Blood Work for August 2010
Wuan accompanied me to the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) yesterday. It was for my scheduled check-up at the Spinal Rehabilitation Clinic. I had been anxious from the time we went there three weeks ago to have my blood drawn for renal profile, blood glucose test and lipid profile.
Blood test results for August 2010.
I had half-expected the serum creatinine to be higher than previous results. I have been going through a spell of lethargy that I thought could be due to be caused by my kidneys. It was a great relief when I saw that the serum creatinine was 288 umol/L. No doubt, it was very high due to kidney disease, it has stayed below 300 umol/L. That was all I had been hoping for.
Serum potassium was marginally higher at 5.4 mmol/L. Normal values should be between 3.6 to 5.2 mmol/L. I need to be aware of potassium-rich food that I have to cut down on. Serum urea had come down although still above the desired range, while sodium was hovering at previous levels. Fasting blood glucose looked good. Likewise, lipid profile. Saying that I am happy with the results is an understatement. I am ecstatic!
Tags: blood test, clean intermittent catheterization, Detrusitol 2mg tablet, Detrusitol SR 4mg, fasting blood glucose, high serum creatinine, kidney failure, lipid profile, low-protein diet, PPUM, renal profile, UMMC
Lump In Scrotum And Detrusitol SR 4mg
The lump in the scrotum has been bothering me again of late. Prior to the discovery of the lump, I stopped driving for a while because my legs were spasmodic. When the spasms struck, my legs would get in the way of the hand controls and steering wheel. The spasms went away about one week after I finished the antibiotics.
Its size has not reduced much after the two-week course of antibiotics. The spasms have returned. I believe there is a relation between the spasms and the lump. I was at the UMMC Rehabilitation Medicine Clinic for my scheduled three-month check-up yesterday. The doctor examined the lump and advised me to get a biopsy done. I am going back to SJMC soon to have the lump checked again by the urologist.
When I went to collect my supply of medication, the pharmacist changed my dosage of Detrusitol from the 2mg twice a day to one 4mg once daily prolonged-release capsule. I told him that I have had problems with the 4mg capsule as it caused problems with urination. He told me that was the only dosage the pharmacy has now and if I prefer the 2mg tablet I have to get it elsewhere. I decided to give the 4mg capsules a try again.
I cannot understand why the pharmacy prefers to dispense the 4mg capsules instead of the 2mg tablets. A one-month supply of Detrusitol SR 4mg capsules costs RM249 while the Detrusitol 2mg tablets costs only RM170 when I last bought them myself. Anyway, the instruction was that I should take one capsule at night. Based on my previous experience with Detrusitol SR, I decided to take the capsule in the morning instead. I had my first dose this morning and will be monitoring my bladder’s reaction in the coming days.
Tags: Detrusitol 2mg tablet, Detrusitol SR 4mg, lump in scrotum, Tolterodine 2mg, Tolterodine SR 4mg
It Is Expensive To Be Sick
Yesterday was my scheduled medical check up at UMMC. As I am holding the card issued by the Department of Social Welfare Malaysia for disabled persons, doctor’s consultation, medical tests and medicine are free. These are Detrusitol, Lactulose and other supplements. Those would have cost RM200 per month if I had to pay for them. Apart from that, I am also taking Ketosteril to supplement my low-protein diet and Sangobion for anaemia, both of which the hospital does not provide. One box of 100 Ketosteril tablets costs RM260. I need two boxes per month. That is the minimum. The recommended dosage is 4 boxes. I also bought several other items, namely KY Jelly and one silicon foley catheter, which are cheaper at the UMMC pharmacy than other places. The bill came out to RM1109.20. This is where most of my income from online activities go to. What people say is true – money cannot buy health. Given a choice, I would rather be healthy and happy than wealthy. No, I am not rich either. That makes it doubly painful.
Tags: Department of Social Welfare Malaysia, Detrusitol 2mg tablet, Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat, JKM, Kad OKU, Ketosteril, KY Jelly, Sangobion, Tolterodine 2mg