Arrived at the dot: 4pm... and ended up to be the last patient to leave, at close to 5.30pm.
Spoke to Karen, the occupational therapist. Hm... I felt like I'm more eager to report back on what I did over the past one week, hoping to hear some affirmation of the efforts made to stretch and loosen the stiffness a bit.
I was quite proud to show that my thumb can now touch the 4th finger, but still struggle to touch the little finger or the pinkie. Also clarified a couple of the exercises that I was a bit reserved to exert hand/ wrist.
Some angles were measured... slight improvement... strength test was the one that's not quite ideal - the grip with left hand at 10 while right hand only 2. A lot more to do.....
Learnt a series of new exercises
The survey before the therapy session...
Here's the therapy treatments assigned for the next close to 45 min
The last one is the playdoh - to press the various parts of the fingers against it to strengthen them with resistance.
Officially, today, I'm back in school.
I had collected 2 sets of exam papers home last Friday but only marked 2 out of 3 questions. Slower than I thought I could...
Today is marking day... so, it's quite peaceful, though started gearing up with more interaction, and following-up of work... 😬 that takes no time to adjust... but immediate!
At last, getting my haircut after more than 1.5 months. It's time to trim and get refreshed. Rested at the hair spa segment. Felt good.
Next is to go see the doctor. I was down to the last flu tablet, but the nose was still congested - Decold did not work for me. Thought of asking the doctor to strike it off my prescription list, But Dr Ng was patient enough to tell me more about the medicine. I was a bit surprised when he said "it's a potent medicine". It's a strong one, which implied the flu was serious to warrant one? but it seemed that my body was immune to it, I told him. Interesting, he told me ... be patient. It would take a week to 10 days to recover.
It concludes with a trip to the bank... oh... to update my bank book... the last time it was updated was more than a decade ago! Time flies!
Reported to Counter C, another clinic which looks more cosy than the main area.
Today is the day to remove the cast. Today is the day when the covered area gets to see light after 5 weeks.
This is the only photo with my Doraemon forearm. Am still masked up as I've not recovered from flu yet.
Just before the 3-week old cast is 'cut'....
Removed! The first thing is looked. at my hand, though the focus is actually the wrist. The palm thumb area is dry... as expected, but did not expect it to peel immediately. The discomfort - the roughness.
In the most recent Pink Cast, Daniel Pink shared the 9-word question could transform decision-making is "What would I tell my best friend to do?"
Reason being, we are good at advising others what to do when challenged to make a decision - from a third person perspective, I supposed. However, we seldom look inward to give the same advice. I guess, it's when we tend not to exercise our troubled mind in a rational manner when clouded with the issue. This advice/ suggestion, I think is similar to the advice on why we should not send an email reply when we are still emotional over the episode/ encounter that just happened - there's always this cooling period which we should observe. Reason being, at that point, we could not or would not be able to think clearly or rationally in order to respond appropriately.
I think, more to the point would be - keep calm (or calm ourselves down first), then lay the issue out and if necessary, dissect the question carefully, then list down the pros and cons systematically and clearly - which is essential for us to weigh with informed (potential) consequence of our choices. I guess, that's why a genuine friend would do - help the friend to think when he/ she is unable to do the thinking properly. However, don't forget that - we could be making assumptions, too.... the lack of info that could be critical to the choice! Hence, probing responses would be critical to be helpful. On the other hand, when we apply the same for ourselves, we are fully aware the limitations behind the possible moves.
It's been a long time since... that my schedule for the day is packed with just meetings... back to back... Those were the hay days - where I was managing several FS@SG projects, meetings after meetings... evolving plans and implementations. Indeed, I quite enjoy those days, though they were stressful and jam-packed.
Actually, I enjoyed that!
Yesterday, have 6 meetings back-to-back, except one with an hour break in-between. Time flew.
Today's meeting indeed is more intensive, and I'm involved in 4 items, of which 3 solo pieces :)
Is it payback time? Hm... my payback time? OR those who need to do some work's payback time? I don't know... but what I know is, anything not done will contribute to "payback"... and it could be extremely stressful.
Strangely, it's a sense of achievement at the end of each day, after seeing so much could be accomplished.
🤭🤗
Took this photo while waiting for transport to go home after the day's meeting.
The train was there since morning, around 9.30 am - due to power trip caused by a faulty train that had served for more than 30 years. Hm... I can't believe it! More than 30 years? We are testing the endurance of the public transport... ok... land public transport? OR It's the confidence we had on the product. Cars have a certain lifespan - which had to be scrapped after they "expired" (a term I borrowed from my Bhutanese students). Buses, too, I believe. Airplanes, definitely - in Singapore. "Old" enough planes are sold off to others. What's the average age of the SIA fleet? I believe it's less than 15 years! To maintain that kind of standard known worldwide.
