Sinusitis

• According to the Merck Manual, there are two types of sinusitis - acute sinusitis and chronic sinusitis. Since I'm better now, I probably suffered from acute sinusitis about two weeks ago. It is considered acute when the symptoms resolved within 30 days.


• The common symptoms of sinusitis are pain, tenderness, nasal congestion, and headache. Yes, I had runny nose, headache, and some vague pain surrounding my nose. My nose was so runny that I used up the entire toilet paper roll. As the Merck Manual rightly said, one might get sinusitis after a common cold. Well, I did. Luckily, it didn't end up chronic.


• Sinusitis is considered chronic if one has the symptoms for more than 8-12 weeks.


• Doctors do not know for sure what causes it. Doctors will diagnose a sinusitis based on your symptoms, x-ray, and a CT scan.


• So, how do you cure sinusitis? Since acute sinusitis is caused by bacterial infection, it involves taking antibiotics. Chronic sinusitis may be a little more complicated and it might involve surgery to treat it. Please read here for a more complete information on sinusitis.

Paronychia. Huh, what is that?

After all these years, I only realise there is something called paronychia. It is a bacterial infection surrounding the nails. It is caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. I had this infection from time to time throughout my life without realising it is actually a bacterial infection. I always have the habit of peeling some skin from the nail groove or the eponychium. As a result, the skin surrounding the area will swell.

Often, paronychia will heal on its own but I have read scary stories from the Internet concerning serious paronychia infection.

Now, I would want to think twice before I start peeling my skin or hangnail surrounding my nails.

What are antibiotics?

This year is the very first year I took antibiotics. I have never taken any antibiotics before in my life. So, I didn't know much about antibiotics until this year.

Now I recalled seeing a particular colleague of mine (when I was working in one factory) who took antibiotics several times for minor reasons. Everytime, she had a runny nose (I assumed she had the common cold), she would see a doctor. When she came back to the office, I would see her taking some pills which look to me like antibiotics.

Similarly, everytime I see the doctor for the common cold (since I want to get the MC...hehe), the doctor would prescribed some antibiotics to me. Luckily I did not eat those antibiotics as I realised recently that antibiotics only work against bacterial infection NOT virus infection. The common cold is caused by the rhinovirus infection.

Because of the widespread use and misuse of antibiotics in modern society, bacteria are constantly exposed to these antibiotics. As a result, many bacteria have already developed resistance to the drugs' effects, just like the Superbug NDM-1. Just like I had blogged in my earlier post, I'm afraid we are going back prior to the 20th century before the invention of penicillin/antibiotics due to the increasing bacterial resistance to antibiotics. We are just going back to square one.

Antibiotics must be taken strictly as prescribed to avoid bacterial resistance and a dose must not be missed. For example, those on TB treatment have to take up to 8 tablets of antibiotics per day for 6 months. A dose must never never never be missed or else the mycobacterium tuberculosis will grow stronger and start to develop resistance against those antibiotics. As a result, the TB could turned into MDR-TB (Multi Drug Resistance TB) or XDR-TB (Extensive drug resistance TB), which are harder to cure. These MDR-TB and XDR-TB are man-made diseases, speaking metaphorically.

The common side effects of antibiotics include upset stomach, diarrhea, and, in women, vaginal yeast infections. Some side effects are more severe and, depending on the antibiotic, may disrupt the function of the kidney, liver, bone marrow, or other organs.

There was a news of a lady who took excessive painkillers that led to her liver failure in TheStar. It is important that you do not simply prescribe yourself any medications whether it is antibiotics or painkillers. Also, remember NOT to take antibiotics for a virus infection.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Respiratory Disorder - Episode 19

I decided to go to a government clinic this morning because I would like to do the phlegm test. It only cost me RM1 to see the doctor.

I reached the clinic at 9.45pm and as usual there was a humongous crowd in the small waiting area. It's so crowded and there are people coughing here and there. What a ripe place for TB/influenza virus/pneumonia/bronchitis to spread.

