Day +1000: Thankyou

Today marked the 1000th day of my bone marrow transplant.

I would like to thank every one of you who gave me tremendous support in facing this challenging episode of life; my wife, dad and mum, my sisters & brother, relatives, classmates, friends, colleagues. A thousand days only possible with you.

Day +998: Miracle in The Andes

I am fine today, despite being annoy by numbness and tinnitus.

This is the second time I have this book.

This review is from: Miracle in the Andes: 72 Days on the Mountain and My Long Trek Home. Piers Paul Read wrote the great book Alive and after an excellent movie it could be thought there was little more left to the actual story. Wrong. Nando Parrado adds much much more to this survival story and doesn't re-tell like Read but lets you know what happened to him and his emotions on the mountain. This is a great companion to the classic book. Most (myself included) wanted to be Nando - he was strong, and saved his friends through unreal internal fortitude - he's a genuine hero. His is one of the most compelling survival stories in recorded history and this is a worthy memoir.

Where Read lets you know what happened Parrado lets you know the why's and how's they survived - the real heart of this story. He let's the reader know in more detail the miserable existence on the mountain. When you read his thought "tears waste salt" it might sound cold hearted but it was the RIGHT thought and you begin to understand his inner strength. His thoughts about his family are touching, his feelings about his great father are insightful - what a fortunate son, what a fortunate father. Without his father the disappearance of the plane would remain a mystery.

In an interview Roberto Canessa once said the survivors know each other better than anyone. I really didn't understand that until reading this book. Parrado also sheds light on some negative depictions of survivors in Read's book and it helps the reader understand their actions. I also enjoyed reading what happened to Parrado after the incident and how the words and behavior of his friends who died on the mountain has influenced him. It took Parrado a long time to realize how inspirational his story is and it's great he's written his story. Make no mistake; this story is not about cannibalism, it is about love, survival and determination. I'm a better person for having read this book.

Day +994: Good Doctor

I am fine today. In the last three years, I have consulted many specialist, some of them are good , they listen and care about your progress, even giving you discount.
Some of them just don't have time to listen the details, they are arrogant and inpatient.

Extracted an article from Dr.Hsu, what is good doctor.

