Friday, January 23, 2009

Pain..

It is almost 37th week of my pregnancy, and I've been suffering from contraction and lower back pain regularly especially at night. Huh..I wish I could throw this pain away as it seems to be unbearable nowadays. Last night was the 5th night I could not have a sound sleep. And every night the pain growing even stronger and  stronger. Sometimes I'm thinking "Am I going to labor tonight?". Thinking about some people keep telling me that the labor pain is much much more painful than what I'm suffering right now horrified me even more. That means that the pain that I'm suffering right now is just fraction of the real labor pain :(. 

Sometime I keep wondering how in the world can I deliver my baby. Am I strong enough to bring him to this world? After the accident we had during my 2nd month of pregnancy, everything changed a lot. Especially me, I guest. Of course not to mention my belly become bigger and bigger within this past few weeks. I'm having trouble sleeping at night, backache accompanying my growing belly, my husband health condition (Owh..after that accident he regularly stroke by CVS, almost every week. Before that we enjoyed our live to the fullest because we thought that he has fully recuperated after 4 months of CVS-free-live). I wish after this we can live that live again with our new family member.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Spaghetti Bolognaise

Ok, this is Spaghetti Bolognaise recipe..as my husband said 'Lagi sedap dari Pizza Hut'. Actually, I got this recipe  from my friend, Michelle, with some addition and modification I made so, now it was my recipe.. Ok, the ingredient:
Ingredient:
You can see in the photo below. For 400g of minced beef, I used 4 cloved of garlic, 1 shallot, 1 can of tomato puree, 
2 bay leaves, 1 can of prego, 1 can of straw mushroom, 2 table spoon of tomato paste, 2 table spoon of herbs, 
half box of barilla spagetti.

Cara-cara:
Tumis bawang putih, bawang merah dan bay leaves sampai naik bau. Then, masukkan daging sampai kering air.

Then, masukkan prego, tomato paste, tomato puree, herbs dan 2 cawan air. Masak sampai pekat. Then bila dah pekat, masukkan straw mushroom. Masukan garam dan gula secukup rasa.
Bila dah agak-agak pekat, boleh la dihidangkan.

How to cook spagetti:
Bring water to boil. Jangan letak minyak, if letak, the spagetti nanti akan mudah meluncur dari pinggan atau garfu, sebaliknya tambahkan sedikit garam. Bila air sudah mendidih, baru masukkan spagetti (jangan patahkan spagetti). Spagetti masak apabila anda cuba patahkan spagetti tu dengan jari dan anda lihat tiada kesan tepun di jari anda.

Hospitalized

I was hospitalized last week..huhu..kinda sad...but it only for 2 days and 1 night..macam percutian la plak..Bosan tahap cipan tinggal dalam wad. Well, the reason why I was hospitalized was due to my condition; my blood pressure was high (141/85), proteinuria, ederma and my baby's condition.The story began when I went for my regular check up, and told the Doc that my baby's kick was not as before I took the antibiotic given by the Doc. So, she immediately wrote a letter to another Doc incharge at the Hospital Daerah and asked me to go there for another detailed check up. So, when I was arrived at the hospital, I was rushed into the ER and immediately the Doc checked for my baby's heart beat.

Huh..it was so tiring. 2 hours lying there without doing nothing with some sort of microphone on your stomach..actually I was attached to a mechine called TCG. After that, the Doc suggested that I should be admitted to the ward because they want to check me up for every 4 hours interval (my bp, my baby's heart beat).  The next day after the Doc was satisfied with TCG result (owh..the repeat the TCG 3 times when I was warded), I was discharged.


Late night in the ward (everybody was sleeping except me)

Me (at TCG examination dengan bantuan oksigen)

My big fat fingers (Ederma)

Cool Numbers

Dalam perjalanan pulang dari Skudai ke Pasir Mas hari tu, aku dan husband aku terserempak dengan 2 buah kereta yang aku rasa no plat kereta tu memang cool. Check out these photos:

MAF14
(also can be read as MAFIA)

TAM110
(also can be read as TAMIIO)

And when we went shopping at Tesco KB, I realized that this one car, I think it is a Wira owned by Tesco have a number NAV14 (NAVIA)..Cool heh?

