Fever and lemony goodness!

Hellooo everyone! hope March has been a great one for you all so far!

Mine is ok alhamdulillah. Except maybe the fact that Yusuf was down with fever for a week! But thankfully he pulled through. Apparently he's teething again. As much as the medical peeps would deny teething or any major developmental milestone is associated with fever, i have to agree with the folklore on this one.

And i thought i'd do a bit of sharing on how i'm managing Yusuf's fever since he was born. As a  friendly warning, it might not appeal to some of you for it is definitely different than the conventional method  (in current times) of approaching fever in children. But if you have an open mind ( or just plain curious) then read on.

FYI, till now, i have not administered any medication to Yusuf whenever he's sick. Not even the paracetamol. *gasp!* i know right? trust me. I was worried too and had a heavy heart to do without it, (since i'm a doctor and all!). but somehow the thought of putting his natural immunity to practice was much more appealing to me than popping drugs. Of course, close monitoring is very crucial as well. So excuse the prominent eyebags if you see me the next time. He has had more than one episode of fever you know.

To lower his body temperature, besides the religious tepid sponging and intermittent bathe, I came across the technique of using a lemon wrap. Yeap! Interesting indeed! And apparently very simple too!

You just need lemons (obviously!), cotton cloths and towels. You squeeze the juice out of the lemons, (hubby actually likes doing this!) and mix it with lukewarm water. then soak the cotton cloths in it. I use the Anakku lampin for this, but u can also use cotton strips or long socks. Squeeze them so that they won't be too wet (as in dripping wet), and wrap this around the legs. Make sure you cover the feet completely and only until below knees. Then wrap a towel loosely around the wraps. Leave these on for 20 -25 minutes and repeat if necessary.

Poopsie daisy!

Salam everybody!

How's your weekend so far? Mine has been pretty interesting. Some plans were in effect but some weren't. But hey, Allah is the Planner of all planners right? ;)

Just a little update on the lil guy. He turned 8 months old last friday. Gosh how time flies! And just a few days prior to that, i noticed a change (like i do everytime he's getting a month older!). Like all changes that were fun and interesting to watch, this one is kinda icky to deal with. But still interesting, nonetheless! i think. -.-" 

I'm talking about his poop! Hehehe. Yeap! His poop has changed to a much firmer consistency and has formed slightly! Yeayness! Okaaayy! Before u go all 'euuwwww!! That's gross!' or 'what's the big huha on that?!' Ahaaa! Here's the fascinating part! My baby is still exclusively breastfeeding!! Yeap! No food or other form of liquids whatsoever! Just good ol' mommy's breastmilk!

Well, when i get babycentre's updates that babies should have a change in poo after 6 months, and Yusuf hasn't, it's simple enough for me to understand that that's because i didn't start introducing him to food yet. Therefore his stool (or poo) was still that of fluid-like consistency. I did wonder if he was going to have this type of poo for as long as he would be on breastmilk. For me, that thought was logical at the time.

But subhanallah, God is indeed great. The change in consistency and form goes to show that the studies (small scale ones which i happened to read, coz no big companies wud do so coz busy promoting baby food and formula milk or getting funded), shows that breastmilk will change in its consistency to meet the necessary requirements as the baby grows as well! How awesome is that eh?? Saaaannggggaaaaattt!!!

It is said that they've found out that the constituents of breastmilk after one year of breastfeeding, the milk has more protein and iron than it had before that! This is to adapt to the needs of the toddler where protein is vital in building muscle mass! I don't know about you, but that fact has got my jaw dropped and eyeballed!!!! At least to me it did!

Besides the change in poo, i am pleased (and grateful!) to know he's thriving well. He's a bit on the tall side tho. That has to follow daddy! =) Of course i'll keep monitoring this and will take any intervention, if necessary. For now, i'm going with the flow bebeh! And no, i didn't pioneered this practice obviously. My sources are as sound as any medical journal or health articles that's out there for you, to suit your individual needs or preferences. It's true when they say you only do the things you believe in. And i believe in mine. 

If you have any enquiries about this don't hesitate to drop an email to me. I'm trying to inculcate a 'sharing is caring' attitude. So everybody's welcome!

