This morning, I found myself caught in a tempest of anger provoked by unkind words by a family member. I reacted with a storm of retorts before deciding to retreat. Walking away from the conflict, I sought refuge in the nearby plaza, hoping to find a balm for the emotional wounds inflicted by unkind and sarcastic words.
In the eye of this emotional storm, I discovered my unique way of weathering the rage and finding solace. Amidst the solitude of the plaza, I treated myself to a tranquil brunch—an indulgence rarely granted. A plate of my favorite fried mee hoon and a refreshing bowl of cendol became the elixir to soothe my agitated soul.
With the scent of anger still lingering, I indulged in some retail therapy. The act of picking up unnecessary household items became a distraction, diverting my mind from the lingering shadows of the earlier confrontation. In these moments, I found a semblance of control.
The brunch may have cost me RM31, a seemingly extravagant expense for a solo meal. However, I realized that the investment was not merely in food; it was an investment in reclaiming my sanity and dousing the fire within me. Sometimes, spending a little extra on self-indulgence is the antidote to the toxic residue of anger. Money can indeed buy happiness!
Acknowledging that anger can be detrimental to health, I’ve embraced the importance of finding outlets to release these turbulent emotions. The lunch, shopping, and solitary moments became my catharsis, preventing the festering anger that could lead to chronic health issues.
Suppressing anger can be toxic; hence, it’s crucial to identify healthy ways to release and manage these emotions before the accumulated toxicity gives birth to chronic diseases. I’m glad that I’ve found ways to manage my anger and to bring myself back to sanity. What are your ways of managing anger?
There’s a unique magic that old songs from the mid-80s to the early 90s hold for me. For me, they are more than just tunes; they are a time machine that whisks me back to the cherished memories of my teenage years. These songs have an uncanny ability to stir emotions, evoke nostalgia, and transport me to a bygone era when life was simpler, less stressful, and dreams were limitless.
These timeless melodies which are often played on the radio station Lite FM around 9 PM and onwards create a bittersweet tug-of-war between the urge to stay awake and the comforting embrace of slumber. They transport me back in time, making me long to relive the carefree days of my teenage years.
The clock ticks past 10 PM, signaling bedtime, yet the allure of these old favorites keeps me awake. Lite FM becomes a haven where the songs I grew up with come alive once more. Despite the heaviness of my eyelids, I can’t resist the temptation to stay up just a little longer to savor the music that fills the airwaves, just to relive the good old days for a little while.
As the songs from my teenage years fill the living room, they carry me on a journey back to a simpler era in Ipoh. It’s as if I can see the faces of my classmates, my parents, my brothers, and my house in Ipoh, relive the laughter that once echoed in my teenage hangouts, and feel the rush of emotions that accompanied my first crush.
Listening to these songs can be a bittersweet experience. They conjure up a longing, a desire to turn back the clock and relive those precious years. To once again navigate the maze of adolescence, experiencing the heartaches, joys, and discoveries that shaped the person I’ve become.
For many, the mid-80s to early-90s were defined by iconic artists like Steven Bishop, Air Supply (my top favorite until today), Peter Cetera, Richard Marx, Tommy Page, New Kids On The Block, among others. Their music was the soundtrack of my youth, and their voices continue to enchant me, stirring emotions that are as vivid today as they were then. The lyrics and melodies of their songs have an enduring quality that transcends time.
As the night deepens and sleep beckons, I eventually tear myself away from the melodies that have held me captive at my desk, next to the radio. With the last notes of my favorite songs lingering in my mind, I finally surrender to slumber and can’t wait to turn on the radio again the next morning.
I got hooked on online shopping during the pandemic when I was stuck at home. At the height of the pandemic, a trip to the shopping mall was something very worrying for most of us, for fear of getting infected with Covid. I avoided shopping malls almost throughout the pandemic. Even trips to the supermarkets were quick and fraught with anxiety.
