Young Geriatrics

Geriatric.
I am just like a geriatric with a lot of problem.

Rigid neck. Frozen shoulder. Back pain.
And lately, I found myself with serious problem on my knee.
To be precise, my joints and muscle. Severely pain and stiffed!

Next, my eyes.
Tired and strained eyes.
Blurred vision sometimes ( as if I had taken anti-cholinergics)
FYI, I am actually half-blinded with my thick specs off.

Headache.
As if my brain is overworked.
Overloaded with too much thoughts and worries.

I am just like an old woman.
A young geriatric.

I am pretty sure that these are ALL my fault.
I am not good in taking care of my own health, my own body.

Having a bad posture while reading.
Static for hours while studying or doing assignments.
Caffeine addiction.
Overworking brain.
Radiation exposure.
Over-strained eyes on laptop and handphone.
Poor diet.
Skipped breakfast, sometimes.

As a healthcare professional, i should have know all the good things for health.
BUT,
It is never easy to take it into action.
I am more than worrying, somehow.
I just couldn't make a promise to myself to take care of my own health.

Owhhhhhh....
I guess I need a reminder, from friends and family.

To all, please do remind ME:

1. Do exercise, but never overwork it (as it may injured your joints and muscles)
2. Cut down caffeine intake ( A big challenge. To me, especially. The aroma of coffee is just so tempting)
3. Rest your eyes for 1 mins by looking far away or close your eyes, every 30 mins of work on eyes. ( Is so hard as i never get it done well.)
4. Stretch yourself after motionless for some time while working. MOVE IT! MOVE IT!
5. Breakfast is a MUST
6. Have a balanced diet.
7. Relax yourself. RELAX. Physically and mentally.
8.  Try your best to have enough sleep. In short, sleep whenever you got a chance!

9. Drink more water. Keep HYDRATED!
10. Don't worry, be happy.

All those rules of health are so simple, yet hard to be applied.
I wonder why?

I understand that it is much more easier to say it than do it.

Effort is needed, i know.

I am hoping for a better tomorrow.
BUT before that,
I should be a better me, from NOW onwards.

I am geriatric young!!!!!!!!!!

Delirium

READING, is always my hobby. Since young.
It is always hard for me to begin to read a new book. BUT once it get initiated, I am totally IMMERSED into it.

Lately, I had discovered AWESOME novel.
The DELIRIUM series by Lauren Oliver.
A trilogy.
#Delirium#  #Pandemonium#  #Requiem#

In this trilogy, LOVE ♥ is a dangerous illness with deadly symptoms. 

Amor Deliria Nervosa. 
In the story, falling in love is totally FORBIDDEN.
Treatment and procedure is available to cure the disease.
Evaluation is made before the procedure. The evaluator will match both with similar score during the evaluation. Get paired. Lastly, after the cure, get MARRIED and live happily ever after.

There is NO Love ♥ between both. Deliria-free.

In the other side of this land, is 'The Wild' in which the 'Invalids' live.

'Invalids' do exist. The UNCURED.

Fighting for survival. Fighting for freedom to Love.

They want Love. TO LOVE AND TO BE LOVED!

An interesting story. 

Highly recomended to read.

LOVE.

Everyone wanted it so much. 

Craved for it, crazily.

I wonder why?

Hormonal change, i guess.

Is so amazing to love.

To hug. To touch. To kiss.

However, lately, love is no loger just a boy-girl thinggy.

People often attracted by the same gender.

SO WHAT?

Is fine, actually.

Love is just a feeling. An emotion. A disease.

Involuntarily infect the whole world.

Everyone.

Being UNEMPLOYED: A bless or a curse

I am not so sure if being unemployed for almost 5 months is a bless or curse.

I am far more than FREE at home actually. IDLENESS. But I am not relaxing, neither, at all.

#THROWBACK# 

5 months had passed since I left Penang after my FINAL final exam for my last semester.

With this, I am unofficially graduated and officially unemployed.

It is just like a long long VACATION to me, before I can get a call for work in the Government Hospital.

Is a long WAIT, I guess. Thus, I have plenty of things in my mind. 

PLANNED. But I am never a stick-to-plan type person.

Nevertheless, I do have some meaningful stuff done to fill my free time: 

Having random trips (Perak, Penang, KL, Singapore, Cambodia, Yo Jakarta and Batam),

jogging (REAL jog!), 

dating (with my beloved), 

reading books (I am about to blog about those books I had read. SOON! Stay tune!),

teaching tuition (Surprisingly, I am teaching History...hehe!), 

doing housechore (Exactly a CINDEELLA), 

watching random movies, 

catching up with high school friends (never out of topics no matter how ;D),

blogging (in which I just started yesterday and just found out that I really have a lot of things in my mind to share to the world)

All these activities make my boring and empty life eventful and happening! 

