Asthma

I have been leading an active life and almost forgot about having a history of asthma ever since school days and a couple of attacks over the past 10 years. I only started to own an inhaler when I was hospitalized in 2011. It was sealed in the box and inside my drawer until lately, I struggled searching for it. Our whole family were at the wake of our late uncle for 3 days. During this week, every night, I was awaken with a bad cough and my airways were blocked that I almost could not find my breath. That was the worse attack I have ever had. It happened consecutively for 5 nights and my chest was so tight and felt so tired the next morning so I went to the doctor. I was prescribed the nasty steroids and some flu and cough medicine. 

The effects of steroids as usual, anxiety and unable to sleep for the first two nights. Heavy sweating the next 2 days and skin started to feel dry. After finishing my dose, acne will popped up 3 days later and felt very thirsty the whole day long.

After some research, people like me who has Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)  are likely to get asthma. And after completion of the HepC therapy, I started to have GERD ... and now asthma!

I am glad all is cleared now and there is no need to carry the inhaler everywhere I go anymore.  However, whenever I catch a cold, I will have to standby for another attack anytime.

Condolences .. 21 October 2013

You have gone to a wonderful place

Out of the pain into God's grace
God saw you getting tired
And whispered "Come home to stay."

We know for sure
he is in a better place
No more hurt or pain shall he face.
It seems unfair but this is true,
He is in Heaven watching over me and you!

God has called him home to rest
He will be well taken care of 

Because God knows best!

We lost a dear one last week .. uncle lost the battle to Multiple Myeloma an incurable cancer of the plasma cells. He relapsed a week before he was hospitalized and from his positiveness and optimism, we thought he deserve more days. He only complained about difficulty swallowing food and drink and felt not much pain. I heard he fell in the bathroom the day before he left.  But I do not think that was the cause of his death.  

However, after some research on this horrifying disease, I thought the doctor could be accurate with the prediction through his investigations that he was left with three months to live (since July). Though he had worked hard all his life and had just stepped in to retirement, he managed to spend some happy last days holidaying with his family. Everybody was consoled.

Rivers of tears were shed during the three days at the wake and funeral. All the close family members and other relatives gathered and spent 3 days of sharing and caught up with lost time. It has been 2 years since I met them. Kids have grown up that I almost could not recognize them. Granny and mum were the worst hit. I could not bear to see them cry because it was contagious... but after the whole ordeal, they managed to stay strong.

A tragedy in a family is the time when you could feel the closeness again. Everybody has been getting busier each years working hard, building their career and family that we lose contact easily. Now is the time for bonding again, update contact details and most importantly, do keep in touch even if there's no tragedy! Blood is always thicker than water.

It is comforting to know the elderly have learned hard in their life how to control their emotions and manage their lives in the golden years. Mum has been more positive now since the loss of my brother 31 years ago. As for myself ... I am much stronger.