Shrugging Off My Gloom

30 April 2021

        For some inexplicable reason, I felt a wave of sadness when I was taking my Levothyroxine early this morning. This is what I have to face every morning, for the rest of my life. Even when my hair is grey or when my body is so feeble with age, I will not be able to shake off this bug. Why me?

Dispirited puppy

        However, I took hold of the situation, chided myself for being so negative and shrugged it off. I should be thankful that my surgery was a success, with no complications like loss of voice. I should be even more thankful that there is no malignancy and I do not have to endure further treatment like radioactive iodine treatment.

        And just like that, the feeling dissipated. I was kept on my toes at work and didn't wallow in self-pity again. Even a call from the hospital to inform me that my surgeon is unavailable on 3 May so my follow-up has to be rescheduled to 10 May did not throw me off balance again. Instead I focused on work, having a good lunch after work, hunting for a birthday present for my nephew and getting some groceries for Mummy and myself.

Solitary lunch : Grilled Salmon with Lemon Cream Sauce at Petit Mary Patisserie

        As depression is one of the nasty effects of hypothyroidism, I strive to detect early warning signs. After analysing how I felt today, I am certain it's merely sadness and not depression. Some fundamental differences include :

1. We are sad for a few hours at a time (it's brief) but when we are depressed, the feeling persists for most of the day, for at least two weeks.

2. Sadness is a reaction to something (in today's case, it was a reaction to taking the Levothyroxine) but depression occurs without any apparent reason.

3. It is possible to snap out of sadness by laughing, enjoying your favourite song (I was able to enjoy my lunch and shopping) or enjoying the presence of a friend. But when depressed, nothing seems to be able to cheer you up and it appears unthinkable that you will ever feel better again.

        When I confided in hubby my wave of sadness whilst taking my pill, he too chided me for being silly. But the dear man made sure I was comfortable after my shower and diffused a blend of ylang ylang and lavender essential oils to promote relaxation.

Having My Blood Drawn

28 April 2021

        Mighty glad that the we are halfway through the week and even happier that tomorrow's a public holiday. Being on canteen duty this week, it has been hectic and extremely tiring. Last night, I was so knackered that I was knocked out slightly after 9 p.m.

     After school today, I made my way to the hospital to have my blood taken ahead of Monday's surgical follow-up. My surgeon had ordered thyroid function tests as well as blood test for my calcium levels. When I arrived there shortly after 2 p.m., a long queue had formed, snaking its way till the exterior of the building! Fortunately, my friend, Su Yuen, arrived soon after and she kept me company throughout the wait.

     My fears that I would not be allowed to have my blood drawn today as the lab form had scheduled the blood test for Friday were unfounded. The grumpy nurse was too busy pulling a long face and giving disgruntled replies that she didn't even glance at the date.

Phlebotomist Snoopy

     All in, I waited for nearly one and a half hours but it didn't feel like a burden because Su Yuen and I were too busy catching up. She even had a goodie bag for me, apologising for not being able to visit me after my thyroidectomy. When we finally parted, we promised to meet up for a meal one day.

     Having witnessed how drained out his wifey was yesterday, my gem of a husband offered to take over the kitchen today. He 'cheated' by buying roast chicken and roast pork after work, so he only had to steam the brinjals and fry the shallots. Whilst doing the dishes after dinner, he surprised me when he suddenly told me that he had missed me when I was away (although I was only hospitalised for 1 night) and was very sad when I was wheeled into the operating theatre. My heart melted!

Sunday to Charge Up

 25 April 2021

        Despite an ache in my calves, a result of yesterday's hike, I still joined Derrick in brisk walking in the morning. I only managed to clock in 3.61 km while Derrick went on for another 3km. Nevertheless, I'll give myself a pat on the back as the walk was back to my usual speed and I was diligent enough to wake up early to get moving. As I'm currently hypothyroid, I have a more sluggish metabolism so it is imperative that I rev up with exercise.