Monday, January 12, 2009

Regarding my previous post

Articles from http://www.preeclampsia.org

Preeclampsia is a disorder that occurs only during pregnancy and the postpartum period and affects both the mother and the unborn baby. Affecting at least 5-8% of all pregnancies, it is a rapidly progressive condition characterized by high blood pressure and the presence of protein in the urine. Swelling, sudden weight gain, headaches and changes in vision are important symptoms; however, some women with rapidly advancing disease report few symptoms.

Typically, preeclampsia occurs after 20 weeks gestation (in the late 2nd or 3rd trimesters or middle to late pregnancy), though it can occur earlier. Proper prenatal care is essential to diagnose and manage preeclampsia. Preeclampsia, Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH) and toxemia are closely related conditions. HELLP Syndrome and eclampsia are other manifestations of the same syndrome. It is important to note that research shows that more women die from preeclampsia than eclampsia and one is not necessarily more serious than the other.

Globally, preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a leading cause of maternal and infant illness and death. By conservative estimates, these disorders are responsible for 76,000 maternal and 500,000 infant deaths each year.

Signs and Symptoms

None

High blood pressure is a silent killer. Oftentimes, women diagnosed with preeclampsia do not feel sick. Many signs and symptoms of preeclampsia mirror other “normal” effects of pregnancy on your body. Women diagnosed with preeclampsia may feel frustrated when prescribed bedrest because they feel fine. If you feel fine, it may be hard for you or your partner to appreciate that preeclampsia is a serious condition.

What you can do…

Proper prenatal care is essential. Tests taken at these check-ups: weighing in, checking your blood pressure, dipping your urine are all done to screen for preeclampsia. Particularly after 20 weeks–do not miss your prenatal appointments. As with any pregnancy, a good prenatal diet full of vitamins, antioxidants, minerals and the basic food groups is important; cutting back on processed foods, refined sugars, and cutting out caffeine, alcohol and any medication not prescribed by a physician is essential. It is also advisable to speak with your health care professional before taking any supplement, herbal or otherwise. 

Hypertension
 (High blood pressure)

High blood pressure is defined as blood pressure of 140/90 or greater as measured on two separate occasions within six hours. However, a woman who normally has a low baseline blood pressure, such as 90/60, could be considered hypertensive at a blood pressure of less than that - especially if she has other symptoms. A rise in the diastolic (lower number) of 15 degrees or more, or a rise in the systolic (upper number) of 30 degrees or more is cause for concern.

In 1990 the National Institutes of Health, National High Blood Pressure Education Program: Working Group Report on High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy issued the following research guidelines:

In the past it has been recommended that an increase of 30 mm Hg systolic or 15 mm Hg diastolic blood pressure be used as a diagnostic criterion, even when absolute values are below 140/90 mm Hg. This definition has not been included in our criteria because the only available evidence shows that women in this group are not likely to suffer increased adverse outcomes. Nonetheless, it is the collective clinical opinion of this panel that women who have a rise of 30 mm Hg systolic or 15 mm Hg diastolic blood pressure warrant close observation, especially if proteinuria and hyperuricemia (uric acid [UA] greater than or equal to 6 mg/dL) are also present.


It should also be noted that 4 members of the Preeclampsia Foundation Medical Board and our Executive Director participated in this working group. There was significant debate over removing baseline BP as diagnostic which is why the final sentence was included. The Preeclampsia Foundation continues to encourage its women, particularly those with low baseline BPs, to know their baseline and to be aware of significant changes and to make any concerns about those changes known to their health care provider.

What you can do…

Know your baseline blood pressure (your blood pressure prior to pregnancy), learn what it means, and ask, “What are my numbers” at each visit. If you are told “It’s fine,” repeat, “What are my numbers?” If you have had preeclampsia before or if you have chronic high blood pressure, consult a specialist, a high risk OB, or a perinatologist, about your pregnancy. You can find a perinatologist near you who specializes in hypertensive diseases of pregnancy by going to the North American Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy (www.nasshp.com). Women who have had preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy should request a full screening by a perinatologist to rule out any underlying disease or problems, such as chronic hypertension, autoimmune disorders, thrombophilias, renal disease, etc. Women with a previous history of preeclampsia should have subsequent pregnancies supervised by an obstetrician or a perinatologist. The single large risk factor for getting preeclampsia is a history of having had it before.