Now that the pandemic is behind us, I prefer online shopping over physical shopping. However, my online shopping adventures can sometimes become a bit too adventurous, leading to unexpected and unintentional purchases. This is the predicament I find myself in as a habitual online shopper with a penchant for dozing off at the most inconvenient moments.
My online shopping escapades often take place on Lazada and Shopee, where I indulge in retail therapy and hunt for great deals. My typical daily routine involves adding items to my cart, monitoring prices, and eagerly awaiting the moment when I can maximize savings with free shipping vouchers, cashback offers, coins redemption, store promotions and platform promotions. It’s a method that has served me well, resulting in savings, with one significant exception – I sometimes doze off mid-shop.
Yes, you read that correctly. The warm embrace of sleep has an uncanny way of creeping up on me, even in the midst of the most exciting online deals. Picture this: I’m diligently adding items to my cart, my eyes growing heavy as I scroll through pages of irresistible products. And then, it happens. In my half-asleep state, my darn finger slips, and I inadvertently press the dreaded ‘Place Order’ button 😴🤪
My history of accidental purchases reads like a comedy of errors. From dresses to supplements to a surplus of cat food, I’ve had my fair share of “shop till you drop, literally” moments. The worst part? Most of these mishaps occurred at prices higher than I initially intended to pay.
My latest adventure in accidental shopping involved two packets of posh Tyrrell’s potato chips. They ended up in my cart as my SIL recently purchased a packet of Tyrrell’s lightly salted potato chips and everyone at home liked the chips a lot – they were not very salty and oily. Just perfect for the occasional snacking. So I searched for this brand of chips on Lazada and found the best price from one seller. Just as I was about to tuck my phone away and surrender to slumber, it happened again – I pressed ‘Place Order.’ It wasn’t at the best price as I was waiting for the price to drop or for a platform or store promotion. But now, two packets of potato chips were on their way to my doorstep. My daughters are of course delighted and they had a good laugh over this accidental purchase 😁
After the miracle intravenous jab at the ER on Wednesday, the itch stopped and the welts vanished instantly. I’ve never been happier to get a jab than this one!
While the jab made me a bit drowsy, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise as I was able to enjoy a restful night’s sleep—an elusive luxury I had been longing for due to the constant itching. The relief provided by the treatment allowed me to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to face the day.
Although the intravenous jab provided instant relief, it was necessary to continue with steroid pills for five days to ensure a complete resolution of my symptoms. Following the prescribed dosage, I have to diligently pop the steroid pills until Sunday, as instructed by the doctor.
After experiencing the instant relief and the absence of itching following the jab, I was ecstatic. However, as is often the case with chronic conditions, a momentary itch on my thigh just now made me paranoid about the possibility of another hives attack. Such fears are natural and understandable, considering the previous discomfort I have endured. I tried to remain calm and told myself that a single itch does not necessarily indicate a full-blown relapse. Trusting the effectiveness of the treatment and having faith in our body’s healing process is key to overcoming such paranoia and moving forward with confidence.
After battling with hives, it’s important to give your body the time and space it needs to heal. Transitioning to plain, simple foods can provide a gentle reset for your digestive system, allowing it to recover from potential triggers or allergens that might have contributed to the hives. These unadorned meals provide the body with vital nutrients while minimizing potential irritants, helping to restore balance and promote overall well-being.
While I never had any allergies to food before, I try not to get takeout but cook something simple at home. I can survive on really simple no-frill foods, unlike everyone else in the house.
Yesterday I stir-fried cabbage + bok choy + foo pei and that was what I ate for lunch and dinner. I also ate a quarter slice of air-fried marinated Beacon chicken breast, half a sweet corn, low-fat plain yogurt with sunflower seeds and lots of fruits. Today I had steamed fish, steamed chicken and a boiled sweet potato for lunch and dinner.
