first major task when i opened the mail from sweden

6) Got new staff in office...and had to give her some briefing on my job...so was quite busy these 2 days...but now free again and hoping that new job comes in for me

7) Almost pengsan and got a good luck note from my manager when i saw the part list...and the number of parts i'm responsible

8) Having super nice BG numbers on my meter (normal people level...the lower side i mean)...quite nice also in TJ especially after exercise...even went to 3.9!!!...either my low carbing (by just reducing the rice amount) is working...or my meds is working very very well now...or meter something wrong...hehehhehe...i think i shall think the first 2

9) So far like this la....no idea when i'm gonna update again...until something comes up la...hehehe

How to be busy??

When you have totally nothing to do in the office...run out of ideas on what to do or what to read online without falling asleep...you start to do things to just try to be at least in some sense...busy...

This was what i did today to make myself look "beeezeeeeee"

1) Stare at my screen...wondering what to do and what to read...but don't turn the head as if you are busy reading the tasks ahead of you

2) Go through my mails...then deleting all of them cause most of them
are just junk

3) Go through the Volvo intranet to remotely find some things to learn about the organisation...blah blah blah

4) Offer help immediately when the office needs a reshuffling of cabinets to make room for some old dining table that was moved to a side to make way for my current cubicle...(and serious...the table was moved cause of the me!!!...and 3 other fellers that are coming in soon...so far its just me here...hehehe)

5) Try to act busy like helping them to move the cabinets...padahal the guys were doing all the moving...

6) Get some credit for being able to push a cabinet by myself...(cabinet empty...so light...)

7) While everyone was eating their cakes...(not me of course...unless i want to land myself in hospital again...cause according to my colleague...its manis GILLER!!!)...i was happy chatting and laughing away with my other off shore colleagues

8) Act as if i'm busy doing work by blogging here...cause the keyboard is making so much noise...it seems that i'm a super rajin worker writing all the emails...or not...

9) Email your other bored colleagues and make it like a chat room...since chatting is not allowed...and also since the only free people are sitting the other side of the room...blocked by the cubicle walls...

10) Last but not least...how to act busy and super rajin???...come to work at 7am when your work starts at 8.30am!!!...and keep making kopi to drink...(okok...i know this is lame...but...don't really care!!!...wahahhaha)

Anyway...so looking forward to the CNY now...not because of the ang pows (...although to a certain extend it is...but then since i'm now under the working category...can expect to get 1/2 or 1/4 of what i used to get..esp from mom side...which is no shiok la...i still PK!!!)...but because i'm going to............*drum roll*.............TANJUNG JARA again!!!!!...can't wait to get there!!!

For a sneak peak for the place... visit their website...
www.tanjongjararesort.com

*Disclaimer: Look at the website at your own risk. I shall not be made liable for any injury, grievances, or jealousy incurred upon any reader as a result of dreaming of the place after looking at the website. However if it happens, I shall do my best in providing assistance in describing the place to you to make the dream more possible when you sleep...hehehe*

:P ^_^

Visit to Chi Cheng's Place

Since i have nothing to do...why not just update my blog??

29 Nov 2008

This day was the last day of the PD Holiday Bible School, and since dad was supposed to go down to go pick up some kids, why not arrange my annual trip to Chi Cheng's (CC) place as well??

So with the arrangement all done the week before and reconfirmed when i went down on the 24th to send the kids there...we (dad, mom and i) left for PD to go pick up the kids and also to drop me there so that i can follow CC back to her house...kinda reached there late cause the camp ended earlier than expected...but then as usual...the group leaders have to wait till all goes home...so...they waited for us...wahahha

Neway...all the way back to PJ...i was the driver...driving CC's proton wira with full load of humans (3 kids 2 adults) and luggage...you should have seen the boot space...plus mine...PACKED!!...generally i was quite "kwai" on the road that i actually kept to the speed limit...normally in a packed car...u'll expect it to be lively...especially if its loaded with people that are stil excited from the camp...but NOOOOOO...the whole 1.5 hrs back...only me and CC were talking...the 2 boys sleeping which the poor girl in the middle was trying to join in the conversation but was too shy because she has no idea who i am...me that scary???...hmmm...and i tot i was easy to talk to...heheheh...On the positive note...she did finally open up...just 10 minutes before we reached her house!!!...well at least she opened up...hahahhah

So...what did we do during my annual stayover at CC's???...

1) swim?? no...although i wanted too...even brought my suit to swim...

2) talk until the cows come home?? no...CC was so tired from the lack of sleep in camp...she needed a nap in the afternoon...

3) then???

ok...this was what we did...

1) Reach home...prepare to go nap...CC kinda gotta be nurse a bit for chee meng cause he was sick...but after that nap...me went nap nap too...tired from the drive back...although i LOVEEEE driving...CC was glad she got a free driver...wahahha

2) At night...went secret recipe to eat...after rounding SS2 a few times and cannot decide what to eat...although had to suit me...but that wasn't a prob...really...

3) Talk about almost everything...at secret recipe

4) Tapau (take-away) food for CM

5) Watch TV...the core to the exact...while CC went to sleep...cause in the afternoon she didn't get much sleep due to a 45 min phone call from australia...not her sis...and also to wash her load of laundry from camp...

6) Slept at 12am

7) Sunday morning wake up...and prepare to go for morning meeting (church)

8) Had breakfast with Gerilynn, Andrew and Daniel...while CC went to pick up SS kids

9) Went to the PJ SS

10) Makan lunch with CC, CM and the SS kids...