"
如何鑑定一位好醫師--「良醫七要件」

　　生病要找醫師，如果遇到密醫或蒙古大夫，輕者浪費金錢時間，重者誤診誤醫

。而一位良醫，即使無法讓您藥到病除，至少會指引您另請高明。過去無執照的密

醫很多，現在的醫師雖然有執照，但隨著時代的變遷，也變得急功近利，短視而缺

德，或過度自我保護、或自我膨脹，一切以己身利益著想。昔日醫師誓詞所求，對

病患的無限奉獻與服務，早丟到九霄雲外了。當然好的醫師依然很多，但如何去分

辦？以下幾點可供參考：

（一）口碑：

　　　大家都說好，雖不是十全十美，至少有可信度的，值得去瞭解。

（二）仔細聆聽病情：

　　　問診是所有診斷的第一步驟，只有詳細的病史，才能作正確的判斷。

（三）詳細的身體檢查：

　　　問診之後，就是觸診或聽診，這是診斷的基本功夫，是不容疏忽的。經由醫

　　　師專業的知識與雙手的靈巧，誤診的可能自會降低。

（四）安排適當的檢查：

　　　有了問、觸、聽診之後，醫師就其必要會安排各種必要的檢查以協助診斷或

　　　治療，每一種檢查都有其目的與判讀限制或危險性，醫師應會詳細解說。

（五）完整的病情說明：

　　　適所有資料齊全，醫師必定會給以充分的解說，或已有診斷、或治療分析、

　　　或疾病癒後、或如何防治等等。

（六）全面性的完全服務：

　　　不知為不知是知也，這是至理名言。醫學如瀚海，沒有一位醫師能十項全能

　　　，會診或指引其另請高明，就是醫德的表現。病人所有問題，大如病情惡化

　　　，小如飲食起居都應給以正確的安排。

（七）定期的主動追蹤：

　　　一次的治療，未必代表是痊癒。尤其是許多慢性病是要長期治療或追蹤的。

　　　除了要告知病家定期回診外，更應該主動追蹤，如電訪、問卷、居家護理等

　　　等。醫療服務是永不間斷的。

各位病家如果以以上「良醫七要件」來鑑別您的醫師，自然會得到好的醫療服務。

Day +994: A Cancer Survival Story

"這是一本癌症的聖經，是我七年來診治過4千位癌症病人的臨床經驗，這4千位老師告訴我們成功與失敗，生與死！告訴我們痛苦、逃避、無知、感恩、無懼、視死如歸------"

From http://www.nsshu.com/

如何成為一位好的病家--「好病家五要求」
　　生病是痛苦的事，所有的病家都希望趕快找醫師早點藥到病除。但是很多病家卻不知道如何做好一位好病人，結果是延誤病情而自討苦吃。要成為一位好病人應做到以下數點：

（一）養成愛護自己的習慣：

　　　很多人不知愛護自己，吃喝玩樂、熬夜失眠、悲觀喪志、或積勞成疾。如不改善這些狀況，病情只有加重。相反如果懂得愛護自己者，病情往往輕較而容易康復。

（二）有病時及早就醫：

　　　每個人都會生病，而小病大病在初期常常是分辨不出來。及早就醫是唯一之途。任何延誤都可能導致嚴重的後果。

（三）不自行醫治或道聽途說：

　　　中國人生病時最不好的習慣，就是懶得就醫而自行醫治，或道聽途說、接受不正當醫療。常常在未有正確診斷前，就接受一大堆民俗療法、或自購成藥、禁藥胡亂醫治。

（四）多方面瞭解而具備醫療常識：

　　　一般人的醫療常識多半非常缺乏，一旦生病若非早日就醫，往往毫無警覺，放任病情惡化。有了基本醫療常識，既可瞭解醫師的解說，又能早作預防，使大病變小病，小病變無病。

（五）多尋求第二意見：

　　　並非每次生病，病情都單純；也並非都能遇到良醫，因此如發現病情不進展或有惡化之虞，而醫師並未有滿意的說明或加強治療，則應另找其他醫師尋求所謂「第二意見」（second opinion）。經過多方面的意見加以考慮，誤辦的機會自會減少。

良醫與好病家在一起，共同詳細的討論病情，提出治療的步驟，遇有任何問題，都 能立刻解決，彼此互信互賴，創造美好的醫病關係。

Day +993 : 白果龙眼白木耳汤

阿秀的同学 margaret (http://margaret147.blogspot.com/) 在网上的食譜之一。 我非常喜喝龙眼汤. 昨天阿秀得意煮了这道饮品 。味道还真不错，喝了三大碗。

From Margaret Blog，

"这种汤在我家可是常常都可以喝到的哦，因爲白木耳是窮人的燕窩,对皮膚和肿部都有滋潤的作用。1朵白木耳 20粒莲子（去心) 5粒紅枣 5粒龙眼 冰糖 水隨意 做法： 把木耳浸软，涨大，剪成小块，用沸水烫过木耳及紅枣,再用slow cooker煮大約一小时，同时把连子放入叧一个pot加水和糖煮至软，当木耳已软化后，加入龙眼，白果及莲子再煮三十分钟，便可享用了"

Day +992: 遺憾

最近在Chee Khoon Blog讀 到一封轉寄郵件，內容是關於臨危病人對人生的五大遺憾。我讀了非常有共鳴，所以希望與大家分享。
其實這是一位照料垂危病人的護士從許多病人的遺言中所整理出來的一則文章 CheeKhoon 把這一則文章的一些摘要列出來。
一：一生只活在別人的期望下，沒有活出自己。
二：用盡一生的時間換取金錢，而忽略了兒女的成長過程。
三：沒有發表自己的主見。即使事與願違，也只選擇忍氣吞聲。
四：沒有花足夠的時間與好朋友聯繫。
五：沒發現快樂其實是一種選擇，而沒有選擇快樂地生活。
總概來說，人都會為一些沒有做的事情而遺憾，但都不會為一些失敗的事情留下遺憾。所以，我們都應該去做那些想做卻還沒做的事情，以免為人生留下遺憾

Day+911 ：Lost in Horizon

Today, I am fine.

