TGI Mushrooms!

After a 2-hour wait and only a 5-minute consultation at the skin specialist today, it has been confirmed that I have fungal infection and not some dreadful life-sapping diseases.

I can, therefore, safely conclude that it's some sort of 'panau' or 'hon pan' in layman's term or as what my best friend during uni days, Elaine, once said jokingly to me upon seeing those patches on my forearms: "Sophie, get those treated or you'll start growing mushrooms!"

 Pharmacy

After waiting for another 20 minutes at the pharmacy for my turn, I was given three tubes of Mecandin Cream to treat my fungal infection, enough to last until my next appointment on May 10.

Fungus killer

It's good news and the first joy of the day!

Updated on Oct 17, 2010:

I've noticed that this post has been viewed by random visitors. My guess is that you've googled "Mecandin" and it has led you here. Hi!

Actually when I was given the cream, I asked my pharmacist friend about it but she has never heard of it. Neither does my doc who had referred me to the skin specialist at QE. Hmm... that's quite disturbing, but whatever it is, it got rid of my fungal infection. Only used 2/3 of a tube when the patches disappeared from my arms. 

Here's more info which is stated on the tube for you all since the photo above is unclear.

MECANDIN CREAM 2%W/W 
15 g

Each gram contains:
Miconazole Nitrate ............... 20 mg
Preservative: Banzoic acid ..... 0.15%w/w

Storage:
Store below 30*C.
Protect from light, heat, moisture and freezing.
Keep out of reach of children.

Please refer enclosed leaflet for indications, usage (dosage), precautions/warning, contraindications and other information.
[I don't have any leaflet since the pharmacist gave me only the 3 tubes prescribed by the doc with the instruction to apply it on my skin twice a day after shower.]

Manufactured by:
MALAYSIAN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES SDN. BHD. (101323-U)
Plot 14, Lebuhraya Kg. Jawa, 11900 Penang, Malaysia.

Hope that helps! :)

'Mummified'

Went for my facial appointment today. It was my second one this year after I'd stopped for nearly one year.

Sophie - as much as she hates to admit it - is aging and needs all the help she can get! :)

All the skin scrubbing, cleansing, pampering, moisturizing, massaging, tightening to save and preserve what's left. ^ ^

I've always wondered how I looked like whenever the beautician has applied the layer of tightening mask over my face so I just 'blindly' clicked away.

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Would love to smile, if I could, but I can't!

March 24: Beauty Parlour :P

And no, it's not a ghost!

The 15 Days

Backdated post: Feb 14 - Feb 28

It's already March and CNY is over. Good things just end a lil too quickly.

As I have mentioned earlier, I've been very lethargic. The best word is: lazy!

I'd just post some pics here of the fifteen days of CNY though I do not have a pic for everyday and that's coz I'm... lazy. Thought I'd include another two days of my pre-CNY activities.

Warning: Post consists of mostly food pics taken with my low quality handphone and one-liners.

Feb 10 was a hectic and fruitful day for me. Alas... it was also the day that made me sick coz I was out the whole day in the extremely hot weather trying to get many things done. Serviced my car, changed my malfunctioned front passenger door lock and my reverse gear lights, bought some plastic cherry blossoms deco, bought and changed my car seat cover, went for facial, had a late lunch, went to the dentist, went to a shopping mall to buy a chest of plastic drawers for my bedroom and more CNY deco.

Returned home and set up my drawers and deco, did my laundry, bathed, lie down on the sofa and  that's when I started to feel queasy and chilly. I had not been feeling too well since the previous two weeks. Had been trying to keep any sickness at bay but that night I knew I'd lost the battle.

 

 New car seats cover

Feb 10: Car

True enough, the next morning I woke up with a fever and sore throat and worsening coughs. Went to buy medicine and rested at home coz I didn't want to get too sick. Was downing litres of water to rehydrate my system and cool down my body.

 

After a good night's sleep, I woke up on the 12th feeling much better. Took my med and rested the whole day coz I really wanted to go to the annual night market. It's kind of like a tradition for me to just join in the merry-making and buy last-minute goodies. CNY this year was quite subdued so I had wanted to feel the mood at the night market.