So, I decided to wait outside instead of sitting inside the waiting area. I'd rather stand in the hot sun that to risk myself contracting TB. Anyway, do you know that sunlight could kill TB. But of course, I seeked shelter under some trees. Occassionally, I would walked to the door to check the number whether it has reached my turn or not.

Finally (after painfully waiting for one hour and 15 minutes), my number appeared on that electronic device attached to the wall (what is it called, anyway?). I wore a mask and walked in to the doctor's room. As usual, I told the doctor everything. I then asked the doctor that I would like to do the phlegm test. I also asked for some Vitamin C and glycerin. All for only RM1. Hmmm...maybe I should ask for more.

After seeing the doctor, I hurried to the lab, collected the bottle from them, and ran out from the clinic. And then I took a deeeeep breath. Wow...fresh air. Haha. I was holding my breath the moment I walked out from the doctor's room. The face mask is not completely foolproof against any airborne germs, anyway.

After breathing in some fresh air from outside, I entered the pharmacy section to collect my medications and quickly ran out from the clinic again. Clinics and hospitals are such a risky place to go.

The air in the waiting area is seriously contaminated. I wonder when people will ever learn to cover their mouth when they cough/sneeze.

Respiratory Disorder - Episode 18

My next appointment with the doctor was supposed to be next month but I decided to see the doctor today because my phlegm has turned yellow every morning and there is blood in it, for the past two weeks. If your phlegm turns yellow, it means there is some bacterial infection.

Right after I woke up, I spat my phlegm into a small bottle, which was given by the hospital to me a couple of months ago but I still have not used it until today. The bottle will be given to the hospital for them to check for whatever germs that are in the phlegm.

I reached the hospital at about 9am and the carpark was almost filled up already by then. As I walked into the foyer, I was greeted by some beautiful Christmas decorations. I have always seen such Christmas decorations at hotel lobbies but I didn't expect to see it in a hospital. These decorations certainly cheered my mood up.

I brought the bottle to the hospital lab and then I proceeded to see my doctor and I told her about my symptoms. I was then asked to do a chest x-ray again to see whether abnormalities on my lungs have worsened or it gets better.

In the x-ray room, a fine young gentleman (he is either a radiologist or a medical officer, I am not sure) helped me to position myself correctly to pose for the x-ray. I asked him whether it would be dangerous to do an x-ray several times in a year. He assured me the radiation exposure is neither very high nor dangerous and he advised me to drink lots of water later after the x-ray. If I am not mistaken, he explained to me that drinking lots of water after the x-ray could help to wash away the enzymes. I didn't really catch what he had explained to me. After it was done, I went home because the x-ray report will only be released in the afternoon.

I went back to the hospital again in the afternoon to see the doctor. When I returned to the hospital, I was surprised to see an unusual crowd in the waiting area. Wow...even a private hospital can be very very crowded. I waited for about 20 minutes before the nurse called out my name.

I went in to her room and she told me that there is some slight improvement, after looking at the x-ray. I felt happy to hear that.

But I'm still worry about the yellow phlegm. So, she prescribed me an antibiotic (amoxycillin + clavulanate potassium). I do hope the antibiotic could kill those bacteria.

Two young Malaysians were infected with HIV through dental treatments?

It was recently reported in The Sun newspaper and here, that two young Malaysians working in Singapore have tested positive for HIV in the last four months. The two young Malaysians, both aged 20, went for a blood test to renew their work permit in Singapore. One of them, a young woman, broke down on the spot when the doctor revealed that she is HIV positive.

Both of them claimed that they were virgins, did not do drugs, and have not had any blood tranfussions. So how were they infected?

It was believed that they were infected after undergoing dental treatment.

The doctor that tested one of them said "if the dental equipment was not cleaned properly and the earlier patient was HIV positive, it could spread that way."

Okayyy, that's dangerous. Many of us have been to a dentist, so now, should we all go for a HIV blood test now?

