My 2010 Wish: To Stay Healthy and Be Happy

Beginning of 2009, I was suffering from stomach ulcer.

I had throbbing pain in my stomach almost every day and it reached a level that I could no longer bear with it. It was not like as though you were having a splitting headache. No. It was something like gastric pain.

After my umpteenth visit to the clinic, a panel doctor at Bukit Antarabangsa referred me to a specialist (gastroenterologist) at Ampang Puteri. The first visit ended with me being warded at the hospital. I had to undergo endoscopy.

It was the start of a series of visits and of course, more endoscopies. The early part of the year was filled with appointments with the doctor, and later warded.
The finding was that pain killers were the cause of this horrible pain!

I couldn’t recall taking many pain killers, but was very sure that I was a faithful consumer of panadol. However, I was told that panadol was pretty mild to be classified as pain killer. He didn’t say I should stop taking panadol but told me to stop taking pain killers!

Since then, I would be extra cautious when taking any medicine for whatever pain that I had to go through. I even told my panel doctors at this particular clinic near my house, not to give me pain killers in his or her prescription.

However, there were times, I had no choice but to take panadol for my headaches. Not too often though.

The year 2009 also saw several people struck by a killer disease – stroke. It took the lives of my younger brother and the husband of my staff – and all, due to stroke. The husband of another staff is now paralysed due to a stroke.

Life is such. You don’t know when some disease may get into your body’s defence system. At this golden age, you become more susceptible to all kinds of illnesses.
I envy those who stay healthy till they breathe their last.

I am not in my best of health. I do have early symptoms of arthritis, according to a doctor. My problem is I hate to exercise and would rather take the short cut by going to an Indonesian masseuse (tukang urut) to relieve the pain.

I will be retiring in March 2011. This means that I will be in office till end of the new year, as prior to retirement, I would have to take my leave.

Many things are in store for Bernama employees in the new year as the proposed restructure of our organisation, which is a statutory body under the Ministry of Information Communication and Culture, will take place.

The Public Service Department (JPA) has in principle given the nod to the changes, which will see the creation of new posts and units, especially in the Editorial Department.

InsyaAllah, if everything goes according to plan and schedule, the restructure will be realised, the earliest in March or latest by June this year.

God willing, with the blessing of the Almighty Allah, I will enjoy the benefits from the restructure when I retire in 2011.

Here’s wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2010!