Monday 30 May 2005

Ouch!!

I will be on my back for a while doing not very exciting things like contemplating cracks in the ceiling or that annoying cobweb that I suddenly noticed in the corner of the room.

This morning while I was bending down to pick up something, I felt a twinge in my back and I knew that I have done it again. Once you get slipped disc, it’ll never go away.

Thus it is with great pain that I am sitting here, typing this, pushing the last entry down.

It must be exactly ten years ago that I inflicted this injury. I remember the occasion very well. The then Prime Minister of Malaysia was visiting Cambridge University and we were hot on his heels, running after him, in case we missed anything. He, to tell you the truth, has more energy than all the journalists he left huffing and puffing behind him. I remember when we were in Budapest, at a press conference, he took one look at us looking like war casualties and asked: Tak penat ka ikut Prime Minister? Now how do you answer that?

Coming back to that fateful day in Cambridge, he was visiting the campus there but decided to walk and enjoy the beautiful buildings on foot instead of being chauffeured around. I took pity on my camera man and volunteered to carry the huge hefty camera which weighed a ton. Now, isn’t there a rule that you must bend your knees as you bend down? Yes, but did I heed those wise words? No. Trying to be a superwoman, I bend down from the waist, took hold of the camera and felt the first twinge of pain in the spine, already sore from an epidural injection I had some ten years back. But superwoman must soldier on, right? Anything a man can do, I must show that I can do as well.

So, I bravely carried it before Tan Sri Nordin Sopiee, my former boss at the NST, came to my rescue and gallantly carried it for me. Hah, what a relief. Assignment over but the pain persisted. And back in London, I was in the kitchen trying to reach out for something, when I had the fatal sneeze of my life. With that sneeze, I doubled up in pain and it was in that doubled up position too that I was carried screaming on the stretcher to the hospital.

There’s nothing really one can do with slipped disc, except to sleep on a wooden floor, no mattress and no pillow and not even husband's arms. One move even labour pain seems like a mild period pain . So, there I was for five days, flat on my back, contemplating the ceiling.

Suddenly, the picture frame on the wall needed straightening up, the books on the racks are not properly arranged, the hems on the curtains have come undone, and I couldn’t move!!! How irritating can that be!!! I could have read War and Peace twice. I could memorise names of characters in every soap on telly and did crossword puzzles even the difficult ones in The Guardian! How I wish I could get up and strip the wall paper and tile the bathroom.

It is strange that when you are in that position and not allowed or not able to move, you think of the most unimaginable things that you want to do. I thought of getting up to do the break-dance, and vowed that once I am back on my feet, I’d take up badminton again and perhaps enrol in one of those belly dancing classes. In fact, exactly five days after that I was on my way to Birmingham, again with my crew to cover another story. You can’t keep me down for ever. And a few weeks after that joined my children ice skating.

Anyway, while in pain, just how do you get to the toilet to do number one and two? With great difficulty and excruciating pain, of course. The preparation to get up alone would take up to ten to fifteen minutes. We tried different positions, my husband and I (and don’t let your mind roam any further!) Under any other circumstances, I would certainly have enjoyed it. He’d either pull me straight up and carry me piggy back to the bathroom, or scoop me up like a baby. Either way, it is a torture and always ended up in tears. My pain threshhold is very very low.

This time is not that bad ‘cos I can sit down and pray while sitting down. But I do miss the piggy back!

36 comments:

atenah said...

oh no, Kak Teh, I am so sorry to hear this. I hope you will feel better soon. Anyway jari tak sakit kan? So boleh le blog banyak2. Teruk I ni kan Kak Teh sakit blog je yg I dok think of.

Wah Sir Awang so macho one, can carry you like that.

Take care, hugs.

bibliobibuli said...

So sorry to hear you're in pain ... hope you feel better soon. Very nicely written piece by the way.

anedra said...

kakteh: all this is telling you to SLOW DOWN. no need to kemas the house, how it is right now goes with the "theme". Get well soon ok!!

Maya said...

