Recently, there is a case about a lady who died due to overwork.
And that got me thinking about my own state of health. I have always suspected there might be something wrong with my health, but I am unsure of where to start. I have tried going to GPs, but all they tell me is I need more rest, live healthier, drink more water and exercise more.
But seriously, that can’t possibly explain the random sharp pains I feel at the back of my head like someone has jabbed a needle into it, the sudden onset of chest pains when I’m not doing any strenuous activity, the cramps I feel at various parts of my body especially the legs. There are more things that are happening which scares me and I have been recording them down in my journal.
I would like to go for a comprehensive test, but where do you start? Seriously, I’ve been looking at the health websites, and I honestly don’t know where to start. I go to my GP and I get the look which says I’m just being paranoid. But I know my own body, and I know what I’m feeling.
And the cost. Part of me feels bad about going for all the tests because of the cost especially since we won’t know which tests is necessary or sufficient to understand what is happening to me. And they are expensive. I know that some people might think I’m being foolish for placing money over health. I’m not. I just don’t believe the doctors will be able to administer the correct tests even with all the money paid so a part of me is unwilling to pay until I’m sure the doctors know what they are doing especially after hearing coffee-shop talk about how people get shuffled from specialists to specialists like cash cows.
Also, never doubt the power of a disapproving father who gives you the ‘I told you so’ look when the tests come back and nothing seems to be wrong. And that will definitely happen as I got that look when the GP gave the same advice as my father.
Maybe it is nothing. Like what everyone says. The more you worry, the worse it becomes.
Maybe.
Anyway, I read about the case of that lady and I thought about my NS days. I was in Armour, more specifically I was in armour infantry. That meant needing to sit inside a moving vehicle, cramped with 5 other people (at minimum) and not being able to move for hours. If the training was in Singapore, it wasn’t that bad, but in Australia, I remember times when we couldn’t get out of the vehicle for periods longer than 8 hours (i got the number 8 hours because that is around the typical length of time needed to travel from one point to another during our night missions) . There wasn’t much place to stretch our legs, and now I’m reading about stuff about blood clots and DVT…
I also remember having to train with a sprained ankle with the effect of my left ankle being seriously damaged - it sprains real easy now. I can’t even play a casual game of soccer without fear that I would sprain it.
Anyway, I mention all this because I’m wondering how many of the males in Singapore had their health damaged during their NS days. Somehow, I get the feeling I’m not the exception.
And then there is IPPT. I do want to pass. Actually, I want to get Gold, but everytime I go for a run to train, my chest tightens up. And I know this is a different reaction from what I used to get when I wasn’t fit during my NS period. That is why I have been putting off the start of a training regime but I know I got to train and push myself. So the solution would be to try to get a temporary downgrade until the health issues are all sorted out but that is a tedious and costly process especially since I for one don’t really know what the fuck is actually wrong. Also, and I think this is a matter of pure stupid male pride, I don’t actually want to give up my combat status, even for a temp period. Plus, I’ve been brought up with the mentality that it isn’t appropriate to make a mountain out of a molehill except that now, I don’t know if it is a molehill, mountain, anthill or just a pile of sand…oh well…
Oh well…like how I morbidly told my mom, if I die, I want it to be put on my tombstone…
“I told you so.“
Herry | 30-Apr-07 at 6:06 pm | Permalink
Yeah..probably you just need more rest. Hehe…I was kind of freaked out too recently when my right finger kept feeling a sharp pain whenever I made a click.
I knew of a previous directory who went thru a wrist surgery, not sure if it’s of a similar symptoms. But luckily after some rest, the pain is gone now.
iantimothy | 30-Apr-07 at 6:12 pm | Permalink
Hello! Nice to see you here!
Do you know that I have heard the urban legends of people in NS who have downgraded because of repetitive strain disorder (not sure if I’m giving the correct medical name). Anyway, apparently, these ‘jokers’ get downgraded because the finger is the trigger finger, the one that is use to squeeze the trigger for the gun.
Like dat also can… hahaha..
and wrist surgery? Hahaha..if I told my ns buddies that, there is only one thought that will come to mind on how he got it.
hahaha. self love.
j | 07-May-07 at 10:32 am | Permalink
Hi it’s me though you might not know who really. All for the sake of shielding our elusive identities.
I don’t think it’s just males who have retired from NS who feel the worrying symptoms of impending stroke/heart attack/arthritis. I get it too from time to time. Being an asian female with 2 grandmothers who are 80 and still kicking it, I believe strongly in destiny. I am destined to live on and on and on. I eat fast food at least 4 times a week, never exercise, am kinda pessimistic, but I’m still pretty optimistic about living till 80. Unfortunately. I get the occasional heart burn and chest pains and weirdass symptoms, but I dismiss it all.
If it bothers you, go get it checked out and over with. Otherwise, you’ll only be asking your non-qualified researcher friends about your symptoms. Don’t let stupid male pride get in the way. like you said, it’s stupid.
We will order only salad the next time we have a meal.
iantimothy | 07-May-07 at 12:42 pm | Permalink
Hello… But good salad is so hard to find…
And you just want to keep me alive so that I can continue to provide you with more embarrasing moments….
j | 13-May-07 at 9:57 pm | Permalink
you do understand me rather well.
on another note, i just found out mr bastard is coming back to town to work. I feel sick in the stomach.