Obstinancy

Briefly, an update of Mother's condition: We didn't go to hospital for blood test because Mother changed her mind about that when her friend advised her against it. The friend's daughter was detained and quarantined at the hospital for several days when she went there with similar symptoms some time last year. Mother's immediate thoughts were: "What's going to happen to my tour group of 60+ persons then?!"

So we went to my GP instead. Doctor saw her, looked at the poxies thoroughly and asked many (and I mean, really many) questions. Conclusion at end of consultation was that 80% - 90% chance, this is really chix pox. Whatever "chix pox" Mother had had as a child was probably either not full-blown or was something else and not really chix pox, because if she had had a full-blown chix pox before, a 2nd attack would be more in the form of shingles (which usually involves more localised poxies) and not like what she has now (non-localised vesicles scattered over parts of the body, including tongue, scalp and even under the foot).

So, advice was to take and complete the course of acyclovir which Mother already started yesterday (although this may be a little late because more than 2 days have passed since onset of red spots) and to take antihistamine, if necessary, for relief of itch. Also need to drink lots of water and rest well. Doctor advised Mother to cancel her Saturday trip to Malaysia.

Given THA's earlier advice to Mother about the risk of infectious persons being stopped by customs at the Causeway, Mother readily agreed with the doctor that she will give the trip a miss although she will still help to organise her members into their respective buses etc on Saturday morning.

Before we left the clinic, I asked the doctor if the red spots could possibly suggest that there is excessive toxins in the liver or if there is any liver ailment - this was what the block 51quack had told Mother earlier on mah. Doctor explained that such a conclusion is not possible without any other tests, eg blood test; liver problems would be suspected if there were signs of jaundice - she does not see any on Mother.

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This morning, Mother called me on the phone (see below). In the course of our conversation, she suddenly said, "..... I won't be at home tomorrow what!"

Confused, I asked, "Why won't you be at home?.... (after 2 seconds of silence)You are still going on your Malaysia trip ah?! I thought you agreed with the doctor that you mustn't go already?!"

Her response? .... "Then what's going to happen to my 60+ persons?!" She went on to say that the tour agent has told her that the poxies on her face are not obvious lah, won't get her detained by customs; she has also asked several of her friends, and all have reassured her that there's nothing to be afraid of lah.... and she will put on a long-sleeved blouse so that the poxies will not be so easily seen lah.....

When I asked, "Won't you be concerned that the chix pox may be passed on to your members?", this was what she said: "No lah, won't pass on to anyone lah, I don't share food with them or sleep with them what, no lah, won't pass to them lah...."

She doesn't want to remember that neither has she "shared food" with WY or WF or "slept together" with WF or WY.