her-mem0ries

[her-mem0ries]

Dec 2023

[her-mem0ries]

Jun 2023

[her-mem0ries]

31 May 2023

Visited the hair clinic for the 1st time. Doctor prescribed another round of oral steroids for 15 days. He suggested contact immunotherapy which has to be done weekly.

Doctor said that oral steroids are not for long-term hence he ordered a lot of tests (5 tubs of blood OMG) to determine if I’m suitable to take other long-term medications such as Ciclosporin, Methotrexate, and Baricitinib.

[her-mem0ries]

End Apr 2023

[her-mem0ries]

It has been awhile since my last post. Here's an update of my health conditions:

Jan 2023

So...since mid Jan this year, I notice my hair has been falling very excessively. Hairs come out in handfuls when I wash, blow, comb, or simply just by running through my hair.

Feeling worried, I went to seek doctor's advice. He arranged blood tests for full blood count, thyroid, and iron. He also referred me to a dermatologist at National Skin Centre (NSC) where my condition was diagnosed as Alopecia Areata.

Alopecia Areata occurs when our body's own immune cells mistakenly attack the hair follicles. Upon examination, there are 4 bald areas. The dermatologist called for steroid injections in those bald areas and follow-up treatment in a month's time. Steroid injections are used to stimulate hair growth but it does not really stop hair from falling.

On the other hand, my thyroid and iron results are not within the normal range and I'm also having very irregular periods now (2 periods in a month for Nov 2022 and Jan 2023)

Feb 2023

Hair loss continued and I had my 2nd steroid injection (1.9ml).

Did an ultrasound. The results showed a small uterine fibroid, nabothian cysts in the cervix, and a simple benign right ovarian cyst/follicle.

Thyroid results back to normal but experienced prolonged periods (14 days) - referred to see gynae at Hospital.

Mar 2023

Hair falls worsened and my 3rd steroid injection is at 2.9ml. Started wearing a hat wherever I went. Also having 2 periods this month.

Apr 2023

Going to be botak soon. Had my 4th steroid injection at 3ml. I had some indentations on my scalp so the therapist was not able to inject steroids into those areas. The dermatologist said that my hair loss is progressive hence she started me on 15 days oral steroids (20mg of prednisolone for the first 5 days, reduced to 15mg for the next 5 days, and 10mg for the last 5 days). It is supposed to help calm down the immune system. She also gave me Growell 2% Scalp Lotion to be applied to the bald areas twice a day. I will be visiting their hair clinic for my next visit.

As for my gynae visit, she did a transvaginal ultrasound where a 5cm cyst was found on one side of my ovaries. She also ordered 4 blood tests (Luteinizing Hormone, Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Estradiol, and Prolactin Serum). The results came back all within the normal range.

I also started taking birth control pills (Liza). Hope this can help to regulate my periods.

I will need to repeat my ultrasound scan and thyroid test in Jul. Shall share more updates again. Till the next time!

[her-mem0ries]

台北早餐推荐 - 良粟商号

炭烧鸡腿排蛋吐司实在是太好吃了！有爆浆半熟蛋和手工调制美乃滋 😋

[her-mem0ries]

Inguinal Hernia

Kyler was admitted to KKH on April 2022 due to stomach flu. During his stay, the doctor noticed there was obvious swelling on the right side of his groin. He was later diagnosed as inguinal hernia.

According to Healthline, inguinal hernia develops when fatty or intestinal tissues push through a weakness in the abdominal wall near the right or left inguinal canal. Each inguinal canal resides at the base of the abdomen.

Doctor suggested for surgery which is known as herniotomy.  Kyler underwent the surgery on 7 July 2022. He would need to rest for at least 5 days. The dressing can be removed a week later. We were shocked and heartbroken to see the huge wound at his groin area. Now I only pray he can cope well with the pain and smooth recovery.

[her-mem0ries]

​Willius is not right these few days. No appetite, sleep a lot and very emotional. He don't even want his favourite 奶奶 before bedtime (that's very very strange as usually he will ask for 2 bottles). I wonder is it due to the ulcer on his tongue? Where is my joyous Willius? I want him back badly.