I have already taken the HIV blood test two months ago in Island Hospital and thankfully it was negative. You can read my post again - Lung Infection (Part 7).

Doctors in Malaysia are not allowed to do a HIV blood test on us unless we have given permission to them to do so. I believe this is due to ethical reason. That day, the doctor had to ask my permission to do a HIV blood test on me.

Please take precaution whenever you have to deal with blood or any bodily fluids. HIV is spread through blood, semen, vaginal discharge, and breast milk. Experts said that HIV cannot be spread through saliva. But bear in mind that the saliva of an infected person does contain the HIV virus. All they said is that the HIV virus in the saliva is insignificant.

Ladies and gentlemen, please have a talk with your dentist next time to 'educate' him/her to sterilise the equipment before he/she treats you. Please take precautions!

The common cold - It's so common

Ever had a runny nose, sneezy, fever, and cough? It must be the common cold. It's so common that everyone will get it from time to time.

Many will blame the cold weather. But hey, the common cold is not caused by the weather. It's caused by a virus. I repeat - it's a viral infection. It is not caused by the cold weather or the food you ate recently. That's what the book said.

The common cold is not the same as the influenza (flu). A flu is a more serious viral infection like H1N1 or the bird flu.

A person with the common cold could infect you when he/she sneezes or coughs near you. You will also be infected when he wipes off his nasal secretions with his hands and touches you.

How to cure it? Sorry, until today scientists have yet to discover any anti-viral drugs to cure it. But the good news is that you will recover on your own within two weeks. So, just take a good rest and drink plenty of fluids if you have the common cold.

Most importanly, cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Please practise cough/sneeze etiquette.

But if you are coughing for more than two weeks, remember the important rule!
Think TB unless proven otherwise. Go see the doctor immediately if you are coughing for more than two weeks. And please no, not the chinese sinseh.

Now you learn something.

The Superbug has reached Malaysia!

Go read today's (27th October 2010) news here.

The superbug which was first identified in India and Pakistan a couple of months ago has finally reached Malaysia.

A superbug which is resistant to antibiotics has been detected in a 24-year-old woman, the first known case in Malaysia, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

The superbug is scientifically known as NDM-1 (New Delhi metallo-lactamase-1). Thankfully, she has recovered after receiving treatment at Ampang Hospital for the past one month.

Excuse me, did I read past ONE MONTH? Yesshh. Looks like the government is hiding this news from us for the past one month. That means she had contracted the superbug one month ago. Did she spread it to anyone else then? Maybe more news are not revealed to us. The news mentioned that she had not travelled overseas. So, she contracted the superbug right here in Malaysia. Okayyy, that's scary.

I wonder then if the superbug is resistant to antibiotics, how did she recover? It was not mentioned in the news what medicine she was prescribed.

I was quite relieved to read that the superbug was only transmitted through direct contact like touching and through wounds, not through the air.

The world's first fatality of the Superbug was a Belgian who got infected in Pakistan after he was hospitalised for a leg injury suffered in a car accident.

The penicillin was only invented in the 1940s which was a great invention to humankind. But after 60 years or so, bacteria have managed to grow resistance towards antibiotics. We are going back to square one.

A bacterium which is resistant to antibiotics is something very scary, just like the MDR-TB and the XDR-TB. The XDR-TB is said to be virtually incurable. It's like being infected with HIV, which is incurable. But there are reports claiming that there are XDR-TB patients who managed to recover, with a recovery rate of roughly 60%.

I felt that this planet is no longer a safe place to live. What killed the dinosaurs? Could it be some superbugs as well? Perhaps. And maybe it could happened again. This time on human beings.

2012 is coming.

Respiratory Disorder - Episode 17

I went to see the doctor again on 19th October 2010 to get the result of my ANCA blood test.

The result was negative, as told by the doctor.

So, it is unlikely that I am suffering from Wegener granulomatosis.