Experiencing a hives attack can be an incredibly distressing and uncomfortable ordeal. Early this week I found myself caught in the grips of this aggravating condition, and the intensity of the itch and discomfort led me to seek urgent medical attention at an ungodly hour today.
It all began on a seemingly ordinary Monday night when I first noticed the appearance of hives on my body. Initially, the itchy hives were limited to only my back, but by Tuesday, they had spread throughout my body, making their presence more pronounced and distressing. The affected parts of my skin turned red and developed welts, resembling blisters. What started as an annoying discomfort soon turned into an overwhelming struggle.
The relentless itch accompanying hives is perhaps the most maddening aspect of this condition. By Tuesday, the itch had intensified, and it seemed to amplify with every passing hour. In an attempt to find relief, I purchased a tube of steroid cream (hydrocortisone) from the pharmacy and applied it to the affected areas. However, despite my efforts, the cream failed to tame the maddening itch. Sleep became an elusive luxury, as the intensity of the itch disrupted any hope of shut eye.
Desperate for relief from the unbearable itch and recognizing the severity of my condition, I made the decision to visit the emergency room in the early hours of the morning today. At 1 am, I asked my hubs to drive me to the hospital. The urgency of the situation was apparent, as I hoped for immediate medical intervention to alleviate my suffering. I just couldn’t go on with the second night of not getting any sleep.
Upon arriving at the emergency room, I was promptly assessed by a doctor who recognized the severity of my hives attack. To provide immediate relief, the doctor administered a 2-in-1 intravenous injection consisting of a steroid and antihistamine. Miraculously, within seconds of the injection, the itch that had tormented me for days vanished. It was a much-needed moment of relief. Additionally, I was prescribed oral steroids and antihistamine pills. The steroid pills have to be taken twice a day (two pills each time) for a span of five days.
I couldn’t really identify the culprit for triggering this allergy. This is my first time having a hives attack and I don’t think I have any allergy. I know though, that what I wasn’t allergic to in the past, I could be allergic to it now, and this is known as adult-onset allergies. I didn’t eat anything new or use any new toiletry and laundry products. The only way I can find out what my allergies are is to do an allergy blood test, which costs a few hundred Ringgit. Cass did an allergy test at Pantai Medical Centre a few years ago.
My encounter with hives taught me a valuable lesson. It highlighted the importance of recognizing when professional medical attention is necessary for severe allergic reactions. While over-the-counter remedies may suffice for milder cases, it is crucial to seek timely assistance from healthcare professionals in more severe situations.
Experiencing a hives attack can be a daunting ordeal, filled with discomfort, frustration and sleepless night. From the initial appearance of hives to the unbearable itch that disrupts daily life, the battle can be arduous. However, seeking urgent medical attention can be a turning point in finding relief. My journey through the extremely itchy welts, failed attempts at soothing the itch, and ultimately, the effective treatment received in the emergency room brought an end to my suffering.
If you find yourself facing a similar situation, I hope my experience serves as a reminder to prioritize your well-being and seek appropriate medical care to find relief from the torment of hives.
I’ve not had a chance to celebrate my birthday with my parents for the last few years because of the darn pandemic. This year the timing was right – It was Sherilyn’s last day of SPM and Cass still had a few more days of school holidays, so I booked two train tix and hopped onto the ETS for a short stay in Ipoh.
I’d wanted to visit my mum when she had a bad fall in early January this year and fractured her right arm. But I was unable to make a trip back to Ipoh as school had just reopened and Sherilyn had an important government exam to sit.
Cass told me that for this trip to Ipoh, she wanted to do the touristy thingy at the Concubine Lane vicinity. She wanted to visit the Harry Potter Cafe again (the last time we went for just before the lockdown in February 2020), Book Xcess and see all the wall murals in that vicinity. I was reluctant as the weather had been burning hot lately but I gave in to her request anyway.