If you are inactive or have a higher-than-average body mass index (BMI), make sure to exercise moderately and get yourself in the best shape you can. (You can calculate your BMI). Women with a BMI of 30 or higher are at an increased risk of preeclampsia and should make efforts to reduce this risk by following the advice of their doctor.

Finally, you can buy your own blood pressure monitor at most pharmacies. Some pharmacies have a monitor available for your use. Keep a log of your blood pressure, taken at the same time each day, if possible, and in the same position. Share it with your care provider. If you own your own monitor, you can take it with you to your appointment and have it calibrated to match those in the office. You might also ask your doctor when they last had their monitor calibrated.

It should be noted that home monitors are not always as accurate as those in one’s clinic or hospital. Home readings should not replace prenatal visits, nor should a “normal” reading mean ignoring symptoms that may be markers of preeclampsia. Home readings should only be used to help the mother be more proactive in her care.

If you are diagnosed with preeclampsia, many physicians will recommend bedrest, and in late pregnancy, lying on your left side. While health care providers don’t always agree that lying on your left side will help, there is no evidence of harm. The thinking is that lying flat on your back might cause the pregnant uterus (and the weight of the baby) to restrict the vein that supplies the heart.

Swelling or Edema (particularly of the hands or face)

A certain amount of swelling during pregnancy is normal. Edema is the accumulation of excess fluid. It is particularly concerning when it accumulates in the face (eyes) or hands. It is normal to have trouble wearing rings throughout pregnancy.

What you can do…

Find a picture of yourself just before pregnancy. Share it with your provider if you feel your face is getting excessively puffy. If the swelling in your extremities becomes severe, you may notice pitting edema (when you press your thumb into your skin, an indentation remains for a few seconds) or discoloration of your legs. If this happens, notify your provider, put your feet up every day (but avoid sitting for extended periods) and drink water to keep hydrated.

Proteinuria
 (Protein in your urine)

Proteinuria is the result of proteins, normally confined to the blood, spilling into your urine because the small blood vessels in the kidneys become damaged. A simple dipstick test of your urine at each prenatal check-up can screen for proteinuria.

What you can do…

At each prenatal visit ask for the results of the urine test. Usually the nurse dips a reagent strip into your urine sample and then waits a minute for the results. The strips have the markings for “trace”, 1+, 2+, etc. A reading of trace protein is relatively common and is usually not a cause for concern. If the strip shows a reading of 1+ or greater, it may signify the onset of preeclampsia, even if your blood pressure is less than 140/90. If you have a reading of 2+, call your health care provider immediately. If you are concerned, or have had preeclampsia before, you can buy reagent strips at some pharmacies or online. They are not cheap and insurance might not cover them.

Sometimes health care providers will have the mother take a 24-hour urine collection for a formal lab assessment. This is not a particularly pleasant task, but if you have been asked to do this, follow the directions of your health care provider carefully, and make every effort to be accurate.

Dark yellow urine is usually the result of inadequate fluid intake and dehydration. However, urine that is quite dark, reddish or the color of cola may indicate a problem. If you have any of these symptoms, inform your care provider.

Sudden Weight Gain

A gain of more than 2 pounds in a week or 6 pounds in a month could be cause for concern.

