MTGS

Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis caused by the buildup of urate crystals in and around the joints. While gout may begin as occasional attacks, untreated or poorly controlled gout can become chronic, leading to more frequent symptoms, persistent inflammation, tophi, and joint damage. The good news is that gout is highly manageable when uric acid levels are controlled and treatment is followed consistently. What Is Chronic Gout? Chronic gout develops when high uric acid levels persist over time, allowing urate crystals to accumulate in the joints and surrounding tissues. Repeated gout attacks can eventually become more frequent or prolonged. Some people develop tophi , which are firm deposits of urate crystals under the skin, commonly around the joints, fingers, toes, ears, or other areas. If left untreated, tophi can damage joints and surrounding tissues. Unlike an isolated gout attack, chronic gout requires long-term management. The goal is not simply to treat pain when an atta...

This morning suddenly woke up with tightness on my left chest, after that didn't sleep well and felt giddy and didn't go to work. Good thing my home downstairs have a clinic, super convenient, went to see the doctor, did ECG and the doctor thought it is better to send me to A&E for further checks just in case it is heart attack. I think he is concerned because I am a smoker. Took direct bus to NUH A&E, did blood test, ECG and x-ray but didn't find anything unusual. The doctor suspected it could be muscle ache instead since I work out regularly, doctor also talked to me about my smoking habit, told her I am cutting down. Also told her I rarely drink alcohol. She also arranged a threadmill test 2 weeks later. Heng not heart attack, I thought I was going to be warded or something, been smoking too much maybe, one session 2 sticks, frequency increasing, probably should try not to chain smoke too much.

She went for her usual consultation and the doctor found that her blood count is low again, so the doctor told me to send her to A&E. End up she warded for 3 days, did some blood transfusion to bring up the blood count. Total bill paid by my Medisave: S$2811.97.

https://marrythaigirlsingapore.blogspot.com/2026/01/diabetes-scare.html After my blood sugar came down to normal range, my near vision seems to have improved, not as clear as previously but now I can see the text on my iPhone with the smallest text size, still takes a while to focus but definitely much better now. These days I totally avoid sugared drinks, candy, chocolate and whatnot and stick to healthier choices and I work out everyday and more heavy on weekends to build some muscles and I feel way better particular more alert. Hopefully my eyesight can recover to pre-hyperglycaemia level soon.

On the week of 08 Dec 2025, a stye grew on my right eye and I didn't think anything of it. In the following week, the stye broke and there was pus in my eye all the time, had to keep cleaning it, especially after waking up there was this huge chunk of yellowish or greenish hardened pus, good thing I have a lot of antibacterial wipes and I brought one pack to work. Then I noticed that my vision in both eyes started to get blurry even with glasses, can't see near with glasses, but if take off glasses can see near but then cannot see far, then with glasses far looks blurry. I also had trouble sleeping well for quite some time even prior to the stye because I kept waking up at night to pee and felt thirsty all the time, to make matters worse I don't drink plain water much, kept drinking sodas and sweet tea. On 28 Dec 2025, I went to buy a combo pack glucose monitor "Contour Plus Elite Blood Glucose Meter (MMOL) + Test Strips 50s + Lancets 100s + Alcohol Swabs 200s", i...

Today went to see the surgeon, wife already decided to go for the operation so quite straightforward, only thing is the risk is about 20% because it's her second operation and weaker heart. So we chose to do it during school holidays, 19 Nov she will admit to hospital, 21 Nov will be the actual operation. The surgeon also asked to decide on what valve for the replacement, we chose the mechanical valve since it will very long, probably her lifetime, only problem is she will need to be on Warfarin for life. The other way is animal valve but that has another problem which is it cannot last her lifetime so very likely she will need another operation again. Thinking back her Thai doctor really kns, they put mechanical valve for her, it's supposed to last her lifetime, end up 14 years need to change, wtf. Anyway hoping for the best.

Seen her heart doctor today, in a gist her condition is "very bad" and requires operation to replace her heart valve soon, wife keep saying she is fine but I can tell she is getting weaker, very obvious when she walks a little and complain tired. The heart doctor arranged for another appointment to see the surgeon, actually seen this same surgeon last Oct but wife didn't want to go for surgery, ended up a wasted trip, this time round I have to insist. Surprisingly after I spoke to her, she is ok with it, I think since daughter's operation is done and has recovered, so it is much easier to convince her, she also thought I no money to pay, I told her I have money, which is true, I have savings obviously, don't know what she is thinking. Going to see the surgeon end of this month, operation probably 1-2 months later, after operation need to stay in ward for about a week. Cost-wise, not sure how much yet, she is PR so I guess will cost a bit more than daughter's o...

