Month: May 2021

Swab-perience

I was down under for the past two days. Thinking that I possibly could maybe gotten Covid. Story begins when I was about to clock out at 5pm, on last Saturday from work. It was 430pm, I began to feel my bones were shivering. Maybe because the clothes I wore that day were skimpier? So I turned off the air condition. But the shivering doesn’t go away. At 450pm, I told Jenny to clock out earlier, so I could return home.

Back home I took panadol and vitamin. My extremities such as my toes and fingers were so cold that I have to wear socks and gloves to bed. Two hours later, the fever doesn’t go away. I was scared shit. I’m begining to think about the recent Mother’s Day celebration at home. Could I possibly infected my mom, my aunt and my uncles too? They ARE OLD AND HIGH RISK PEOPLE. Also, why I’m so stubborn to even try to go play badminton on the last day before MCO announce (even I have not fully recovered from my lower back pain)? Shit, nobody’s gonna play badminton with me after this, like Issac’s case.

That night I had nanda chicken, which I ordered earlier – even I know that could prolly make me having sore throat. But YOLO. The chicks were fresh from kitchen.

Come Sunday. I was mostly on bed. I finished reading a book (because what else I can do on bed?). The fever feeling subsided, but now I felt throaty. My aunt asked me to gargle with salt water, which I did, took some chinese meds, and panadol, and vitamin. Gosh, did I feel like a pill box, hell yeah. So here’s my routine

I felt like a pill box
  1. Every 8 hours: Chinese Meds (popular covid medicine in China, my dad swears by it)
  2. Every 6 hours: Panadol
  3. Every in between Chinese Meds & Panadol: Vitamin & Gargle with saltwater

Boy, I was so lethargic by the end of this ordeal. But, I have to say the gargle with saltwater thing did make my throat feel less throaty, if you know what I mean. So the next day I develop some cough. And thinking back, on Friday I actually had diarrhea for two consecutive days. So we made the decision to go for the swab test. The more I think about my chest giving me tight feeling, the worse it becomes. In the end, I decided to go for a swab test. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

He’s the charging rate for two places I’d compared in Kuantan

  • Klinik Syed Baharuddin
    • RTK TEST: RM100
    • PCR TEST: RM270
    • You have to get down the car and register, give IC, stand outside the clinic when they cucuk you.
  • Kuantan Medical Center
    • RTK TEST: RM120
    • PCR TEST: RM3XX
    • Can do it with drive thru, meaning like order McD lah, they just take samples without you having to get down from the car.

So here’s the explanation based on my understanding and conversation with the nurses there what each test means:-

RTK basically is cheaper because they only take samples from your nose. Which is quite accurate already and fast too (within 2 hours). You could opt to do for the RTK test, and proceed to the PCR test if you are positive to covid. Because KKM will need PCR results from you. RTK is recommended for those who have symptoms but no close contact with covid patients.

PCR is comprise of RTK (nasal swab) in addition to throat swab for your saliva sample. This is a little bit more through, and usually opted by those who have close contact with covid-19 patients. The result will take much longer, usually you could only get it the next day.

So I choose to do RTK at Kuantan Medical Center, for the extra convenience. The process was simple, I have to register myself, pay them an upfront of RM120 fees (cash or online bank-in) and drive to the swab counter.

The process: When the frontliner came by, she told me to tilt my head, and try not squeeze my nasal passage and breathe like normal. The cotton swab was smaller to my usual cotton buds, I didn’t know how deep it went in, but it lasted for 4secs at most. I was trying to breathe normal, and the moment my tears almost come out, the frontliner pulled out the swab. I was tearing abit, and I felt my nose pretty dry. Like she just dug the deepest shit in my nose. On the way back, I think I achoooo-ed like 5 times, because some cotton fibres from the swab must’ve irritated my nose. Other than that, I’m good.

So I asked if my result come back negative what should I do? She told me to still monitor my condition for the next 4 days, and quarantine at home. If the symptom did not subside, I should come visit a doctor as there may be some other underlying conditions.

At about 1 hour later, and my result came back negative. I was relieved. AAAND then my dad only reminded me that on 1st day of MCO I actually went out cycling even it was drizzling. *Flips my eyeball like 1000 times* So he knewww ALLL ALONGGG??? I went through the whole quarantine ordeal and swab dig nose thing, only to know THAT? But, I wasn’t angry or mad. I was just tired, and lesson learnt. At time like this, we really don’t want to take risk to get sick. The thought of contracting COVID to some you loved dearly, makes us feel horrible. 爸爸妈妈，对不起，我长大了。。。

1000m Swimming

Ladies and gentleman, may I have a round oviation please

Wee! I made my first 1000m swimming! *Throws confetti* So I went swimming again yesterday (duh, what else I can do now I’ve injured my back), then there’s no one at the pool. I was so scared, then a dude came to my relief. BUT, he seemed to be in and out of the pool. Like he needed to text someone. So when he’s outside the pool, I’m thinking if I need to play pretend to be outside the pool too? Like every 10 mins or so he jump out of the pool.