[her-mem0ries]

Earl Grey Chiffon Cake

Recipe adapted from Just One Cookbook

Ingredients for 20cm (8 inch) chiffon cake pan

6g of powered Earl Grey Tea

8g of Earl Grey Tea seeped in 135ml of hot water

95ml of Earl Grey Tea

5 large eggs (250g without shell)

130g sugar

60ml (1/4 cup) vegetable oil

120g cake flour

6g baking powder

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 170 ºC. 

2. Seep 8g of Earl Grey tea leave in 135ml of hot water. Set aside to cool. 

3. Separate 5 eggs to whites and yolks.

4. In a large bowl, whisk 5 egg yolks and roughly ⅓ of the sugar (43g).

5. Add vegetable oil, 95ml of tea and whisk together until combined.

6. Add powdered earl grey tea in the egg mixture and mix well. 

7. Sift cake flour and baking powder into the egg mixture in 3 increments. Whisk until totally incorporated and make sure there are no lumps.

8. Using a stand mixer, whip the egg whites on medium-low speed till opaque, foamy and bubbly. Add ⅓ of the remaining sugar (43g) and continue whipping. After 30 seconds or so, increase the stand mixer speed to high and add the remaining sugar slowly in small increments. It takes about 2-3 minutes until stiff peaks form.

9. Using a spatula, fold in ⅓ of the egg whites to the batter until the mixture is homogeneous. 

10. Fold in the rest of egg whites in 2-3 increments and mix gently until the mixture is homogeneous.

11. Pour the batter into the ungreased 20 cm (8”) chiffon cake pan in same location to prevent from foaming more bubbles. To remove or prevent air pockets before baking, run a skewer (chopstick, knife or spatula) through the batter and then drop gently a few times.

12. Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean and the top of the cake springs back when gently pressed.

13. The cake must be cooled upside down in its pan so that it stretch down instead of collapsing. Stick the cake pan on a tall heavy bottle or invert the cake pan onto a cooling rack (if you use angel food cake pan). Let it cool completely. To extract the cake, run a thin sharp knife or thin offset spatula around both the outer and inner edge of the cake and then tap the cake out onto a serving plate.

[her-mem0ries]

My Birth Story #2

It started with our family of 3 being down with food poisoning after consuming the dinner tingkat from Best Catering on 25 Feb. Willius and i ate the 九白 and fried egg with hot dog.

Symptoms started to show on the late morning of 26 Feb. Before lunch, i was having stomach upset. After lunch, it was even worse. I felt contractions-like stomach cramps and had explosive watery stools for 3 times. That was also when my hubby told me he was having high fever and diarrhoea. Soon after, school called and informed that Willius was having high fever, vomitting and diarrhoea. I rushed off from work and met up with the principal and teachers at a nearby clinic. That night, i was down with fever too. Episodes of high fever, stomach cramps and diarrhoea continued on 27 Feb. As Willius was very restless for the whole day and both of us were weak, we decided to call 995. Ambulance arrived within 15 minutes and took Willius and my hubby to KKH.

I admitted myself at KKH the following day and because i was 38 weeks pregnant, they referred me to delivery suite where they took my CTG and check for dilation. I felt so bewildered. I kept on emphasizing the reason i came was due to food poisoning. Meanwhile, Group D Salmonella bacteria was found in Willius's stool test.

On 29 Feb morning, i did an ultrasound at KKH and the report showed that my amniotic fluid was too little at 3.6cm (minimum requirement of at least 5cm). The doctor suggested that i induced straight away as baby's heart beat might stopped anytime. I consulted my gynae at TMC and he suggested to follow up on Monday. I was put on regular CTG monitoring during my stay at KKH and they detected 10mins interval contractions on 1 Mar (which i couldn't feel any). Feeling worried about what KKH doctor said, i decided to head to TMC observation ward.

"1 Mar 3.30pm"

Seen Dr. Ben. Was 1.5cm dilated with some contractions.

"4.15pm"

Was given steriod injection on my right buttock to strengthen baby's lungs (due to baby being small). The injection spot still pain even after 1 week postpartum.

