Update on My Health Issues

Last Tuesday predawn after I got up, I had terrible coughs. Those were stopping me from doing my morning exercise. I called my mother thru a relay service after 6 am and asked for a medication. I can't stand coughs anymore! Coughs were next that morning. Ugh. I didn't have time to take Prevacid pill. After 7 am, Dad delivered a liquid medication to me. I did take it immediately. Little better. I took a liquid medication twice that day. I was about feeling better. Yesterday, coughs were about decreasing but still blowing my nose with too many tissues. I guess coughs almost stopped today cuz I drank orange juice that works to heal it.
I was informed by my mom about the disease she found out from my gas doctor yesterday. I was in a shock when I found out this afternoon. It's called H.pylori (<----click this link for an info), an infection in my stomach. A benign. A positive. Mom received a phone call from my gas doctor and other medical team yesterday that they found it in my stomach when they looked at it last week. They took a biopsy from me during the test last week on Tuesday the 20th. I can't believe it. I didn't know that. Mom thinks I had a bad food from Wal-Mart. Yes, it's possible but other food I bought from Wal-Mart is good. Anyways, I received new medications again this afternoon. Those 2 new medications are antibiotic (same that I had before) and anti-infective by my gas doctor. Still having more Prevacid pills. He's good to me. 2 days before Thanksgiving as I was about going to sleep in the surgery room, he was glad to hear from me when I told him I have no more diarrheas. LOL! I am hoping an infection in my stomach will be gone no more in the New Year.

Breakfast At Denny's. Had A Sore Throat and Now Colds. The Guests. Doing Chores.

According to my Blast that I typed this morning, I had unexpected incident that Sat afternoon few hours later since I left the restaurant for breakfast.
I was fine that morning and was ready going out for eating a breakfast at Denny's, next to I-95 highway. Before I left my apt, Mother faxed to inform us that she and the guests at their house were out of Eggo Waffles and eggs and syrup. I laughed at that message again. Mom is so funny. I can't believe they ran out of them. Did Dad buy more maple syrup on the morning of Thanksgiving Day? I don't know if he did it. Anyways, I gave this fax message to Dad when he arrived. Then he phoned Mom. We left my apt afterwards. First stop by at Wal-Mart Neighborhood Store, south of my apt, and then Dad dropped off plastic bag of breakfast items at his house. Afterwards, at Denny's, I ordered Belgian Waffle Platter with 2 sunny-sided eggs and flavored Cappuccino with French Vanilla. Yummy! Felt so good. I ate a halfway. That breakfast looks big but I enjoyed eating it. Next time, I'll order something else that I would like. When I finished eating breakfast, I went home.
That Sat afternoon, I was not feeling well. A sore throat was first started developing. I felt sick again. I thought it's probably coming from the scope that went from my mouth into my stomach inside during the surgery last Tues but I don't know, isn't it possible? Or Joe, my oldest brother, gave it to me, did he have it before? Or at Denny's that have germs everywhere? I don't know which one. The next morning, the sore throat is gone no more. That's good news but my nose is next. Oh, no! A running nose. I kept blowing my nose with too many tissues all day and night! Ugh! Mom came over and brought 2 boxes of Kleenex I asked for. Then she recommended I should take Benadryl-D Allergy & Sinus pill that Joe made a suggestion to Mom. Mom found it in Joe's blue bag. I took it right away. Minutes later, I felt funny when the medication kicked in. Werid. It drove me crazy. This morning when I woke up, I am still having funny feelings. I think I am almost getting better but not recovering from it yet. I can't wait to get better! Hurry up! This afternoon, I have few coughs little bit. I am still taking Vitamin C chewables since yesterday. Those are from a health food store and might help. Hopefully, I will be getting better tomorrow but I don't know. Wait and see it will happen.
Yesterday afternoon, I faxed and told Mom that I feel bad for not seeing the guests, Steve, Katrina, and Aurora, at her house for 2 days. I know Katrina and her family are leaving for returning home in Texas today, this late afternoon. I would like to hold Aurora but no time cuz I have colds. I also asked Mom to tell Katrina I am going to miss her and will send pictures of her family to her in an e-mail soon.
I had to do chores at my apt this morning. Washed the dishes and skillet after breakfast. I took bed sheets and everything off daybed and put them in the trash bag for Mom to wash them. And cleaned the tray table with a wipe. Then I took a break.
That's it for now. SYL

November 21, 2007: Trip to Wal-Mart. Planning to Bake Dinner Rolls.

