Earlier this year, my mom was diagnosed with kidney malfunction and severe excess fluid in the body… was advised to undergo dialysis… However, she decided to give Traditional Chinese Medicine a try after a distance relative recommendation… her condition did improve and she was even able to work…

At first, she seems getting better, but I do not know why did she defaulted in going for an appointment with the Renal doctor in October… it was then the start in deterioration in her health again… we did asked her about her health progress, she lied and said it was alright…under control…

We began to be aware of her getting sleepless nights, coughs at nights, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscles aches, and again excess fluid (water retention) in her legs and abdomen… We tried many times to persuade her to the doctor, but she insisted it was just due to her not exercising, hence putting on weight… or it was her menopause…

2 weeks ago, her dry skin on her legs start to crack… then eventually water oozing out of the cracks, we have to bandage her wet legs and keep doing dressing but due to her diabetic condition, an infection occur… her legs turned reddish and white spots are starting to appear…

Every time, the topic of, “Mommy, why don’t we go to the doctor”, she would just ignored us, or say it’s ok… It took 1 week before managing to persuade her to go for a treatment at SGH…

It was only after her admission into the hospital, then I realised that she lied about her attending the doctor appointment in October… I guess she did not take the western medicine for the expulsion of fluid in the body regularly…hence this water retention condition occurred again…

Doctor called on Monday and inform me about her health, said she has malnutrition, severe excessive fluid, infection in her legs etc… Why Malnutrition you might ask? Because my mom has been having porridge for past 1-2 weeks because she has no appetite and constant diarrhoea bouts…

She is now recuperating in hospital since last Saturday… what was unfortunate is yesterday, she had a fall while bathing… I guess her balancing is poor now given her condition now…

Doctor did some examination, and found her to be all right, not suffering any consequences of the fall…But 2 hours after the fall, she was complaining about severe cramps in both legs (cramps that travel from waist to the feet)… but she is only allowed certain painkillers with the doctor consent first… so she was given a mild one, which managed to reduce the pain in the right leg…

My mom has high tolerance for pain, I guess it is really unbearable… She suffered the pain for 3 hours, before the doctor came to examine her pain, did a scan and doctor found things to be fine… have to see report before they can try any medication…

I am so helpless sitting her, looking at her suffering the pain… It really hurt me badly that she said, “Why did I agreed to come to hospital. It is now worse.”

Her leg infection seems to be recovering, no more wet oozing legs, and her water retention seems to be reducing slightly, main concern the doctors have now is the leg infection treatment…

Now our trip to Hong Kong seems uncertain, we really would like to bring her there… 7 days before we have to fly… Please let her recover soon, we are all so worried…