        Both cardiovascular and strength-training exercises are important for boosting metabolism. Since my surgery, I have yet to resume any strength-training exercises although I have started to do some light yoga (moves that do not require craning my neck or arching my back). I think I'm ready to incorporate strength-training exercises.

This is an old picture of me working out using our Inspire FT2 Functional Trainer

        As today's Sunday, Chef Derrick was in action again, assisted by me. He cooked a new dish today : Stir-fried Asparagus with Prawns and Belacan. Mmm...it was sooooo yummy! Fortunately, he cooked a little extra portion for me to have with rice for tomorrow's brunch in school.

Chef Derrick's Stir-fried Asparagus with Prawns and Belacan

        All in all, it has been a fairly relaxing Sunday, to help me charge up in preparation for another hectic week at work.

Picking Up A Self-issued Challenge

24 April 2021

           Twenty three days after my total thyroidectomy, I threw down the gauntlet to myself : hike up the 311-metre-high Bukit Bangkong in Tanah Hitam, Chemor. Although it's not a very high hill, the 3km climb involves some 45-degree slopes on tarmac and pebble paths. It's definitely not a walk in the park even to a relatively fit person; the real challenge here is this hiker had undergone a major surgery less than a month ago.

        But I picked up the gauntlet, with support from a loving hubby, who didn't charge up the hill at his usual speed, but often backtracked to keep tabs on me and to cheer me on at the exceptionally steep sections. And I completed the ascent in 46 minutes! My previous hike on 30 August 2020 was done in 1 minute less.

        Even hubby was proud of me!

Made It To Friyay!

23 April 2021

       

        It's Friyay!!! Finally made it to Friday...time to celebrate...yayyy! This was my first week back at work after my total thyroidectomy. The first two days were especially hard as I had a packed teaching schedule. Besides my calcium supplements, I started taking a new friend to work on Tuesday, and it has helped a little. My new friend 👇

        In fact, for today's brunch, I made a nutritious and yummy steamed chicken leg with Brands Essence of Chicken. I first marinated the chicken leg with sea salt, sesame oil, pepper, ginger powder and Shaoxing wine. Last night, I steamed it for 30 minutes after peppering it with ginger strips and some red dates. Then this morning, I re-heated it for 10 minutes. After turning off the fire, I poured in the Brands Essence of Chicken and left it covered for another 10 minutes. Both cuts of the chicken leg (the drumstick and the thigh) provide ample amounts of protein, which is important for tissue repair and muscle growth. Paired with the yummiest sweet corn and egg drop soup, it made up a hearty brunch and filled my tummy till dinner.

Brunch at 9.45 a.m.

        Despite the increasingly serious Covid-19 situation in Ipoh, thanks to the Canning Cluster, hubby and I had to do some grocery shopping. So we decided to dine at Akamomiji. Uncle Autumn had missed us, and even gave us wafer ice cream on the house.

Kaisen Chahan (seafood fried rice) to share (RM10.80)

Unagi Mentai Maki (RM15.80), Avocado Ebi Fried Maki (RM12.80) and Salmon Crunchy Maki (RM24.80)

Saba Tare (Grilled Pacific Mackerel in Teriyaki Sauce) priced at RM15.80

 

This pic of the wafer ice cream was taken from a previous lunch with my friends as our pic was too blurry (from excitement?)

3 Weeks

22 April 2021

Yes, it's been

 3 weeks since we said goodbye 

Hard to believe you're no longer mine

Supposed to last a whole lifetime.

I think I'm fine

I keep myself

Occupied and turn to God

Learning to draw strength from my Lord.

But there are days

I lose the fight

Exhaustion wins

Others don't see behind my grins.

Other effects may come over time

I will learn to deal with them

I admit it's scary

When you know it may be more than just weary.

I was never meant to be without you

I was never meant to be without you

I suppose in time I will get by

But I was never meant to be without you.

Well, now it's been

3 weeks since I lost you

A new friend now walks with me

Who, in time, may hurt me.

And now I walk the line

My Lord's hand in mine

Chin up, shoulders back

Adjust and get on track.

I was never meant to be without you

I was never meant to be without you

I suppose in time I will get by

But I was never meant to be without you.

