Holistic Approach to Healing

I am one who usually bounce back from surgery very quickly. I want to get well, fight the urge to wallow in self-pity and do whatever I am supposed to do. My ability to bounce back so quickly has drawn comments from friends and doctors alike.

I attribute this to my strong belief that healing must be approached in a holistic manner - medical intervention, the patient's will to get better, physiotherapy, psychiatric counseling, nutrition, belief in religion/ spirituality, strong family/friends support network, a positive attitude, aromatheraphy, etc.

I have seen many cases where the patients seemed resigned to their fate. During therapy, there is a blank look on their faces and they seemed to have already been defeated mentally and don’t want to try.

They say “I can’t” and just refused to help themselves. It saddens me to see that because I have always been a fighter and my will to get better is so strong, that I am willing to face pain. Obviously, to the extent possible, pain should be minimized but if pain is part of the process, so be it. I have screamed, cried, huffed and puffed...but I still go through it!

1. Medical Intervention

Patients benefit from a medical team that is not motivated purely by profits. In a capitalist world, we do expect all you private doctors out there to "make money" but don't let material gains cloud your professional judgement. Remember the Hippocratic Oath (or, has this now become Hypocritic Oath)? Stop passing patients around to your fellow surgeons for procedures that are not medically necessary, just to inflate the bill - especially if the patient is covered by his employer's Letter of Guarantee.

After having patronized private hospitals for the last 32 years of my life, I am very tired of "bottom-line-driven" medical advice/procedures resulting in dire consequences. The layman patient looks up to the specialist doctor as his/her saviour so please, don't let the patient down. As a doctor, if you have made a mistake (doctors are humans too), fix it quickly. If you cannot fix it, ask someone else who can and do so in a timely manner. In medicine, just like in law, time is of the essence!

With attending surgeon, Prof Madya Dr. Razman Jarmin

- General, Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgeon

Prof - I must confess that when I first saw how young the members of your team were (I guess average age of the group would be below 40?), I was worried ("so young ah...die lor...."). But when I heard them discuss my case with you on each visit (I may appear "drugged" but I was lucid), I knew I had come to the right place! With the Grace of Allah and your skill, I have been saved - for which I am eternally grateful!

2. Patient Cooperation and Will To Get Better

If a patient can “feel” the specialist is genuinely concerned and wants to help, the patient will cooperate. Even if the patient is initially reluctant to try, the medical team (including physiotherapists) should coax them gently to win them over.

I have seen patients refusing to even try to do therapy but with coaxing and patience, the patient finally cooperates. It’s almost like dealing with a child – coax gently and reward successes with praises, talking, etc. I, for one, do not have the inclination nor energy to go the extra mile but these young support staff (therapists) really try to make a difference. If they do not succeed , they keep trying.

3. Support of family/friends

Sick patients need the support of family and friends, some more than others. Depending on the patient’s psyche, family and friends should rally around patient to encourage healing. The keyword is “encourage” not “get in the way”. I have seen family members so concerned that they hang around even outside of visiting hours and are really tiring the sick person who needs rest.

KDE Lady Golfers (L to R): Audi, Irene, Winnie, Mahani

ExxonMobil Alumni

(L to R) Jamilah (Jam) Hafziah (Zia) and (Sitting) former nurse, Sister Hamie, Capt (R) Royal British Army

I am one who like to see as few visitors as possible when I am ill – I want to rest because I know I am under good care. When there are too many visitors – even if family, the patient in all probability will be asked what happened, hence tiring the patient further, including causing unnecessary emotional reactions.

In my case, when I was in HDS (High Dependency Surgical) ward, I told the nurses that I needed to rest and could not see visitors and I pulled the curtains around me. They were advised to check back later before dropping by.

My son handled this situation very well I thought. When friends/relatives called to enquire where and how I was, he would say that I was ill but I was under good care and to leave me alone for the next week or so. There is no need to repeat details because in many cases, the message becomes distorted when passed to many people. Next-of-kin will be constantly updated by the attending specialist but keep that information on need-to-know basis only.