I went out with my mother this morning. We are doing errands at Wal-Mart in preparing for Thanksgiving Dinner for our guests. Mom wanted to stop by at a health food store first for picking 22 lbs turkey, not 26 lbs (OOPS, Mom made a mistake on how much weight turkey is. LOL!), and other items. And then we were heading for Wal-Mart to do our food shopping. I went ahead to do it myself while Mom is shopping. I noticed shoppers are about getting crowded that morning when I arrived there but not yet. I know that shoppers had to do the last minute to get something if they forgot. I purchased 3 sets of Philbury Crescent Dinner Rolls for tomorrow's dinner. They are very delicious. I love them very much. And other food items. I can't believe what I saw in the cartwheel of Mom's stuff. SO MUCH! She has more food and other things than mine. LOL! Mom paid all of them than mine, u know. Oh, boy! So many Wal-Mart plastic bags in 2 cartwheels when she finished doing her shopping. I was first to finish it at the counter several minutes before her cuz Mom was not done yet. She had to get more stuff. We had to leave right away cuz Joe, my oldest brother, needs a car and has to go to the airport in Orlando to pick up our guests who are flying in from Texas that afternoon. Mom dropped me off at my place. After she left for going home, I discovered one of my own plastic bags is missing. A candy bar and bananas are in it. I think she couldn't see it in the back of her car cuz all of many plastic bags look alike. I guess Mom is confusing. LOL! She screwed them up in her car. I told her she should put a separated group of mine from hers. So I called and faxed my parents about it. Still waiting for my food to be delivered by one of my family members.
I am planning to bake Philbury Crescents Dinner Rolls in an oven tomorrow morning. I will be busy taking care of them myself. I know how to bake them. They are easy to make. It will fun! Then will put them into storage plastic bags and deliver them to my parents' house.

SEE YA!

Entry for November 20, 2007: Went to the Hospital Today

This is Florida Hospital Deland.

I skipped breakfast and a medication this morning cuz they were not allow. I had to leave my place at 7:30 am. My mom picked me up for taking me to the hospital. I brought a printed map from MapQuest that I was working on the night before in case Mom gets lost. We drove to Deland about 30 minutes or so and arrived at the hospital there on time but early. We were waiting in the lobby of outpatient department. I noticed inside there is still remodeling. It's not painting yet. Every wall looks blank. Anyways, we were waiting for someone to call my name until an electric device vibrated me as I was holding it while waiting. We did check in and headed for 2nd floor. We were waiting in the lobby there until my name has been called. The nurse wanted me to change into a hospital gown but kept my socks and knee thing on. Afterwards, I laid on the gurney and waited. While waiting, I felt my right hip is shaking than my left one. Weird. Mom thinks I am nervous. I didn't feel nervous until I got onto the gurney. I was given an I.V. on my left hand. I felt cold so I was given warm blankets by nurses. I was told that an endoscopy will go from my esophagus to my stomach. Hmmm. I imaged that. Anyways, Mom and I talked each other about my hubby Todd personally. Todd was not there to comfort me. He's supposed do that for me. That's his problem but I don't want to give u more details about him this time cuz I am not sure about our marriage but I am still in love with him very much. I blogged about Todd few times last year. Check out his name in Tag Cloud if u wants to but I am not finishing to set it up yet. I have few more other blogs about him. Anyways, it was time for me go to the surgery room at about 11 am. I said goodbye to Mom. In the surgery room, a black female anesthesiologist was put me to sleep. I felt the numb started in my brain and then moved to my body. I fell asleep. During the procedure, I don't feel anything. A pair of my hearing aids were on but I don't understand their conservation cuz I am a deaf. I woke up when it's over. I still feel the numb in my brain and body is about wearing out. Ooooh. A black female anesthesiolgist sent me as I laid on the gurney to the recovery room. As she was sending me, we discussed Thanksgiving Dinner little bit. LOL! I told her we are going to have a 26 lbs turkey and it will be baked for 9 hours. I was told that by my mom last week. Anyways, while I was in the recovery room, I rested and the medication in my body is gone no more. And then I was transferred to another room. A nurse took I.V. off my left hand. While I was getting dressed, I was in a shock when I found out I have 2 polyps inside. A doctor called her on her cell phone and informed her about me. I can't believe it! I wonder how long they stay inside. I couldn't understand. How they got in there? They made me having heartburns for years. Then I finally drank a juice that a nurse gave me. Mom and I left the hospital after 12:30 pm. Thank God, it's over. I was relieved. And then I went home. Mom dropped me off at my place when we returned to Ormond Beach.