At least, I am still doing SOMETHING :)

Not to get my mind and soul left inactive.

It is really BLISSFUL having so much free time and doing anything I LOVE, anytime, anywhere.

On the other hand, being too free at home is also a curse.

Sometimes, my brain tends to work hyper-actively.

There are billion of neurotransmitters in my brain, working diligently.

This is the reason why I always think too much, putting myself in a state of depression.

I like to think in ADVANCED on things that NEVER even happened.

Thinking about LIFE. The PURPOSE of living in this earth.

Keep wondering about every single things.

The world have so much things left UNEXPLAINED.

I know I should STOP that. STOP thinking and worrying too much.

I should have work part time to earn some money OR prevent myself from thinking too much OR maybe work in a pharmacy to earn some experiences.

But I DID NOT do so.

Even though money flows UNIDIRECTIONAL during this whole period... ...

Anyway, I am going to be absorbed into the WORKING PHASE very soon. 

TICK-TOCK-TICK-TOCK

TIME ticks away slowly, bit-by-bit. 

But it seems like rocketing.

Thus, I am going to enjoy to the fullest before I start my working life.

A busy and hectic one, I guess.

=THE END=

The road taken: Being a Pharmacist

I am a pharmacist-to-be.

A new phase of life is going to start soon. Very SOON.

Receiving the offer letter as a U41 Pharmacist gives me a mixed feelings of excitement and uncertainty.

I’m just can’t imagine how a pharmacist’s life can be…?

Hectic? Erratic? Or perhaps… FANTASTIC???

A lot of challenges awaiting… …

I am pretty sure that I am going to like this job, or should I say LOVE it…?

At least, theoretically, I shall LOVE this job……I supposed!

However, deep in my heart, I know that it is more than just a job.

#PHARMACEUTICAL CARE# is always the priority (just as lecturers always highlighted on)

Without pharmaceutical care, a prescription is just a piece of nothing;

Without pharmaceutical care, medicines are just simply liquids or pills;

Without pharmaceutical care, lab values are just NUMBERS;

Without pharmaceutical care, a patient is always a patient (We are expecting a healthy one, of cause!)

Doctors might give the best treatment and prescribe the best medicine to a patient.

BUT with the wrong dose OR wrong dosage form OR wrong way OR wrong time of administration,

It is NO WAY to be fine in improving one’s health.

Here, pharmacists come in role J

#THROWBACK# Final Year of undergrad# USM# Clerkship#

This is the time I actually know exactly what is going on to be a pharmacist.

Being a DRUG DEALER is never an easy job, especially when working in a hospital.

It is much more complex and complicated in terms of the pharmacist’s job scope: Outpatient Pharmacy, Satellite Pharmacy, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM), Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN), Drug Information System (DIS), Cytotoxic Drug Reconstitution (CDR), Management Pharmacy and Inventory and Ward Pharmacy as well as Clinical Pharmacy.

I actually attached to Hospital USM and Penang GH during my final year clerkship.

Observation, rather than hands-on-experience.

Hardly explain everything in words, as the diversity of the role of a pharmacist is AMAZINGLY far beyond my knowing.

It is NEVER just DISPENSING or SELLING medicines behind the counter---like a businessman, just like what people always see in the outpatient counter in a clinic/hospital or a community pharmacy.

I actually enjoyed the time during the final semester, rotating different ward.

Different from the other PHARMACY-BASED department, ward pharmacy is more challenging as pharmacist is not only dealing with drugs BUT MORE---close contact with patients, frequent updates of patients’ condition  as well as communication with doctors and nurses.

Having the WHITE COAT on in the ward is really HOTTT and STUFFFFY, but the feeling of responsibility and commitment as a pharmacist (Well… I am still not a real one, by now) is dominating.

During clerkship, we learn our clinical knowledge by case study-ing.

We clerk a patient, gather all his/her health-related information, identify DRUG-RELATED PROBLEM (or some says PHARMACEUTICAL CARE ISSUES) and lastly focus on monitoring and patient counseling.

We do detect some pharmaceutical care issues especially on the choice of medicine.

Obviously, it is definitely not our role as a PHARMACY STUDENT to question doctors’ decision on drug of choice.

