Journey of Mi[rna]

Last Thursday, I went to Bandung after long time. I had meetings with two clients, at different places of course…………
The first one was at Raja Melayu Restaurant.
It was my first time there. The interior is modern look, but the waiter and waitress wear Malay traditional outfit. Lots of people had lunch there at that time.
And when I went to see the dishes they are serving…WOW!!!!!!!!!
Many varieties of Sumatera foods. It’s like Padang food resto, but they have more…. Cos they serve food from Aceh to Lampung, from the west of Sumatera to the East end of Sumatera.
Yum….Yum……They reminded me of my hometown. Unfortunately, most of them were cooked in coconut milk, or vegetable oil.
I didn’t know what to pick because any food I chose wasn’t allowed in my diet.

Oh well………….I went naughty that day, I had to forget my diet program just for 1 day.
I chose Pajri Nenas, Sambal Goreng Udang, Kangkung Masak Belacan, and Ayam Goreng Pandan.
Alam picked Rendang Daging and Gulai Kambing.
My clients picked Gulai Ikan Patin, Asam Iga, Sambal Ganja (!), Udang Goreng on a stick, and many other things.

I chose Ketan Hitam Float. It’s sweet fermented black sticky rice, grounded by blender, and they add one scoop of vanilla ice cream. Slurrrppp…….

Another place I went was Paris Van Java. Place to hang out with friends, to relax. They have lots of cafe there.
I met my client at Black Canyon Coffee. I think this cafe was originally from Thailand. They serve Thai dishes, and lots of varieties coffee drinks. When I finished, they said thank you in Thai.
Because the meeting was at 2 PM, we only ordered drinks. I order Blended Green Tea Ice with milk, and my client ordered Green Tea Ice with no milk.

Hmmm….Another new eating experience in Bandung.

Yesterday, I had my second blood test. I have been fasting since 7 PM the day before. I was hoping to get a good result after what I have been doing to improve it.

Finally, Alhamdulillah………….!
The blood sugar level when fasting still exceeded the normal limit, 112, but better than the test before: 142. And blood sugar level after 2 hours of eating was 122, limit is 140. Before: 276! And my uric acid level was good, from 6.3 to 4.9 (limit: 5.7).
I must keep taking my medicine, in order to control them.

Another concern is my SGOT and SGPT high score. They haven’t decreased yet although I have been taking temulawak water everyday. She gave me  two kinds of medicine for this. Those scores indicate that I may have problem with my liver
In two weeks, I ‘ll have another test.

What is SGOT and SGPT?
Find the info here:
http://spiritia.or.id/cst/bacacst.php?artno=1046
http://www.kompas.com/ver1/Kesehatan/0607/10/114001.htm

When doctor checked my pulse, she said my digestion wasn’t good (stomach, colon) and I still have things on my mind that bother me. Yeah, of course doc……….. I’m having problems now.

Keep exercising, Mirna. Watch your diet!

Again…….I have to do my work on holiday.

Before, when we had Jakarta Governor election (Aug 8), I had to go to Padang to attend hospital tender procedure explanation.

And tomorrow, our Independence Day, I will accompany Dr.H to use our Selector. The patient is 10 years old boy, has brain tumor.
This is all just for the sake to get order in the future.

Sacrifice, sacrifice……….

My lab test result was my wake up call. When I had to take the test, I was worried and stressed out. My parents had diabetes, what if I get it too?
I picked up the result on Aug 6, on my way to doctor’s clinic. I opened the envelope and started searching the blood sugar level.

My God, as what I expected, the blood sugar and uric acid level was high, not to mention SGPT and SGOT. I called my sister and told her to  check her blood too.

When I met my doctor and showed her the result, she explained to me the meaning of the result. In order to lower blood sugar and uric acid level,  I must take medicine. And for SGPT and SGOT, she said maybe I was too tired and she told me to take 1 glass of temulawak water (it’s natural way instead of taking medicine).

I asked her what kind of diet I should follow due to the medicine I take. She said, it’s as same as slimming diet, limit sugar intake, no fatty food, no green vegetables due to uric acid, exercise!

On my way home, I was thinking: wow, am I a diabetes sufferer now? Mom has warned me, my boss has reminded me not taking much sweets. I stopped exercising more than 1 year ago. Bad choice Mirna!

