The Digital Awakening » Disability Issues

On Lipitor 10mg

Peter Tan — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:51:11 +0000

Until two days ago, my only medicine was Detrusitol SR 4mg for a neurogenic bladder. Yesterday, on the first day of 2012, I had to add one more to my daily medication for another health problem that has cropped up. My HDL and LDL cholesterol are not at their ideal levels. There is also the family history of heart disease. My father died of congestive heart failure.

The lipid profile done on November 18, 2011 was not too positive. My HDL cholesterol was 0.97 mmol/L and LDL cholesterol was 3.09 mmol/L. The ideal ranges should be above 1.10 mmol/L and below 2.59 mmol/L for the HDL and LDL respectively. In short, I have high cholesterol!

Lipitor 10mg (atorvastatin) daily to treat my high cholesterol.

Taking into consideration the family history, the undesirable levels of both HDL and LDL cholesterol and the fact that I lead a very sedentary lifestyle, I was advised by Dr. Kumaran of the UMMC Spinal Rehab Clinic to go on atorvastatin therapy. This is to keep my cholesterol levels in check and lower the risk of heart attack and stroke later on.

I took my first dose of 10mg Lipitor (crystalline atorvastatin calcium) last night just before bed. The serious side effects of taking Lipitor include muscle problems that could lead to kidney failure, and liver problems. A blood test to check on my liver and renal functions is scheduled in February. Hopefully, Lipitor will not exacerbate my existing kidney problem. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Bengkel Disability Equality Training (DET) at Universiti Malaya

Peter Tan — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 10:32:33 +0000

The Seksyen Kaunseling, Kerjaya dan OKU (Counselling, Career and Disabled Persons Section) of Universiti Malaya organised the Bengkel Disability Equality Training (Disability Equality Training Workshop) on December 29. This workshop at the Dewan Perdana 1 at Kompleks Perdanasiswa was to promote awareness of disability issue in the campus. The participants include students, staff from the various faculties, Student Affairs Divisons (Bahagian Hal Ehwal Pelajar), Residential College (Kolej kediaman), library, Examination Section (Seksyen Peperiksaan), security and the Counselling, Career and Disabled Persons Section.

Emcee opening the Disability Equality Workshop (DET) Workshop at University Malaya.
Photo by Wuan.

The two-hour session on DET was conducted using the Facilitated Participatory Learning (FPL) with modules created by Dr. Kunji Kuno and DET Trainers from the United Kingdom. Participants were led through various exercises using images and videos to deepen their understanding on disability and methods to remove barriers using the “open box solution”. Although one session is insufficient for DET, I am glad to note that the participants already had a good grasp of disability issues.

Peter Tan explaining about Disability Equality Training (DET) Workshop at Universiti Malaya.
Photo by Wuan.

I was made to understand that the Seksyen Kaunseling, Kerjaya dan OKU will be organising a follow-up workshop with a longer duration some time next year. This is good news to end the year with where disability matters in Malaysia is concerned. Society is slowly making an effort to understand issues faced by disabled people and also warming up to the notion of making the built environment accessible. I hope the other universities and schools will emulate Universiti Malaya in taking this step in changing attitudes and breaking barriers to make education accessible and available to everyone in Malaysia. A big thank you to Puan Maznah Azis for coordinating this workshop and making sure that everything that I requested were provided for a smooth running of the session.

Participants discussing in groups during one of the DET exercises.
Photo by Wuan.

Group work poster on video analysis for DET Workshop.
Photo by Wuan.

Peter Tan joining in one of the group discussions at the DET Workshop.
Photo by Wuan.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2011

Peter Tan — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 05:56:54 +0000

Today is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The theme for this year is “Together for a better world for all: Including persons with disabilities in development.” On the national front, Hari OKU will be celebrated on December 4 at Wisma Bernama with the theme “KARISMA OKU: Melonjak Potensi.”

Enough with fancy slogans and themes already! It is time for the government to put into action all the promises made during conferences, press conferences and speeches. I have been in a wheelchair long enough to see that nothing much have been done to alleviate the plight of disabled people.

How many buildings in Malaysia comply with the Uniform Building By-Law 34A since it was gazetted by the various states in Malaysia in the 1990s? Can a disabled person move conveniently around his neighbourhood or catch a bus to go watch a movie?

