retrospectively....true stories of silly jokes

Listed below are some of my experiences a few months before I was diagnosed with CML that will make me smile and even laugh.

1. My closest friend keep bugging me to tell him the secret of keeping my weight off and I keep telling him that regular workout and carrying weight will definitely do. Always walk around with a heavily filled knapsack (thick books that presumed you could read anytime) on your back and never use the elevator. It is actually the leukemia that has increased my fat burning works.(Never listened to silly advocates!).

2. A few months before I was diagnosed, I also had a couple of occasion where I had a large bruise over my thighs . On both occasions, I didn't realize if I ever hit my thigh at anytime. I ever thought that it could be from some benign blood disorder but I never bothered to take any blood test. (Never think that doctors always clever on taking care of themselves!).

3. Previously, I used to take 'half-rice' ( nasi separuh ) during each meal. And even then I could hardly finished it. Thinking that my stomach had shrunk out from a volume controlled diet, I never knew that it was the huge spleen that already taking most of my abdominal space and causing early satiety and easy fullness after each meal. (If you are an orthopedic surgeon with an appetite problem, seek for help!)

4. Spleen again: I once had a left sided back pain and afraid that it could be from the kidney stone, I asked my fellow radiologist to ultrasound scan my left kidney, but there was none. If she could have move the scan deliberately (which I refused), we could have found the huge spleen staring at us. (Next time let the expert do the job professionally!).

5. My encounter to the hematologist (who is taking care of me now) was not a first time. I had called him before to discuss on one case that involved both of us (please read my personal experience post). And now I keep seeing him more frequent than before but this time as a patient. (Doctors should always feel that they can get into a real problem too).

Moral of all the above stories, never ignore whatever other people said even the slightest things around. Just sit and think down to the earth. If you are a doctor, don't forget to care of yourself too...please.