What you can do…

In general, eat normally and make every effort to include fresh raw fruit and vegetables, your prenatal vitamin, and a folic acid supplement in your diet. Do not diet or try to lose weight. It is important that you eat a healthy, balanced diet. Avoid excessive salt. And as always, avoid alcohol, caffeine, smoking and recreational drugs. Consult with your provider regarding non-prescription drugs and any herbal medications you might take. The Preeclampsia Foundation recognizes the importance of a good diet but does not endorse any particular diet nor juice product. Given that preeclampsia is a complex disease, women will develop it for different reasons. We encourage all women to share with their doctors any diets or product they are trying. For some women–a good diet may make a significant difference, however we urge caution when trying diets, particularly those that encourage large amounts of protein. For women with underlying kidney disease–excessive protein can be unsafe. Similarly, while some women might benefit from low-dose aspirin–studies show that it has been linked with increased placental abruption and miscarriage and so should not be taken routinely by pregnant women unless they have been advised to do so by their physician.

Be sure to drink plenty of water and get regular moderate exercise. At your prenatal visits do not attempt to disguise any weight gain by skipping breakfast, using diet pills or fasting for the day. An accurate weight is vital for a proper diagnosis.

Headaches

Dull, throbbing headaches, often described as migraine-like that just won’t go away.

What you can do…

Call your care provider. If you have tried taking over-the-counter medication without relief, or if the headache is very painful or you have light sensitivity, call immediately and ask to see the doctor that day.

Nausea or Vomiting

Nausea or vomiting is particularly significant when the onset is sudden and in the second or third trimesters.

What you can do…

Call your care provider. Nausea or vomiting can be confused with the flu, so be sure to get your blood pressure checked and ask to have your urine checked for proteinuria. Insist on both.

Changes in Vision

Vision changes include temporary loss of vision, sensations of flashing lights, auras, light sensitivity, and blurry vision or spots. For some women who are farsighted, vision may actually improve.

What you can do…

If you have any of these symptoms, you may be developing preeclampsia. Symptoms such as these may be associated with irritation of the central nervous system and should be taken seriously. They may be indicative of cerebral edema (swelling of the brain). It is very important that you consult with your provider as soon as possible. If he or she is not available, you should go directly to the hospital. We regard these symptoms as potentially very serious and they should not be left until the morning, tomorrow and particularly not until the end of the weekend. With preeclampsia, it is better to have the health professionals tell you it was nothing, than to take a chance that might risk your or the baby’s life. No doctor ever died from seeing a woman too many times.

Racing pulse, mental confusion, heightened sense of anxiety, trouble catching your breath

If these symptoms are new to you, they could indicate an elevated blood pressure.

What you can do…

Contact your health care provider if these symptoms are new. If they are not, be sure to mention them at your next visit.

Stomach and/or Right Shoulder Pain

This type of stomach pain, called epigastric pain by the medical profession, is usually under the right-side ribs. It can be confused with heartburn, gallbladder problems, flu, indigestion or pain from the baby kicking. Shoulder pain is often called referral pain because it radiates from the liver under the right ribs. Lower back pain is different from muscle strain common to pregnancy. It is usually more acute and specific. All may be a sign of HELLP Syndrome or a related problem in the liver. Shoulder pain can feel like someone is deeply pinching you along the bra strap, or it can be painful to lie on your right side.

What you can do…

Pain in this area should be taken very seriously; do not dismiss it and go to bed. Call your health professional immediately.

Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is a very common complaint of pregnancy. However, sometimes it may indicate a problem with the liver, especially if it accompanies other symptoms or preeclampsia.

What you can do…

Read also Stomach and Right Shoulder Pain (above) and mention this symptom to your health care provider. If this pain accompanies one or more of the other symptoms, you should call your health care provider immediately.


Hyperreflexia

Hyperreflexia is when your reflexes are so strong that when they are checked, your leg bounces back hard.

What you can do…

This is not usually something you will notice yourself, but if you are bumped and you notice an abnormally strong reflexive response, it might merit a call to your health care provider

35th Weeks

Huh..I went to see my OB yesterday for my regular antenatal check up, and guess what? My blood pressure reading reaches almost 140/85, ederma and not forgetting about the presence of protein in my urine. And she asked me to come back tomorrow for another check up. May be I should be hospitalized because all the signs suggest that i have pre-eclampsia. Huh..again..luckily my baby still agressively moving up and down.

But, I wonder, what make my blood pressure went too high currently. Because, I'm being extra careful with what I ate, I sleep on time, I dont think I experience any stress right now, because I have nothing to worry about. Or, may be because of my backache that seems to come and go almost everyday. So, I have to lay down or having my husband massage my back to reduce the pain. 

