The Beauty of Simplicity

`` my daily journey. [#] `-

Monday, 19 June 2006

So Much Over So Little

Many things had happened to me since I last posted. Seriously, I do not know where to start, plus I am not in the best of moods either.

For those of you who wish to know, or don't know, my teeth are alright now. I'd the stitches removed last Monday. Everything is peachy.

Two Sundays ago, I'd twisted my left ankle while going down an escalator in Citylink. It was dark and the escalator had stopped operating quite early, just 10 minutes past ten. Last I checked, the escalators were still operating when it was half past 10. In addition, my eye-sight is lousy in dark places. All these factors plus some thing else, equalled to my fall. It was more of a shock (and embarrassment) to me, than pain. I'd quickly gotten up and limped away as best as I could. Though, deep inside, I knew that it is not a light sprain, I brushed it off and hoped that it would go away after a night's rest. I'd wanted to get an ankle support, but all the shops were closed and the 7-Eleven near my house did not have it.

I'd wanted to do the smart thing and ice my ankle, but the freezer is woefully under-equipped - it does not have a ice-tray.

I'd left things at that and simply gotten an ankle support at Guardian in Novena Square, as I was meeting Ronny for breakfast. And we went on the meet Angeline for lunch too.

Things hadn't improved for my ankle, after a few days. By the insistence of my mother, I went to the Chinese sinseh whom I'd known since young. Paid $50. He'd sprayed some thing on my ankle; "twisted" my ankle here and there, slapped 2 pieces of cloths with dark mucky ointment on them and bandaged my ankle. There was medicine too. I went to him twice.

But things hadn't improved and seemed to take a turn for the worse. I started feeling pain whenever I wake up in the morning and the swelling had gotten worse. Though, some how, the pain would go away completely in the late afternoon or evening.

At this point of time, my mother was quite worried and everything. She cursed and swore at me. Literally. That my ankle isn't getting better. Funny way of caring, huh? Though I am in no way amused. Those were hurtful words.

Finally fed-up, she arranged for me an appointment with a qigong master. She claimed that my 2nd and 3rd sisters' ankle healed after some sessions with him. I was leery about it though, not that I have any choice in saying "No".

In the end, on Saturday, we took a cab and went all the way to Kallang area. My mother is a bit not so good with directions (something I inherited, I think), after much fussing, irritated grumblings from my father and walking about, we got to the place. My mother and I stayed there for over an hour, while my father said he'd go back to the company.

The house was sparsely furnished. Just the most basic furnitures, no television, computer or a dining table, though I think I spied a laptop.

He told me to sit on the sofa and put my leg up on the coffee table. I did as told and soon he was raising his right hand to my injured ankle. He asked how I twisted my ankle and other making-conversation stuff. I was slightly fascinated by his long finger nails, plus a little grossed out. To set the record straight, only the thumb/s and little finger/s have such long nails, that they curled. He was dressed all in white, that kind of outfit that one would expect a Chinese sinseh to wear.

During the session, he'd just hovered his right hand over my left ankle and asked me, after some time, if I still felt the pain. When I answered in the affirmative, he'd continue with his hand over my ankle. At one point, I'd noticed that he was drooling. Why, I do not know. Perhaps it is a side effect of his "healing method"?? Towards the end of the session and when I told him that my left leg felt numb (after long minutes with my leg propped up, who wouldn't??), he told me lay back on the sofa and continued on with his work.

We stopped when my father popped up suddenly to see why we weren't done. My mother and I were surprised to see him still there. Well, it is just like him..=) Differing actions and words. As the saying goes, "His bark is worse than his bite".

After that, we left the place and went to eat at a nearby market. We had Bak Ku Teh.

We separated after that. My parents went to the company while I went to Bugis Junction as there was some problem with the cross stitch cloth. On the way to my friend's pushcart, I stopped by to buy some earrings. Four of them, in fact. Since the guy was quite nice and adorably awkward. I stayed at my friend's pushcart for awhile, getting started on the cross stitch, before leaving. Upon her warning (that it is not good to strain my eyes to see, as the cloth's holes are really small), I decided to collect my glasses at Queensway (It'd broke about a week after I twisted my ankle. Don't ask. I can tell you anyway, I sat on them. Goodie.). I took a cab down as I'd arranged to meet Priscilla to collect something. Turned out I needn't rush as she had to go back to church.

