Sick... after the weekend...

WAM Retreat this year was great.. again! I feel very privileged to be a part of it. A big thank you to my sponsors, the WTR organizers for their hard work and Dr. Herbert's family for ministering to us.

The huge room at Copthorne Orchid Penang, that I shared with my usual roomie, Pekz (Pig). It was so roomy and spacious, with a wonderful view ~ Felt so luxurious. Totally loved the bathroom too.

Beach walk in the morning...

...with Ben

He was as usual trying to catch the crabs...

Ah, successful attempt...

Nice...

Ling Ming (Dr. Herbert's wife) and Pig, before one of the sessions... Daniel in the background, looking at the keyboard...

Louise showing off her 'traffic light'...

Ben was still trying to blow the shofar. Wasn't as easy as it looked huh. But he got it in the end.

A great finish to the week. Felt so refreshed spiritually, after the retreat. Didn't take that many pictures - I think I will curi pictures from other people when they finally upload the photos they took during the retreat.

Then I fell sick.

Don't ask me what happened... I didn't even know that I was that sick. Was totally oblivious to it. However yesterday...I lost my appetite completely, developed severe heat-intolerance, malaise, headaches, breathlessness and felt like I was going to faint several times. My throat felt kinda funny too. Did not feel well at all so I skipped school today... Upon Ben's urging, I went to see the doctor today (even though I felt that the fuss was unnecessary) and got myself examined... A clip of our conversation:

Dr : What do you mean, your throat is just a little weird? It's BAD!
Me: Hmm. *giggles and wheezes* But I still can swallow. *Thinks of the time when I couldn't even swallow*
Dr : Yeah, you mean it's not bad enough yet for admission...*chuckles*
Me: Ok.... *feels silly* Hehe.
Dr : Here, let me have a listen to your lungs... *Auscultates*
Me: *Breathes in deeply...and exhales....and again*
Dr : Give me a cough please.
Me: *Forces a cough*
Dr : Your phlegm is back-tracking into your lungs. It's so noisy down there... like wheezes... :/ It's probably the congestion that caused your dizziness... insufficient oxygen...
Me: Oh really?? *alarmed*
Dr : You have a running nose?
Me: Not really... Just a little. *Sniffles*
Dr : *Observes* That is a bad running nose.

My first acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma secondary to chest infection... in 3-4 years! A little more delay in seeking treatment... and I would have perhaps landed in the emergency room of the hospital... for nebulizers or something.

I can't believe how I underestimated my own symptoms this time. Usually I am a little hypochondriac. I am paranoid of getting sick... so I am especially sensitive to all weird bodily sensations.