Yesterday her red blood count went up to 8.9, within normal range. Today the doctors still wanted to keep her warded for more tests but she don't want and left. I also took leave today to bring daughter, MIL and nephew for her post-op follow-up. Daughter's wound is healing well, doctor say can bath normally but have to keep it dry and wear clean clothes, then will see her again in 3 months time. Wife's heart function only 25%, normal should be 50% or more, I think she needs to go for op soon, I think when she sees her cardio need to highlight.

Yesterday she went to polyclinic to follow-up on her blood test, then out of nowhere the doctor called me and told me her reading 6.6, didn't catch what he was saying because I busy at work, anyway he sounded quite fierce and told me to send her to A&E right now, I thought must be quite serious. He gave a referral letter stating jaundiced and pallor. After that I called her up to bring nephew home first then I call taxi for her, end up she bring nephew along to A&E. After work I went to find her, bought dinner for her and then I bring nephew home and she stayed overnight alone. When I reached home, a staff called me and told me wife have to be admitted, have to stay around 2-3 days. Then today a doctor called me up and explained her condition, told me the 6.6 is the red blood count, it's too low, normal is 7 and above, it's probably because she had heavy menses, lost too much red blood. This is not the first time, back in 2018 also happened and warded. After that a ...

Today went for the usual follow-up at NUH, last week did the echo scan, today the doctor compared the results and said it got worse so need to refer her to heart surgeon. But wife say she feeling well, she not keen to have surgery, but I see her always tired, walk up stairs also tired, cannot walk long distance, I guess we just meet the surgeon and see how lor, at least listen to what the expert say, ultimately she decide whether to go ahead or not, anyway not immediately type, even if later decide to do, also have to wait 2-3 months before the operation, that's what the heart doctor told us. My daughter also need heart surgery, now wife also need, sigh, but I trust the doctors at NUH, without them my daughter wouldn't even exist today. Hopefully everything turns out fine.

My knee is feeling normal again, no more weird feeling or clicking joint, I think it got better after I followed the instructions to apply more, another thing is other than applying on the knee cap, I also applied behind the knee cap because I felt a little lump behind, not sure if it was swollen or what, now can't really feel it anymore. Now I'm back to being able to climb two steps of stairs at one go, previously if I tried to do that, I can feel that weird feeling like my knee is going to detach, now my knee feels more solid. I think anyone with knee issues should really try this cream, just apply it according to instructions will do, just don't under-apply like me haha.

After applying the URAH cream for two weeks, today I resumed my jogging routine, able to complete the usual rounds plus walk one more round. I think I am applying too little of the cream, I see the ads those people applying more than me. So far feels better but sometimes still feel knee ache especially after sitting for too long, aiyoh really getting old haha, 39 years old feel like old man, jia lat, must work out more.

https://marrythaigirlsingapore.blogspot.com/2022/09/left-knee-feeling-weird.html I've been applying the "URAH Bone Health plus Bio-Calcium and Omega-3" for a week now, can feel some difference, no more weird clicking in the knee, jumping and jogging feels alright but when jogging felt a bit of new sensation which is not painful but odd, felt like hair standing so weird, so end up I decided not to jog for now and just walk, but overall my knee does feel better. I keep having the idea that jogging will hurt the knees, but after researching online, that does not seem to be true. Anyway wife's mother also have knee pain, if December can go Thailand, will some for her.