So, it gets even stranger. If it is not TB, if is not Wegener, if there is no bacteria in my phlegm, that what am I suffering from?

Anyway, my phlegm was sent to Pusat Perubatan Universiti Malaya to be cultured and tested.
I am pretty surprised that nothing was found. No bacterium at all. Well, they did find Candida but this fungus is a common fungus found in anyone's trachea.

Again, the doctor asked me whether I'm keen on doing the needle lung biopsy. I am definitely not keen on anything invasive. Furthermore, I was told that there is a possibility that the lung biopsy might not reveal much.

I am still coughing but it's not as violent as 3 months ago.

I was told to come back 3 months later for another chest x-ray to ensure that whatever abnormality on my x-ray is stable and did not get worse.

I went home wondering what am I suffering from. Could it be hookworm inside my lungs that gave me all this problem? Or could it be a fungal infection - histoplasmosis? Any medical students reading my blog, ohh...please figure it out for me.

Colour of your phlegm

If you are coughing and if you want to know whether it's a viral or bacterial infection, you can just take a look at the colour of your own phlegm.

A healthy person should have a clear phlegm.

But if you are coughing and if your phlegm is clear or thin white mucus, then it is an indication of a viral infection.

If your phlegm is yellowish or greenish, then it is an indication of a bacterial infection.

If your phlegm is brown, it is probable there are some blood in it. It could also mean you are a smoker.

If your phlegm is bright red, it is definitely blood.

If your phlegm is black, you are probably a smoker or a coal worker.

If your phlegm is purple, ask yourself whether you have just drunk Ribena.

Anyway always remember the important rule. If you are coughing for more than two weeks, think TB unless proven otherwise.

Cough and sneeze etiquette

I am writing this hoping to raise awareness about something called cough etiquette. I just came back from my MBA class and again, I noticed that there are students who simply lack basic civic manners. One particular classmate of mine would just cough into the air spreading whatever germs he has to others, which is not much different with the inconsiderate old ah pek I saw in the market coughing and spitting his greenish phlegm onto the pavement, ugggh! Mind you, my classmates are educated and are studying MBA, unlike the ah pek.

I would like to emphasise that if you are down with an infection, please wear a mask to avoid spreading your infection to others.

Remember to wear a face mask if you have an infection!

Below are the basic cough etiquette that one should follow.

Please cough or sneeze into a tissue, then discard it. Or you might want to cough or sneeze directly into your mask. But please discard your mask as well after using it.

If you don’t even have any tissue, then cough or sneeze onto your sleeve or into the crook of your arm. You’re less likely to transfer bugs with your biceps and elbows.

It's not advisable to cough or sneeze into your palm because most likely you will end up using your hand touching the lift's buttons, door knob, or shaking hands with others. In the end, you are still infecting others. If you do cough or sneeze into your palm, then please wipe your palm onto your shirt. That helps a lot!

Please, oh please observe the above cough etiquette considering that you are an educated person and not some lowly educated Ah Beng, Ah Too, or Ah Kow.

Respiratory Disorder - Episode 14

When I went back to the hospital at 2pm, there was an unusual crowd waiting to see my doctor. I have to wait for about an hour before I was called.

She told me that there was not much changes to the x-ray. It was also hard for me to tell because the x-ray was not very clear for a layman to see. The doctor believed that the radiologist did not use enough radiation to penetrate my body. So, the image was not that visible compared to the one I took last month. But at least the radiologist and the doctor are able to interpret it.



The doctor then prescribed me an anti-fungal drug - fluconazole since she suspected that I have a fungal infection in my lungs. Also, my phlegm is positive for Candida which is a type of fungus. However, probably that was not the fungus that causes my cough because candida is a fungus that is commonly found in anyone's mouth.

Again, I have to undergo some medication of swallowing big big capsules which I don't fancy at all. What I'm undergoing now is some sort of a trial and error treatment because the doctor has yet to know exactly what causes my cough. We still have to wait for the full result of the bronchoscopy. The lung biopsy which I have yet to do would be somewhat a much faster and accurate diagnosis.

