Random Update … Wed 14 May 14 @ 20:13
I’m sitting at home.
After 60 agonising hours of being warded at Singapore General Hospital, I am finally at home and temporarily untortured. But the ordeal is not yet over …
In November 2011, I had an operation done to remove a gouty tophi from my right foot (big toe). It had become so huge that I couldn’t wear normal shoes without much agony. The operation went well except that when my surgeon stitched me up, the same wound was actually undergoing another gouty attack. Thus, while it healed, a new but smaller bunion formed. This bunion never really bothered me over the next two years.
Then four weeks ago, just hours before I was to depart for K.L., I had to go Changi’s A&E to get the wound looked at because it became inflamed and posed a threat of infection. The doctors initially refused to aspirate the fluid for fear of aggravating any infection but later agreed with me that it would be better to aspirate in a clean environment than to have it burst in the middle of K.L. over the weekend. After puncturing and getting most of the fluid out, the foot was “back to normal” and I went to K.L. without incident or discomfort.
Then over the past weekend, on another trip to K.L., the wound leaked and I felt some pain. Upon returning on Sunday 11 May at 10pm, I immediately went to SGH to get it checked and once again, the fear of infection was the prime concern. They shot me up with antibiotics and scheduled to have the wound operated on to remove the gouty tophi and clean up any infection. However, the threat of infection was just precautionary as I showed no signs of fever, high blood pressure and severe pain that normally accompanies an infection. I was warded and put on the waiting list for surgery.
And it was a long waiting list given that Tuesday was a holiday and all.
While waiting, I had to fast ahead of the surgery. They pumped me up with plasma and antibiotics till my right arm became so sore from the inside out. By Wednesday morning, my arm could take no more. Now as I write this, my right arm is stiff and sore and unable to lift anything.
Starved, in pain and frustrated with all the waiting, my surgeon, Prof Inderjit Singh returned from a trip just in time to stop my misery. I was talking a walk outside the ward, wandering quite aimlessly and feeling totally depressed. I have never been happier to see my surgeon and I am not ashamed to tell you that I almost cried with relief to see his familiar face walking towards me. He stopped the needles and made an assessment on my foot. He then sent me home with instructions to stay off my feet with a stack of antibiotics for good measure. He assured me that the wound was not infected and scheduled me for surgery on Monday, 19 May first thing in the morning.
This is much sooner than I had expected but this doesn’t help the problem with my schedule. I still have some outstanding engagements to fulfil but Prof Singh assured me that the surgery would be a minor one compared to the other surgeries I’ve had over the last 30 months. But he did advise that I should take time off to recover and rest. I do have several previews to fulfil over the next few weeks but that is all the work I will be doing for now till my next class in a month’s time.
I have known for some time now that my body has been breaking down. I have known that I needed to take better care of myself. But I have been stubborn. I have always put others before myself and now, it has been at the expense of my health.
A good friend once told me that if I wished to continue to help others, I have to take care of myself first. I am of no bloody use to anyone if I am sick as it will only make others worry for me. He was right and now, those I want to help are worried for me.
Yes, I have been selfish and now I pay the price.
No more. I will be taking better care of myself and after my surgery, I will be slowing down and taking time off. I will never make anyone worry about me ever again. Especially my loving and over-caring wife. Its time I starting taking care of her instead.
At the end of it all, I close this day on a high after reading my student’s frank and honest post on his blog about my new book, “Winning Psychology Of Defensive Traders” and the Tutorial which he attended a couple of years ago. You can read his review here: http://sgyounginvestment.blogspot.sg but don’t stop there. His blog is a must-read for anyone who wishes to get more insight to what every good financier should know.
Well done on a fine blog, Sing Heng.
Now, I am going to take things easy. And I am going to start by getting a good sleep tonight.
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