11) Went for USJ Baptismal service

12) Balik to KK with Gideon

So...generally...not very happening...but as usual we talk crapped la the whole time...hahahha

Back at KK (Kota Kemuning)...i went to cici's (priscilla...my cousin) place as Gid wasn't going for gospel...Olivia was soooooo cute!!!...when we went to the mini JJ in KK...at the cashier...she started singing so loudly...and kept singing and singing...so cute...

Then back at her house...when i used my test kit to test my blood...she came over to see and saw the drop of blood on my finger...then she started saying..."yi ow-wi...yi ow-wi"...(yi = hannah yi yi aka me...ow-wi = her version of ouch...aka wound)...so i asked her whether she wants to see my ow-yi...and then sat on my lap...after i've tested and wiped off the blood...she kissed my ow-wi finger...and then looked at me and said..."better!!"...after that...for the next one hour...she kept telling her mom and dad that "yi ow-wi...yi ow-wi"...i didn't understand what she was saying initially when she was yi ow-wi...until cici said...yes yes...hannah yi yi ow-wi...then only it made sense...hehehe
and...she kept wanting to kiss my ow-wi and will always say better everytime after she kissed it...she even told her mom to give me a donald duck bandy!! (band-aid / plaster)...so cute...hehehe..

Here's a picture of Olivia and Mei Mei (Isabel)...stolen from someone's (gid's to be more exact...) album in facebook...wahahaha...

On the tri-cycle...front is Olivia...back is Mei Mei...soooooo gerammmm!!

More bored...

So...I'm in my second week of work...so how's work's been???...one word...BORING!!!

Chip...now i totally understand how you feel when you said you were bored like hell...cause i'm definitely feeling it now...thing is...its not that the people here don't wanna give me things to do...its just that there is nothing for me to do until Sweden sends in the stuff to do!!

Well...totally nothing to do...can't really say that...cause my kind manager did arranged some training and induction sessions for me to go through with a few of my colleagues...but...he arranged for the whole week...but the thing only lasted 1 day...so basically till the rest of the week i'm free again...

Manager asked me to do a summary report of what i've learned in the training these 2 weeks...to be handed in latest on monday...he sent me the email on tuesday and gave me a week's dateline...guess what??...me just being me...queen of cheong hei-ness and crapping...finished the super long summary the next day...

On the same day...in the afternoon...manager sent back the report for modification...generally he was happy with it...just wanted it shorter...so with my immediate manager's help...(the other manager is the sr. manager...).. i did managed to totally cut off 1 page...and that after i included an introduction too...woohoo...and managed to send back the report the next day (wed)...

Since i was super rajin in finishing my report so fast...kinda 4 days in advanced...i'm gonna be bored for 4 days again...unless something pops up again...and i really wish something pops up for me to do...cause i'm definitely running out of reading materials to read...and i'm actually fishing at work!!!...and coffee not working very well...(actually...never works for me.. :p)

In the mean time...i shall just con't surfing the net around...trying to read some interesting comments regarding the war now in middle east...

Bored................

I'm at work now...started since tuesday...so let me give u a brief description of how my work day is

1) My official working time is 8.30am - 5.42pm (why5.42?? i have no idea!!..something to do with the extra long lunch hour on friday)

2) I arrive everyday at work at 7am!!! (why so early?? what to do...save on transport cost...follow papa to work...and he starts work at 7.30am...but cause of the jam...arrive at 7am!!!...curse u jam...)

3) Since tuesday...have been on training given by Anders, the manager from sweden...until friday

4) Since the thurs session ended in the morning...in the afternoon i'm super duper free...have no idea what to do...hence the time available to blog and update

5) My 2 boss are very nice people...super easy to talk to...woohoo!!!...not forgetting to mention my other colleagues too

6) I'm currently blogging right in front of my immediate boss

7) Going to still be this bored until workload comes in...expected to be in week 4

So...till then...I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO DURING MY FREE TIME!!!...please give me some suggestions...TQ

Update

Sorry for the long long long silence on my this blog here...before i write anything...just wanna wish everyone a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

So what happened to me during these few silent weeks?? I shall list it one by one...not there are many...hehehe

1) Worked with mom...doing her accounts...

2) Getting more involved with the Diabetes Daily forum chat room...great place for people like me!!!

3) Applied for job with BAT GSD...went for interview...and never heard from them since...

4) Dad informed me about vacancy in Volvo SPVEA (purchasing department)...applied for the post...within the next hour...manager called to go for interview

5) Went for the interview at SPVEA...on 29 Dec 2008...got a sms in the morning from the manager to contact HR...I GOT HIRED!!!...although its just a contract job...but who cares!!!???...got job!!

6) Since i got the job...no longer gonna study ACCA...for now...

7) My weight is not longer going down...@#$%^&*...but at least its stable now and not going up...

8) I'm getting bald...literally losing lots and lots of hair

9) Mom's family getting smaller and smaller...with another uncle gone...now i only have 3 uncles and 5 aunties (including mom) left...from 13...family still huge though...thanks for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th generation

10) I hate my new haircut...#$%^ stupid bee ching...#$%^&

11) STARTING WORK TMR!!! 6th JANUARY 2009!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR ONCE AGAIN EVERYONE...HAPPY 2009!!