One good thing is that medical treatment at all government hospitals is free for disabled people. Admittedly, I am a beneficiary of this generosity. However, I would have great difficulty going to the hospital if I do not have my own transport. There is no accessible bus service where I stay

Malaysia is rushing headlong to gain the developed nation status in less than a decade. Unfortunately, I foresee that disabled people in Malaysia will still be stuck in third world infrastructure come that time. This status will have no meaning to disabled people who have to struggle with barriers every step of the way.

So please, Dato Sri Najib Tun Razak, Dato Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and all cabinet ministers, I plead to you with all sincerity to make a commitment to make Malaysia a barrier-free nation by 2020. Don’t just celebrate with us on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Take action to enable and empower us. That is what a caring government must do.

Blood Tests, KUB Ultrasound and ECG for November 2011

Peter Tan — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:45:41 +0000

I went for my schedule medical checkup at the University Malaya Medical Centre Spinal Rehabilitation Clinic on Wednesday. The good news is that the renal and liver profiles did not show significant changes. Serum creatinine has gone down to 272 umol/L from 291 umol/L in July 2011.

Renal profile for November 18, 2011

Sodium 139 mmol/L
Potassium 4.8 mmol/L
Chloride 105 mmol/L
Total CO2 26.0 mmol/L
Anion Gap 13 mmol/L
Urea 7.8 mmol/L
Creatinine 272 umol/L

Liver profile for November 18, 2011

Total Protein 76 g/L
Albumin 38 g/L
Globulin 37 g/L
Total Bilirubin 8 umol/L
Conjugated Bilirubin 2 umol/L
Alk Phosphatase 86 IU/L
ALT (GPT) 17 IU/L
AST (GOT) 15 IU/L
Gamma GT 12 IU/L

The cholesterol levels are not too encouraging though, especially when there is a history of heart problem in the family. My father passed away from congestive heart failure. I was advised to go on the lowest dosage of Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium) which is 10mg to keep the cholesterol levels in check.

Lipid profile for November 18, 2011

Triglyceride 1.4 mmol/L
Total cholesterol 4.7 mmol/L
HDL 0.97 mmol/L
LDL 3.09 mmol/L

The ultrasound of the kidneys, ureters and bladder report is somewhat similar although the length of the left kidney size was measured at 8.9cm this time as compared to 9.1cm in December 2010 and 6.89cm in February 2004.

KUB Ultrasound Report for November 18, 2011

Findings

Comparisons made previous ultrasound dated 27.12.10
Both kidneys are normal insize but with increased echogenicity
The right kidney measures 9.5cm in BPL and 0.6cm in cortical thickness
The left kidney measures 8.9cm in BPL and 0.5cm in cortical thickness
There is a small cyst seen in the uppor pole of the left kidney measuring 1.0cm
The bladder wall is trabeculated
Prostate is normal in size with smooth outline

Impressions
Renal parenchymal disease
Left renal cyst
Trabeculated bladder secondary to neurogenic bladder

Electrocardiograph (ECG) for November 30, 2011.
Photo by Wuan with Samsung Galaxy S II.

I also had an electrocardiogram (ECG) done on the same day as the checkup. According to the doctors, the results did not show any problem which is a relief.

ECG figures for November 20, 2011

Rate 88

PR 152
QRSD 94
QT 380
QTC 460

AXIS
P 62
QRS 90
T 67

Overall, I am happy with the blood test results except for my cholesterol levels. Renal and liver profile tests will be done two months after I have started on Lipitor to check whether these organs are effected by it. A urodynamics study is also scheduled in the first quarter of next year to determine the pressure in my bladder. It was last done in 2008 at Subang Jaya Medical Centre.

On The Air Live With Tim Abbott In Technical Difficulties

Peter Tan — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 14:47:04 +0000

Resonance104.4fm is the world’s first radio art station, established by London Musicians’ Collective. The non-profit community radio station broadcasts from Borough High Street in London. On Fridays at 3.30pm GMT, Tim Abbott hosts the half-hourly show called Technical Difficluties which touches on disability issues around the world. Tim (@lightchronic) and I connected with each other in Twitter through Zashnain Zainal(@bedlamfury), a mutual Twitter acquaintance.

Tim invited me to go on the air live interview with him in the show last Friday. That was my first one-on-one live radio show with a station in the United Kingdom. Among the topics we covered were my experience with disability, and the built environment and public transport in Malaysia. I made three pages of notes on the points that I wanted to share prior to the programme. In the end, I did not use any of them as Tim was very good in leading the direction of our conversation and made me feel well at ease to talk openly about those issues. Click here to listen or download the podcast.