     In memory of my butterfly, I have written this parody to the song "3 Weeks" by Canadian musician, Tiga James Sontag. It has been exactly 3 weeks since my total thyroidectomy.

Tipsy with Love

20 April 2021

       

Tub of heavenly stuff from Angeline

When you've had a particularly exhausting day at work in which you were literally breathless and fighting for energy, and later in the evening, your good friend sends over her self-made ice cream, you know you are blessed. Before my thyroidectomy, Angeline had promised to let me have some of her yummy  rum & raisin ice cream, especially ideal for soothing my throat. It was easily the best ice cream that I've ever tasted. Haagen-Dazs and Inside Scoop can take a backseat!

Ice cream that has been tenderly made, generously doused with huge raisins that had been lovingly soaked in rum for a couple of weeks...bliss!

     Somewhere at the back of my mind, I recall someone advising not to consume alcohol one day prior to and one day after the Covid-19 vaccination. But hey, this ice cream was given by a doctor and I had a taste of it together with another doctor! So there!

     Today's severe bout of fatigue and breathlessness could be due to several possibilities :

1. Body's recovery from surgery

2. Side effect of hypothyroidism

3. Teaching (and talking a lot, because both classes were weak classes that required control and explanation) for 4 periods direct

4. Side effect of yesterday's Pfizer vaccine

Personally, I think the highest possibility falls on no. 3. After a short rest, with wet tissue to cool myself down and warm water to soothe my throat, I could move on to another class.

Partially Vaccinated

19 April 2021

        It was a smooth-sailing day back at work, albeit a big part of the day (more than 2 hours) was spent at Stadium Indera Mulia, the venue of the Covid-19 vaccination. 

     Waiting outside the stadium just to register took more than 45 minutes. After that, we had to wait a little while longer before being called into the stadium. Another round of waiting ensued (but this time, in the air-conditioned hall) before being registered again! After filling in the consent forms, we submitted one of the forms to a doctor, who also queried us regarding allergies and comorbidities. Next, we entered the vaccination hall and queued for a short while, before being assigned to lines in front of the vaccination booths. We were soon called into the vaccination booths and the vaccination was administered. I received the Pfizer vaccine today and was told to return for my 2nd dose three weeks later. After the vaccination, we were ushered to a place to rest for a while. This was to observe us for any side effects. After about 15 minutes, we were allowed to leave. 

1st dose completed!

      My colleague, Mr. Kam, had been assigned the same session as me. He kindly gave me a lift to the Stadium, even though he had intended to reject the vaccination. So the poor man had to patiently wait for me. Talk about kind souls everywhere!

      Although I still miss many of my friends in Sam Tet, I have been blessed to make so many new friends in Yuk Choy. One of them, Ms Chew, had recently retired. And yet, she has been so concerned and caring. She had wanted to visit me during my convalescence but at that time, I was too tired to receive visitors. And this evening, knowing today's my first day back at work, she sent me a message to check on my condition. There were many others too, who frequently sent messages to see if I was better. And today, one of them, Puan Liew gave me a loaf of homemade bread to welcome me back to school. So when I returned to work today, it felt like returning to my second home. Praise God for all these people in my life!

     After receiving the vaccination, I felt fine. I even returned to school and taught for 3 periods direct. I remembered to take frequent breaks during the 3 periods so I wasn't as breathless as I was when I entered class earlier in the morning. Towards late evening, I started experiencing slight pain over the site of injection. When hubby came home, I complained to him and the dear man came over to plant a kiss on the site. 😘 He then forbade me to exercise and cook, so we ate out.

Ballooning!

17 April 2021

        Horror of horrors! I just weighed myself after dinner...and found that my weight has increased by 1.3kg in a space of 4 days! 😱 Reflecting on the amount and type of food that I had taken these few days, it has been noted to be nothing out of the ordinary. On the other hand, I had slightly increased the intensity of my exercise, although it's still less vigorous than before my surgery. Oh no, is this the manifestation of one of the side effects of hypothyroidism? 😰

        On another note, hubby has made a compilation of pictures taken of my thyroidectomy scar. This is to document its change in appearance over time, especially since I started using Dermatix Advance yesterday.