Why an over 30-year-old train is still in service while the new trains were progressively brought into service. Very puzzling (?).
Time flies.
I have been on hospitalisation leave for 4 full weeks!
I thought I could accomplish a lot of things (other than work) when it just started.
Not really... I've been quite busily engaged with work.
Life is never dull. The only concern is... too little time to do what's needed to be done - some of these are meaningful works that I do not wish to be left out.
I did this before.... considered once to twice a year. What is special this year is - though each year is I'll do so this part single-handedly; this time, it's really literally single (left-) handedly to get the Structured Revision spreadsheet up - and professionally formatted. I am proud of myself 😅
BLUE was chosen for practical reason - amongst other opinions - less obvious when it becomes dirty. However, a spark came when I was looking at my cast... from different angles - It looks like Doraemon's 圆（援）手 🤣
I wish this 圆（援）手 will find its way to be really helpful ☺️
Indeed, it's also the first time I disclosed my injury in the social media.
Today, I spent close to 1.5 hours on the road - both ways, to and fro.
Struck a conversation with both Grab drivers - on pretty diverse topics - and were pretty interesting.
Both were curious what's SST? and therefore did a quick introduction, using the simplest layman words to explain how it takes in its students and what part of the curriculum differentiates itself from others.
From HOME to SST (noon):
From SST to HOME (evening):
Went back last Monday to tidy up my desk... getting the stuff and table ready for the relief teacher.
Today, was back for more a more serious matter, a meeting that matters not so much to me, but for my jobholders. Had prepared the necessary since last week. Jumped in the opportunity when offered an option to attend online. For such meetings, regardless what, face-to-face is certainly more effective.
I felt energetic, actually.
I felt that missed the meeting.
Actually, I had not stopped working though I could choose to leave everything behind for a while and take a break. Given hospitalisation leave, it's as good as rest at home instead of occupying a bed there.
Somehow, I could not bring myself to do it - pause everything. Yes, I remember this - no one is indispensable. However, by choosing not to touch work could result in lots of inconveniences to others. Why should I create this inconvenience when I'm capable of doing some of these keyboard work? I guess, it's about responsibility?
At the same time, I've also openly declared FOMO - I don't know what it means only until this tear of missing out just kicks in.
Now, it's as good as working from home WFH (again). Yup, working from home is never about idling. Instead, I'm doing more work.
I am not a fan of using templates as I believe that I am equipped with the relevant skills and am capable of managing design, the look and feel of document and slides, and I don't like the feeling of being restricted by the "frame" once adopted the template.
Nevertheless, with so much technology progress, I see something that surprises me - though I know many years ago, Google or some apps already can recognise images when we used those apps.
But now.... AI voluntarily pushes it down - not only in terms of layouts, but also suggested alternative texts - in PowerPoint. Amazing! Indeed, I think an application is to get it make its first attempt analysis. However, also discovered that addition of textboxes will throw it off the tangent 😆
Simple suggested texts
A variety of layouts, including framing and "re-shaping" them
Now, it's at a lost due to the introduction of textboxes
A nice short story that reminds me of another - about telling one not to disturb the struggle that the caterpillar undergoes because it needs that struggle to become strong enough to become a butterfly - to gain strengths for its winds to flap and fly.
In an equivalent or parallel story, it remains us growing up requires one to go through and experience certain "blows" or challenges in order for one to gain strength and gets rooted.
All these require time to "become" what they are today. Though most of the time , what we see is already the "outcome".
I am back in the morning, to be precise... I arrived punctually - less crowded compared to last Monday when the appointment was in the afternoon.
Today, I'm under "Practice 1".
The first item in the list is to remove the cast!
Oh.... I elbow gets to see light again!
This machine does the wonders! But.... only when in the hands of the skilful technician!
I do feel safe in Mr Azeem's hands... To him, it may be a daily piece of mechanical work, but, to the patience, it's the confidence we have that the elbow will not get cut under the sharp blade - for his professionalism gained through numerous applications - what we call... practice mades perfect.
X-ray - how it looked like after 2 weeks...
A comparison with last week's - holding well in its position... progressing though seems insignificant.
Confirmed that I'll not go for the surgery option, but to opt for the more conservative approach. Yes, will need to live with a bit of the deformity on my right.
Last stop... at the Pharmacy... to standby painkillers... just in case...
School reopens today - but I did not report to school.
It's not the first time in my teaching career.