If the fluconazole could not cure me, then I have to go for the lung biopsy to find out what's wrong. Oh, Jesus, please help me.

It looks unlikely that I could avoid the lung biopsy. I do really hope that this fluconazole would cure everything. I just do not want to do the lung biopsy. My next appointment is about another two weeks time.

Respiratory Disorder - Episode 13

It has been two weeks since the scary bronchoscopy. I think the whole experience has left me traumatised.

It is 21st September and it is time to see the doctor again to find out some preliminary results from the bronchoscopy.

I reached there at 11am.

I waited for about 10 minutes and I was called in to the doctor's room. Quick enough, she told me that my phlegm is negative for TB. What a relief!

But then she said my phlegm is positive for Candida, a type of fungus. But she doesn't think that's the cause of the cough. I've read about Candida and it could appear if you are on some antibiotic medication. Yes, I was on antibiotic medication when I went for the bronchoscopy. So probably that's how the Candida came about.

So that means we still do not know what is causing the cough. I will have to wait for a few more weeks for my phlegm culture to grow completely in the lab. The doctor then asked to go for an x-ray to see if there are any changes since my last x-ray.

The reception for the x-ray section

I was surprised to find a waiting area just outside the x-ray room with a TV for you to watch.

I didn't notice there's a container floating in the air when I took this picture. Well, nothing surprising since it's a hospital anyway....you know what I mean.

Taking the x-ray was quick and simple unlike the CT scan where you have to be injected with a radiopaque dye.

It was over in less than 5 minutes and I was asked by the doctor to come back to see her at 2pm. So I went home for lunch and worrying whether the image on the x-ray has turned out better or worse?

More you should know about TB

Oops I forget to tell you how TB is spread. TB is transmitted through the air, so, when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks to you, laughs in front of you, sings in front of you, or does whatever which contaminates the air, the bacteria will be passed on to you.

Of all the above, sneezing is the worst. When a person sneezes, he/she releases a 40,000 aerosol droplets to the air. Imagine that you are in a cinema and someone infected sneezes and did not cover his/her mouth and the bacteria flies to the air....to you.


So, please have some manners and carry a handkerchief or tissue to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze if you know that you are infected with some disease whether it's TB, bronchitis, flu, or the common cold.

Two months ago, I was sitting in my MBA class and there was this guy who is the Chief Technology Officer of an IT company. He was coughing non-stop without covering his mouth. What lousy manners he has, despite being an educated person and being a CTO. I don't know what infection he is carrying and spreading in the classroom.

Please wear a mask if you have an infection!

And yes, I should tell you about the terrifying treatment of TB. I have personally communicated with a friend who had TB some time ago and she told me that you will be injected every single day for 3 months! Uhmmm, that would be like 30 days x 3 months = 90 painful shots. Oh my! Not just any ordinary shot. An injection to the muscle!

Yes, 90 painful shots to your butt for three longgg months. In addition to that, you still have to take about 8 tablets a day for the following next three months. The treatment for TB is like a therapy. In Malaysia, the therapy lasts for 6 months. But from what I read from the Internet, the therapy treatment in the US is 9 months.

Initially I thought the injection treatment was the old treatment in the olden days but it looks like it is still being practised today. I did ask my doctor in Island Hospital about the treatment for TB. She told me it involves taking 8 tablets a day for 6 months, and no injection involves.

Probably, the treatment is different depending on the hospital that you are visiting. And the treatment comes with a side effect. Some patients reported they would feel nauseous, vomit, and diarrhoea while undergoing the treatment. It is important that you should not miss your medication, that is why, all hospitals require you to come to the hospital everyday to swallow the tablets in front of a medical officer to ensure that you do not miss your medication. If you miss it a day, you are helping the bacteria to grow stronger and to become drug resistant and you might never be cured.