 

Went with Sim. We had dinner before walking the whole long stretch of open air market and going in the shopping centres and shops along it. Bought a dress and dried pork meat. Met up with Yvonne and Esther for drinks at Little Italy to end the night.

Went home and lost my voice. Took my med and slept.

 

 Pre-CNY night market

Feb 12: Segama 

Woke up and totally lost my voice. Rested and drank litres and litres of water the whole day. Bought more med, vitamin C, cough syrups and pain killer.

It was the worst reunion dinner coz I couldn't really eat and was feeling miserable.

To my surprise the next morning I was feeling good though I had myself a very sexy voice. Skipped the morning service and went for a dim sum buffet with Spinxie. I could eat!

After buffet, I had a few friends over at home before we visited a friend's home. Came home and my condition worsened again.

  

Day 1 - Dim sum

Feb 14: Silk Garden, Pacific Sutera

Met up with long-time friends who are around in KK or who were back from overseas. A good update from everyone.

  

Day 3 - Group photo of ex-JFYers

Feb 16: Lorraine's home

My bro, Kenny, actually joined a Chinese chess competition during CNY and won the fourth prize. Didn't know he was that good. No wonder a few days before the competition he signed up onto an online gaming site, hogged my computer and was religiously playing online chess to hone his skill for the real battle against 'older' competitors.

  

Day 4 - Hamper

Feb 17: Home

Had an appointment with the skin specialist at QE. There was only one specialist on duty in that department that morning - the rest were on leave.

 

 Day 5 - Registration counter

Feb 18: QEH Specialist Centre

Met up some Form 6 friends coz Sia made his annual pilgrimage back to KK from Spore for CNY. But the 'VIP' turned up late and left early... =.=

 

 Day 6 - BPF & YMH

 Feb 19: Old Town, City Mall

Classes resumed that weekend, on Sat. Had Sarawak Kon Lo Mee at a coffee shop. The food was delicious but the weather was so unbearably hot!

  

Day 7 - Sarawak Kon Lo Mee

Feb 20: A coffee shop

Met up with Spinxie and Monica for lunch on Sun after class. Ordered ice-cream with 'fresh' fruits. 'Fresh' fruits = raw carrots!!!

  

 Day 8 - Ice cream with carrot

Feb 21: Upperstar, Damai

Renewed books at the uni library, looked for some materials, slapped with a summon from uni's security coz parked illegally just so I need not walk that far (serves me right!), settled summon, drove to 1B to enquire about buffet offers, called up Gertie, she was free, met up and had lunch with her, jalan-jalan and then went home.

Day 12 - Lunch out

Feb 25: Yoshimi

It was a public holiday on Fri and I went for a buffet with Spinxie and my bro at Souled Out, 1B. Priced at RM26++, it was surprisingly delicious for that low price. Limited choices but good enough.

  

After sending Spinxie home, went and brought Michelle to the beach - jalan-jalan, took some pics, waded in the water, my slipper broke, chit-chat, had dinner and then went home.

    

  

 Day 13 - Sophie posing...

Feb 26: Tg Aru Beach

Another weekend arrived and had classes again. Went to the same Kon Lo Mee shop again... This time ka liau... Yummy!

  

Day 14 - Kon Lo Mee (ka liau)

Feb 27: A coffee shop

The last day of CNY ended with mom's home-cooked dinner together with Unc Tom, Aunt Laura and Anna (Vic's gf).

 

Day 15 - Mom's home-cooked delights

Feb 28: Home

I know it's already way too late to ask but I'd ask anyway...

How was your CNY? :)

Biopsy

Sometime in January when I went for my annual blood test, I asked my doc about the patches on my forearms which have been there since I was a teen, thinking that she'd be able to prescribe me some skin medication. I had never bothered about it because it looked like 'panau' / 'hon pan' to me which is very common.

To my horror, she diagnosed the patches as something more serious. I was quite disturbed by her diagnosis so in order to get to the bottom of it, I asked for a referral letter to see a skin specialist in QE.