"9.20pm"

Did an ultrasound scan in Dr. Ben's Office. Amniotic fluid was 5.5 to 5.7cm and baby weighed 2.2 to 2.3kg. Was 2cm dilated and cervix was soft.

"10.20pm"

Requested for epidural - Dr. Yvonne Lim. Contractions at 3-4 mins interval.

"2 Mar 6am"

Was 3cm dilated. Put on oxytocin drip at 6.20am.

"8.45am"

Still 3cm dilated.

"8.58am"

Was 10cm dilated! Baby was out within 2 pushes. Dr. Tan Kuan Yang detected tongue-tie in baby and a small procedure was performed to resolve the issue.

Baby #2 weighed 2.35kg, height of 46cm and head circumference of 30cm.

Uterus contractions were more painful this time round especially on the 2nd day evening till night. I also experienced urinary incontinence after this delivery. Dr. Ben discharged me the following day but i decided to stay one more day as baby was not ready to go home yet.

This period was tough, we were very touched and thankful for the help and support rendered to us:

- my mum and second sis for taking care of Willius after he discharged 3 to 7 Mar

- my mum, mil, second sis and xueyan for accompanying Willius at KKH from 28 Feb to 3 Mar

- my eldest sis for being there for me during delivery of #2, bringing porridge to my hubby and more

- SL for buying and delivering Willius's diapers to KKH

[her-mem0ries]

8th Visit - 14 Feb 2020

Xueyan accompanied me to gynae checkup today. I am 35 weeks + 6 days today, weighing 55.8kg. Baby is about 1.8kg to 2kg (on the small side). Gynae said he won't control my diet anymore and i was encouraged to eat more durians to boost up baby's weight. Baby, please stay in mummy's tum tum till at least 2.5kg ok? Vaginal pressure really very heavy this time round :(

[her-mem0ries]

7th Visit - 23 Jan 2020

Went polyclinic for whopping cough vaccination in the morning. Now my arm is still sore (aching) from the jab.

Baby head was down at week 32+5. Due to dieting, my weight did not go up for the past 1 month. Baby weighs about 1.5-1.6kg with heart rate of 127BPM ❤. Ben gave approval to increase my meat intake to 150g. Did a blood test for iron and the result was good.

Was relieved to have "passed" my GD 2 days prick test. Bought more test strips and lancets so that i can continue testing 😄. Jiayou! Another 50 days or less to go 💪.

[her-mem0ries]

6th Visit - 23 Dec 2019

Baby is 28+2 weeks today, weighing 1.093kg with heart rate of 128bpm ❤.  Baby is at breech position. Need to do breech tilt exercise 10 mins daily before sleep.

Had my glucose test at 8.30am this morning. Failed the last prick by 0.2. I was asked to start on strict diet and exercise at least 3 times a week (at least 30 mins each time). If my sugar level is still not controlled after dieting, i will have to take insulin jab. 

Risk of GD includes:

My mum had GD in her second pregnancy but she recovered from it after giving birth. Hopefully i will be able to clear it too! As a foodie, it’s really sad that i have to give up all the yummy food e.g. peanut waffles, fast food, bubble tea and especially when so many festive occasions are coming up.

For baby’s sake, i will be able to endure this. Another 2.6 months to go! Jiayou!  

[her-mem0ries]

5th Visit - 23 Nov 2019

Baby is around 24 weeks now, weighing 590g with heart rate of 130bpm ❤

[her-mem0ries]

4th Visit - 29 Oct 2019

Went for 20 weeks detailed scan today. Baby weighs 339g ❤

[her-mem0ries]

3rd Visit - 28 Sep 2019

Today's scan is an exciting one as we got to know the gender of baby (I guessed it correctly even before doctor revealed). Baby is 16 weeks, weighs about 135g with heart beat of 139BPM ❤

[her-mem0ries]

Oscar Scan Images

The result for my thyroid test came back normal. Phew~! Here are some of images from my oscar scan when baby is around 12 weeks. This pregnancy, i can feel baby's movement at 12 weeks 😍