Friday, 10 March 2023 ~ Today I did my scheduled Calcium-Score Screening Heart Test (Coronary Calcium CT Scan with ECG) followed by a quick QRISK Score at SJMC.
The entire procedure was pretty quick – about 20 minutes of waiting time for my turn at the Imaging Dept. and 15 minutes in the doughnut-shaped tunnel and I was back to the cardiologist’s office. After another 10 minutes of waiting time and in I went to see him for the review of the scan.
What a stark difference in waiting time at private hospitals vs. government hospitals (HKL). With all of Cass’ diagnostic scans and procedures at HKL, whether inpatient or outpatient, OT procedure or only a chat with the doctor(s), we had to wait for an entire day at the hospital, in a hospital packed like sardines. I kid you not. While in the lifts or at the waiting areas, my shoulders actually touch other patients’ shoulders. There are not enough chairs for everyone to sit and even not enough space for us to stand.
Going to HKL feels like going to a much dreaded boot camp – mentally and physically we are drained out after a day at HKL. But cost wise, I needn’t have to pay a single cent at HKL, most of the time.
With private hospitals, the ambience is like a 5-star hotel, comfortable, clean and waiting time is short. But the price is OH. MY. GOD. And all these diagnostic tests are not claimable from insurance. So is Cass’ medical bills as she has a congenital disorder.
See, in this case, money can make the world go round.🤑
Anyway, coming back to my CT Scan today.
Calcium score = 0
QRISK score = less than 1% of getting a major coronary event within the next 10 years.
I finally did a Mammogram last week after the last one done at least 5 years ago. This time I did a 3D Mammogram at Sunway Medical Centre, as recommended by my gynae/surgeon.
I must say that this experience is less traumatic and less painful than the conventional mammogram that I did at Taman Desa Medical Centre yonks ago. Maybe the technician at Sunway Medical Centre is more skillful or the machine is more advanced, thus causing less pain. But what I really, really dislike and felt dang awkward is how the female technician handled my boops before they were placed on and squashed by the machine 🤪🥴
After so many years, I finally realized that in order to experience a more comfortable and less painful breast ultrasound scan and mammogram, it’s advisable to do it when your breasts are less tender, i.e. a week after your menstrual period. Your breasts are most likely to be tender the week before and the week during your period. If you are prone to having benign breast cysts like myself, these cysts may be bigger before and during your period and cause more pain during the ultrasound scan and mammogram.
I didn’t wait at the hospital for the report to be ready as the hubs was in a hurry to fetch me back. He had to send Alycia to Sunway Uni for class, then fetched me from the hospital, before picking up Cass from the skating rink at Pavillion Bukit Jalil. The estimated time for the report to be ready is at least 2 hours.
The mammogram report and images were accessible from the SunMedGo website and phone app after 2+ hours, which I think is very convenient for patients.
The total cost for the 3D Mammogram is RM404, which is money well spent for peace of mind and allows for the detection of breast cancer at an early stage of development.
Thank God, it’s an all-clear report 🙏
I waited for almost an hour for my turn, which ain’t that long as compared to other hospitals. The overall experience was pretty pleasant. I shall be back to do another 3D Mammogram in two years.
Have you done your mammogram yet? If no, it’s advisable to get it done once every two years as it saves lives.
The month of February is always the most dreaded month for me as it’s that time of the year when I’m due to go through a battery of medical tests. I’ve not skipped any of my pap smears and ultrasound scans even during the strict lockdown years. I know how important it is to do a yearly screening coz if there’s any malignancy brewing inside of me, at least it’s detected early and survival rate is higher with early treatment.
For this year:
Annual pap smear ✅
Annual ultrasound scan of lower pelvic and breasts ✅
Annual blood work ✅
Mammogram 🔜
Appointment with cardiologist to review high cholesterol reading 🔜
I skipped a blood work last year, so this year, I took a package with 45 parameters checked (with one free parameter on colon cancer test) offered by AA Pharmacy at my neighborhood.