The Weekend. Paternal Great-Grandmother. Going to a Hospital Tomorrow.

I didn't have time to do blogging last Fri cuz I was at my parents' house all day until I went home at about 9 pm. The reason I was at my parents' house is that Mother asked my help. She wanted me to polish her paternal grandmother's family heirloom, silverware, in her kitchen sink. I worked hard to polish them all day but I did take a break once. I had a lunch and dinner between a chore there. I watched the DVD movie on a flat plasma TV after my youngest brother, David, moved it to the living room from the bedroom of guests. It stood on the lamp table. It looks big. Mom was very busy doing chores at her house in preparing for visitors' coming. Visitors will be flying in from Texas on Wednesday and stay at their house until Monday. Visitors are Katrina, my niece, her hubby Steve, and her first baby girl who was born in March in this year. Also, she's pregnant again! Anyways, David left when he finished helping Mom. He had a play time with his friends on his day off from work. LOL! About silverware, they look so beautiful. I didn't see them when I was little but until I got older. Mom kept them for a long time since my great-grandmother died in October 1978. Later that afternoon, Mom asked me to arrange her pairs of socks in the drawer. I organized them neatly in it. She screwed them up cuz she can't help them herself . Mom knew I am a very good organizer at them. LOL! I went home that night few hours later after I ate dinner.
I do remember my great-granny little bit. I didn't know her well cuz I was little girl at that time. She always gave me candy balls when we visited her at her house while I was growing up in Pennsylvania. Those were chocolate. Yummy! Great-Granny was at the Catholic Church for my First Holy Commonion with my mother and grandmother. I don't have a photo of us together but we lost it. We don't know what happened to it and where it was. Sorry. I wish I could post it for all of u bloggers. It was perfect. Several months later, Great-Granny died while my mother was pregnant with David and I was recuperated from 2nd of 3 hip surgeries when I was 9 at the same time. I can't walk with a pair of canes at that time until Spring. I miss Great-Granny very much. I will never forget Great-Grandmother.
That Friday night, my right hip was in very much pain. OUCH! Mom thinks I was doing a chore too much in the bathroom in my apt the day before. And at her kitchen sink, too. I was still in a pain the next day, Saturday morning. I decided I stay home all day cuz I needed a rest first. And yesterday my right hip is improved. I felt much better.
I will go to a hospital for test tomorrow morning. I will have to leave my place early. I won't be online all day but will probably be back that afternoon. Also, will not do blogging but I will might be doing it tomorrow night or on Wednesday. I will need a rest first. Wait and see it will happen. I will let u know. Please pray for me, will u? I would be appreciating if u did.
See u tomorrow night or Wednesday.

