Should I be upset or what?

Been having back pain/soreness since a few years back. Did not think much of it and thus did not seek medical help at all.

However, things got pretty much worse since last year. I would feel the soreness even on days that I did not exercise or just on a normal trip to somewhere when I have to stand throughout the journey or just after ironing my clothes.

Thought it might be due to certain exercises that I have been doing wrongly. Checked with a few instructors and was told that basically, my techniques were pretty good. So, continued to wonder about the situation some more, drag some more, until Christina showed her concern about it one day and strongly recommended that I see a specialist. She recommended Dr. Low Wye Mun, her team doctor (She’s a competitive cyclist, so cool!)

Was a bit apprehensive when I went for my appointment last Tuesday. Wondered what I will find out. Something good or bad?

After a full examination and various tests, the diagnosis was that I have scoliosis. Scoliosis is a lateral or sideways curve (sort of an S-shaped curvature) in the spine that can be seen when viewing the spine from behind. Dr. Low told me that scoliosis can be present at birth and mine would be the case but it is considered mild and thus I won’t be needing surgery or back braces (lucky me). However that is also the reason why my condition has not been discovered before.

Basically, I have weak back muscle strength and due to my increased exercise volume which added on more stress on my back versus the low adaptation of my muscles, they became very stiff.

So my management plan includes 1) medication to reduce muscle inflammation. 2) Physiotherapy to improve the mobility and flexibility of the spine and 3) Strengthening of my back through certain exercises and improve posture.

It is not necessary for me to cut out exercising totally but I need to monitor which exercises are suitable and which are not. Will have to minimize those that are associated with back soreness, like squats and some pilates moves until my back gets stronger.

Being a sports physician, he certainly knows how hard it will be for me to lower the intensity and reduce the time I workout. However, he did tell me it was a temporary thing and it will be for my own good which I totally agree. It’s just the thought that depresses me.

Never had I imagined that I would have to go for physiotherapy. I mean it’s not something that one will think of wanting isn’t it? But really think mine is not serious. So will probably need a session or two only.

Was given some information on stretches that I can start doing now to relief soreness. More will come after my back strengthens. Hmm…..

Doc Low is a really nice doctor (with a really heavy american accent) though. Exceptionally friendly, very professional and very patient. Took time to explain things to me although I got a little confused in the end, haha. Good doctor. I felt that I’ll be well taken care of.

But no matter what, I have to get my back well. Like what Dr. Low said, once I recover and have my back strengthen, I will be able to go back to doing the sports I like, the usual frequency & intensity and no worries about back soreness. I can even start training for marathons, yea. :) Am really glad I went to see him and that Christina recommended him. Just made my appointment for my first physiotherapy, hope everything goes well! *cross my fingers*

Garage Sale!

Held a garage sale on the 8th April together with Yen, Kiat, Rachel and Jyes. Jyes wasn’t able to come and help out on the actual day coz she had to bring Tandra to playschool. A pity though coz it was quite fun :)

The preparation stage: 1st we had to design & print the fliers. The most cost effective way was to get our cousins/friends to print and photocopy for us from their office (Shhh…..)

Next we had to categorize the items we have gathered. Most of my stuff is contributed by my mum’s friends and after adding on to Yen and the rest, we have a great big pile to sort out. In the end, we have 3 neat piles: One to sell in the garage sale; another would be rags (too dirty and tattered to sell) and the last was for keeping (those that we decided that we still have “feelings” for at the last minute and those we pick from each other’s pile, haha)
Then comes the labeling which is the worst part. Because it was quite a struggle what price to put on a certain item. We may feel it was worth more than a certain amount but afraid that it can’t be sold if priced at that amount. Tough task. Spent quite a while consulting each other while we priced.

We had to mingle around and promote our stuff. It was a new experience for me (Yen, Kiatz and Rach has experience in sales) Digging up clothes from underneath the pile and promoting them to our potential customers. We even had a taste of being a personal image consultant as we match tops and bottoms for them, haha.

Frankly speaking, our prices are really rock bottom low. But some of the customers still want to reduce the prices further. Eg. From $2 to $1. Tell me where you can get such bargains for a top that looks brand new huh? Huh? In addition, Kiatz’s treasured possessions: jeans and berms including authentic Billabong & Nike all selling at $5 only!

Eventually we agreed to slash the prices coz we want to avoid having leftovers. But really, come to think of it, we would have been bankrupt if this is our own store and we are cutting prices like nobody’s business.

Amazingly, we were able to sell almost half of our stuff that day. One Philippine old lady and her daughter-in-law bought $60+ worth of items! It was enjoyable serving them too. We even pick up a few Philippine phrases:

Meshando Guapo - Very handsome

Meshando Meganta - Very beautiful

Manga - Mango

Lugi - Bankrupt

Selamat - Thank you

Some phrases sounds quite similar to Malay though :)

There was another lady who came back shortly after she made her purchases. We were wondering why when she showed us the hat her boy (who was in the pram she was pushing) had picked up without her noticing. In the end, I suggested giving the hat to the little boy. He was so adorable! And he looked so pleased with himself when he touched the hat after I help him put it on.

My mum was so sweet that day. Brought coffee down for us to drink, knowing that we did not have breakfast. The coffee sure tasted good! Everyone said so. Haha, I guess it’s a combination of the coffee itself and the sweetness of mummy’s gesture.

Yenz was complimented by a lady that she can be an image consultant, haha. And some of the customers even asked us when will we be holding the 2nd garage sale! We were all dead tired when we returned home. Overall, it was a tiring but satisfying morning. Kiatz fell asleep right away after taking his lunch, haha.

Some photos to share:

Look at our pile of clothes.....like pasar malam, wahaha

Our financial manager, Mr Kiatz!

This is how we do our accounting :)

Picking bargains ourselves!

I Carry Your Heart...

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart)
i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)

i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

e.e cummings

Tired and Loathing it...

Have been feeling & looking wrecked for the past week and still am. Been feeling unexceptionally tired and getting tummy pains. Should have expected it but this is the worst episode I've ever had. Early nights, staying away from cold drinks didn't help and I have hit the bottom of my box of Po Chai pills. Damn.....have been skipping a few days of gym as well, couldn't gather the energy to go after work. Went gym yesterday morning and was barely able to make it through the hour of combat. Hate feeling so lethargic.