I am still waiting for the lab in KL to culture my phlegm taken from last week's bronchoscopy and I do hope they find something but not the mycobacterium tuberculosis! Or not any of the family of other mycobacterium!

Lung Infection - Part 9

Finally, the dreadful day has arrived. 6th September 2010. I have to fast for at least 4 hours before the bronchoscopy procedure. So my last meal should be by 7am. I woke up early just to take my meal by 7am.

I reached the hospital at about 11.30am. I have to search for the bronchoscopy section on the 1st floor. And here I am. Strangely, the signboard indicated it is the endoscopy section.

I went inside and asked the nurse about the bronchoscopy procedure and she said 'Yes, this is the place'.

The nurse took my blood pressure and asked me to change my clothes and to wear their hospital gown.


Next, they asked me to lie down on a bed and soon they brought a set of syringe. As I expected, they are going to give me an injection. The doctor has already said that this injection will be like the vaccination that I had in school. An injection to the muscle. Argggh..

As soon as the nurse injected me on my left arm, I groaned loudly 'ARGHHHH' Seriously! That was the most painful injection I ever had since BCG. You can feel the needle puncturing your muscle. Now I began to realise the injection for the blood test is 'nothing' compared to this painful injection to the muscle. This injection was needed to reduce my mucus production in my throat.

Soon, another injection came. This time they need to insert a tube on my hand near the fingers. Sigh...another painful injection. I groaned again...'ARGHHH'. LoL, I'm serious!

I was so worried for the next procedure. The bronchoscopy! The clock was ticking just right in front of my bed. The time was 12pm. I waited and waited until 12.30pm when the nurses pushed me into the scope room nearby.

I was so anxious and maybe a little excited when I was in the scope room. I could see all the medical equipment in there, just like in an operation theatre. Again, I waited and waited anxiously for the doctor to arrive.


Finally I saw her walking towards the room. It was about time....

Lung Infection - Part 8

On 1st September, when I was about to take the ANCA blood test. The doctor called me and said she wanted to talk with me. I do not have to take the blood test for now. Wooohooo. So I went to see the doctor again on 1st September.

She has spoken with the professor in KL and she advised me to do the lung biopsy.

What is a lung biopsy? I asked

She explained that a needle will be inserted into the lungs to collect some tissues from there. From there, they will inspect the tissue to identify whether it is a tumour or it is some fungal or bacterial infection. Also, I need to be hospitalised overnight after the lung biopsy so that I can be monitored in case anything happened.

She said that there is a risk of air leaking from the lungs after the lung biopsy if the cells failed to close after the insertion of the needle. Yikess!!! She said that a tube has to be inserted into the lungs in case that happened and I might be hospitalised for a few days. Oh my...

Yikes!!!, I began to squirm...

She also advised me to do the bronchoscopy.

Now it is a matter of decision to do the lung biopsy first or to do the bronchoscopy first.

Now I feel that doing the bronchoscopy is so much easier than doing the lung biopsy.

I look at her quizzically and she looked at me smiling.

Sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Why do I have to go through all these procedures?

Lung biopsy? Yikes!! It's a bloody and painful procedure. Just imagine you are awake and you could see a long needle being inserted into your lungs right in front of your eyes. Ewwww!

The same with bronchoscopy. Ewwww!

Finally after a long sighhh, I told the doctor I will do the bronchoscopy on 6th September.
As I am writing this, I'm so worried about tomorrow - 6th September, the day I will do the bronchoscopy.
Sighhh.

Lung Infection - Part 7

Oooh, I can't wait to know the results of my blood test and the CT scan result on 30th August.

I was breathing heavily while waiting to see the doctor on that day. Finally, the nurse called my name and I entered the door.

She said my blood is ok. Most of it are negative and most importantly, HIV is negative. Pheww!
Then she showed my CT scan result and said that it matched the lesion on the chest x-ray. Most importantly, there are no new lesions in my lung.

Okayyy, then what?