Blood work report was out yesterday and everything looks good with no red flags except for my cholesterol reading. As expected, it’s pretty high at 6.82 as I have Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH). FH is an inherited disorder that makes it harder for your body to remove low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the bad ones) from your blood.
If you have FH, your cholesterol is going to build up in the bloodstream regardless of what you eat. And this is exactly what’s happening to me. I eat very little meat, avoid fatty foods and minimal dairy products and yet my cholesterol reading is high.
Because of my strict diet, I’ve lost quite a bit of weight. And some unkind people have been body shaming me, accusing me of wanting to be stick thin. I can’t believe that some people can be so shallow-minded and insensitive.
Would you body shame someone who is battling cancer or have a hormonal disorder?
Oh well, I’ve now shunned away from these people and have minimal interaction with them.
Anyway, back to my health issues.
I’ll be meeting up with my cardiologist when he returns from the UK end February. He’ll review my medical report and perhaps asks me several questions before deciding if I should be started on statin to control my cholesterol levels.
As I’ve not done a mammogram for more than 5 years, my gynae thinks that I should get one done. She recommended a 3D mammogram at Sunway Medical Centre, which is a relatively new procedure and more advanced than a 2D mammogram. This procedure costing RM450 is going to burn a hole in my wallet this month as I’ve already spent quite a bit at my gynae’s office and on the blood work.
But spending RM1k a year on health screening is something that cannot be scrimped or avoided because you’re going to be spending even more when something bigger and more malicious is detected later. So if you’re above 35 and have not done a blood work and health screening for years, I think it’s good to have one done for early prevention of diseases.
With a big box of old photo albums that hubs carted back from his office, I can’t help but to flip through them. I love going through old photos and videos and reminisce about the thrilling days of yesteryears.
With the advent of better quality phone cameras, I stopped using my Nikon camera and have stopped getting photos printed out at the photo shop. Since I’m paying Google every month, I have more than sufficient space in my Google Photos to store all my photos.
But nothing beats going through physical photos of yesteryears.
Today I’m going to show you guys the face behind this blog. The face that’s been hiding behind a veil for the past 15 years 😜.
Hubs has been spring-cleaning his office to free up space and lugged back boxes of old photo albums that were kept in his office for decades. I found lots of old photos of myself from my own babyhood through my pre-baby days. Going through those old photos sure brought back lots of happy memories. How I miss those good old days.
Though corporate life was super stressful, but hey I enjoyed the camaraderie with my colleagues. What I really miss the most are those big fat paychecks. Gone are the days when I could buy any of my whims without batting an eyelid.
I bought this Salvatore Ferragamo handbag during my heydays in the early 2000s. I had totally forgotten about this bag until I found it by accident when I was sifting through some old stuff. This bag cost over RM3k at that time. Though the bag is 20 years old now (older than my eldest daughter!), it still looks good. I polished the leather with a dab of Melaleuca’s leather polish and it’s now almost good as new.
I also found this LeSportSac tote bag together with the Ferragamo bag.
Now I have two ‘new’ bags to alternate with the old ones 😬
And now, the moment that some of you have been waiting for, tadaaaa…
As Halloween is approaching, the radio station that I usually tune in to is having an airtime on spooky tales where listeners can call in to relate their spooky encounters with the paranormal, ethereal, phantasm and whatnot.
That reminded me of my encounter with an apparition when I was about 3 or 4 years old.
It happened circa mid 1970s. We were still living in our old single-storey house at Moonlight Park, Ipoh. Papa would carry me to my baby cot every night and then he would pull the little orange musical owl hanging above the cot that would continuously play a night time lullaby music until the string goes up again.
