Sunday, February 8, 2009

Randoms

So did I tell you guys that I got chikungunya fever? You know, the really nasty one where your joints hurt like crazy? Last month. Unrelenting fever at 104F. 2 days in hospital - ironically, my own ward. And now my joints feel as if I've fast forwarded to 80! Aiyoo... a cocktail of painkillers and as of late, methylprednisolone (a fairly funky steroid) is what I use to dull the pain.

The worst off are my hands... the small joints. And my hands are my livelihood. Every time I check blood pressure, it hurts, when I tap at a lump or feel for a liver or percuss a lung, it hurts. Giving CPR hurts like hell. Walking and climbing stairs present less of a challenge. Went to a wedding recently and had to come of the dance floor after about half a song because de ol' joints, dey be acting up. Duka, duka...

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One month and a bit done... a wee bit less than five months of this nose to grindstoning left. We did a little mortality count - 16 deaths during the first month. Last Sunday I was freaking out... 3 deaths between 10.30 pm and 2 am... and just 2 nurses and me in the ward (and Darling dozing in a corner, trying to shut out the chaos).

Bummer

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I turned 29 last week - big deal. Was working and then had a long emo-moment with Darling. Sigh. There is a very material girl in me that just loves pressies and (this is the important part) can't get enough. Dinner was at the Sizzle... life seems much more bearable when one is well fed and watered...

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Watched Slumdog Millionaire and was totally wowed. Was slightly disturbed to discover that MIA sings most of the songs but hey, just because I think she has had a deluded upbringing and should be seriously re-educated doesn't mean I can't like her songs, right?

Watched Madagascar 2 and was less wowed. Funny movie though... love the penguins.

Am also becoming addicted to House, MD. It's a slow excruciating week until Sunday dawns and I can watch the latest downloaded episode. I can actually guess some of the diagnoses too... although it's a little demoralizing how 10 minutes into the episode they say "do a whole body scan" or something like that.... yeah, if I could scan my patients bodies at the drop of a hat, I'd be a brilliant diagnostician too. I guessed yesterdays one fairly accurately... Darling is most impressed with me (grin!)

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Am constantly hungry... I think it's a side effect of the drugs... the prednisolone to be exact.... am also looking slightly moon-faced with all the water retention. Mood seems to have improved marginally though... do steroids have a "Happy Pill" effect? Must tail myself off the meds but seriously what's so bad about eating all the time and being free of joint pain and stiffness?

Okay Angel, focus, focus - you are not, repeat, not getting addicted to steroids, ok?

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Okie... I got to go now... have a lovely, lazy half day off left to spend in peace. I slept till 11am today....aaaaahhh.... bliss! I think I'll catch some more soon.

Batter fried mushrooms for lunch.... yummy, scrummy...

I'm off! :)

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

HAppy birthdayyyy ash!!!!!
will remember the presents bit... :)
ayyy slumdog rocks! we had a private screening at newscorp before it released here... it was nice!
i know MIA... ughhhhh.... what to do... she's kinda cute though... dunno what to think of her politics...
i saw the kid in slumdog in an interview... le sigh... actors should just stick to their lines...
ok feel better... how come i never get any free prescriptions from yaaaa! ya know i like my pills :)
k

GG said...

Oh! Wish you a very speedy recovery!!

Sachini said...

oh my chikungunya is a bitch. and the worst part is, the joint pains resurface every time you catch any fever :(

and i so get the constant hunger pangs. went through a hefty course of prednisilone recently and i'm the size of a small whale now.

Dee said...

"she has had a deluded upbringing and should be seriously re-educated doesn't mean I can't like her songs, right?" AGREED!

hey don't take too much medicines and stuff...i've noticed a lot of my friends who have doctor parents tend to pop pills a lot. hm..wonder if thats a trend

Anonymous said...

Belated Getting old day(Birthday)!!!!

Sizzle - is always a blizz!!

Ever wonder if you'd turn out to be the cynical yet brilliant HOUSE? :P

Get well soooon....

Anonymous said...

Belated Getting old day(Birthday)!!!!

Sizzle - is always a blizz!!

Ever wonder if you'd turn out to be the cynical yet brilliant HOUSE? :P

Get well soooon....

Lady divine said...

Happy belated b'day!!!!

*big BIG hug*

noreply@blogger.com said...

Can I know what its like to be a patient in your own ward ??? Hope you get well soon :-)

Gutterflower said...

Hope you're better now and happy belated birthday. :)

Anonymous said...

Hey... HAPPY (belated) B'DAY!!!! aaand a Speedy Recovery (Hoping you've recovered fully by now)! That must really suck.

Anyhoo.. so are we gonna have a Mrs. House in SL then? One with sneakers and jeans? he he.. Can't wait to see hottie docs in SL dress like that.. he he. :D

Hang in there!! I'm sure not long more to go. Right?

erk said...

Hi there! Just wanted to say that I really enjoy following your blog, and the interesting life you have as a doc in SL. Keep writing!

Cheers!
EK

Dee said...

Hi Angel, Subha aluth avuruddak wewa :)

Harshi said...

It's a li'l late for wishing for birthday or avurudu so I'll wish you a Happy May Day! =D

About chikungunya, some of my relatives also caught it and it's such a scary illness cause they were complaining about swollen joints and pains even after months and perhaps years, if I'm not mistaken.

Hope you're relieved from all the pains and aches by now.

I missed Slum dog.. but heard it was a brilliant piece of work, from my pals. And yep, Madagascar 2 was indeed disappointing, but funny nonetheless. I love those penguins too..! =D

And yep, hope there are other ways to deal with it, than taking lotsa pills. I'm a person who hates them the most! *I know I shouldn't be telling this to a doctor!* lol