She can't still diagnose from the CT scan whether it is a tumour or it is an infection. She said that there are three possibilities.
1. A bacterial or fungal infection
2. Tumour/Lung cancer
3. Wegener granulomatosis

She told me she will seek advice from a professor in KL before proceeding to the next step. Meanwhile, she advised me to take an ANCA blood test to determine if I have that so called Wegener thingy. What is this Wegener granulomatosis? It is some rare disease and I will explain it next time.

So I decided to take the blood test on some other day because I'm in a daze at that time. I just want to go home and sleep.

Lung Infection - Part 6

To undergo the blood test on 28th August, I was required to fast for at least 8 hours before the blood was drawn. From 10pm onwards on 27th August, I have to stop eating. Drinking is ok. This was a slight torment because I'm also suffering from gastric all the while and I need to take small meals from time to time. I have to endure this and fortunately there was no serious gastric attack.

I woke up to a hungry and nauseating stomach due to my gastric condition. I managed to calm down to avoid from vomiting and I reached the laboratory in Island Hospital 'safely' at 8.15am.

There were already a couple of people waiting at the laboratory at Level 5 of the hospital at that time hoping to end their fasting as soon as possible, just like me.

I have to endure the waiting because the laboratory has yet to open. Thankfully, there is a nice view overlooking a rooftop garden from the waiting area.

Rooftop garden in Island Hospital Penang

Finally, the nurses opened the laboratory door at exactly 8.30am. Everyone rushed in and gave their cards/slips to the nurse at the counter.

After waiting for about 5 minutes, my name was called and I was asked to give my urine sample. After doing that, I waited for another 5 minutes and I was finally called for the blood test. As usual, I always feel anxious whenever I have to undergo a blood test. I hate it.

The doctor injected my left forearm and this time the injection lasted for about a looooong one minute because the doctor needed to draw out enough blood for a full blood test. The blood test is called a full Profile D plus HIV. It is check for basically everything. During that time, so much blood was drawn to the extent that my left hand turned numb and tingling. It was so uncomfortable.

As soon as it is over, I quickly headed down to the hospital's cafeteria to take some quick bites to avoid any fainting spells. Again, I ate some fried bee hoon. The fried bee hoon has indeed saved me from fainting.

The bill came to about ~ RM400. $$$ fly away....

I have to wait until Monday August 30th to know the results of the blood test.

Again, I waited anxiously for two days to know my results. Is my liver functioning properly? Is my kidney functioning properly? How high is my sugar level? How is my white blood cell count? Most importantly, am I HIV positive? That is the most scariest. I will also know the CT scan results on Monday August 30th.

So, ladies and gentlemen, a little advice. Don't do drugs! Practise safe and protected sex! And beware of blood transfusion to avoid the risk of HIV infection. If you are a health care worker dealing with blood, be extra careful as well. I read that there are rare cases of health care workers being infected with HIV accidentally due to their daily exposure to tainted blood.

It is unfortunate that scientists still can't find any cure for the HIV infection until today. TB was similar to HIV in the olden days. If you have TB during those times, you are 'gone'. There was no cure and you will be left to die. The cure for TB was only found in the 1940s.

I will continue on Part 7 soon.

Lung Infection - Part 5

The day was 26th August. I walked into the doctor's room. Doctor L greeted me and I greeted her. She talked a bit and finally she said my QuantiFERON TB Gold blood test was NEGATIVE.

Okkayy, I said. Inside me, I hope it is not a false-negative result. There is always a risk of false-negative. She has already said it earlier that having a negative result does not mean that you don't have TB, it might be a false negative.

But let's get this straight. My sputum/phlegm tests were all negative for TB, tuberculin skin test was negative and now the QuantiFERON TB Gold blood test was negative. Can I safely say I don't have TB for now? Maybe.

Like the nurse in the Sungai Dua government clinic (where I sent my phlegm for testing) I talked to the other day, she advised me to think of some other thing instead of just TB. It could be something else. Something else like what, I wonder.