But no, I didn’t follow through. Instead the courageous me continued swim. Yes, I’m afraid actually. Like a crocodile would come ambush me from sideways. I’m already beginning to imagine the ugly snout and creepy crocodile skin texture. I starting to scan my surrounding instead of focusing on my breathing and strokes and glide. Gah…. then a lightbulb moment occured to me, that is to focus on something I like. Ding! Yes, fried chicken. Mekdi Ayam Goreng. I start to imagine how crunchy it is, the fragrant onion flavor that goes well with it, the juicy satisfaction on each bite, how well it goes with McD tomato sauce, etc, etc. For a while, I was less scared. And continued swimming.

After awhile I am back to swimming tempo, kick, glide stroke, kick glide stroke. Annnnnnnd, I made it to my 1000m. Not easy, but it paid off. That sense of achievement, for beating your own record and personal goals are always the most satisfying one. Even a bucket of ayam goreng can’t beat it. Yatta!

Swimming pool and crocodile

Laugh. Laugh at all siliness in life

I have 1 irrational fear. That is I cannot swim alone in swimming pool. Because I’m afraid there’s crocodile in it. Each time I tell my friend, they will laugh until their tears come out. They suppose someone so logic and forward thinking person like me wouldn’t have such fear. Since crocodile in a civilized swimming pool is not justified. But, I just can’t go around it.

So recently I’ve been swimming a lot because I decided be more serious about my back injury. I want to first fully recover from my injury before getting back into my sports routine. Swimming is the only sport I find that doesn’t make my injury worst (not cycling, not yoga). I’m beginning to swim at 400m, my aim is to be able to swim at 1000m. Ha, but I’m not sure if I could really do that. Regardless, yesterday weather was a little gloomy after some rain in the noon.

So once I reached MGCC, I asked the girl at the counter if I could peek there’s anyone at the pool first. To my surprise, nobody was at the pool. And the pool water was as calm as a perfect breeding space for crocodile. So, like that, I just left the pool. Arghhhhh… how wish I could muster the courage to swim alone. It’s such an inconvenience! Imagine, halfway swimming, the everyone leave, and I’m just at my 200m swimming lap. Niaseng.

MySejahtera Malaysia Vaccination Process for Covid-19

As we all know, the roll out for vaccination program in Malaysia is still very new idea to all. At the moment, only senior citizens are eligible to the national vaccination program. So, for ya’ll who have elderly at home, if you have already registered for covid vaccination under my sejahtera app, remember to help them to check their appointment regularly through the app. Because apparently, the government won’t call, or there won’t be notification on their phone. It made me wonder what happen if you’ve missed your appointment?

So, once you got your appointment date and location, it will appear like this on your application

Since, I’ve accompanied both my uncles and aunty to their vaccination trip, I guess I could share to you what to expect from the national vaccination program. I’m not sure if it’s the same for every state or location. But at least, it should give you a rough idea.

Bring a pen along, so you can fill this up. The number above is your queue number

So if your grandpop or grandma is not literate, and needed translation, bring ONE person along to help translate. Help them to fill up where necessary in the form. Things to bring along:-

  1. Identity Card (IC)
  2. MySejahtera APP (the one that shows the appointment date)
  3. Pen (to isi form)
  4. ONE Translator (optional)
Kalau tak tau, kate tak tau, jangan buat pandai ya. YES NO dan TAK PASTI

So there’s some question you need to fill up in the form, especially if you have any allergies to vaccine or food. But, don’t worry if you’re not sure, you can consult a doctor inside to inquire further. At this point, you also have to give consent to want or don’t want the jab. After that, autograph at bottom.

My uncle patiently waiting his turn to register

As we see here, many have registered but only small amount ppl turn out at the vaccination center, because many were uninformed about it. I can only imagine, when it’s my turn when masses were more informed about it, sure crowded gila. But so far, the managed the crowd quite well.

Anker, ada sihat hari ini?

Yes, when you come for vaccination, make sure you are healthy, because you are actually jabbing small amount of COVID-19 to your body. So you don’t want to get full blown covid-19, if you’re sick. IMPORTANT! Also, if you have any allergy, like serious type, doctor will write a letter for you to get your jab in hospital. BUT you still need to turn up at this vaccination center first.

I’m here!

Next, they will key in your details into system and also update your MySejahtera app. Rmb to scan here.

Sume anti anker, duduk dulu ya… wait turn

Then we wait for our turn to get the jabs…You can also ask what vaccine you kena jab here. Even you cannot choose. The doc told us we getting COMMINARTY, which is a vaccine for elderly manufactured by PFIZER. Oklah, so long is vaccine. We can eat anything after the jab.

Oh, tell the doc if you prefer to jab LEFT or RIGHT, depending if you’re LEFTIE or RIGHTIE

Everyone wants to get a photo when kena jab like our PM, but not all frontliners were THAT friendly. But please understand, and be courteous – how tired they are serving everyone.

30mins observation area

Lastly, you will have to take 30mins rest to see your reaction to the vaccine. If you feel unwell, remember to inform the medical staff there.

Your medical card and your next appointment will show in your Mysejahtera app after 3 days

Do not misplaced your vaccination card. Keep it with your IC. I think it is important for future, and it also indicate your next appointment. Also, please remember to bring it along on your next appointment. The entire process took us about 1-1.5hour. It was a smooth process. I hope it will continue be like that as more and more people will be jabbed in future.