After picking up my spectacles, I took a bus, changing bus at Macritchie to Ang Mo Kio, intending to go to the polyclinic to have my ankle X-ray-ed. To my annoyance and frustration, it was closed. What a wasted trip. I walked off, intending to take a bus back. Upon seeing a pasar malam, I stopped and bought a box of popcorn (don't know what is with me and popcorn recently.) and some wrapping papers (they are cheap. 5 for $1 or 50 cents. Couldn't remember. Either way, it is cheap, though the quality of the paper isn't that great nor the design outstanding, but hey, what do you expect?)

Quite tired and all, I started for home, while chatting with Angeline on the phone.

That was the summary of what had happened up to now.

Yep.

I finally went to the polyclinic to get a checkup today. I'd set my alarm for 8am, but went back to sleep when I woke up and saw that it was raining heavily. As my boss has said, it was a long wait. I fumbled around a little before going to the right place to register myself. It was quite cold in the level 2 waiting rooms. I took my cross stitch with me to do while waiting. The doctor was quite nice. She is a lady, married one, at that. After examining my ankle and hearing from me, she sent me to the X-ray room. It was a short wait there. Front and side views of my ankle were taken and I was sent off with a reminder to go back after 2pm (as it was their lunch break from 1-2pm).

Not knowing how to spend the next 1.5 hours, I called Angeline, thinking that perhaps I can go over to her side and have lunch with her, but to my disappointment, she'd already eaten. I called Shuhui next, but she didn't answer the phone. Lastly, I SMSed a friend at work, asking if she was at the usual place, thinking that I could go over. By that time, I'd reached Jubliee and thought maybe I should watch a movie instead, since I hadn't caught one in many, many months, plus the fact that I had never watched one by myself before, thus trying something new seemed good. To my disappointment, the selection was quite limited and the timings didn't suit me. Only one movie fit my timing, but I have no desire to watch that particular movie - Omen. I have no wish to pay money to scare myself silly. In the end, I went for the animation movie - Cars, as my friend hadn't replied me and I did not want to eat lunch yet. It was 10 minutes into the show when I bought the ticket.

Though I wasn't keen on missing part of the movie, I went it still, as I simply had no idea what to do.

The movie was good. Lightning McQueen was initially so stuck up that I was disgusted, especially with his cheesy pick-up lines. Later on in the movie, I was quite touched by his actions and the story of the Hudson who was betrayed and dumped after he got into an accident. Left hanging dry. Recommend you to watch it. Funny, serious, painfully sad, outrageous and good animation.

I went back to collect the X-ray results, albeit woozily (I always feel like that after a movie), after it ended, around 1430 or so.

Everything was fine. My muscles and ligaments were in the right alignment, no broken bones. After getting my foot dressed, I went to the pharmacy to pick up an ointment for my ankle and some bandages and a box of Quaker Granola Bars. Along the way to the bus-stop, I bought a St Ives shampoo and conditioner (thought I'd try some thing new as the current one I am using doesn't feel so good, recently), popcorn and Double Cheese Burger Meal from McDonald's.

I realized that I am rambling, am I not?

To cut to the chase, let me just tell you what happened later.

My mother was furious that I didn't went to the qigong master today. I really didn't want to see him again, although to tell the truth, my ankle did feel better during the healing session, but I must add, the pain came back almost immediately after I left and the swelling became worse on Sunday. I did not feel comfortable around him, not that he gave me the creeps. But the idea of being alone in some one else's house, with a stranger, does not sit well with me. Plus, I find that it is a waste of money too, $20 for each session and I had to go back for 5-6 sessions, though I do not have to pay, my mother insisted on paying.

We argued over the phone. She cursed and swore at me with vulgar words and stuff and threatened to take away my laptop if I do not go and visit the person, despite my explanations that I'd taken an X-ray and the doctor said I'd recover completely.

The same thing occurred when we were having dinner. This time, my father and 2nd sister joined in to tell me to go. To put it simply, dinner ended with a heavy tone. My mother nagged and scolded. My sister talked and tried to coerce me. My father put in his two cents and blew his top towards the end. I had said some thing that I shouldn't, though I'd tried not to argue back, just letting them rant and rant.