        This afternoon, I was caught by surprise when I learned that I am scheduled to receive the Covid-19 vaccination tomorrow when Phase 2 of the country's vaccination programme kicks off. It came as a surprise because I had just registered for the vaccination through the MySejahtera application last Thursday. However, I recall being asked to declare comorbidities to our principal some time at the end of last year. Those of us who have been picked for the Ministry of Education's 1st Phase of Vaccination could be a result of that declaration of comorbidities. Again, I praise God for His perfect timing. If Su Yuen had not kindly traced my histopathology result last Thursday, I would desist going for my vaccination tomorrow. This is for fear that I require further treatment for cancer and the vaccination would turn things haywire. But He works in wonderful ways! Alleluia!

A Day of Firsts

 17 April 2021

        It was a day of several firsts. After more than a fortnight, I got behind the wheel for the first time. I drove to Taman Cempaka to make copies of some handouts for my students. 

        In addition, I started applying Dermatix Advance, a gel-like formula with CX5 technology and Vitamin C ester clinically proven to lighten, soften and flatter scars. It works to provide a protective layer to keep the skin hydrated, thus promoting healing and reducing redness plus itchiness. It came recommended by Siew Peng and Angeline. For a tube of 15g, I got it for RM54.90 at HTM Pharmacy.

        Besides that, today was also the first time that I started cooking again. It was a simple meal though; I reheated the leftover chicken curry from a previous meal, stir fried Hong Kong nai pak with lots of ginger and beaten egg and fried an onion omelette. After dinner, I asked hubby if I had lost my touch after being away from the stove for two weeks, and he assured me that I had not.

        Today's post is a short one. I have to turn my attention to watching the funeral of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The last time I watched a royal funeral was on 6 September 1997. It was Princess Diana's funeral. Mummy and I were in London but we watched the funeral on tv at Mummy's friend's house in Nottingham.

On the eve of Prince Philip's funeral, Queen Elizabeth shares her favourite photo of her and her late husband. It was taken at the top of Coyles of Muick near the Queen's Scottish residence Balmoral.

My New Friend, Levothryroxine

16 April 2021

        My 16-day sick leave ends today, signifying that I'm fit to return to work. I will try to go easy on myself and especially my voice, but I know from experience that when things get hectic in school, it's hard to slow down.

        In preparation for returning to work, I've gotten ready and put into my work bag the calcium supplements that I need to take every morning and evening. They have to be taken 4 hours after my Levothyroxine is ingested, failing which they can interfere with the absorption of the thyroid hormone replacement.

     Felodipine 5mg BD (which stands for bis in die, Latin for twice a day) used to be the only medication I needed to take. Now Felodipine and I have a new friend, Levothyroxine. At present, I have been prescribed Levothyroxine 100mcg but the dosage may be adjusted depending on my blood test results. The calcium supplements, hopefully, are only temporary as my calcium levels were normal when they tested three times during my one-night hospital stay.

My daily sustenance, in addition to Felodipine

     Without my butterfly, I am deficient in the all-important thyroid hormone that controls energy levels and growth. Hence, I need to take Levothyroxine to replace the missing thyroid hormone. Prior to my total thyroidectomy, my surgeon reiterated the importance of taking the hormone replacement and ensured that I understood it would be lifelong. She was rather cute when she said I would need to take it until I die (she made the finger sign to show death).

     This may sound like a death sentence to some, but I prefer to look at it as a chance of new life. Despite the side effects that come with the medicine and the absence of my butterfly, I choose to face them head on and am determined to have the upper hand.

     To celebrate my new life, yesterday's terrific news and as a treat before going back to work on Monday, hubby took me to Citrus Wine & Dine for dinner. The last time I ate there must have been more than 6 years ago. Mmm...the food's better than I remembered it to be. We shared a Prawn & Pomelo salad, hubby ordered the 3-Way Chicken, I had a lovely Pan-seared Norwegian Salmon and we ended with desert to share. The Trio Sampler that we ordered consisted of pandan crepe with caramelised banana, ginger & pandan creme brulee and strawberry panna cotta. Decadence!