Doing A Chore In My Apt. Update On My Health Issue

This afternoon, I cleaned up under the bathroom sink in my apt. I finally had time to do it since I've got my energy back on. It was so mess! I had thought about it for awhile. That's why I will may be moving out but I don't know when. Anyways, I tossed some old lotions from hotels that I stayed in on my vacation years ago, old shampoos, and other few things into the trash. Old combs and a rolling brush are going to be giving away to 2 different charities, either Goodwill or Salvation Army. And an old, big yellow mirror, too. The floor inside the bathroom sink looked so dirty! Ugh, awful! I cleaned it up with spraying remover. It works. Much better. Cleaning up inside there kept me busy. I had difficult reaching in there cuz I am disabled but I am careful so I won't be slipping and fell onto the floor if I am home alone. Thanks goodness, I DID NOT fell during a chore! I am okay. I realized I forget my right knee, OOPS, when I felt a pain little bit as I was standing and bending. My right knee has a deformed and disease, u know. I said "ooouch!" and then sat down in the wheelchair. I rested for few seconds and then went back to do it. I straighted personal items out as I was putting them away inside at last cuz I am a very good organizer at it. I am better than my mom. LOL! And then I am DONE!
___________________________
Update On My Health Issue:
I thought I will have a colonoscopy next Tuesday but it is cancelled cuz I have no diarrheas anymore when I am improving since I took antibiotics last month. However, I still have the one simple procedure, the upper Endoscopy (<----click this link, please). I will go to sleep during the procedure. I am nevrous about it but God, I hope, will send angel to comfort and calm me. I think I can feel them now. Anyways, I didn't know I had a food poison until last week. I can't remember which food is bad. I guess it happened last March but I did figuring out the peanut butter caused poisoning me after Christmas last year. That was before the peanut butter had been recalling, remember that? I did not go to see a doctor that January until late July when I decided I want to see him right away. I thought I got better afterwards but until March .
I have to go to bed pretty soon. Good night, Bloggers

SEE YA!

About Flixster Movies. Upgraded on an Anti-Virus Protection Program.

I didn't do blogging cuz I was working on another website, Flixster, last night and my both legs and feet need a rest. I added up movie titles in there from my Yahoo blogs that u've read about what I saw on a DVD player in the past. I didn't have time to do them. So, I will remember the list of movie titles I saw. So many movie titles. Wow! I rated them. But I am not finishing them all yet. I am still working on them in case Yahoo disappears no more. Go to see the website, Flixster, in my Blogroll if I didn't do blogging to discuss some movies in Yahoo for this past 2 months.
Last Monday night, I've upgraded an anti-virus protection program. It's a free if I am a customer of an internet server. Security Center have 4 different protections. It kept me busy all night until I called it quit when I decided I have to go to bed right away. I have enough of that problem! LOL! That same program looks different than I had before. It's changing. However, I had problems with one of 4 protections, Firewall. I should have unmarked Firewall in that same program during installation cuz I have problems with it and I don't like it that bothers me the most and my Windows XP have a Firewall. I made a mistake. It confused me. Next year, I will unmarked Firewall during an installation. Firewall in my Windows XP works. It turned on. Firewall in another program drove me crazy so I turned it off.
I have to go now. SYL!