One night, just after papa had left the room after putting me into my cot, a white apparition of a middle-aged man wearing glasses appeared at the foot of my baby cot. I stood up and walked to the foot of the cot to see who the uncle was. The apparition, who was very skinny, stood there expressionless and was blurry greyish, whitish. Naively, I called him several times and reached out my hand to try to ‘touch’ him but there was no response and of course I could not feel anything. Tired of getting no response from that uncle, I went back to sleep, sans any perception of fear. I can’t remember if I’d told my parents about the incident the next day but many years later I did tell my mum and she just brushed it off as my imagination. Years later when I related the incident to my mum again, she said that it could be her late father, based on my description 👻😱 .
That was not my solo encounter with the paranormal. I had a brief encounter with a white vision on the third or forth day that my maternal granny passed away. But I shall tell the story another day. It’s time for me to 😴now 🥱.
Last week Maria (our part-time helper of 11 years) Whatsapped me a photo of a receipt and meds. The receipt has the name of a maternity centre in Cheras. When I saw the photo, I knew that something went awry with her pregnancy. She was about 11 weeks along. And I had the hunch that she wanted to borrow money from me.
My hunch was right. Maria later called me to tell me that she did a procedure to remove some polyps from her cervix at a private maternity centre. Her gynae also told her that the fetus wasn’t doing well and I think had no heart beat. I didn’t really understand what she was trying to explain to me.
Maria had to do a D&C procedure at the maternity centre the next morning. The earlier procedure cost her RM650 and the D&C would cost her another RM2k. She didn’t have enough money and asked if she could borrow RM500 from me.
I knew that there’s a high possibility that Maria may not be able to return the RM500 to me due to her financial situation. Her husband earns a meagre wage as a leaves blower. She also has to send money back to Indonesia to her mum, mil and for her toddler sons’ expenses.
I told Maria that I could only lend her RM400 as this was all the cash that I had with me. She needed the cash immediately. I don’t carry a lot of cash with me as 99% of my stuff are purchased via e-Wallets or online.
When I told the mil about Maria’s predicament, she was very empathetic and immediately told me that she could lend Maria RM100.
So now we have RM500 and Maria who was accompanied by her husband came to our condo pronto to get the cash.
Maria brought along a gold ring to pawn to me but I told her that I don’t want her ring. She promised me that she would return the RM500 to me by 10th August. I think she’ll keep her promise but given her financial situation now, it is highly unlikely that she could return the money to me on time. And in the event that this is true, I’ll treat it as charity and donate it to her. I hope she will still return to work for me though. She could at least repay me through instalments. In her 11 years of working for me, she has never once borrowed money from me.
Tomorrow is the 10th. I’ll know by tomorrow if Maria has kept her promise.
Meanwhile, without Maria coming to help me, I’ll have to clean the fans myself and get a reliable air-cond service company to clean my air conds.
This year is the third year that I’ve had a low-key birthday celebration, done at home. We were in lockdown the past two years and this year, though our country is now in transition to endemic phase, I still couldn’t go out to have a blast.
It’s a no-brainer guess. Darn Covid.
Alycia was tested positive last weekend while doing a routine Covid self-test and just as she was about to discard the test kit after 20 minutes, she saw the dreaded line on the ‘T’ window. It was so faint that I had to wear my glasses and use a magnifying glass to enlarge the kit to have a better look.
The moment we all saw the very faint line, Alycia quickly isolated herself in her room. Dutifully, she quickly updated her MySejahtera app and informed all her course mates who were in close contact with her to do a self-test.
The next few days involved everyone doing the RTK, me spending hundreds of Ringgit buying self-test kits, sanitizing the house, mask-wearing at home and doing room service for Alycia.
Thank God Alycia has been asymptomatic. If it wasn’t because of the routine pre-outing Covid self-test, she would not have found out that she was positive. Her daily RTK self tests since day 1 showed faint lines. On the third or fourth day however, the line got slightly more prominent but it was still not in bright pink. The line on the ‘T’ window was still faint.