An appointment was scheduled for Feb 18 (5th day of CNY). To my relief, the specialist said that it was due to scarring and sensitive skin and advised me to use mild bar soap and prescribed me a huge tub of aqua cream which I've been very undisciplined in its application. Since I was already there, I asked for a biopsy as well just to ease my mind.

It was scheduled on March 2 and the doc drew a circle on my arm where a tiny patch of skin would be excised. Unfortunately, it was a long wait that morning as the staff had a very long morning briefing. I waited for more than 1 1/2 hours although I was the only one scheduled that early (I saw the doc even before 8 a.m.).

 Site for biopsy

March 2: QE Specialist Centre

The med officer was very quick. The most painful was when he jabbed me with a local anesthetic. After that I did not know what he did, not because I passed out, but because I was too afraid to see how he cut up the skin. Sophie will faint go weak at the sight of raw wound and dripping blood.

The covered wound.

The wound was very small as I discovered while changing the plaster two days later.

The stitches

March 4: Home

Exactly one week later, I went back to get the stitches out. Instead of going to the specialist centre, I went to the emergency area where there's a ward for minor operation and got my stitches out. Registered at 7.45 a.m. and done at 8.20 a.m. So fast, for a government hospital that is!

While waiting to get the stitches out.

March 9: Ward 5D

Now I'm waiting for my biopsy result scheduled on March 29. Keeping my fingers crossed!!

Me Want Food!

I don't know what has taken over me. I have been feeling extremely hungry the whole day and it's not like I've been exerting myself doing labourious tasks.

Had chicken rice for lunch and two slices of cheddar cheese with some tuna flakes for tea.

Suddenly, am craving for a large mug cup of Milo with milk low fat milk.

Notice my cravings for high calorie food?

Sigh... healthy eating habits are quite tough to maintain and to follow through... :(

Lethargy

I have been feeling so lethargic since last month. The weather has been unbearably hot! The sweltering heat is just so suffocating and depressing! It seems to be a very dry season throughout the whole of Malaysia based on what I have gathered from FB statuses.

To add to the burning heat, I was down with hacking coughs and slight fever since a few days before CNY up till the 8th or 9th day of CNY. Even now I could still go into a coughing frenzy when something triggers it. There goes my one-week CNY holiday when so many friends returned to KK for family reunions.

I didn't get to go visit some friends as I would have liked to as I was house-bound; unwilling self-imposed curfew since I was truly sick as a dog... :(

I tried going out when I felt better but immediately fell sicker when I returned home. After recuperating at home for one day and when I thought I was well enough to go visiting again, I'd return home even more sicker!

Sigh... of all days / weeks that I'm free, it just had to happen during the whole CNY festive week! Bummer!

I'd always prefer a romantic rainy day over a sunny day - any time, any day. I seem to thrive better with Mr Rain.

Sophie misses the cloudy sky and nature's showers of refreshing coolness... :(

Mr Sun, can you please hide yourself for a few days so that little Sophie can play in the rain? Thank you very much!

Something I'd Rather Forget

Going to this particular place will always send shivers down my spine and make my blood curdle - it's the hospital.

It all stems from the horrible three weeks of spending my time there taking care of dad when he was seriously ill two years ago.

I'd never forget the daily early morning journey there to care for dad in shift with my mom and siblings.

Ambulance Bay
Jan 6: Hospital

This time, I was there to visit a friend who is stricken with diabetes and unfortunately, had had her toes cut because they had turned gangrenous due to an infection. I got to know the news quite late.

It was with an extremely heavy heart that I went there. I just had to visit her and check how she was doing.

The closer I was to the hospital, the more I feel disturbed by all the familiar walkways, rooms, doctors in white, staff in uniform and most of all, the distinct clinical smell which assaulted my senses.

I could feel fear gripping my heart as I reach her unit because I did not know how to face her, what to say and how to react or comfort her.

When I saw her, I was taken aback at how 'normal' she was. She was her usual self, chatting with the young houseman who was making his round. She too was surprised to see me. I couldn't get her on the phone earlier on. Only later did I know that her phone was stolen when she was first admitted to the hospital some time in October and she had lost all her contacts.