Dinner at Citrus

The Sun Is Shining Again!

15 April 2021

        Hallelujah! Praise be to God! He works in marvellous and mysterious ways indeed. Despite my good friend, Angeline, suggesting that I could get someone to help me trace my histopathology result ahead of my surgical follow-up, I had no intention of doing so. But this afternoon, I whatsapped my friend, Su Yuen, to enquire about her biopsy result. She had a minor surgery done on a suspicious mole, on the same day I underwent my total thyroidectomy. She reported that hers is normal and kindly offered to help me trace my result.

        It was a mere 15-minute wait before she texted back with my results. But it was an agonizing duration, with my heart pounding and my hands turning icy cold. I could only sit still and pray the Rosary.

      Su Yuen took two blurry snapshots of my histopathology report from the computer screen. To a layman like me, most of it is Greek. But Su Yuen pointed out the all-important sentence : "No evidence of malignancy seen". Praise God indeed! As I carefully attempted to read through the report (and tried to make sense of the Greek), I spotted another sentence : "No nuclear features of papillary thyroid carcinoma". Sounds good!

      As Su Yuen has always been a cautious person, she added that it all "sounds OK though I am not an expert in this field". To play it safe, I forwarded her images, without saying anything, to five other doctors for their interpretation. Yee Yan, my physician, was the first to reply, "That's a benign lesion."

      The sun has come out to shine again! And today's exactly 2 weeks after I bade goodbye to my butterfly. You are gone, but I embrace New Life again!

The Power of Shut-eye

14 April 2021

         I tried out the 20-minute power nap plan and it did work to an extent. 20 minutes were too short to actually fall asleep but enough for some needed rest. When the timer went off, I forced myself to get up and about. An hour later, feeling the lethargy set in again, I indulged in another 20-minute shut-eye. By evening, I was again exhausted. As hubby was driving us to dinner (yeah, Chef Derrick had to take a break from cooking), I was trying to keep myself from nodding off.

        The wat tan hor at Master Tai Canteen was most delicious, but I couldn't finish my portion. Fortunately, hubby was more than eager to finish it for me.

3rd outing since my butterfly left me

        We are enjoying nice cool weather tonight, after this afternoon's storm, which uprooted many trees in Ipoh. Perfect weather for sleeping. Zzzzzz....

Uprooted trees around Garden Villa

Fatigue - Missing my Butterfly

13 April 2021

        Like yesterday, I woke up fresh like a daisy. But by late morning, close to noon, I was like a withered plant. I had no choice but to take a nap. How am I going to handle this when I return to work next week, especially when I have 7 and 8 teaching periods on Mondays and Tuesdays? 😰 

        Although a total thyroidectomy is a major surgery, I think my body has been recovering well. Other post-surgery effects like hematoma formation on the incision site, pain when swallowing and voice fatigue have also passed. So could my exhaustion be a sign that my body misses my butterfly? Without the all-important thyroid gland, one of the side effects is fatigue.

Tired, sleepy me

       Perhaps I'll try something different tomorrow. When the tiredness sets in, I'll set the timer for a 20-minute power nap. Nothing less, nothing more. I'll see if it works. The duration of the power nap can be shortened to 15 minutes, and later 10 minutes, and hopefully, by the time I return to work next week, I can get by with a 5-minute power nap.

        Speaking of work, there were 3 absentees in my class today. Yes, even though I am on sick leave, I still have to monitor and mark my students' attendance. 2 of the absentees later whatsapped me in the afternoon to explain that they will temporarily not be attending school. Their parents are worried about the new Covid-19 community cluster in Ipoh, especially since some students (one of them being the other absentee) have reported visiting SoHo. It is where the index case, a China national, patronised several outlets.

"Marche" or "lieu de travail"? (Market or Workplace?)