Trip to Wal-Mart for a grocery Last Friday 11/9/07

I went to Wal-Mart last Friday afternoon. I was waiting for my mother to pick me up for taking me there. She informed me she was delayed when I called her on her cell phone thru a relay service on my computer. I already figured she's late again. She was supposed to come to get me at 1:30 pm that Friday. Several minutes later after I called her, Mom finally arrived. Then I left my place. Before she was going to drop me off in front of Wal-Mart on the way, she stopped to park her car and wanted to tell me something but I quickly figured out what she wanted me to do. I asked her if she needed my help. Mom replied yes. She wanted me to buy 4 items for her there and gave me her money. Her items are Danish butter, 2 Zephyrhills Natural Spring Water and a distilled water bottles, baking soda, and 2 plastic bags of Epsom Salt, a bathing salt. I said okay. I proceed to do shopping after Mom dropped me off there. First, I had to do my own food shopping that keeps me busy. After I finished purchasing mine at the counter, I picked up Mom's items for her. I can't find a small blue basket that I am supposed to carry Mom's items separating from plastic bags of my stuff so I won't be confusing by it but I was told Wal-Mart doesn't have one. An employee made a suggestion and gave me a black bag instead. I told her I am not going to buy that bag. Afterwards, I can't find a butter. I guess Wal-Mart doesn't have one but I figured the butter must be at Publix, another supermarket that is across the road from Wal-Mart. I laughed. But I did find 3 other items in there. I paid Mom's items with her money at the counter. I did informing Mom that I can't find a butter for her when she came back to pick me up. She thought Publix have one and apologized me about it. She forgot. I gave some money back to her. And then I went home.
I will be back later to do another blog. SYL!

November 06, 2007: Update On My Health Issue

I am improving now. Antibiotics are gone no more. I still can feel hungry again but I have to eat food slowly and carefully. I think I am gaining back little bit. Several weeks ago, I felt too skinny and sick but now great. I finally ate desserts for the first time last Sat but I took pie and cake to home from a party that Sat night and sometimes I ate Oatmeal creme cookies at home. I ate a whole cake at lunch yesterday. Whoa, it was so good before it's too late, u know. LOL! In minutes, I will have to eat yogurt for comforting my belly. It works for me.

SEE YA!

Deaf Culture: Challenges and Hopes for Deaf People in Pakistan

I received an e-mail from Deaf News by a relay service last night. One of articles is an interesting story about a deaf community in Pakistan. It was written by Karina Chupina, a freelance international trainer, consultant, and writer from St. Petersburg, Russia. You don't know what's going on a deaf community in Pakistan. It has a different situation from USA. You will find out what the government of Pakistan is up to. Here is an article:

October 31, 2007

Pakistan may be known to the world deaf community for a few achievements as employing deaf staff to run fast food outlets - an outstanding example for a country where disability services are scarce.