Hiya KakTeh,

I have a bad back all the time, but a slip disc I have no idea! I think best advice would be, 'Be sophisticated and don't be a Supermum or Superanything" and maybe feign a little helplessness so you get more piggyback rides even when not 'slipdisc-ed'. Just precautionary.

I had made an earlier entry which probably escaped your notice. So am finding the lazy way out - C&P cut and paste that is...

Hello Kak Teh,

Since all the parts that fit together are still apart (the home as well as the puter), I am at the mercy of my kid...and I sure don't know how that happened, the mercy bit, because I thought all his puter stuff were paid for with my money (or hubby's money, if you got to the nitty gritties of it all). I will have to give this serious thought and remedy the situation before it gets out of hand! Getting manipulated by the kids can't be allowed, NOT when you are the parent!

So anyway, I am here to let you know that Zurila says 'HI" and that she will be in Londra come september~~~~ (I will always cherish that song coz that's the very first time Someone ever confessed his undying love for me, and it wasn't hubby and I was totally mute and so young that I forget that a time like that did indeed exist. *SIGH* Come September~~~~!)...anyway, coming back to Zurila, she is as beautiful and as sweet as ever, with tudung now and so effectively hiding her georgoeus mane, maybe the guys won't find her so awesome anymore and dare to approach her!

We had a terrific FBC girls day out and Chili's at Bangsar finally saw the action we (or it, depending) deserved .... and the free drinks went on from lunch to late evening....almost 7pm! It was wonderful talking about teachers and their ilk, etc etc...I think I shd write a blog abt this..yes?

Will SMS Zurila your email and yours to her and the two of you can take it from there.

Keep up your blogging and seeya soon. I am in the middle of MadCaper days and basically am glad that days turn into night and night into days without me having anything whatsoever to do about it. Love, Maya

Hajar said...

kak teh, i hope you'll get better soon. do take care. and like tenah said, jari tak sakit kan? :-)

Lollies said...

I had a back pain once..tapik bukan slip disc..even sitting down typing is painful..so I feel for you.

That leaves us a reminder to becareful when lifting things up.

shidah said...

kak teh, take care....don't be too hard on yourself kay? maybe you can consider my offer many months back to jadi your maid? i'll send in my resume soon....

Nazrah Leopolis said...

oh my kakteh, kesiannya you..

please go easy on ur back even if you are the Malaysian Wonder Woman

I have experienced slipped disc when I was pregnant and earlier this year. You are right about how painful it can get.

I went for acupuncture, chinese bekam/suction cups and massage, over 4-5 month my back pain was gone. i think u should get one of those korean rice pillows.any of your cronies from korea? glucosamine and chodroitin can give some relief. while u r experienceing this pain, it helps if u put one of those lumbar support braces. and if it is so bad u should get that neck brace as well to keep ur back straight. u will look and walk like a cyborg for a bit until there is some considerable pain relief.

i know u know how u should take care of your back from now on.meanwhile,you are actually in the best position to give orders and let all of ur darlings de-sawang your house.Get Well Soon

Mutiara said...

Take care Kak Teh. Do whatever your doctor orders. Like Nazrah said, now is the time to be "the pain in the b---" and demand to be pampered as well as ask someone else to clear the sawang, to straighten the pictures etc, etc.

OOD said...

slipped disc? Yeowser... sorry to hear that you are in pain. But not sorry at all to hear that you get all the manjas... enjoy!

and kak teh, jaga kesihatan and badan is but an amanah from the Creator, so must take care. Not for you not for us not for the family, but honor the amanah. okay? Dont you go give AG piggy rides anymore, okay? And forget the acrobatics for a while.
Ya hear?

OOD said...

oh BTW, baca sokkaba semalam, the chelsea flower n herbs fair tu, kita menang silver kan? For serai! haha... award winning serai.

Anonymous said...

aiyo kak teh, slow slow ma dear...

atiza said...

kak teh, take care. if you need to rest, make sure you rest well. there should be acupuncture clinic there right? perhaps you should give them a visit.

Anonymous said...

Kak Teh...

