Roundup July'26

I've spend most of the month lying in a hospital bed. There really isn't nothing more to mark the month other than this silly illness.

The Mystery Headache: Day 20 Blood Patch

Waiting for something that you are unfamiliar with is such a nerve-wrecking experience. The op was scheduled at late morning but I didn't know exactly what time it will be. And I had to fast and could only take sips of water while I wait. The nurse eventually came to wheel me to the operating theatre. 

First they brought me to a general waiting area. I was there for probably 20-30 minutes. I couldn't really tell the time as they had me take off everything on me. I had to change into a disposable underwear under the hospital garb. Then they wheeled me to a staging area right outside the operating theatre.

 There was a patient before me and once they wheel the other patient out, a doctor came out to explain the procedure and what they need me to do. I've heard it before when the pain lady doc explained it to me in the ward but it doesn't hurt to hear it again. I would be awake during the whole procedure so I can provide feedback. They would draw 40-50ml of blood from me and inject it into my spine. There would be feeling of fullness, aching and pain but we need to inject at least 25ml to have better chances of filling up the tear. So basically he was telling me to bear with it as much as possible.

While we wait for my turn to go in, another 2 doctors came out and they were chatting on how rare my condition is. But one doctor says that he sees this hundreds of times a year in Toronto. So they were discussing that my condition is more recognised in western countries and may be more cases here in Asia but most just write it off as severe migraines. Well it's good to know that this is getting more recognition in Singapore ... I can't imagine being blown off and told to go home and suck it up.

There were moments of apprehension when they pushed me into the theatre but it's too late to stop now. This is the first time I've been a patient in an operating theatre so it was kinda novel to see all the machines, tool tables and light stands. Everyone was in hospital garb with gloves and masks. They had me roll over onto a pillow they have placed on the operating table with my back facing up. They then proceeded to strap all manner of wires and tubes to my body. They gave me some good stuff through the needle on my left hand and then located a major vein on my right wrist and drew 5 vials of 10ml blood.

I was awake but had my face planted against the table so I could only listen and feel all the things going on. First they attempt to find an entry point for the needle. They press a device against my back and you can hear a buzz each time they shoot the CT rays to see the area. They landed on an area between the T8 & T9 spinal cord. Then I can feel a needle go in and they begin injecting the blood. I started feeling discomfort and pain in the buttocks. I bore it as much as I could and we ended at the 4th vial. I was glad the doctors were calling it a success and I was brought out to the waiting area again to rest. It was a while before they brought me back to the room.

The change was obvious once I was back in the room. I now have a light headache while I was lying down on top of the soreness and pain in the tailbone and buttocks. The doctors explained to me before the op that the added blood in my spine would cause higher pressure since my body would not have adjusted the production of spinal fluid to the new mass. So the only I can do is pop the painkillers and rest. I have to stay in a flat position for at least 24 hours to allow the blood to spread across the spine and hopefully seal up the tear wherever that may be.

The Mystery Headache: Day 19 Spine MRI

I was scheduled for the spine MRI yesterday late morning. So the nurses came to poke my hand right before 6am and drew blood to test for kidney function before they proceed with pump a dye for the MRI scan. It was standard procedure but I still didn't like being with a drip again. Both hands are now full of holes!

I had to keep still for 45 minutes during the scan. The MRI tech tried to make me as comfortable as possible but I still felt a strain on the back 15-20 minutes in. I endured the discomfort and strain as best as I could and was so relieved when it's done.

I got a WhatsApp message yesterday mid morning from one of my colleagues. They wanted to send me a hamper so I gave them the ward and bed details. Delivery was very quick ... it came right after lunch.

The pain doctors came together with the neurologist team this morning to review the MRI results - they are now taking the lead from the neuro team since it is now focused on the spine. The MRI confirmed there is fluid leakage in the spine and it's visible. Docs mentioned it's very rare they actually see it - most cases similar to my symptoms will recover in about 2 weeks with rest. But in my case I've been here for 2 weeks with no signs of marked improvement. They are unable to tell where exactly is the tear so we have 2 options, we can try to do a blind blood patch at the area where they see the leaked fluid or go for more complex and invasive scans.

Pain doc mentioned they happen to have a slot late morning tomorrow to perform the blood patch so they are reserving the slot first. They have to consult the radiologist team to determine if it is useful to even do further scans. Further scans would involve injecting contrast (dye) into blood, hope that when blood produce cerebral fluid, the contrast will follow and be able to see the flow of cerebral fluid. They would strap me to a rotating table and hit me with CT rays while rotating me around to see the dye flow.

I have till tomorrow morning to decide if I don't want to do the blood patch. They would draw blood from me and inject it into my spinal cord area like a epidural painkiller procedure for pregnant women. There would be pain and fullness in my back as they inject the blood. I need to be awake to alert the team when I feel the discomfort or pain as they can determine when they should stop the injection.