I was surprised by her great spirit. I thought she would be totally dejected at losing her toes yet she was not. I found out then that she was in the hospital for antibiotic jabs following the amputation of her toes which had been done in November. I think she has come to term with it and she seemed to be mobile and still able to walk with the aid of a crutch for the time being.

I'm thankful to God that she is so positive. In fact, it was me who was feeling overly jittery and fearful about her predicament.

Sigh... I think I was over-reacting but I really could not control my emotion. So much fear!

I hate this stairway... :(

Banana Oatmeal

I've never thought that the day would come when I'd actually eat oatmeal. Well, it has!

I have started eating oatmeal for breakfast since October. This valiant effort has, however, come to a halt in December when I was distracted by other unhealthy food.

After a festive month of excessive gluttony and indulgence over sinfully-fattening and cholesterol-increasing food, I am now back to eating oatmeal.

I have discovered that banana goes really very well with oatmeal! It's delicious! I've seen pictures of bananas in oatmeal before and I just could not imagine how they would taste like together. I used to cringe at that combination.

Banana oatmeal
Jan 4: Home

This is my regular oatmeal recipe:

1. 2 tbsp Quaker Oats
2. 250 ml of low fat milk
3. Raisins

Just put everything in a pot and boil until the oat is cooked. Add in a banana or two.

I'd usually just eat it as it is.

Yup, am making a conscious effort to change my diet for a healthier life. If it's not because of health, you can bet your bottom dollar that I'd never eat oatmeal!

Oh well, eating healthier food is an acquired taste.

exercise for dear life!

And so, the blood test result's out. I had the previous one done in Oct 2007 which showed me having slightly higher cholesterol level.

This time around, I thought my cholesterol level would hit an all-time high but it was not. It is good.

However, the scary news to me is, my screening for diabetes yielded a result of 5.9, which is only 0.1 away from 6.0, the NORMAL range for people free of diabetes!

My dear doctor says that it is okay. Treatment is needed for those who have a level of 6.5 and above. And yours truly is only 0.6 away from 6.5!

And so, on the way home after my visit to the doctor, I drove by Gaya and turned in at the juncton to the small park.

Yes... I checked out the park where I will be exercising for... ever... or at least until my 5.9 drops to a more acceptable level.

Sigh... yes... the time has come when I will have to exercise for my dear life! And also lessen the intake of carbohydrates (my favourite) from my diet.

So, my dear kaki makan, please do not lure me with buffet invitations or pig-out sessions. My heart's gonna bleed...

TakBolehSiokLagi :(

the new school year 2009

And so, there goes my 2008 holiday. What have i done?

• Lazed at home and read 5 Nora Roberts' fiction. (Love them all. Still one to go. Save for CNY break.)
• Worked extra 10 hours at IPGKK at RM120 per hour! (Dear God, please give me more part time jobs like that! Amen!)
• Went Christmas carolling with a bunch of kids very, very much younger than me. (I feel like a dinosauress :'(...)
• Played for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebrations. (Haven't done that for some years. Where are those young ex-worship team members?)
• Marked SPM scripts and earned the experience. (A really vomit-inducing and blood pressure-raising work which pays peanuts. But the networking's great! We, English teachers, ARE a crazy bunch! Craziness in the midst of stress.)
• Went out with friends.
• Bought and decorated my first Christmas tree.
• Played for Debs for the Chinese Song-writing Competition.
• Slept before 10 p.m. on New Year's Eve! (A confirmation of me being a fossilized species.)
• Ate... a lot (Self-explanatory...)

In 2009, work-wise, I am...

• The Class Teacher of 5A (Sigh...)
• The Guru Penyelaras of the whole Form 5 (donkey job)
• The English teacher for 4B, 5A, 5I and U61 (Okay, this I like)
• The Choir Club Advisor (as usual... yawn...)
• The Advisor of the annual school magazine (yawn...)
• The Advisor of The English Drama Competition 2009 (stress x3)
• The Teasurer for my Sports House
• Other odds and ends...

Home-wise...