Jangan buat kerja berat-berat. Jangan kerja kuat-kuat.

Perkataan 'rehat' sebenarnya ada dalam kamus Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. Cuma kak teh lupa mencarinya.

Hyde Park will always be there. Either you run or walk.

please get better.

AuntyN said...

Kak teh Get well soon. Tak mau tulis banyak2 nanti Kak Teh penat baca sampai tak rehat. Anyway keep the mind active by thinking of what to write next, hehehe

Kak Teh said...

thank you all for advise and tips. Did have a good night's sleep, but can also tell you in detail how spiders weave their webs. And the cats are having a fun time doing hurdles over me. Am trying so hard not to sneeze and cough. It &^%$£"!!! hurts and i dont usually swear.

Ewok said...

oh oh makcik blur, u better rest a lot, forget about doing anything else. dulu sakit tekak, then hayfever and now this..mm.. get well soon ya.

iJun said...

I'll give you a piggy-back ride everyday until you feel better Kak Teh!

Kak Teh said...

ewok, what to do? dah semakin muda ni macam-macam.
ijun!! LOL!!! we shd be doing that at the malaysian festival in bracknell ..hahaha! i laughed so much it hurts!

Leen AshBurn said...

Get well soon, Kak Teh!

Anonymous said...

Get well soon Kak Teh!

Anonymous said...

la... tok sah lah dok perbetui gambark tu kak teh

kampong lad

Kak Teh said...

ayu, leen, ck and budak kampong, thanks..tak larat baring dah ni!

Ruby M. said...

i see u lurking around that other website leaving me messages, and checking ur comment box.. u do all that lying down?? kak teh! u one incredible hulkess! hahah.. i hope u get well soon. i know its very painful.. but dont overwork ;) take care, be well.. much love

Kak Teh said...

maknenek, my fingers do the walking lah..i dont have to naik bus turun bas. Glad you are back and in one piece.

JoeBangla said...

Salam Kak Teh,

pernah tinggal komen kat sini dulu tuh, masa mula2 Kak Teh bukak blog, ini sure kes tak terperasan nih, atau masa tuh tak reti nak tengok comment box agaknya :-)

Wassalam.

Anonymous said...

get well soon. hope the pain will cease asap. take care! =)

~lilheaven~

Blabarella said...

Aiyo Kak Teh, I just read this!! Am really sorry for you!! Please please take care of that back of yours, okay? Blogging and everything else can wait!! Will pray for your swift recovery!!

God bless. *hugs*

Anonymous said...

I know the feeling of lying down facing the ceilings for days and days. *sigh*

Anyway, you better slow down on your daily routines. Get well soon!! :)

Kak Teh said...

hoe, terima kasih kerana sudi melawat sekali lagi.
lilheaven - am ready to syaer!! been looking for you...mana address nya...and if you read this, pls leave me yr address in my email. ada proposal sikit.
blabs and mm - dont worry - am on the mend. but jalan macam orang dalam pantang!

Anonymous said...

Hi Kak Teh, just dropping by! What a small world! Tan Sri Nordin's son, Sam was my schoolmate...well more like a pet brother during his stint in the US...

Salam kenal
-nour-

Kak Teh said...

hi nour, thanks for dropping by . yes, a small world indeed. have not seen Tan sri for a long time since that fateful day. hmmm where do i leave comments or answers for you?

Anonymous said...

Sorry Kak Teh currently I've suspended my main blog-la. Heading for Mecca in two days time...Insyaallah when I return I will make my appearance hehe:)

-nour-

Kak Teh said...

nour, kak teh ucapkan selamat pergi dan selamat kembali dan semoga segala ibadat diterima Allah. Amin.
yes, drop by when you are back.

Anonymous said...

Alhamdulillah we finally got our visas just this evening...not sure what the whole politics was..but Alhamdulillah...Will leave tomorrow evening. Yes, Insyaallah I will. thank you for your well wishes:)

salaam - nour-

Kak Teh said...

nour - may Allah look after you on your journey. but nour, am also leaving comments for you in the postin above - re: table Food.