Till then.

How fasting change our lives

Salam and good day!

Hope everyone is coping well with the fasting month. and may you achieve His barakah (blessings) from the sincerity of performing this deed. insyaAllah. As promised before, today i shall share with you the benefits of fasting and how it can change your life to becoming a better person.

Fasting on its own has numerous medical benefits. Regardless how it is done. These studies can easily be found in the internet. But besides revealing the common benefits, i will also want to highlight the positive outcomes on how fasting is done the islamic way.

Medically, fasting has been shown to elicit the release of neurotransmitters in the brain to give a "feel good" feeling. these are what most of you would know as "endorphins". it is usually released when you're having a workout, except this one without physical activity. God is so kind that He makes us feel somewhat calm and happy even going through hours without food! But we musn't forget of those that go on for longer hours tho.

Also, fasting lowers blood sugar and helps mobilize our excess cholesterol reserve to provide caloric energy for our normal daily activities. So technically, we are not deprived of energy thus no excuse to just sleep the whole day or become flaccid. It'd be a shameful thing in front of those starving kids who made it without sahur (morning small meal) and iftar (break fast) no? ( Tsk tsk.)

Tips to survive government clinics!

Salam everybodeehh!

Government clinics. Ugh. Horrendous they can be at times! the long waiting hours. the non-friendly staff. and the enormous amount of people! All in one place! 

Yeah tell me about it. It's not all that fun really to be there. But sometimes, one just got to. So I thought I'd give you a head's up on the unknown DOs and DON'Ts that they don't put up on their signboard. And I'll also highlight the "dang! i didn't know that!" tip to "survive" in a government clinic. Let's start shall we!

Here are the Do's.

• DO state your symptoms correctly to the clerk at the front counter and not give a diagnosis of your own. Because the first person you'll be meeting is the clerk. And in the gov clinic, she is responsible to only delegate you to the type of patient you will be categorize into (generally. coz we have a system). So if you're having a fever, just say fever for she won't know what to do even if you self-diagnose yourself to rule out leptospirosis. If you're there for just a check up, do say so too. And if you're there for an appointment, state that as well. simple kan? but trust me, even at this very first pitstop can get the clerk all ding-dong and enter the doc's room JUST to ask "doctor, ini penyakit apa? case biasa ker follow up?" while he/she might be in the middle of a consultation.
• DO bring your identification card along. We can't check if you if you're an alien. Coz we don't have the expertise for that.
• DO state to the counter if you feel it is an emergency (in very bad pain, or feeling extremely breathless etc). Because when you do, you will be directed straight into a specific treatment room to be seen and assessed immediately. No point if you speak nicely and then be given a number to wait and you sit there with stomach cramps that's so bad you end up crying and squirming on your own. It'll be awhile to spot you coz the staff are too busy to notice you amongst the sea of patients. Unless you pass out of course and someone starts screaming in panic.
• DO come for your appointments on time. If you can't just mention to us earlier or call us. Yes. We have a phone number for you to do that.
• DO wait for your turn patiently. We don't really like people who are suppose to be sick, yet have the energy to yell and scream for their turns to be quicker. Coz it's pretty much futile and we might end up checking you just as quick and with tantrums as well. If you want fast service, please go to your nearest private clinic.
• DO bring along your own plastic or little bags for your medicines. We are now going green. So no more plastic bags to be given with your bucketful of meds.
• DO check out our pamphlets that we have been repeatedly told to get by our bosses and READ them. Saves you a lot of time on repeatable questions and you get to make the most out of your tax money by utilizing them. Yes. Those things are made with the government's money ie. your tax money. 

