Answering The Call of Nature

Pee Kit

Have you ever wondered how I do it when I have to answer the call of nature? The above are the devices that I use when I need to empty my bladder. There is the kidney dish, a tube of KY Jelly and a catheter. I seldom leave home without them. Although I can micturate the normal way, it was recommended by the urologist that I should empty my bladder every four hours to prevent a reflux. A reflux is when the urine flows back into the kidneys from the bladder. The pressure from the backflow will damage the kidneys. A majority of those with spinal cord injury suffer the same problem if they have a spastic bladder.

I have been doing what is known as intermittent catheterisation since 1991, five times a day without fail. Every four hours, I lubricate the catheter with KY Jelly and insert it into my bladder through the urethra. The catheter is long latex tube with one rounded edge and eyes on both sides much like the eye of a sewing needle. That is for draining the urine. The other end is a flared opening where the urine comes out and collected in the kidney dish. After I have completely drained my bladder of urine, I remove the catheter, wash it and keep it for the next use. One catheter can last up to four weeks after which it has to be discarded. The catheter I use is called a foley catheter or balloon catheter.

If there is a need to keep the catheter inserted for a period of time, the balloon inside the catheter is expanded by injecting distilled water, usually 30ml, through a valve by the side of the flared end. The enlarged balloon will prevent the catheter from slipping out. For indwelling catheterisation, the flared end is attached to a urine bag.

Intermittent catheterisation has become ritual I practise every day without fail. It has kept my kidneys relatively healthy up to now. Some damage is bound to happen. I hope that with a proper diet, intermittent catheterisation, medication and routine medical check-up, my kidneys will last for many more years.

* This entry was posted at Bloggers are Morons for Blogathon 2005.

Steamed Buns – As Easy As ABC

Steamed buns

Making steamed buns is as easy as ABC. All that is needed are flour, sugar, yeast, water and lots of elbow grease if you do not have an electric mixer. Below I am sharing the recipe of the steamed buns that I just made. It is really fun and simple. All the ingredients are easily available from the bakery section of supermarkets. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

Steamed Buns (Pau)

Ingredients:
500g flour
1 tsp instant yeast
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups lukewarm water

Mix the flour and yeast thoroughly in a mixing bowl. Dissolve sugar in water. Mix the ingredients and knead the dough with hand or with an electric mixer for 10 minutes until it becomes smooth and does not stick to the bowl. Separate the dough into 40g lumps. Roll to make them round and line the bottom of each bun with a piece of grease paper. Cover it with a piece of clean cloth and leave it to rise for 60 minutes in room temperature. Steam the buns in high heat for 15 minutes. Use a piece of rolled up wet cloth to seal the side of the steamer. Makes 24 buns.

Hello From Sunny Penang

Rumah Hospice, Penang

It is my turn now and I really do not know what I should be blogging about for the next four hours. I do not usually post more than one entry per day. Since this is all for the Hospice-at-Home-Programme, I shall put up a photo of Rumah Hospice and talk a little about them.

When Mum and I were given four options for her nursing care because I could no longer look after her, Rumah Hospice was one of the choices suggested. They have a team of nurses and medical officers looking after patients staying there. It is an old government bungalow located off Jalan Air Itam and just beside the Methodist Boys School.

Like my first visit there two years ago, my second visit recently brought back many memories of how difficult it was for terminally-ill patients and their families to cope with the situation. One can never get used to accepting the impending death of a loved one, no matter how hard one tries or how prepared one is.

The moment I saw one of the patients lying in bed, a feeding tube sticking out from her nose, her body reduced to skin and bones, my heart sank. I almost cried. There is nothing more anyone can do for these patients except to make them comfortable. One of the important aspects of palliative care is pain management. Cancer patients almost always suffer from pain. As long as that part is dealt with sufficiently, the other symptoms will be more manageable somewhat.

Mum was prescribed dihydrocodiene tartrate for her pain. However, the dosage needed to be adjusted to because I wanted to keep her relatively pain-free but lucid as well. The Hospice helped us in that aspect and for the first few weeks that Mum was under the care of the hospice, she was actually improving in vigour and spirits. It was virtually impossible for me to take Mum back to the hospital every time there was a need to review her dosage because she had become very immobile and I never could have managed it by myself.

That was how much the Hospice has helped us during those times of extreme need. And that is why I believe in their work. For all that they had done for Mum and me, I will forever be grateful. I am delighted that my fellow bloggers share my views and have come together to wholeheartedly support this effort to raise funds for the Hospice-at-Home-Programme for the Penang Branch of the Malaysia National Cancer Society. Please donate generously because that will go a long way towards supporting the Hospice in helping cancer patients and their families who are in dire need of palliative care and support.

* This entry was posted at Bloggers are Morons for Blogathon 2005.