Sounds scary but I cannot continue staying at the hospital. I've been pretty compliant and resting 99% of the time but I'm not getting any better. Barring any new information, I'm doing the blood patch tomorrow.

The Mystery Headache: Day 17 Escalating Bill

The bill went up by a good $10K from the initial one from last week. Most of those is down to the daily ward rate and the MRI. The letter of guarantee from Meimei's company insurer is only up to $10K so the billing clerk warns that we may have to put down a deposit if the bill keeps going up. I expect it will definitely go up by another $10K when we complete the MRI and possibly any operation.

I drop Alam a note and asked for his opinion on whether to start claiming using my AIA Goldshield plans or stick to using the company insurance instead. Whatever the case, its important we settle the financial concerns early so we can focus on getting me fixed.

A Fishy Upgrade

Meimei shared some upgrades on the fish tank. There looks to be like a pump fountain sort of thing and a wooden log.

The Mystery Headache: Day 15 A Week Of Waiting

It's been a whole week of resting and waiting for the spine MRI. The doctors are concerned I've not improved on my condition. They shared that patients usually recover on their own after a week or two.

That said, the nausea has gone since I've been lying down and I've been diligently drinking lots of water and coffee. So they took me off the drip early this week but that's all the progress we made.

I've got into the groove of using the laptop. Meimei brought this laptop stand from home that has been a lifesaver. I no longer need to hold up the laptop with one hand while trying to type on the other hand.

The Mystery Headache: Day 10 A Week Of Hospital Food

It's the weekend so nothing much goes on. So time to share some pictures of the hospital food served. It's pretty good considering that this is a hospital and I expect that the kitchen would have some restrictions on condiments they can use.

Anything with chicken is typically ok. I especially like the Halal breakfast selection where you can get mee siam or lontong on some days. Thankfully Meimei comes everyday and orders Grab for lunch and dinner. We usually buy Stuff'ed daily bowls too for dinner.

The Mystery Headache: Day 8 No Improvement

It was a good thing we stayed at the hospital. Nurse came in to inform us in last evening that a slot opened up for MRI and we had to go immediately. Sweet, the very reason we stayed at the hospital instead of going home. 

So we got the MRI done yesterday and the doctors were able to share the initial findings this morning. They see substantial deterioration on the lower neck but cannot find the source of the leak. The next step is to schedule for a spine MRI but that would be a longer wait since head MRI scans tend to take priority.

Again they tried to promote the CGH@Home scheme but we were not going anywhere. What if a slot opens up again like yesterday and we can get ahead?

Anyways I'm in a better mood for the weekend, having found a way to hold my lappy while I lie down. But everything else is still the same. I feel totally fine whenI'm lying down but the headache and nausea comes once I'm upright.

I'm originally booked on a flight to Cincinnati this evening but no way I would have made the trip in my condition. Let's hope we get this resolved soon.

The Mystery Headache: Day 6 CGH At Home?

Meimei managed to catch the doctor today when they came to do their morning rounds and asked about my condition. Currently the top suspect is still brain fluid leakage which happens when there is tear along the spinal fluid walls. They advised that with enough fluids and bed rest, it typically will heal on its own. However based on today's condition, it doesn't seem to be improving as much as they had hoped after 3 days of rest.

So the next step is to schedule for a MRI brain scan. However the earliest slot is next week. And then they offered a scheme called 'CGH @Home' where in-patients get to go rest at home while waiting for tests. It sounds good but there were couple of concerns. 

The main one is that if we are at home, I suspect we would not be given priority should a MRI slot open up. I think I would stand a higher chance if I am already present here in the wards and can easily go down at a moment's notice.

Next, it doesn't really work when I'm on a drip. I can't easily wheel the drip stand around since there is a drop down area in the master toilet. I can get help from the nurse to stop the drip when I want to go shower. How am I going to do any of this at home ....

Then there is the unknown cost savings or should I say ... lack of. We were told we will save on the daily ward fees but there will be ambulance transport charges, equipment rental fees, doctor/nurse travel fees for the daily home visit. So it sounded like it's square. And if that's the case I might as well stay here.

Lastly, they have a shortage of beds so I suspect they are trying to get anyone not in dire straits to go home. Sneaky way of generating more revenue too since they are still going to charge me while they free up a bed for another patient. Plus when I come back for the MRI, I would not have a place I can lie down to wait and am likely to end up in a wheelchair and battling nausea.

So all in all I'm not keen to do the CGH @Home scheme. Pretty nonsense ... especially when I have adequate insurance coverage.