My father had said something ridiculous. He actually implied and said that the doctor lied to me when I told him that she said my ankle would heal completely, with no side effects. He went on to give examples like, which doctor would tell the patient that he/she would die the next day.

Puh-lease.

It is a rather extreme example.

He continued with, asking, how am I going to find the doctor when I am older and the side effects start to show? He said that by then, the doctor would have died. Yes, he actually said that. Anything could happen, he said. Yes, I agree, perhaps I shouldn;t have pointed this out to him, but I'd shot back, saying that, I may be the one to die first, not her. It is true, but not the best thing I could have said at such a moment. At that he became angry and started ranting a lot.

I said nothing from then; and quickily finished my dinner, washed my bowl and went to my room and started blogging till now. It had been 2 hours. I am amazed...=)

I was in a lousy mood at first, but after writing things out, I am feeling better. Good to get everything off my chest..=D

Light my path
9:01:00 pm

youdrovemydarknessaway`-//*

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Friday, 2 June 2006

Hi there!=]

I have not updated this blog for quite a while, yes?

Well, what's a girl to do? Between bouts of sickness, laziness, work and occupied by other stuff, there isn't much time for me to write.

As I am typing now, my lower jaw is swollen and aching. i had my wisdom tooth extracted today. Yippee. T.T.

Duh.

Over the years, the tooth on the lower right row, had been bothering me now and then, with little aches. But nothing that the medication that my 2nd sister gave me, wouldn't cure.

However, this time, it was different. Despite taking the pill as I did those times, the pain did not lessen. It acted up on wednesday evening and was fast becoming unbearable as the night progressed. After taking the pill, I'd went straight to bed, hoping that all will be fine after a good night's sleep. but it was not to be. I'd some difficulties falling asleep due to the pain, ranging from dull aching to sharp spikes. Blessed sleep came.

As I'd said earlier on, it was not meant to be. Around 3.30am, I'd woken up, unable to ignore the pain any longer. Actually, while I was sleeping, I had felt the pain, subconsciously, but tried my best to ignore it, opting to get a good night's rest.

Unable to sleep with the pain in my mouth, I went to the store room and searched for the medicated oil that I'd used as a child. It was my father who taught me to dab that medicated oil on a piece of cotton, place it on the tooth and bite it for several minutes. It had worked back then, amazingly effective. Though, the sharp and unpleasant taste of the medicated oil, left much to be desired.

To my dismay, it wasn't in the medicine box. Left with no choice, I went into my parents' room, intending to ask my mother. Instead, I ended up rousing both of them....oppz. To my further disappointment, that particular medicated oil wasn't in my parents' room either. In the end, my father suggested that I use the normal medicated oil...you know, the 风油. Armed with a temporary solution, I went to the kitchen and started administering first aid to my tooth. After 2 rounds of the suggested solution, I went to bed. It was around 4.30am. The pain has lessened, though not gone away, to a more bearable (and sleep-able) stage.

The next morning - Thursday, the ache had acted up again, though not in full intentsity, it was growing and would probably blow up. I called my parents or was it the other way round? Aa, anyway, my father suggested using salt water to rinse the mouth. Later on, he said, I could try crushing a Panadol; applying it on the tooth and letting it stay there while I bathe, then spitting it out later. Once again, I was a little amazed and thankful that it worked. The pain had subsided a little. To play safe, I dumped a big teaspoon of salt into half a cup of warm water and gargled my mouth before setting off for work.

Thank God that it held up all the day, so much so that I'd forgotten about the pain.

Despite this, I'd made up my mind to get rid of the pain once and for all, by visiting a dentist, someone whom I'd not visited, for-don't know-how-long. More than 10 years, I believe.

So this good little girl woke up this morning and set about preparing to pay a visit to the friendly neighourhood dental clinic.

For some reason, I was pretty glad to see that the dentist on duty was a woman. Can you imagine how awkward it is, to open your mouth and go aaaa--- for the dentist for don't-know-how-long?? Actually, if worse comes to worse and it had been a male dentist, I wouldn't have minded, though I'd have been more self-conscious.

I was pretty relaxed while I was waiting for my turn as I had thought that, most likely, I would be having the tooth filled up. I had done that before, during my primary school days. Back then, it had hurt a little, but not very much, so there wasn't anything to worry about. Or so I thought.

