Date: Sat, 18 May 2013 09:38:38 +0200
Quote:
- kennysia.com
ADV: Fighting Gallstones With Good Habits
http://www.kennysia.com/archives/2012/08/adv-fighting-ga.php
Text:
<p>I am living with a 12 millimetre gallstone in my body.</p> <p><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.kennysia.com/images/2011/It-Takes-21-Days-To-Make-A-Habit_14985/IMG_7921.jpg" width="550" height="414" /></p> <p>2 months ago, I was in Singapore to sit for my Personal Trainer examination. After my exam, I was pretty pumped since I can finally take a break after 3 days and nights of intensive studying such a difficult exam.</p> <p>Night came and I decided to go out for some drinks with friends. A couple of beers, cocktails and tequila shots later, I retired back to my hotel at 2am hoping to get a well deserved sleep.</p> <p><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.kennysia.com/images/2011/It-Takes-21-Days-To-Make-A-Habit_14985/IMG_1317.jpg" width="550" height="413" /></p> <p>Didn't happen.</p> <p>For some reason, I started to develop pain in my stomach. It started out as some mild cramping inside, but soon afterwards it grew more and more intense until I was ready to rip my intestines out through my mouth. </p> <p><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.kennysia.com/images/2011/It-Takes-21-Days-To-Make-A-Habit_14985/IMG_0280.jpg" width="550" height="413" /></p> <p>I spent a good one hour curled up in a foetal position writhing in pain. </p> <p>In the end, I couldn't take it anymore.</p> <p>Went to 7-Eleven, bought some Tiger Balm and spread them all over my stomach like it was some jam and I was some bread. </p> <p>Didn't help.</p> <p>Went back to 7-Eleven, bought some Actal thinking I'm suffering from gastritis. </p> <p>Didn't help whatsoever.</p> <p><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_7792" border="0" alt="IMG_7792" src="http://www.kennysia.com/images/2011/It-Takes-21-Days-To-Make-A-Habit_14985/IMG_7792.jpg" width="550" height="413" /></p> <p>By then it was already 3:30am. I hadn't had a wink of sleep and there was no sign of the pain going away. In this situation, I realised I had one choice only: calling up my travel insurance company, and find out where the nearest hospital is.</p> <p><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.kennysia.com/images/2011/It-Takes-21-Days-To-Make-A-Habit_14985/IMG_7793.jpg" width="413" height="550" /></p> <p>My insurance company directed me to the emergency department at a Raffles Hospital near Bugis. In true Singaporean efficiency, a doctor showed up within minutes, tap on my stomach a little bit before giving me a painkiller injection which quickly took the pain away. I was relieved.</p> <p>The pain is gone but my medical bill came up to SGD180!!!!</p> <p><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_7856" border="0" alt="IMG_7856" src="http://www.kennysia.com/images/2011/It-Takes-21-Days-To-Make-A-Habit_14985/IMG_7856.jpg" width="550" height="413" /></p> <p>KNNCCB. I would have killed myself if it weren't for my travel insurance.</p> <p>The worst thing is, that was only Episode One. Since then, I had another 6 gallstone attack episodes. The episodes come one after another, like Star Wars Episode I, Episode II, Episode III.</p> <p>What I hate the most is that for some friggin WEIRD reason, these attacks would occur past midnight and almost always after I had ingested either alcohol or oily food for dinner. </p> <p>Each time I suffer an attack, I have to get someone to rush me to the hospital to get a shot of tramadol. The next morning I'd turn up to work like zombies. At one point, I sported at least 6 injection marks all over my arms. People must think I'm a drug addict.</p> <p><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.kennysia.com/images/2011/It-Takes-21-Days-To-Make-A-Habit_14985/IMG_7865.jpg" width="550" height="413" /></p> <p>To stop all these, my doctor said I must go through a surgery to remove my gallbladder. He said the gallbladder is not an essential organ and I can live without it. </p> <p>Now, I don't like the sound of that. Why the heck should I remove my internal organ just because of a little stone? Some more if the gallbladder has no essential function, why is it that all of us are born with it?</p> <p>It's not like you can compare gallbladders to something useless like pubic hair. </p> <p><em>"OH, my gallbladder has no important function. Let's just take it out for fun! Weeeee!"</em></p> <p><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.kennysia.com/images/2011/It-Takes-21-Days-To-Make-A-Habit_14985/IMG_8191.jpg" width="550" height="412" /></p> <p>Still, I was baffled why I was in this condition.</p> <p>From what I know, gallstones are only the concern of obese middle-aged pregnant women, not me!