The Mystery Headache: Day 5 Proper Single Room

It was a tough night. An old 90+ year old lady keeps saying she is already 90+, has seen everything and wants to go home. She reminds me of my grandma who was delusional and unsound in her later years who kept saying she wanted to go home too. Thankfully I was on the other side of the hall and managed to get some sleep. I still can't eat though and probably didn't drink enough.

So late morning they decided to put me on a drip for saline hydration. Doc says it helps to replenish the spinal fluid. The rest of the day was uneventful till the evening when they finally have a single bedder room for me.

The single room is much more comfortable with a sofa for Meimei to rest and our own privacy. I'm so glad Meimei didn't settle for a multi-bedder.

The Mystery Headache: Day 4 Warded

Sunday was uneventful but I didn't get any better, laid down in bed most of the time and wasn't eating well. Clearly I wasn't getting any better so Meimei wanted me to go back to CGH today.

Since I was likely to be warded I made sure I set my work tasks in place. I broke out in cold sweat while struggling to set out of office and cancel my flight to Cincy this Friday. There is a $200 cancellation fee but its inevitable .. I'm in no condition to fly in this condition, especially not on a 30 hour door to door journey while seated upright.

So once I've settled my work matters we made our way to CGH. I vomited during the initial nurse assessment but considered non-urgent and placed in non-emergency queue which was packed. While we waited I vomited a second time. I was then immediately wheeled to see a doctor who confirmed I had to be warded for observation and medication.

However due to a lack of beds I was put in a temporary area called the ATA (Admissions Transition Area) where they lined up stretcher beds across the hall. No matter ... at least I was able to lie flat and that gave immediate relief on the pain.

I was given Anarax pain killers and nausea medication while I rested. The food was crap but I wasn't hungry. Thankfully Meimei was here to help me with water and help me to the toilet.

The Mystery Headache: Day 2 A&E

It didn't improve after the night ... I think it got worse and it's clearly something out of the ordinary. Now normally I would give it another day or so but with what happened to my ear and resulting tinnitus I wasn't going to wait.

Meimei brought us to CGH late morning while I carried a vomit bag. As I was a new patient I was quickly put on a wheelchair and sat at the waiting area. Because I was up the pain was so great that it also created strong nausea. I vomited while I waited but thankfully they already gave me a vomit bag and everything was contained. 

I saw the doctor very quickly after that. The doctor gave an initial diagnosis after hearing my symptoms where the headache only comes when I am up and it was total pain free when I laid down. He mentioned that this is likely a sign that I am low on spinal fluid in the head, which then causes the brain to come down and press against some nerves and triggered the pain.

Meimei tried to get me a place to rest and they put me up at a temporary resting room. The chairs could only recline but not go all the way down but at least it was something. I was given some strong pain killers Trumadol and anti-vomit medicine as I waited and eventually was wheeled to get a CT scan on the brain. On the way back I vomited again. The bumpy journey and motion made the nausea worst. 

We spent another couple of hours waiting in the resting room before the doctor came to check on me again. I was feeling better due to the pain killers so we eventually left with a bag of medication.

I was able to take a light dinner and went to bed early.

The Mystery Headache: Day 1 Onset

It started innocently after lunch. I had dropped the kids off at Berries and was sitting at Saap Saap Thai at Tampines Mall. I was already feeling a light headache right after lunch but put it down to tiredness. It quickly got worst at the mall and I was practically falling asleep ... kinda like a natural body reaction to cope with the pain. What made it worst was the extreme nausea due to the intense pain.

I somehow managed to bear through it all, picked up the kids and drove them home. Once I got home I immediately showered, skipped dinner and went to bed.

Looking back at the day, I may have twisted something when I was trying to teach 萱萱 the Chinese words for raise head, lower head, turn head by demonstrating it.

A Fishy Manifestation

What were buckets of fish in the common toilet has not manifested into a fish tank setup with plants, filtration pumps, hiding blocks and a prime spot on the living room shelf. The last of the fish farm fishes died so Meimei went to buy a fighting fish. The kids have named it "Nebby" *eye-rolls.

DDK Restaurant At Changi Jewel - Back On The Menu

Meimei and I had not eaten at the DDK Changi Jewel because they wouldn't serve the sushi sets whenever we come for lunch. The last time we had it was probably more than a year ago. In that time they also started promoting Donburi sets for lunch but the counter staff at the restaurant didn't seem like they bother working on it so we never gave it a try.

Today was not a deliberate attempt to eat at DDK. We were thinking of Japanese but Sushiro didn't have any new menu and we had already tried the current one and it fails.

So Meimei suggested we have a look and thank goodness we did! They now have artisan sushi specially sold at the restaurant counter. These are very different from the one from the normal food market section of DDK.

The artisan sushi were flavour packed and look exceptionally tasty. Seeing them puts a smile on my face. We are definitely coming back for more! DDK restaurant is back on the menu boys!

Elixir Haul #34

Courvoisier VSOP going for a good price!