Stanley have brounght me more books to read, related to travelling and picture book.

I read about a book a day. I like " Lost in Horizon".

The story of a group of people who survive an airplane crash in Tibet and find shelter at a mysterious monastery is extremely well known, but unlike most novels, Lost Horizon is less about its characters and their situation--interesting though those elements may be--than it is about their thoughts and ideas. Written as it was on eve of World War II, these thoughts and ideas center upon developing a way of life that preserves, rather than destroys, that which is finest in both humanity and the world in general.
The novel is elegantly and simply written and possesses tremendous atmosphere. Although enjoyable as a purely "fun" read, it is also thought provoking, and the thoughts it provokes linger long after the book is laid aside. I can not imagine any one not being moved by the book, both emotionally and intellectually, regardless of their background or interests. If such a person exists, I do not think I would care to meet them.

Although James Hilton wrote a number of worthy novels, Lost Horizon is the novel for which he is best remembered, a great popular success when first published and a genuine masterpiece of 20th Century literature.

Day +990 : Oxgen concentrator

I am fine.

Yesterday, Teck Ann helped me to return the oxygen concentrator machine to the supplier. I have rented for three months. The rental is about RM300 per month. It help to ease the breathless situation. My current SP02 is 92%, normal >95%.

It delivered continuous flow of process ambient air at various liter per minute with an associated percentage oxygen. Example, at 0 liter per minute (room air ), 21% oxygen. At 3 liter per minute, 33% oxygen.

Day +989 : Wisdom

The wise person tends to include people of different ages in their celebrations because that represents the authentic make-up of extended families. It is a great gift o have our parents, grandparents with us to mark significant events in our live.

At age 66, my father finally get the citizenship. He will do his first blue color identity card end of July.

Many find the time to attend funeral but fail to realise that a rose for the living is better than a banquet for the dead. It takes wisdom to waste time with our loved ones while they are still with us.

Day +988 : Nerves

Today, I am fine.

Have some articles to share with.
While animals focus on present, only humans sit and worry about what will happen three years from now if I do that or this.
Worry is something we can't help doing. It is part of our nature as a species that thinks and rationalises. Most of us living in the city probably walk around in a state of perpetual nervousness. There are KPI and deadliness to meet, mortgages and bills to pay , the family's security, job security.... the list could go on. Even taking a a vacation can be nerve wracking because halfway through you are wandering if your boss has caught on that you're not quite indispensable.

Henrik Edberg, creator of the Positivity Blog and author of Art of Relaxed Productivity, suggests asking yourself What is the worst that could happen ? How will it affect you in the long run ? In many cases you will find that the answer boils down to "no really that much". It is easy to get too wrapped up in what is about to happen and magnify the event and possible consequences in your mind until it seems like it's a matter of life and death. It seldom is. Asking a few sample questions can put things into a healthier perspective and calm you down.

Just remember, you're your own worst enemy.

Day >+980 : Numbness

I have asked Dr Alan recommended a neuro specialist, if he can help to tackle the numbness. Dr Ng , the Neurologist put me on Neurotin and Amitriptyline.
As usual, I check the side effect on these drug on web site.

Neurotin used to relied nerve related pain. It make you drowsy.
Amitriptyline typical used to reduce the depressive symptom. It cause drowsiness and dry mouth. It also used to treat neurological pain.

Yes, it help to reduce the numbness, but the side effect is too much. I have stopped it, probably only use it when the numbness is unbearable.

Day >+930 Days : Update

I am not OK.

Besides breathless, I also having great numbness in hand and feet, a sensation feel like needle prick. These numbness is extreme and last hours, and there is no quick solution. It take times for nerves to recover.
My breathing have been improve a lot, I can't even take bath by myself in May due to breathless, Now, I can handle it . We have a night-tea with Teck Ann & wife last Saturday night.