12 April 2021

        Hubby was tasked with a fairly long shopping list during the weekend, and it was not surprising that he missed out on several items. Unfortunately, two of the items that he neglected to buy were the vegetables needed for today's and tomorrow's dinners.

     However, he was fortunate enough to be able to go to the market whilst at work. Now before eyebrows are raised and accusation of slacking off at work are thrown at hubby, let me clarify that this market is at his workplace. The mental health institution believes in giving patients a second chance at life. One of the work sectors available for them is farming. Patients tend fruits and vegetables at the farm ward, and get to sell their produce at the daily morning market. The profits are shared equally. Hospital staff are encouraged to patronise the morning market.

RM2 for this bundle of angled luffa

Found a baby angled luffa!

Chef Derrick's Stir-fried Angled Luffa with Prawns

     In the past, hubby has bought lady's fingers or okra from the market at his hospital. We have found those sold there (I nickname it The Zombie Farm) to be much fresher than those sold at the wet market and supermarket. Last week, hubby came home with eggplants too, in addition to the okra. And today, hubby delighted his wife with her favourite angled luffa. Hmmm...now I shall tell him to be on the lookout for bittergourd, another favourite of mine. 

Eggplants for curry

RM1 a packet for these fresh okras

The Zombie Farm

Day 10 Post-Op

 11 April 2021

        When I attended the online Easter mass at Heart of the Nation Church last Sunday, I was still rather weak. One week later (thanks to Mummy's nutritious chicken soup), my fatigue has improved considerably. My voice too is much stronger, but I still avoid talking for long periods of time. As impatient as I am to be completely back to normal, I understand and have come to realise that it would be a mistake to push too hard to get my groove back. 

        Today, the Catholic church celebrates Divine Mercy Sunday, which is the second Sunday of Easter and it also concludes the Octave of Easter. It reminds us of the compassion of our Lord and how we should always reflect on the graces that we have received from Him. And we should always trust in Him. 

        For dinner, I was in for a treat. Chef Derrick cooked his wife's favourite Fried Beehoon. Yummy! Bearing in mind his wife's present limitations, he turned down the notch on the spice level. So it was really delicious! And after dinner, as usual, he reminded his obstinate bunny to get her dose of Vitamin C from oranges to aid the healing process.

Losing My Inhibitions

10 April 2021

         It has been 9 days since my butterfly left me. Under the cover of the pre-dawn darkness and the timid light of dawn, I ventured out of the house for a slow 1.5km walk around our residential area. Derrick, who is accustomed to super brisk long strides, bowed to my pace to accompany me. After that, I returned home to rest while he went on for another 5km. Yayyy! I have taken baby steps to return to my exercise regime.

"Soon we shall bound like them, shall we, darling?"

         Encouraged by Swee Lian, a strong and courageous lady, I later braved myself to shake off my self-consciousness and join Derrick in having breakfast outside, rather than having the poor man buy it home for me. I did consider draping a scarf over my scar but hey, I can't be hiding beneath a piece of cloth forever. Now that I didn't have the feeble early morning light to take cover in, I tested the waters. True enough, nobody stared at my imperfection.

First outing with my scar

        Although Derrick was eager for me to join him in meeting up with Ah Kin for lunch, I declined. It wasn't my inhibition that was stopping me. I just needed the rest, for both my body and voice. You can't meet up with an old friend and stay silent, can you? However, Derrick later returned with a surprise for me - apple crumble with cinnamon ice cream (Ah Kin's treat). Mmm...I certainly enjoyed that sublime dessert very much!

"That's apple crumble in the foil cup, not loh mai gai! And that's a strawberry mango jam, not chilli sauce!"

        There was another surprise in store for me later in the evening. My dear friends, Lee and Clare (Lee's wife), dropped by with fruits. I was unable to invite them in because by then, Derrick was worn out and was having a nap before exercising and cooking dinner. It was indeed thoughtful of them as I know both of them had to tear themselves away from the computer. They are in the process of frantically trying to complete the marking of the SPM Chinese Language papers, an arduous task exacerbated by the entirely new online system that keeps delaying the sending of the exam papers. And somehow, it was not intimidating to show my dear friends my scar.