It sounded a bit unbelievable - but it is true, regardless how old we are, in the eyes of a mum, a child is a child, regardless how independent we are. What's more when the child is unwell.... there it goes, you may call her a control freak, but that's how mum's love is expressed - becoming very protective, definitely- regardless how old she is, or how old her child is... that's love 💕
At last, today, I got the permission to travel by the public transport, after giving her the re-assurances, and applying my forte, presented to her my well thought through plan. Haha... a close to 55 years of age needing to seek clearance to travel! It sounds ridiculous to many, I supposed but come to think about it, it's happiness, it's a blessing. Isn't it?
You can't believe it - the "what a relief" look at her face when I return in one piece 🤣
It's close to 2 weeks since.
One of those rare mornings that I left my place early to go to my Tampines.
Over these 2 weeks, I'm learning a bit more from some Grab drivers as this becomes the most convenient means to commute. Some are more chatty... who would share some challenges they face in their business.
This morning is a Comfort cab - learnt that they would need to flag the meter when the journey commences, unlike the flat rate, Just Grab. The driver forgot to flag it down when we started the journey. He was a bit nervous and tried to explain the situation to me. I guess he was worried that I would stick to the meter fare, approximately $2 less. I guess he probably came across unreasonable passengers before. Well, yes, there are people out there who would feeling good over such small "wins" from those who earn a living via hard work ☹️
If I were stingy, I wouldn't even request the service.
Flipped the book that I bought some time ago - ALL ALONG YOU ARE BLOOMING Thoughts of boundless living...
I hope that I can really do somethings that I did not gret the time to do or I procrastinated... it's like a second chance given to me... I am grateful to this second chance... to pause, to stocktake, to catch up...
After 1 week... the right hand and wrist area at last got to see light and breathe some fresh air. Looked ok as there wasn't any open wound, fortunately.
I was quite shocked when the doctor told me that I would need to undergo surgery because the fracture was bad, and it was necessary to recover mobility. What made puzzled was she was looking at the X-ray taken before the A&E doctors attempted to treat it. OK, thanks for informing and now I know how serious the fall was.... but, what did the X-ray taken after the pull was done? You did not even look at it and started telling me the need to go under the knife? I can't believe it!
The surgery would involve a "tiny" method piece to support/ uphold or strengthen the wrist. The thought of having a method piece to be inserted was really a big turn-off.
The entire conversation followed was focused on addressing my fear, trying to convince me the benefits - which not much of the difference. Indeed, I was more anxious on when it will get healed and the amount of time that is needed to rehabilitate, whether the intensive marking will make delay the recovery or have any negative impact to the healing. Proposals like extending timelines and reallocation of load didn't register well with me. I felt there is a communication breakdown. I felt that she seemed to be pushing her "agenda" when she wasn't even armed with the relevant information!
The next thing is... to do an X-ray to see how far it has progressed, after being on a half cast for a week.
While waiting to do the X-ray, trying to warm up the fingers with some gestures that the doctor advised...
X-Ray on 2 Sep shows pretty good progress. Indeed, I have the A&E doctors (Dr Kong and Dr Poh) to thank. Also, Dr Lim's re-assurance when I returned to the hospital that very evening. To Dr Gupta, it was a surprise that the bones were quite nicely aligned now, tilted at a reasonable 22-degree angle. She no longer pushed for surgery. She even offered the option of using the removal plastic cast that can be removed for cleaning, as compared to a hard cast. The degree of seriousness seemed to swing to the other end! I was quite relieved.
Very quickly, Dr Ellen Lee, the senior doctor dismissed the use of the removal cast as the wound would still need the support for the bones to grow. Immobilisation with hard cast is necessary at. this phase.
The next question sound valid - on the intensity of work that my wrist needs to handle. While it will not be back into its original condition, the surgery will help to handle work of greater intensity like doing intensive work like lots of frying/ cooking and cleaning. It seems to me the more labour intensive work. Of course, the bone that faces the table might made its presence more felt as it's no longer fully in place.
A comparison - before and after:
I requested to have some time to think first though I know I'm against the surgery option. From experience, I also learnt that I must never close my door entirely. I'll be back next Monday to have it X-rayed again, to see its progress. Deep inside, I think I have faith with the work by the A&E doctors. Nonetheless, just wait for another 7 days...
Here, doing the hard cast. The technician, Azeem was a bit surprised that I q=would be back to remove the cast in a week's time.
Nevertheless, he gave good advice to handle the cast, and reminders (and reasons and implications) on why it is necessary to "uphold" my right elbow - to prevent blood clots. Also the reminders to do simple stretching exercises for the fingers. Thanks for the patience to answer my questions!
Will be back in a week's time.