However, as a learning process, a lot of question marks do POP OUT (Often a question mark without question…).

What I am trying to say is that the knowledge on clinical and drug information is really IMPORTANT.

A simple choice of drug has too much things to be considered, for instance, patient’s renal or liver profile, patient’s age, other concurrent illness or concurrent medicines… … the list goes on… …

In other words, a pharmacist should have all those drug information in his/her fingertips.

I hope I can be the one.

Besides having a better understanding about the role of ward pharmacist, on the other hand, I do, sometimes, feel curious that how hectic that doctors’ life could be, until they have no time to, at least, smile? (No Offense)

In pharmaceutical care, sometimes, doctors and pharmacists do think in different way.

Neither RIGHT, nor WRONG in clinical.

There is always a GRAY ZONE.

Just different perception, varying point of view.

Both are getting information from different source of references, perhaps.

Here comes DISCUSSION and COLLABORATION.

It is a life-long learning process, after all.

I feel quite sad; when I was told that pharmacist always work alone (maybe one or two) in ward. Unlike doctors, they work in team (Consultant, Specialist, Medical Officer and a bundle of houseman); as well as nurses, there are pretty much nurses work together in a ward.

 I am pretty sure that most people often neglect the existence of pharmacist in the ward.

 In ward, pharmacist’s role seems insignificant BUT definitely VITAL.

To be precise, all healthcare professional should be work together! It is like doctors, pharmacists and nurses work hand-joined for a better healthcare outcome.

Dealing with patients is another challenge.

BIG CHALLENGE, I could say.

COMPLIANCE is always an issue.

Patient compliance is critical despite the best treatment and the best medicine given.

Hence, another essential role of a pharmacist is to provide patient counselling: giving important advises on healthcare education, teaching the important steps on using special devices (Inhaler, insulin pen, eye drop), as well as some crucial highlights on medicine administration.

I hope I can cope with it well :)

#As the saying goes… …#

Dr. Bala: THINK like a PHARMACIST, ACT like a PHARMACIST.

Prof Syed: The first thing when u look at patient’s case, calculate the CREATININE CLEARANCE.

Dr. Fatah: Calculator is a MUST.

Dr. Chong: Everything you said must come with EVIDENCE!

#Last piece of words#

I sincerely hope that I can be a great pharmacist, soon.

A brilliant one. A smart one. A caring one. An enthusiastic one.

I am joining the crew very soon. The DRUG EXPERT J

P/s: As mentioned above, I am still not YET a REAL pharmacist. Correct me if I am wrong about anything about this career. Hope to have a better understanding when I am really enrolled into it :) 

Best of luck to me!

New member in my life: Tara

She first came into my life on 2^nd September 2013.

TARA, unexpectedly, is mine.

I never thought of having a car that early, at least not before I am financially stable. However, I am having Tara in my life right now!

Spending a few thousand bucks of mine for the down payment, road tax and car insurance before getting her. Still, another  5 years paying the bank loan, for the remaining.

The name—Tara, suits her the best.

She is silvery shinning. A small little 5-years-old silver Perodua My-Vi.

She is no longer a virgin as she had an owner before me.

I don’t mind actually.

She is still having functionable and powerful engine.

The down part, auto-locking system is not functioning well (This is bad, especially for someone like me, who is always so forgetful to get my car lock manually while driving)

Other than that, she works perfectly nice to me.

Tara had hospitalized for 2 days, in a few weeks back.

A reckless driver had knocked Tara on her right front door, leaving her a large scar and an uneven surface.

Tara is actually with her engine off by that time.

Pity Tara!

Luckily the driver had paid for everything and Tara was ALL RIGHT.

I am pretty cautious when I am bringing Tara on the road, ensuring everything is fine.

She is great and capable enough to bring me here and there.

Having a car is really a bliss as travelling to place to place becomes convenient.

Tara will be a great helper to bring me to my working place, in another one more month.

I promise that I will take good care of her and be extra-carefully when I am driving on her.