        For today, and all the loving people in my life, I am truly grateful. Gone is my butterfly but I am still truly blessed.

Aunt Flo pays me a Visit

09 April 2021

         Unlike previous mornings, I was rather tired today. I did try not to succumb to the lethargy. But I found myself having to nap for 2 hours in the afternoon. After that, I had to sit through an online course to gain credit points. The topic of today's online course was interesting and relevant, but the entire session was marred by poor connectivity. Initially, I thought the problem was from my end, so I took my laptop on a tour around the house. Finally, I realised the technical issues stemmed from the organiser as other participants lamented on this in the chatbox. This drives home the fact that there are still lots of issues to iron out before online learning can ever supersede face-to-face learning.

Love my OSTER MyBlend Personal Blender, which I got for only RM37 Purchase with Purchase when buying my ProForm CardioHiit Trainer from Fitness Concept

        In a bid to boost my energy levels, I had a breakfast combo of honey dew strawberries orange black grapes smoothie with a mango yogurt. It was very tasty and healthy, but today it couldn't keep this bunny perky. Only when Mummy dearest brought her nutritious chicken soup over did I stir to life again. 

        The explanation for today's lethargy was revealed later : my period came. Although Aunt Flo came 2 days ahead of schedule, it's nothing to be alarmed of. I'm quite regularly 1 or 2 days ahead of schedule. However, my friend and fellow Thyroxine crusader, Siew Peng, has warned me that the hormones may mess up my menstrual cycle.

Too Weak and Ugly To Leave The House?

08 April 2021

        When you are homebound (too weak and ugly to leave the house for shopping), it is the ideal period to shop online as you are assured of being there to receive the parcel. Besides hubby, I too took the opportunity to purchase an item or two. It's no hassle at all; after all I alternate between resting in my living room and doing some school work in the dining room. So when the delivery guy (gal, in some cases) honks or rings the doorbell, I am only a few steps away to answer the door. This evening, I had the pleasure of receiving two of my items. 

Me awaiting the courier service

        One of it, a bright red 30cm Tefal So Chef wokpan with lid suitable for all hobs, was bought using hubby's Shopee account and was such a great deal! From the original price of RM249, hubby bought it at a discounted price, utilised a Shopee voucher, redeemed RM30 worth of Shopee coins and finally paid a mere RM158.12 for it!

Unboxing my sexy wokpan

"Now let's cooking!" I almost could hear Mama Noi say that.

        The other parcel consisted of 2 precious bottles from Marion's Kitchen. This ardent fan of Marion Grasby has been on the lookout for her marinades and dips. So when I received news that they are finally available in Malaysia, I was thrilled. I can't wait to test them out, together with my new wokpan. But I have to exercise patience as hubby has decreed that the kitchen stove is off-bounds for now for my wound is still in the healing process.

Hubby will be in for a real treat when I put these 2 to use.

        Speaking of my wound, it's slightly swollen. So hubby prescribed papase for me. Papase, which is the drug brand name for papain, an enzyme extracted from the latex of the unripe Carica papaya, is used in treating oedema, swelling and inflammation. Initially, I balked at the idea of having to chew the tablets (arrghh!) but found that they were minty and not unpleasant.

Day 06 Post-Op

 07 April 2021

        Exactly a week ago, on a Wednesday evening, I last cooked dinner. I was reminded of that when I washed, soaked and cooked my basmathi rice this evening. My job for this evening was just to prepare the rice. Derrick would get the roast meat after work.

        Last Wednesday, there was a bigger portion of rice on my plate but I could hardly taste the food that I put into my mouth. There was the cloud of the following morning's surgery hanging over my head. And today, although the portion of rice on my plate was smaller (because I have yet to regain my voracious appetite and resolutely plan to eat less carbohydrates), I could savour the food that I ate. With my butterfly gone, it feels like a timebomb has also been defused. I still cannot be certain that the coast is clear as my histopathological examination (HPE) report is not back. But I shall take things one step at a time, with my Lord walking with me all the way. He walks beside me on the good days and carries me on the bad.