To look into realities of life for deaf and hard of hearing people in Pakistan, I talked to the founder chairman of "Danishkadah" organisation, Akram Muhammad. Akram was a first ever Pakistani participant (and a leader!) in the IFHOHYP leadership session where I met him. His impressive self-assertiveness, and realistic and thoughtful insights won respect from all participants. A fighter by nature, Akram says: "Hope is the door of struggle that eventually brings success."
Karina: What are the biggest challenges for the deaf and hard of hearing communities in Pakistan now?
Akram: The biggest problem is the low quality of education. Most deaf people can not read or write well even after obtaining bachelor's degree. And those who live in rural areas usually have no access to education at all, so they live dependent lives. There is also a general lack of knowledge about the needs of Deaf people and few resources, such as hearing aids and speech therapists. Hard of hearing people get little benefit from their residual hearing, so they use sign language.
Guess what? In Pakistan Deaf people are not allowed to drive! Today, the Pakistani deaf community is fighting for their right to drive, but so far, this receives only lip service from the government.
Karina: What is society's attitude toward deaf/ HoH and disabled people in general?
Akram: If you ask about me, I will say "mostly wonderful" (smiles). My family spoiled me because am deaf, so they care a lot. In society, I personally did not face much trouble, and many people appreciate what I do for others despite my deafness. The only sector where I faced a problem was education: but the reason is not that people are bad there, but that there are no proper facilities available.
In general, the attitude is not bad in cities where more people are educated. But in less developed areas, social attitudes are negative. Some, for example, families do not send their deaf daughters to school. They may feel ashamed if they have a deaf or a disabled child in the family. Deaf girls and women are doubly discriminated: they seldom have an opportunity to develop their abilities. Usually, they have no choice in who their life partner will be, no one listens to their opinions, and they can't express themselves.
I personally observed the case of two deaf girls whose mother kept them at home until they were 20 and 25 years old. Then, they came to our organization looking for support and help in getting married...But how could we help them when they knew nothing? No one would accept them as they were illiterate. And the old mother was worrying about her daughters' future, crying: "What will happen with my girls? Who will take care of them when I die?"
So they joined the adult literacy course, and now, after a few years, they feel much more confident and even look happy.
Another similar case - but worse - was when a woman around 30 or 40 years old came to us, without any education or knowledge of sign language. Like the girls, we suggested that she take literacy classes. She enrolled, but suddenly stopped, and we don't what happen to her.
I feel that society and families are ignorant. They don't have needed information and knowledge, and it seems that they don't want to struggle with their deaf children to help them develop their abilities.
Karina: What education opportunities are there for deaf and hard of hearing people in your country?
Akram: There are schools for the deaf in the cities, but honestly speaking, they not deliver quality education. Because of lack of access to education in rural areas, parents sometimes choose to send their deaf or HoH children to mainstream schools, but these schools offer nothing for such children. When it comes to higher education, many hearing students go on to pursue degrees abroad, but deaf and HoH people don't have this opportunity because they simply can't pass the English language tests. In Pakistan itself, only a handful of deaf and HoH people can pursue higher education. There is little opportunity or accessibility here!
Karina: How do deaf people enter the job market?
Akram: As you may imagine, with little education, deaf and HoH people usually can't compete well with hearing people, and they usually get low-paid, low-level jobs.
The government provides a 2% employment quota for people with disabilities, and this benefits deaf and HoH persons. However, the corporate sector also helps deaf and HOH people in job training or hires them. As you probably know, in Pakistan there are three or four KFC outlets that are run by deaf staff.
Recently, the School of Leadership in Pakistan launched a project to train deaf and HoH youth in the bakery business and opened a bakery for this purpose.
These are just few good examples. Overall, the employment situation for deaf and HoH people leaves much to be desired.
Karina: Then what would be the most common jobs that HoH and deaf people have in Pakistan?
Akram: We don't have any stats on that, but as far as I see, data entry and computer operator jobs are most common for deaf people. Some are good at graphic design too.
Karina: What are the state benefits for deaf people in Pakistan?
Akram: There is no support from the government, or it's very rare, and usually provided in the form of grants for deaf and HoH schools. The government also owns and manages some vocational training centers for deaf people and people with other disabilities. But here again, the education quality at these facilities is questionable.
Non-profit organizations receive support mostly from the private/corporate sector, for some non-formal educational courses, for poverty welfare funds and so on.
Karina: How is the situation in Pakistan regarding technical support for the deaf and HOH?
Akram: Hearing aids are expensive, and the hourly cost for a speech therapist is high, so only those who have money can benefit. Others don't have access to technical support because the government does not provide much. I know of few cases of Cochlear Implant surgeries, but again, doing a CI is so expensive that only children from rich families can benefit from it. I am a good candidate for CI myself but I can't afford it, so I depend on written communication or sign language - and I cannot fully benefit from my residual hearing.
Karina: Do you have access to Sign language interpreters in Pakistan?

We don't have enough interpreters, but there are some. As far as I know there are't any professional courses providing degrees or diplomas in Sign Language Interpretation, so the quality of SL interpreters is questionable.
There are no professional interpreting services; mostly, interpreters are teachers in deaf schools or relatives of deaf persons, and interpreters usually don't know or abide by a code of ethics. This is a big issue for deaf people here: interpreters sometimes try to impose their will on deaf people, simply because deaf people are less educated compared to the interpreters.
Deaf people have to arrange for their own sign language interpreters and they have to pay for them themselves. The government does not provide this. If someone has to go to court, a hospital, or any public service, NO sign language interpreter service is available at all. Even in colleges and universities, there is no support for deaf and HoH.
Next week, the interview continues with a deeper look into the world of the deaf in Pakistan, Islamic values, and their relation to deafness!
That's it for now. SYL.