Okay. Now the Don'ts

• DON'T wear skimpy, eye-popping clothes to the clinic. As hot (as in fever) as you may be, we don't want any pakciks to get any heart attacks or raised BP when looking at you. 
• DON'T leave your children unattended. This is a clinic. Not a playcentre.
• DON'T enter the doctor's room when it is not your turn. If you have an emergency, speak to the staff and they will get us for you. (trust me, this happened quite a lot with me. cakap takder manners maraahhhh!)
• DON'T go to a clinic which is not within your home's vicinity. For example, don't go to a clinic in Ampang when you live all the way in Subang. We have zone-distributed clinics accessible for your convenience. Unless you happen to be from work which is in Ampang. If you do so, it will be a waste of your journey's cost and time, just to get rejected.
• DON'T leave the clinic for a bite when you know your number will be up soon. You should have either eaten earlier or bring a snack along with you. Coz we don't tolerate those who fusses when we now put your card at the bottom of the pack. Other patients have waited too.
• DON'T waste your medicines. Eat them all when we tell you to. And if you somehow miraculously found a hidden treasure of extras dated centuries back, bring them to the pharmacist for disposal.
• DON'T answer your handphones while you're in the doctor's room. Banks wouldn't allow it. So do we.
• DON'T use the staff's toilet. Seriously. DON'T.

Now since we got that covered (what i can roughly think at the top of my head), now i'm gonna let you in on a little secret. This thing if you do, will get all of the staff willing to serve you the best that they can. Some have known to get stuff done for them even though we were not be able to do it in the first place! (Courtesy call). This thing is soo contagious, it will get the desired and same response from the staff almost instantly! like a click of a finger! 

Wanna know what it is? well the secret is.....

Know your numbers: BP

Salam. I'm sorry for the lack of consistent updates. It's just that my hubby was faced with a family misfortune thus requiring alot of our time away. but thankfully all now is well alhamdulillah.

I remembered promising to write on health stuff. So i thought of sharing the basics on understanding your blood pressure.

Hah? Senangnyer lar topic! Trust me. It is. But you would be surprise at the amount of people who actually 'cares' about this thing. Trust me. I worked in a goverment community clinic. Majority of us are either clueless or couldn't care less. So hopefully by sharing this, you would be more.. Err... 'caring'. Towards your own body of course. Unless you 'care less' about yourself too, then this article is not for you.

So. When u go to see the doctor, for fun or for his actual help, you'll be very well accustomed to the fact that he or the nurse will take your blood pressure (BP). And he'll rant a number (mebbe not) and either gives you a look (varies from shock to the legendary The Rock's eyebrow lift) or his face will remain completely flat. And most of the time he might not say anything and just keeps on writing as if you're not even there. But if he happens to say something, the poor kind lad might not have the time to explain what those numbers mean. Instead he'll just say "this means you're ok". And u would walk out, still clueless or care-less of this BP info, but happy with the "lack of information on your health" result.

Common kan? Hehe. So now i'm here to tell you what it means.

Yusuf's first fever! and baby fever 101!

Salam!

Ok. the title is kinda awkward as though i'm expecting more fever episodes pulak. hehehe. but of course these things we can't predict. we can only do so much as to try our best to prevent and live a healthy lifestyle. the rest, is of course up to the Almighty.

4th of june marked his first fever episode. it was in the wee hours of the morning that i was awaken by his usual wriggling next to me. but the difference this time is that the wriggling felt warm and hotter than usual. Awakened with a startle, i looked at Yusuf whose half awake and felt his forehead and body that has quite a temperature!!! without thinking much, i whizzed out of my bed and quickly grabbed the nearest hand towel and rinse it with lukewarm water (thank god for the invention of water heaters!). then i sprung back on to the bed and rubbed his face and unbutton his sleepsuit to rub his body. My god he felt hot! then i straight away breastfed him thinking he must be thirsty and I wanted to flush him with a lot of antibodies as well!

yes. sounds dramatic right? but that was how frantic i was. and to think for all the hundreds of children patients i see at work, nothing beats the actual real deal. and yes. now i know how every mom feels when their child is sick. and i am thankful, i get to be there for him. 

Well his fever was pretty high. it hit 39 degrees on the sticky forehead thermometer. which i'm sure isn't as accurate as the digital or mercury ones but i'm not in favour to be sticking it up his behind. at first i did panicked. but then i slowly calmed down and observed him. He seemed alert but not as playful as usual. My hubby and i call him our happy camper coz every morning without fail, he would wake up with smiles and coos to greet us. so we have this little beautiful family time with him in bed before bathing him. but that morning, he didn't feel like smiling. He still wants to breastfeed though, so that's a good sign. and like all sick people, he rest (slept) a lot. there was slight on and off dry cough, but no runny nose and he wasn't breathless. He pees ok but didn't poo that day. Although, he was cranky when i put him down to sleep on his own. Coz he preferred to be carried to sleep. So because he deserved it, i carried him most of the time.