</p> <p>Here I am living a pretty healthy lifestyle, exercising 5 days a week, eating 5 small meals a day. Although I occasionally go <em>omnomnoming</em> on sinful food, it's nothing more than a curry rice here or an alcoholic beverage there.</p> <p><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.kennysia.com/images/2011/It-Takes-21-Days-To-Make-A-Habit_14985/IMG_1321.jpg" width="550" height="413" /></p> <p>With my gallstone attack being triggered by alcohol and oily food, I realise the only way to manage this is to completely stop eating those bad food and replacing them with more fruits and vegetables.</p> <p>Essentially, that means I have to undergo intensive detox, overhaul my diet and get into the habit of eating clean.</p> <p><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.kennysia.com/images/2011/It-Takes-21-Days-To-Make-A-Habit_14985/IMG_8153.jpg" width="550" height="413" /></p> <p>Well, of course that is easier said than done.</p> <p>It is said that everyone needs 21 days to form a new habit. The first 21 days is always the most difficult and the easiest time to relapse and fall off the bandwagon. </p> <p>Frankly speaking, it would do everyone good if we can all hold ourselves accountable.</p> <p><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.kennysia.com/images/2011/It-Takes-21-Days-To-Make-A-Habit_14985/IMG_2650.jpg" width="550" height="413" /></p> <p>The help I had came in the form of an iPhone app I use called the Great Eastern <em>"21 Days"</em> app.</p> <p>The premise of the app is pretty simple.</p> <p>Write down what I set out to achieve. Make myself accountable to either myself or my loved ones. Then tell the whole wide world what I am gonna do. </p> <p><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.kennysia.com/images/2011/It-Takes-21-Days-To-Make-A-Habit_14985/IMG_2652.jpg" width="550" height="413" /></p> <p>If that ain't enough, the app will notify me at regular intervals to stick some carrots and celery up my mouth. </p> <p>I even dedicated a small fridge to my office, just so I don't give into craving and dive to the curry restaurant next door to my gym.</p> <p><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.kennysia.com/images/2011/It-Takes-21-Days-To-Make-A-Habit_14985/IMG_2643.jpg" width="550" height="413" /></p> <p>And guess what?</p> <p>Since I installed that app, I began including so much more apples and salad into my diet. Within a month, I lost my craving for beer and curry and shed 3kg off my waist.</p> <p>Best of all? I stopped having gallstone attacks. NONE AT ALL IN THE PAST MONTH!</p> <p><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.kennysia.com/images/2011/It-Takes-21-Days-To-Make-A-Habit_14985/IMG_2642.jpg" width="550" height="413" /></p> <p>The <em>21 Days</em> app can be downloaded from<strong><em> <a href="http://livegreat.greateasternlife.com" target="_blank">livegreat.greateasternlife.com</a></em></strong></p> <p>On the same website as well as on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GreatEasternLifeAssurance" target="_blank"><strong>Great Eastern's Facebook page</strong></a>, there are a wealth of health tips, details about the <em>"Live Great"</em> card which entitles the holder privileged benefits to over 700 participating partner establishments across Southeast Asia, as well as a myriad of other wellness tools.</p> <p><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.kennysia.com/images/2011/It-Takes-21-Days-To-Make-A-Habit_14985/IMG_2651.jpg" width="550" height="413" /></p> <p>The Live Great programme is all part of Great Eastern's bold change in direction, declaring themselves not just a life insurance company anymore, but a LIFE company. </p> <p>Even I myself admit that I find information on the site extremely useful, especially in my line of work as a fitness centre operator. </p> <p><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.kennysia.com/images/2011/It-Takes-21-Days-To-Make-A-Habit_14985/IMG_2655.jpg" width="550" height="413" /></p> <p><em>Wellness Profiling Lite</em> is a questionnaire on well-being for the masses (some companies charge a lot of money to do this for corporate staff!). </p> <p><em>Daily Caloric Needs </em>calculator (mine is 2600 calories) is great to estimate how much calorie is needed for weight loss. </p> <p>Then there's something called <em>Smoking Tracker</em>, which should serve as a wake-up call for all the smokers out there.</p> <p><a href="http://livegreat.greateasternlife.com" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.kennysia.com/images/2011/It-Takes-21-Days-To-Make-A-Habit_14985/Fullscreen-capture-862012-51846-PM.jpg" width="554" height="294" /></a></p> <p>I like it how it says, <strong>"YOU HAVE SMOKED AN EQUIVALENT OF 25 TIMES THE WEIGHT OF AN AVERAGE LUNG."</strong></p> <p>Hey, if that ain't a good enough reason to quit smoking, I don't know what is.</p>
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