Right hemithyroidectomy

On 24 August 2015, the ENT surgeon saw me and out rightly recommended right hemithyroidectomy which is the removal of the nodule, the right thyroid and the isthmus, leaving only the left thyroid.  He also discussed about watchful waiting wherein we have to wait for the nodule to grow before doing surgery, which he said was not his choice.  I asked him why not do the total thyroidectomy?  He said that it is going to be an over treatment if he does that.  I agreed to the procedure.

On 2 September 2015, I met the anesthetist and did the pre-operative evaluation.  I was also ordered blood tests including antibody screen and blood typing.  I did all the preoperative blood tests the day before my surgery.

6 September 2015, i checked in early at the admission's office of the American Hospital Dubai for my right hemithyroidectomy.  I was again evaluated for the last few things about allergies, dentures, surgical history and what have you.  I was given Dormicum and Zantac and felt a little like drunk or groggy.  Then, I met the anesthesiologist and saw my surgeon.  I was brought to the operating room and was talking to the nurses when i was asked to inhale something by the anesthetist.  After a few seconds, i was knocked down.

With my  more than a friend, more than a family, tita Lydia

Before my operation @room 542

The next thing I knew, i was in the recovery room, they woke me up and asked how the pain was.  I said it was 5/10 and they gave me a shot of pain reliever.  Asked me again, then said 3/10.  I heard that my heartbeat was fast.  Suddenly, all calmed down.  Next thing I knew, they were moving me back to my room.

I was so groggy... I slept the whole day.  It took two hours and a half for my surgery.  It was planned to be an hour only.....

I've got thyroid nodule

I never thought that i will be undergoing surgery of the neck, not in my whole lifetime, surgery of the thyroid.  I thought my thyroid was healthy.  I never felt any difficulty  in swallowing or breathing.  I did not  have any lump felt in my neck.  I never had any symptoms of mood changes that come with thyroid disease.  But, one fateful afternoon, a workshop for the new neck ultrasound machine in the hospital i worked for was done.  In that workshop, volunteers were called to try the new machine.  I volunteered hesitantly but with my friend's encouragement, i went and got checked by the machine.

The pictures above showed how they did the test.  On the last picture,  the monitor showed that they found a right thyroid nodule.  Immediately, i went straight to another endocrinologist even though the neck surgeon told me that I can have it checked or just let it be as most of us have nodules in the neck.  I decided to get checked by an endocrinologist.

The endocrinologist did some palpation.  The nodule was too small to be palpated.  He ordered some blood tests.  The blood tests were normal - TSH, FT4 and FT3, all these tests for the thyroid were all normal.

The next visit, he did an FNA.

FNA - Fine Needle Aspiration biopsy.

According to Wikipedia.  Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB, FNA or NAB), or fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), is a diagnostic procedure used to investigate superficial (just under the skin) lumps or masses. In this technique, a thin, hollow needle is inserted into the mass forsampling of cells that, after being stained, will be examined under a microscope. There could be cytology exam of aspirate (cell specimen evaluation, FNAC) or histological (biopsy - tissue specimen evaluation, FNAB).^[1] Fine-needle aspiration biopsies are very safe, minor surgical procedures. Often, a major surgical (excisional or open) biopsy can be avoided by performing a needle aspiration biopsy instead. In 1981, the first fine-needle aspiration biopsy in the United States was done at Maimonides Medical Center, eliminating the need for surgery and hospitalization. Today, this procedure is widely used in the diagnosis of cancer and inflammatory conditions.^[2]

The endocrinologist did an FNA.  Just like a dart thrown on my neck and tried to get tissue samples from the nodule.  He did succeed but the cytology revealed not enough tissue to make a diagnosis.

The doctor ordered ultrasound of the neck that revealed the  nodule measuring 1.2 x 1.2 x 1.2 cm, round, hypoechoic without internal vascularity.

The endocrinologist told me that these types are suspicious for malignancy, so he wanted to get another FNA but this time ultrasound guided.

So, the doctor ordered again an ultrasound-guided FNA, again!

The ultrasound-guided biopsy was done in the Imaging Department by a radiologist with the ultrasonographers (there were 2) and cytologist to get the specimen.  It took three times of pricking and probing to get a sufficient specimen.

The results came and it was really suspicious for malignancy.  Thus, the nodule needed to be excised.

I was referred to the ENT surgeon.

Prayer for healing

Jesus, You are the wounded healer, heal me through Your wounds. You are the God, the Ultimate, Who alone can heal me. You are my Divine Medicine. O Lord! Just say one word, and I shall be healed. Jesus, forgive all my sins and iniquities through Your bloodshed. Have mercy on all my ancestors. O Jesus! Send Your Holy Spirit upon me and liberate me from all bondage. Jesus, my only Savior, deliver me from all my sins and sickness. Mother Mary, Mother of Good Health, I cry out to You for Your prayers for the mercy of Your Son to heal me right now! Thank You Mother Mary, Thank You Jesus, Thank You Abba, Father, and Thank You Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Happy mother's day!

To all the Masters Of Multitasking - MOMS!!!

Happy mother's day!

https://www.facebook.com/PeanutsMovie?pnref=story

How to lessen your expenses and save more

Happy wealthy day to all of you.  Just sharing the things I learned from different books about finances.

1.  Save a small fixed amount everyday

    e.g. 5 aed/day x 30 = 150 aed x 12 months = 1800 aed 

2.  Choose a lifestyle.  Do not go beyond your means. My rule is do not eat out if the food costs more than the Mcdonald's happy meal.