My "Icky Thumps"!

Hello uolls! 

Ok. Maybe icky thump don't really have a proper meaning (coz the White stripes definitely didn't have one either!). So I decided to make a meaning out of it on my own. I find this word so suitable to describe my "sometimes-annoying-yet-tolerable" condition/behavior. Of course, it's sorta pregnancy-related, but I don't want to be blaming ALL the stuff on being preggers you know. Even though it is exaggerated (and yes, some are so synonymous) when being pregnant.

So to start, these are the things that I have to endure in my current situation. My very own Icky Thumps!

• Symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD)

Believe it or not, I am actually one of those who are (blessed? unfortunate?) to have this. This condition reflects to a pain at one's symphysis pubis area. 

Please don't come out first placenta!

Hola! Today i wanna share with you about an obstetric condition called Placenta Previa.

Most women, especially mommies (and some daddies) would be familiar with what a placenta is. It is basically your baby's life support when he is in your womb.

Previa, in latin means "going before". So technically, the 2 words combined together would mean the placenta is going before. but going before what? or who? in this case, it would be the baby. So the placenta is going first before the baby. Going where? going out lar!

To put it medically, the condition illustrates the placenta is situated right near or on top of the cervix, which is the beginning of your pelvic outlet during pregnancy. And this my dear mommies, is preferably  not  a wanted condition. 

Inpatients: To Visit or Not To Visit?

Salam....

oh dear... i am losing touch at updating my blog frequently haven’t i. i guess i won’t be one of those successful bloggers who can make money out of writing. do forgive me the fact that i have a stable job that demands more of my attention lately.

but nevertheless, here i am. today, with all the rallies and commotion about Bersih 2.0 going on, no i’m still not going to talk about that issue. wait till i read up more on politics and understand it’s endless dramas as aside to the real deal, then will i start sharing my thoughts with you on anything political. in the mean time, consider me A-Political! ;P

today i’m gonna share with you on a topic that still gets some of you or other people’s minds out there boggled. To visit or not to visit someone sick in hospital.

First of all, MOST of you would of course say “MUST VISIT!”. why? Some of you might answer “sebab orang tu sakit, kenalar visit! kesian dier!”... but still, why? is your presence there going to make the disease any better? sure, there’s that slight possibility the type of sickness will render the patient dead in a few days and you feel the need to visit them one last time, but how about those just admitted to get recovery and REST?? and now he/she has to entertain a few bunch of you when u come visit them?? ever considered that he/she might be too sick to even talk to you? and what?! don’t tell me you’re all there to talk amongst yourself and catch on up on each other’s daily activities, while he/she might actually need peace and quiet to REST????

I work with Heart!

yeah... that's the theme for this year's World Heart Day peeps. it was more or less the same than last year's except for the additional letter I.


A very important letter that one. coz this time, they are emphasizing people to take care of their OWN hearts. and guessing from that tagline, one can tell that either last year's campaign didn't succeed well or impressive enough coz now they want ppl to be responsible of their OWN health, or they are being obsessive and plain lazy in wanting to treat too many heart cases. either way, you, (yeah, the individual heart owner you!) win both ways. how?


well 1st, if u care enough of your OWN heart, you'll care enough to do something so that you don't get sick and go thru all the horror and pain of getting a heart attack, let say while you're playing golf or showering or even when making love! (imagine having sex and then instead of thinking that your partner is gasping for air from ecstasy, he/she is actually collapsing! probably the mother of all turn-offs that would be huh!). 2ndly, you wouldn't want to be seeing the scarce, tired, angry doctors who had overworked and not getting enough sleep from last night's call, getting all worked up and hysterical at you when you report in at 3am for chest pain now do you? well.. not all of us will get all hysterical lar...just the hype you're made to believe thru tv dramas like Grey's anatomy and ER. but most of the time cool jer. :P