Cancer??

There's always the probability.

So on that same day on 26th August, Doctor L advised me to a CT scan to rule out tumour/cancer. A CT scan? What is that? I thought it is something simple like going for an x-ray. Just pose yourself for a scan shot like I how I always scan papers in my office and the files go directly to my PC. Noooo...not that simple.

CT Scan

It looks scary when I entered the room and indeed the whole procedure was scary enough! It ain't the same as an x-ray procedure. When I was in the room, the nurse took out some equipment. And in that tray, I saw a syringe. A syringggeee!!!

It looks sharp!

Yikes! I hate it. I hate an injection. The nurse told me ...Yes there will be an injection.

Oh noo! I think I'm going to have some fainting spells soon.

I laid down on the bed or the board or whatever you call it and she injected my hand with something and I don't know what was that. I remember seeing a tube being inserted into my hand the place where I was injected. Yep...just like how you always see those tube inserted into someone's hand or arms in the movies.

I went home and read about CT scan and I learnt that what they inject you during a CT scan is a radiopague dye. Oh my...some radiation thingy being injected into my bloodstream. Isn't that dangerous? Strangely, I still don't have any radiation powers like Spiderman after that day.

Ok. Back to the CT scan room. I was told to listen to some instructions later. So I was pushed into that 'tunnel' and the instructions came from some voice box above.

Breathe in, breathe out....

Breathe in deep and hold it.

And immediately I could hear some pictures being snapped....lol.

After a few seconds...the instruction came again. Breathe as normal.

I had some weird feeling when I was pushed through under the tunnel. I don't know how to describe it but it was certainly a new experience for me. An experience that one should avoid! The radiation from a CT scan is 500 times the radiation dose of an x-ray. So try to avoid a CT scan if possible unless you are really sick.

Anyway, I was shivering throughout the whole procedure because the room was cold! It was still very cold even the nurse had placed a thick blanket over me.

Guess what! The cost of the CT scan is RM650! Not cheap!

I had to come back to the hospital on 28th August again for another blood test. This time they wanted to do a full blood test including HIV! No joke! She wanted to test my liver function, kidney function, sugar level....bla bla bla.

The doctor needs to rule out as many diseases as possible to find out what is infecting my lungs.

Another injection again.... :-(

Lung Infection - Part 4

I took the blood test for the Quantiferon TB Gold on 24th August. Thankfully I did not black out after my blood was drawn as the previous times. I took the very first blood test in February 2008 for some other cause and I almost black out about 15 minutes after the doctor drew my blood out from my arms. As I could still remember, my vision became blurred, my entire body was tingling and I felt nauseous for about 5 minutes.

Ouch...painful!

The same thing happened again on 12th August 2010 when I took a blood test in General Hospital. Fortunately, I have reached home by then and I was untying my shoelaces when it suddenly happened. 30 minutes after the blood test, my vision was blurred, my body was tingling, I felt nauseous, I turned white as if I have seen a ghost, and I was sweating profusely as if someone has sprayed water on my entire body. I quickly took a bite of a bun that I have in my bag and I tried to chew and to swallow what I have put into my mouth but I could not. The bun remained in my mouth and I couldn't do anything. At that time, I felt like my entire body has shut down. I was sitting by the door and I couldn't move at all. This time the incident lasted for about 10 long minutes.

The lesson learnt was that I should have eaten something before or immediately after the blood test. On 24th August, I ate some Bee Hoon before I left for Island Hospital. I took the blood test and I went home and nothing happened. Phew! Thankfully!

On 26th August, I came back to the hospital to see the doctor for the results. There are crowds in Island Hospital but it is not as bad as General Hospital where you might have to wait for hours before the doctor sees you. Of course, in Island Hospital, you still have to wait for a couple of minutes before you can see the doctor because the business is good over there.

So I was waiting anxiously to find out whether the blood test result is positive or negative. And finally the nurse called my name to come in. It is time.