My left knee has been feeling weird for quite some time, I think it's because of sitting down for long period of time, can feel the joint clicking, was made worse when I went to play badminton, all that jumping and stretching was kind of too much. Then last Saturday morning went for a walk of around 2.8 KM, after that feel some swelling but from outside can't see. After that I was thinking of getting Glucosamine to eat, then I remembered last time when my mother knee ache, I bought the URAH cream for her, after that I think she got better. So I went to Watsons and bought this "URAH Bone Health plus Bio-Calcium and Omega-3", applied from Saturday until now around 3 days, seems to feel better, don't know real or not, one cream so powerful, monitor for this week see how. By the way now Watsons selling one tube for S$28.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-announces-major-easing-of-covid-19-rules-from-april-26-what-you-need-to-know "7. Step down in use of TraceTogether and SafeEntry As most venues will no longer require the public to check in using the TraceTogether app or token as part of vaccination-differentiated safe management measures, the use of TraceTogether and SafeEntry will cease. However, these capabilities will be maintained as a means of conducting VDS checks where necessary, and to enable the Government to rapidly step up contact tracing and checks should it need to do so again in response to any new variant of concern, said MOH. The public is therefore strongly encouraged to keep the TraceTogether application on their phones as well as their TraceTogether tokens , it said. Any generated TraceTogether or SafeEntry data may continue to be used by police officers and law enforcement officers for criminal investigations and proceedings in respect of serious offences, as pr...

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/explainer-how-concerned-should-we-be-about-monkeypox-2697966 Seems like the world has no shortage of bad news, finally when we see some relief from Covid-19, out of nowhere comes monkeypox, then there's the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, China lockdown, global inflation. The wanton mee at my neighbourhood hawker centre increase price from SG$3.50 to SG$4.00, 12.5% increase. What a bad year. Key takeaway from the monkeypox news article: As of 21 May, 92 confirmed cases and 28 suspected cases of monkeypox in 12 countries. Monkeypox is a virus that can cause symptoms including fever, aches and presents with a distinctive bumpy rash. Fatality rate of around 1 per cent. Most people fully recover in two to four weeks. Spread through close, intimate skin on skin contact with someone who has an active rash. "COVID-19 is spread by the respiratory route and is highly infectious. This doesn't appear to be the case with the monkeypox," sai...

https://marrythaigirlsingapore.blogspot.com/2021/07/second-dose-hits-hard.html Today I went for my 3rd dose, kind of crowded today but queue moved quickly, 9:30 AM appointment, completed jab at around 9:44 AM, around 9:55+ AM completed the monitoring period and left. 1 hour after the jab, arm have a very slight swollen feeling, after I reached home I immediately took 2 panadol. Hopefully this time round not as bad as the 2nd dose, worst case tomorrow just take leave.

https://marrythaigirlsingapore.blogspot.com/2015/08/bought-coaguchek-xs-meter-for-wife.html I bought the old model CoaguChek XS in 2015 for S$1070, and it finally gave way, checked with manufacturer and they say it is not repairable, so no choice but to buy a new one. This device has served us well for 6 years, saved us a lot of time, energy and money. Now they have a new model CoaguChek INRange which uses the same test strips and this model is cheaper at S$787.50. I managed to buy it at NUH Heart Clinic @ Level 3, if you need, you can walk in and buy the meter and the test strips together, no need prescription. It is also available at National Heart Centre. CoaguChek INRange Meter

These few weeks I have been using the heightened alert as an excuse to not go for exercise, keep telling myself to stay safe and stay home, end up building up a lot of negative energy, I tell you a person cannot just hide at home and do nothing other than going to work or to buy groceries. But actually can also work out at home but well, once you get lazy it doesn't matter where, you'll just cook up excuses when you feel like it. So today I finally forced myself to go out for a run, managed to run about 2.5 rounds of the track which is about 1KM and walk to complete 3 rounds, not bad, I thought after several weeks of rotting at home I won't make 2 rounds. Staying active is a must, it helps to get rid of negative energy and build up positive energy, this is very true because when I was in my 20s, I used to workout very regularly like 3-5 times a week or even daily was normal to me, I think that time even busier than now because I was doing part-time studies holding a full-ti...

https://marrythaigirlsingapore.blogspot.com/2021/07/went-for-second-dose-of-covid-19-vaccine.html The whole day after getting the second dose was ok, it was during the night when things started to get real uncomfortable, and just happens that it was raining and I still left the air-con on so it was freezing. Then I can't sleep the whole night, just turning left and right but can't turn to my right side as I had the shot on my right arm. End up today took leave to rest at home, can barely get out of the bed, whole body ache, feel giddy, then slept until around 12pm. Good thing now feeling much better already, had some hot food, drink water, took Panadol but I try not to take too much, just follow the instruction and take 2 every 6 hours, it is mentioned on the vaccination card. Hopefully tomorrow can go back to work.