When visiting a sick patient, please, for goodness sakes stop saying things to make the patient feel sorry. One visitor kept saying “you poor thing, I heard you were really ill” to which I replied “please don’t tire me because I am ill - I am under good care and there is nothing to worry about. I want to be understood, not pitied” This will not lead to negative and toxic thoughts and usually will cut the visit short.

As a non-family visitor, plan to spend no more than ten minutes with the patient. Just tell the patient you are there if needed and avoid asking what happened unless the patient volunteers the information. Patients should not feel obliged to volunteer the information.

4. Religious/Spiritual Belief

Many people (yours truly included), in their hour of need, turn to religion and this helps in healing. It does not necessarily have to be religion – it can be spiritual as long as the belief is strong.

Mobile phone with "azan" (call for prayer) feature based on longitude and latitude positions of location

"Qibla" feature to determine direction of Mecca for prayers

5. Nutrition

Nutrition also plays an important part in healing as the patient needs strength in order to get better. In some cases, patients need special diet (e.g. low fat, soft diet, etc.).

I am very blessed to have friends who consider me family and who are excellent cooks. They have volunteered to take care of my diet because they miss this “golf kaki” lor!...no seriously, they genuinely care! Thank you girls....now I know who my TRUE friends are!

Essence of Black Fish - for healing internal wounds

6. Physiotherapy

As an active person who has spent the last few weeks lying in bed, I find that physiotherapy really helps because I have developed aches due to inactivity. I really look forward to physio and I do the exercises I have been taught in my room.

I can now take the lift/walk to the Physiotherapy Department (located at the basement) unaccompanied because I am strong enough to walk and I want to exercise….by the way, one of the unintended consequence of my hospital incarceration is that I have shed 9 kilos (goodbye Marie France, hello healthy living!). I intend to maintain, if not lose some more, but I will consult the Dietician who has been assigned to help me.

Manipulation of "frozen" shoulder

Because I have been through so many surgeries/physiotherapy, I have purchased a collection of “gadgets” (they don’t call me Ms Gadget for nothing, ok?) that I have brought to the hospital for my rehab:

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for pain control

Ankle weight (above) and brace (below) for TKR Knee

7. Alternative Intervention

I am a believer of alternative intervention (aromatherapy, chiropractor, acupuncture, massages et al). My Indonesian maid of 13-years, Siti, is my personal masseuse who comes to the hospital everyday to massage the “angin – wind” away! By the way, her daughter in Indonesia is a trained nurse. I believe in the power of the human touch to heal. She also helps with physiotherapy and has been taught how to massage my frozen shoulder.

Aromatheraphy (Lamberger) - Courtesy of Irene

Enjoying a massage during home leave....but nothing beats the human touch!

I also incorporate music in my healing – to soothe my tired/battered body/mind and also to dance to….I have many CDs that I dance to when I do my exercises - to uplift my soul and also get the wind out!

8. Keep Your Mind Lucid

I needed a lucid mind to understand what’s going on and make my own medical decisions (my life is in my hands maaaa!) so I indulged in soduku, Code Breaker, crossword puzzles (fave mags: Australia’s New Idea and Woman’s Day).

9. A Positive Mind – Ability to Laugh At Yourself

This has greatly contributed to my healing. Yes, I cried and huffed and puffed, but when it was all over, I could joke about it…although believe me, it wasn’t funny when it happened (“and now when tears subside, I find it all so amusing, to think I did all that, and may I say not in a shy way, oh no, oh no, not me, I DID IT MY WAY…)” - 'Ole Blue Eyes.

Have brace...will travel

10. Little Things Mean A lot

HUKM is now home-away-from home! My mum complained to Siti that I am trying to pindah but mak…I am only trying to get well quickly so that I can later attend to your medical condition…..insya’allah mak, your doa will help me!

For those hot days/nights....

For those "hard-to-reach" places. Balinese back scratcher courtesy of Zia

Dental hygiene is important

So, there you go guys/gals....the secret to staying "young" - age does not matter as long as what matter does not age....in case you are wondering about "what matters", I am referring to the brain...gotcha!