Finally, this is my pregnancy pict as requested...me and my not so big belly..

Me, 32nd weeks of my pregnancy


Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Finally...Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS)

I finally know what happend to my husband. After doing research on the internet and some of the journals, I finally got the most similar symptoms that showed by my husband's condition compared to the diagnosis that have been told by our previous doctors these past 7 years. Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS) is an uncommon, unexplained disorder of children and some adults that was first described by Dr. S. Gee in 1882. The condition is characterized by recurrent, prolonged attacks of sever nausea, vomiting and prostration with no apparent cause. Vomiting occurs at frequent intervals (5-10 times an hour at the peak) for hours to 10 days (1-4 most commonly). The episodes tend to be similar to each other in symptoms and duration and they are self-limited. The child is generally well between episodes.  

The onset of CVS occurs in infancy through adulthood but most commonly between age 3-7. It can persist for months to decades. The episode may recur several times a year or several times a month. Females are affected slightly more than males. The child may be prone to motion sickness, and there is often a family history of migraine.

Episodes may begin at any time, but typically start during the night or early morning.There is relentless nausea with repeated bouts of vomiting or retching. The child is very pale and resists talking. They often drool or spit and have an intense thirst.There is often intense abdominal pain and less often headache, low-grade fever and diarrhea. Prolonged vomiting may cause mild bleeding from irritation of the esophagus. Patients often describe being 'possessed', out of control and stuporous.The symptoms are frightening to the child and family and can be life-threatening due to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.

CVS has been difficult to diagnose because it is infrequently seen in clinical practice and because vomiting may be caused by a large number of common disorders other than CVS. There are as yet no blood tests, x-rays or other specific procedures used to diagnose the disorder. The diagnosis is made by careful review of the patient's history, physical examination and studies to rule out other diseases that may cause vomiting similar to that seen in children with CVS.

Although some patients know of nothing that triggers attacks, many can identify specific circumstances that seem to bring on their episodes. Emotional stress, intense excitement (birthdays, holidays, vacations), and colds or flus (some journals says chronic sinusitis - which I think related to my husband, basically in my opinion, the infection in the sinus triggered the migraine and then the vomiting syndrome) are the most frequently reported triggers. Specific foods or anesthetics may also play a role.

Treatment is generally supportive with early intervention in a dark quiet environment for sleep and I.V. fluids when needed. Medication trials sometimes succeed in finding something to prevent, shorten or abort the episodes. An essential component of treatment is the doctor-patient-family relationship. It involves a physician who does his/her best to understand CVS, is supportive and willing to coordinate the care in collaboration with all involved. A family/professional network, such as CVSA(Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome Association), can help heal a family that has been in doubt and despair for years.

After this I'm gonna bring my husband to the hospital and ask the doctor to prescibe the sinusitis or migraine medication for him. I'm not saying that Malaysian doctors arent smart enough, but sometime from my past experiances with the them, when we tried to tell them our opinion, they tend to treat us like a bunch of ignorants who try to act like smart alecks, as if we dont even know a thing about health. So, anybody, who know about this thing please dont be shy to share it with me. I really appreciate it.

Friday, January 2, 2009

Terkilan

Kematian suatu kemestian. I just got back from Kempas. Baru mendapat tahu mengenai kematian nenek sedara belah my father. When i recieved the news, i dont know what is my exact feeling. She was a nice old lady, eventough she is much-much older that me, we shared the same interest...shopping...hmm I really missed that time. I drove the car, and she sat beside me, told me  the way around JB and stuff.

Aku nak jumpa dia sebelum dia meninggal, memang dah niat. In fact, dah banyak kali I told my husband that 'we have to see her' but when the time came, we cant visit her due to my husband's health condition. Now, aku rasa bersalah sangat-sangat sebab tak sempat jumpa dia. Last aku call dia pun last November. Bagi tau dia if aku ada masa aku datang tengok dia, tapi masih tak sempat. Al-Fatihah untuk dia.