My Poohbear called me when I was sleeping, and I cried. I feel weak, cos I see how my parents suffered from diabetes. But Poohbear encouraged me, he’s such a good motivator. He supports me to do the diet and cut down the weight, as he’s doing it too.

I browsed internet to get information on diabetes diet and uric acid diet. What the food groups are, how many we should take.

Found some good sources on diabetes:

http://www.diabeteshelpcenter.com/

http://diabetes.org/home.jsp

So, been more than a week, been difficult for me  to limit my meal portion.

And last Monday I weighed 81 kg, so I lost 5 kg! Good huh? I was fasting at that time, but today I’m 82.5 kg. Whoaaa………….Too much eating for the last two nights.

I have changed my eating habits, eat in small portions, have healthy snacks at 10 am and 4 pm, no burgers, fatty food, no ice cream, no cakes, no coke, no eating out. More conscious on what the contain of each pack of food, e.g.: how many fat, how many cholesterol, how many sugar, etc.

I bought low calorie sugar, more fruits and veggie (but not green ones), more fibers, reduce meat and more of fish.
I cook again for myself.
I walk and jog in my housing complex now after sholat Shubuh, do some stretching and Tae Kwon Do moves. What I like about it is, my Poohbear calls me and we would have nice conversation every time I exercise.

Word of wisdom:

I have neglected my body and soul! And look what has happened. I’m
not whining, please my dear friends………….This is a warning to
you all. Watch your health while you are still young. Especially if you have health disorder history from your parents.

I had to get ready early, or I will miss out all the activities today.

8.30 AM : Went to the medical lab, got blood and urine checked

9.00 - 9.07 AM : Had breakfast, then fast for 2 hours

9.07 - 11.15 AM :
a) Got petrol, traffic was bad
b) Sent my TV to service center in Tanah Abang
c) Back to lab, another blood sample was taken
Result would be ready at 2.30 PM but I’ll get it on Monday.

11.15 - 11.30 AM :
a) Went to Batik Harni Shop next to the lab. Bought two beautiful batik sarongs.
b) Had an order from my neurosurgeon

12.00 PM :
a) Arrived in the office, ordered lunch, prepared documents needed for hospital tender.
b) Checked e-mails

1.10 PM : Went to deliver documents to our partner

2.15 PM : Had my laptop formatted (such a pain in the b**t). Thanks to my friend, Hanjar, who took care of it.

5 PM : Went to meet my uncle who arrived from Subang. He gave me another treatment for my asthma

9.10 PM : Arrived home

Got phone call from my Poohbear then went to sleep.

After what happened during my last trip last week (my asthma recurrence), I felt I have to see a doctor. I don’t want to see just a doctor. I sent SMS to my mother’s ex student and asked her practice schedule.
Yesterday I called the clinic and set up an appointment. And what happened today, it was the last campaign day for Jakarta governor election. There were so many people on the street.

I got permission to leave office early at 3.45 PM and I didn’t predicted this situation. It was jam everywhere. My car, as usual when traffic is jam, crimped in the middle of the traffic. I tried to pull over with the last power it’s got. Left the car on the side of the road and took motorbike to go to the clinic. It was 5 PM, the doctor’s practice would be over soon.

Thank God! When got there, she was still having a patient.
We had chit chat. I told her everything about my health situation: My asthma, coughing, color change of my leg skin, the wound on my thumb.

She told me to get my blood and urine checked due to my parents’ diabetes history.

She checked my pulse both of my two wrists and she asked me questions that the answers were true based on the current condition, e.g:

• Are you having something on your  mind? YES
• Are you in stress? YES
• Do you have gastric problem? YES

After that, she treated me with acupuncture. She also hit the points for sleeping. I will see her again on Monday.

My motorbike rider was waiting for me. Traffic was the same, slightly better. I went back to my car, ignited it, it worked well again.

I planned to go to medical lab tomorrow, so I have to eat dinner before 9 PM, then fast for 12 hours.

On my way home, in Kelapa Dua area, I saw a food stand by the road. They sell SATE TULANG. Wow! What’s that? Sounds new to me. I stopped the car and parked.

Sate Tulang (Bone Satay) is made from chicken’s back bone.
I ordered one portion of it with one portion of lontong (steamed solid rice). The piece is big and there were lots of bones.

I won’t recommend it to you who don’t like to be bothered by the bones. Because you have to separate the bones and the meat. Taste was good.

After dinner, I headed home. Been a long day for me. Tomorrow will be too.