Yesterday and today though, the line on the ‘T’ window was very faint again. I still could not see the faint line but Alycia, Sherilyn and Cass claimed that they could see it. Even with me wearing my glasses and using a magnifying glass and going out to the balcony to scrutinize the self-test kit under the sun, I still couldn’t see the line.
I wonder if my Presbyopia has progressed that badly? 🤨
I can only surmise that the zero symptoms and faint line have got to do with the low viral load theory.
Alycia has one more day of self isolation before she is released from HSO.
I had just gained 1kg from walloping almost the entire fudgy brownies that I ordered for myself last week, then lost that 1kg during the Covid drama last week through this week and I think I’m going to pile up the 1kg again with all these decadent brownies 😜.
What a way to celebrate my last 4-series birthday. I’m so looking forward to the 5-series next year!
Check out Alycia’s Covid quarantine meals at my other blog.
Last week I had a fall while wiping the floor. I was wiping the nooks and corners of the floor and where all the computer wires are, that the Roborock robot can’t reach. I was wiping the floor with a piece of wet cloth and wearing slippers when I fell backwards, landing on my butt and back of head. For a moment, I thought that’s it. I’m finished.
The fall resulted in bruises on both my elbows, a painful butt, and spine, which resulted in pain when I walked. The next day, I had a bad crick in my neck. I could not turn my head and felt horrible.
A day later, hubs booked an appointment for me to see a physiotherapist, despite me protesting because of the cost. The first session costs RM225 and subsequent sessions cost RM180, for an hour session. My go-to remedy has always been Salon Pas patches and time, of course, will heal. But hubs forced me to attend the physio session. He believes strongly in physiotherapy and has been attending regular physio sessions for aches and pains caused by sports (basketball) and work.
As of today, 5 days after the first physio session, the pain in my neck and shoulders is 90% gone. I told hubs that I don’t need another session but he’s forcing me to go for another session 🙄
My yearly pap smear and gynaecological scan are now ticked off my 2021 to-do checklist. The pap smear report is clear. I have one less worry now.
All is quite well but my gynae saw a small fibroid growing in my uterus 😓. I actually had a hunch that there’s a fibroid growing. All the anxiety and stress thrown at me the past one year don’t auger well for my body. But my gynae didn’t look too concerned since the fibroid only measures 1.3 cm.
My first fibroid was detected even before Cass was conceived and it took about 10 years before it grew to a size of 8 cm resulting in a Laparoscopic Myomectomy performed 4 years ago. My gynae commented that most women go through menopause between the ages of 45 – 55 years old and by then, the fibroid would have stopped growing. Hormones play a role in the growth of fibroids. I am 48 this year and I hope that menopause ain’t too far away.
My gynae then referred me to her dietician who gave me a list of what I can eat and should avoid. Looking at the list, I can only graze on organic greens with a little organic chicken and fish. No soy bean products, no caffeine (I can’t say NO to my coffee and matcha!!!), no red meat, no collagen, no processed foods and no beans and nuts as these foods are high in estrogen and progesterone. Well, I can still eat these foods but they must be eaten minimally. I have now switched to decaf coffee but still drink matcha.
But I think that if we can remove all stressors from our lives (ok, maybe 80%) and get 7-8 hours of sleep each day, our health will be better. I am pretty sure that the vicissitudes in my life the past 1 year are the main culprits in the growth of the fibroid as it wasn’t there during my scan in February last year. I have friends who are now in their late 70s who eat anything and everything they like, don’t get enough sleep but they never have fibroid or cancer because they are naturally happy people. Genetics are partly to be blamed too – my mum is also prone to fibroid and benign breast cysts, speaking of which I still have benign breast cysts on both my breasts but again, my gynae is not too worried about them too.
The bottom line: I’ve said this many times. I have to learn to let go and not sweat over the small stuff. Learn to laugh and be happy every day. I’m now laughing a lot more everyday with Haru in our lives. She’s making us laugh with her antics every single day. I know she came into our lives for a reason.