Old childhood horrors came back when the woman before me came out. She looked like she was in pain and having difficulties. I started getting a little worried and jumpy. What if this dentist is like the one in my primary school? All of us, always spat out alot of blood by the time the dentist was through with us.

A moment later, I was called in. Dismissing my fears, I went in. To my surprise, the dentist is a pretty woman (not that I think dentists are ugly or plain looking and no offense meant). Though it is hard to tell how she looks like, with a surgurical mask covering the lower half of face. She did a check up and told me the bad news, adding that she would do an X ray.

After a while, the dentist came back and the news hadn't gotten any better. To my understanding, my wisdom tooth was crooked, thus, when I brush my teeth, the bristles were not able to reach some parts. After some time, it started decaying, as technically speaking, I hadn't brushed that part for many, many years. She'd said that my tooth had started decaying since I was 15!!

Is it a big WHOA, or what???

The dentist added that, the decay has started to spread to the next tooth. If this is allowed to go on, I'd be in for more pain and problems. I asked for the cost of the surgery. It was $300 ++. Slightly relieved that it wouldn't be costing me thousands of bucks, I decided to go ahead with the surgery, not that I am not feeling the pinch.

To tell the truth, I was quite nervous and afraid. Surgery seems like a big thing. To me, it is like for those with big problems. My body was quite tense and wound up throughout the operation. I braced myself for major pain, despite her assurance that it would not be very painful.

At the first prick of the needle, tears came to my ears. But that was expected, as the nerves around the gums area are pretty sensitive. I was relieved and waited for the anesthetic to kick in. I was given a pair of goggles to protect my eyes, which led to think, is she going to drill my tooth to smithereens or something?? A twinge of unease crept into me. The dental assistant put a suction tube into my mouth, to suck in any little pieces, I suppose. She started drilling and I winced mentally, the image that my mind conjured wasn't pretty at all. I tried to think about other stuff, any thing, but the constant vibrations going on in my mouth. Finally, she stopped. I was relieved and thought it was all over. I was wrong as she proceeded to pull, (literally) my tooth out. I thanked the Lord that my lower jaw was numb and I couldn't feel a thing. After it was pull out and just when I thought that was the end, she started to sew the wound together. My freak-o-meter went up several notches. Actually, it wouldn't have been so bad if only there wasn't some disruptions during the surgery. First, the dentist couldn't find the necessary tool and I had to wait, while praying that the anesthetic would not wear out that fast. Second, while she was sewing the wound closed, I caught the assistant looking away. This wasn't very good...and I was like.........uh-oh.....oh boy.....Is it really that bad?? It must be pretty gory... All those thoughts floated through my mind. I couldn't wait for that to be over and with the assistant looking away, those just added up.......

When the minor surgery was finally over, I mentally heaved a sigh of relief. Thank God!!!

The operated area was covered by a gauze and I was told to bite on it, as hard as possible, to staunch the flow of blood. I was released after 10+ minutes and advised on the after-care. After collecting the medication from the front counter and paying $383.00, I left the clinic. Thank God that the money is coming out from my Medisave account, most of it anyway. At least I hope so. I will be going back on Wednesday to get the threads removed.

After everything, I went to Sun Plaza and posted Alvin's birthday gift, bought some stuff and lunch and headed for home. It was a little embarrassing when I couldn't speak coherently, in addition, my jaw was swollen (as there wasn't a mirror available and I didn't want to go to the toilet to see for myself how bad I looked, I assumed that it was very swollen).

It was pretty weird, being unable to feel. I had even lost my sense of direction and aim. When I was allowed to gurgle, I had missed the basin when I spat out the liquid that the dentist gave. Oppz.

There was some some difficulties eating. In the end, I gave up, I'd left half of the rice uneaten and didn't finish my soya bean drink. I couldn't wait to pop the medicine given as my nerves had started waking up.

Aaaa.......what a long entry over a tooth. Guess what?? My wisdom tooth is here. Right inside my bag, zip-loc-ed in a little medicine bag, courtesy of the dentist.

I've made up my mind, I will be good and visit the dentist every 6 months, as recommended.

See? A good girl........=]

Light my path
4:27:00 pm

youdrovemydarknessaway`-//*

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