I LOVE Tara J

发泄

有时候，我很享受一个人的时候~
自由自在~ 可以做自己爱做的事情！
但是，
最近，一个人的时候，我好像不知道自己该做什么好？
或许是没有爱做的事情可以做了~
快窒息的感觉！
说不出的不爽~
想哭可是哭不出来！

为什么最近越变越脆弱？
不管是身体，还是心理。。。
就连理智的头脑也快被感性的心瓦解了！
免疫系统急速下降！
脑细胞和脑神经开始活跃！
有点无助。。。
如果说，一个笑容可以是坚强的代表。。。
那么我大概只有笑容是坚强的！

做人好累！
人，还是傻一点比较好！不要想那么多~

我其实很乐观~
有时一个人悲观，只是希望可以有人关心和注意。。。
因为没有人会担心乐观的人。。。

旅行的意义

两天后的现在，我已经是在飞去香港的飞机上！
又可以旅行了 :)
现在的心情，即忐忑又兴奋，即担心又期待！
旅行了好几次，第一次要自己和表姐表妹4人背包旅行！
不知道是个怎么样的旅行！
期待~~~

近两年，mummy迷上了背包旅行！
所以，最近也有机会到处旅行！
多谢Air Asia 和 Tiger Airways =D
近几年，
从台湾。。。
到韩国。。。
到越南。。。
到北京。。。
到沙捞越。。。
到普及岛。。。
都让我大开眼界~

有时候在想，旅行，到底是为了什么呢？

最昂贵的一次旅行，就是去韩国！
因为参加Symposium才有机会去到那繁忙和发展腾达的首尔城市~
和Seniors 还有一些从不同国家来的 Participants~
旅客必到的首尔塔，可爱的Teddy Bear Museum,冬季恋歌的拍摄地点——— 南怡岛，
很多很多化妆品店的Meun Dong, 豪华又奢侈的Shopping Mall, 
还有文化村。。。和好吃的烤肉！
啊！韩国好美 =)
去的时候是夏天，没有机会体验到下雪的感觉~
希望有机会能够Visit 冬天的韩国。。。

有时和家人一起旅行，有时和朋友~带着的是不同的心情！
最重要的是，可以联络感情 =)
无可否认，在一个人生地不熟的城市里，真的可以深深的体会到
“在家靠父母，出外靠朋友”

去了越南———胡志明市两次~
第一次去的时候，就深深的爱上了这个城市！
其实一开始，对越南的印象就是落后和闷~
但是去了之后，就没有理由的就爱上了！
Motorcycle 多过车的马路~
很多很多来自不同国家的旅客~
一排排的Backpacker Hostel~
浓浓的越南咖啡~
好吃的法国面包~
热腾腾的牛肉面（PhO）~
很好逛的Bentan Market =)
真的是一个很特别，很有feel 的国家！
去了2次，第一次和家人去，另一次和另外16个朋友去！
不同的感觉，不同的体验~
唯一不变的，就是胡志明市的人土风情~


想想，四海为家的感觉应该很不错！
有时候很羡慕西方人的潇洒~
他们可以不顾一切，到处旅行好几个星期，甚至一个月！
什么牵挂也没有，带着一个什么都有的大背包~旅行去！

记得去年，在Phuket的时候，偶然认识了2个从Spain来的两个旅客~
一个四十三岁的光头Ang Mo和他的十八岁外甥！
他们一旅行就是一个月，而且就是去了好几个亚洲国家~
多么豪爽啊！
另外也在船上认识了一个去了很多国家的九岁小弟弟！
或许是他们的热情，也或许是这几年旅行给我练来的胆识，
记得那天在Island Hoping 的船上，和他们聊了很多！
虽然我的记忆力有些不好，不太记得我们聊了些什么。。。
但是，那时的conversation是开心的=)
回头想想，至少自己在旅行的时候，也能做到旅人的身份!
就是可以不顾一切，和全然不认识的陌生人东聊西聊！
虽然和他们只是一面之缘~但是，至少是旅行中一些很美好，很难忘得回忆！

另外，记得去年在北京。。。
一个历史悠久，充满着很多历史故事的过渡~
不但让我增广知识，也让我对中华知识有另一种认识~
看到那些百年不朽的建筑物，加上导游精彩的解说，
真的是对中国的百年历史 Impressed 到！！！
深深的以自己身为龙的传人而骄傲！

紫禁城。。。万里长城。。。
绝对是一个毕生必到的地方！
真的是难以用文字和言语来形容的Magnificant!!!
从北京回来过后，真的是对300年前的历史和建筑物崇拜不已！

旅行~
有机会旅行的时候，就要好好把握!

有些人。。。
有时间，没有钱~
有些人。。。
有钱，没有时间~
有些人。。。
有钱又有时间的时候~没有伴~
要不然就是身体状况不允许~

所以，现在有时间~就要好好享受~
虽然我不是很有钱~
但是好好的计划~好好的Control Budget~
还是可以以最Minimum 的钱，到处旅行=)

完毕！

期待2天后的香港之旅~

=D