Mummy's TLC in a Bowl (or Two)

06 April 2021

        To replenish blood stores and revitalise energy especially after a surgery, the Chinese believe in double boiling chicken soup. Not only is it nutritious, it's also immensely delicious. And when you know that all your mother's tender loving care is one of the ingredients, it is the silver lining in the cloud, the sole spark that eases the trauma of a surgery.

     Determined to help boost my energy levels and overcome my fatigue, my 80-year-old 心肝宝贝 has been making trips to the wet market to procure the free range chicken, lovingly double boil the chicken soup and then braving the hot sun to deliver it to me. With this kind of postoperative care rendered, I should be bouncing back on my feet in no time.

Her glass-walled thermal flask yields two precious bowls of nutrients!

      Despite starting on calcium supplements, I have noticed slight numbness over my left toes as well as under my chin. Apparently, the latter is normal and will get better over time. It is hoped that the former is temporary (transient hypocalcemia) as it is indicated that up to 50% of patients who underwent a total thyroidectomy will experience hypocalcemia. This is because the parathyroid glands do not function properly immediately. Aided by calcium supplements, this condition will resolve within a few days or weeks. It is only considered as permanent if it doesn't resolve within 6 months.

Good Friends are the Stars that we don't see but are always there for us

 05 April 2021

        Secondary schools re-open nationwide but I'm not a part of today's frenzy. I did feel a twinge of guilt to know that I'm not there with my colleagues and kids, but my body reminds me it's folly to even think I'm up to it. I did feel fresh when I woke up this morning, but soon after that, I had to swallow the bitter pill that I'm just not fully recovered yet, far from it. I had several dizzy spells and had to rest frequently throughout the day.

        Today's merely the 4th day after my surgery. I shouldn't try to hasten things and attempt to do more than I can. 

        Something that I can do and have started to do today is to return to my beauty regime. This vainpot didn't like her lacklustre skin so as I am typing this, my face is being soothed with my favourite Aesop Blue Chamomile Facial Hydrating Masque. Feeling a little stronger this evening, I also took more pains in blow-drying my hair so it doesn't look so limp and listless. Before getting into bed, I will also nourish my palms with the sweet citrusy scent of Body Shop's Satsuma Hand Balm.

        The highlight of the day was when the florist delivered a fruit and flower basket with a thoughtful note attached. It was a lovely surprise from my dear friends, Cheng, Sick Fong and Bak Eng. They are just some of the many others who have been supporting me through this journey.

A thoughtful and much appreciated gift from dear friends

New Life in my Resurrected Christ

 04 April 2021

        Alleluia! My Lord is risen! Through His death and resurrection, He has granted us new life. I feel this is more poignant for me this year after my total thyroidectomy. Throughout this Lentern journey, it was a roller coaster ride of emotions for me. There were dark days, but there was always hope when I clung to my Lord in prayers. And through it all, I felt Jesus walking beside me. My journey is not over yet but I am comforted to know He will always be with me.

        I woke up this Easter morning feeling stronger. I was plagued by coughs last night but still slept well. However, I found my energy sapped away suddenly after getting my dressing changed. Fortunately, I have my personal Doctor on Call so I didn't have to make a trip to the nearest health clinic for wound inspection and change of dressing. Dr. Derrick painstakingly cleaned my wound with hydrogen peroxide, applied antibiotic cream and affixed new dressing. After that, I became so lethargic that I fell into a deep sleep for about 4 hours!

Prior to removing dressing

Incision and drainage wounds looking good

Antibiotic cream applied

Dressing changed!

        I suppose I did overestimate myself. Yes, I may be fairly young and healthy, but recovery doesn't happen overnight. I still have to take things slowly and allow myself time to heal.

        I'm definitely regaining my appetite though and for dinner, I could eat more than I did for the past few meals. The chicken drumstick and char siew rice that Derrick bought for me sure was yummy! There's a bit of churning in my stomach and I had loose stools twice in the afternoon. But apart from that, I feel good.