• Love my family more each day
• Clean my room more often
• Wash my laundry more often
• Wash my car more often

Service-wise...

• Be more punctual (^.^ ... was late for the first service of the year...)
• Train up 2 more keyboardists
• Get the chords for the song sheets done
• Be kinder to the 'kids' (For they are so fearful of me... *growl*)

Spiritually...

• Read my Bible more
• Pray more... honest and heart-felt prayers

Personally...

• Will be more relaxed
• Choose to be in control and calmer

Weight-wise...

• Lose those FATS!!! Sophie!!!! (Ma... what's for dinner?)

There... my list of tasks to do...

TentuSiok =D

Improve Your Health

This makes me smile after a long, busy day at work. Thanks, Lily, for the mail... =D

25 ways to improve your health

1. Brush twice a day.



2. Dress right for the weather.







3. Visit the dentist regularly.



4. Get plenty of rest.








5. Make sure your hair is dry before going outside.



6. Eat right.



7. Get outside in the sun every once in a while.








8. Always wear a seatbelt.








9. Refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages.








10. Smile! It will make you feel better.








11. Don't over indulge yourself.



12. Bathe regularly.







13. Read to exercise the brain.







14. Surround yourself with friends.







15. Stay away from too much caffeine.










16. Use the bathroom regularly.







17. Get plenty of exercise.



18. Have your eyes checked regularly.







19. Eat plenty of vegetables.







20. Believe that people will like you for who you are.








21. Forgive and forget.



22. Take plenty of vacations.








23. Celebrate all special occasions.



24. Pick up a hobby.










25. Love your neighbour as yourself.








Do all these things and you will be a happier, healthier person!

^.^

One Tooth Less

After 15 years, i finally got rid of my other 'wisdom' tooth yesterday...

Why the delay?

My first experience was just too freaking painful, excruciating, to be precise.

15 years ago...

1. The dentist jabbed my gum to numb the area.


2. Then, he cut the gum near my tooth (i could still hear the knife scrapping against my jaw bone, no pain at all... just the sound)


3. Next, he drilled my tooth (i could still hear the sound of drilling) and nurse used the suction tube to suck out all the tooth fragments, blood and saliva (i could still hear the suction sound)


4. He stopped, checked, poked, and drilled again.


5. Then, he tried to extract what's left of my tooth, i think the roots, (i could still feel the pressure applied) but failed.


6. He drilled again, stopped.


7. He proceeded to extract again... and out popped the first root, then the second, then the third.


8. Next, he sewed up the gaping, bleeding hole.


9. Lastly, he popped in a gauze on the wound... and voila! i was done in 30 minutes!

i took the green T.U.T. bus, stopped at my bus stop and walked 15 minutes under the blazing sun to reach home. i remember reaching home at 3.35 p.m., washed up, changed, sat down...

And then the pain came, dull throbbing pain, gradually increasing in intensity.

It was intense and the ever-ready me took out one packet of freezing cold ice and applied it on my jaw. And my jaw/face was in pain too, caused by the freezing ice... so removed the ice from my super numb face, wait until the numbness ebb away and the pain returned and put on the ice pack again. And that was basically what i did the whole evening.

Paracetamol / Panadol could not do the trick. It was hard enough to pop in the pill and swallow it with my head tilted to one side.

Could not even swallow H2O properly... could only open my mouth no wider than one 1 1/2 finger... could not eat dinner (or porridge, to be precise)... could not sleep properly that night (thank God it was Friday)... could not brush the rest of my teeth... could smell my pig breath... could taste blood the whole night...

On the following Monday, i went to school with a visible bruise on my jaw, cleverly hidden by my hair... and i realized it was photo-taking session T__T

(Back then i was too vain and uneducated to know that the small class photo on the printed black-and-white pages of school magazine is not capable of highlighting such miniscule bruise.)

After the wound had healed, it took me nearly one year before i was able to open my mouth to its maximum capacity, at its widest... errr... to gobble down food? to laugh? to sing? to shout? to yawn? Heck! Even yawning was painful.

The pain's gone now but the memory remains... (to be continued)

TakSiokLangsung O.O