3.  Buy only when you need to buy, but buy the best yo can afford.  Be frugal but buy the best quality.  Delay gratification.

4.  Read all tips and follow good ones.  Cooperate with the people who are helping you get back on your feet. 

5.  YOU HAVE TO START NOW.  The best time to invest was yesterday, the next best time is today and the worst is tomorrow.

Happy saving!

How to save money - my to 10 effective ways

My top 10 effective saving tips

Time flies so fast.  We are now in the second quarter of the year.  I am sure most of us have listed “savings” as one of our new year’s resolutions.  As for me, every last month of the first quarter, I sit down and check how I have been doing with my new year’s resolution, especially on saving money.  It is a good thing that every year shows an improvement in my finances.  Frugality is my best friend when it comes to savings. 

The following are my top 10 most effective ways of saving, and hopefully help in beating my financial giant.

1. List system.  When grocery shopping, I list down all the things that I need to buy. If I stick to my list, there is a great chance that I will not overspend or buy something that will end up unused or kept in the cabinet.
2. Delayed gratification.  I used to be an impulsive buyer.  Whenever I want things or whenever there are new mobile models, I would surely have it the next day.  This gave a big impact on my finances, especially on the use of credit cards.  I have learned that delaying my gratification also delays my spending, thereby saving me money.  This not only helps in my savings but also in practicing the virtue of discipline.
3. Give more.  If you give something, it comes right back to you.  Have you heard of good karma and do unto others as you would want others do unto you?  Giving is like an echo.  Whatever you give, it bounces back to you.  So, better share your financial blessings than curses to others.
4. Shop online.  When shopping online, I get not only the promos and free deliveries but it also saves my time commuting and going through traffics of Dubai – saving not only money but also my energy.
5. The”happy meal” eat outs.  As much as possible, I do not dine out.  In case my friends and I decide to eat out, our index in buying a meal is the McDonald’s happy meal.  We only eat meals with the same price as the happy meal or less.  
6. It depends upon the face.  I do not always buy branded clothes.  Now a days, it does not matter anymore what brand you wear because China can always imitate the expensive brands. J What matters most is character.  If you carry happy thoughts, it will radiate and show on your face, thereby no need for costly clothes or makeup.  Beauty depends upon the face and not on the brand of the clothes you wear.
7. Be creative.  In this high technology world, people tend to forget the importance of hallmark cards.  For me, it is more personal when I make my own gift.  Making my own card, creating accessories, molding clays or even baking bring back the personal touch on gift giving, and is cheaper than buying from expensive malls.
8. Bring lunch at work.  Instead of buying or ordering daily from restaurants, cook your own meal and bring it at work.  Aside from the assurance that you know where your food came from, this will lessen your monthly food budget compared to buying from outside daily.
9. Sell your unwanted gifts and unused items at home.  One day, I checked my cabinet and found out that there were things I have bought and have not been using for a long time.  Some were unopened gifts.  I took a picture and sold the items online.  It gave me additional 200 AED or more.
10. Good ol’ coin bank.  I have two coin banks, one personal and one for my chosen charity, ANCOP (Answering the Cry of the Poor) ministry.  Every day, I push myself to put a one dirham coin in each coin bank.  If I forget, I will make it up the next day or the next week, depending on how many days I missed.  With this practice, at the end of the year, I have 365 AED or 100 USD that goes to my stock or mutual fund investments and to the scholars of ANCOP.  Do not underestimate the power of 1 AED, you may never know how far your 1 AED can go.

These are just my top 10 effective ways.  There are a lot more things we can do to pay off our debts, finish our family projects quickly, and eventually retire early back to our home country while we can still enjoy the fruits of our labor.

                                           My coin bank for the scholars of ANCOP

Dubai Fish Hut Restaurant

We have been waiting for this restaurant to open since last December because of the yummy looking fish picture outside the restaurant plus the fact that there is free wifi and they accept cards. Dubai Fish Hut is located in Oud Metha near Lamcy Plaza.  The restaurant opens daily from 11:30 a.m. to midnight and 1:00 p.m. to midnight on Fridays.  Delivery is free.  The seafood served here are all fresh.  Just choose which kind you want and how you want it cooked, then the chef will do it willingly.  But, the very courteous staff will also help you decide on the best seafood menu.

Finally, tonight, i was able to taste some of the dishes from Dubai Fish Hut Restaurant.  Thanks to my flatmate, Lerma who gave me a treat.

The dinner starts with seafood soup, a creamy white soup with different small seafood and seafood flavor in it.  The taste was okay but, being on a low-sodium diet, it was too salty for me.

Then, the salad.  The salad was simply a mix of fresh green leafy, yellow and orange vegetables.  It was simply amazing and flavored (I think) nicely.

Crabs in garlic and butter with creamy secret sauce

This dish was actually our suggestion.  I told the chef that we wanted something buttery and garlicky for the crabs.  What i loved here is the sauce, which is a secret sauce and the cherry tomatoes on the side.  It was okay but I think my garlicky butter mixture does not fit the crab.  I will give it 3 stars.

Carolly Squid with rosemary and thyme plus secret bbq-like sauce

One of the most unique squid recipes I have tasted, not to mention another secret sauce that tastes like barbecue with turmeric.  I cannot explain but one of the bests.  Five stars for this.  Yummy!!

Grilled Sherry plus the secret creamy white sauce 

I love grilled fish.  The chef nailed it.  Simply tasty.  Five stars for Sherry!