Posted by Ling on September 29, 2011
Yay!! I broke a big story before it came out on the news today!! What am I talking about? I’m talking about the poor customer service from GASP in Chapel Street. Everyone was speculating that this was a hoax or a PR stunt because the emails were so shockingly rude. However, I phoned up the GASP store and they confirmed the story!!! Yes, can you believe little old me took that initiative to do that! Move outta the way Lois Lane!!!!!
Confused..?? Read all about it in my #GASPFAIL #GASP post on my other blog! Today, it broke all of my stats records as traffic to that blog went into the 1000+ range! WOOHOO!!! Check it out here!!!
Posted by Ling on September 5, 2011
So we had our Genetic Counselling session today…and to be brutally honest, it was a waste of time. She told us stuff that I already knew – thanks to Google and my medically trained brain. In fact, she was stumped by the questions I asked her. So stumped that we shall now see not 1, not 2, but 3 more specialists to answer my neverending questions – the “Alpha Thalassamia Guru”, the “Obstetrician” and the “IVF Specialists”. I asked about adoption in Australia and…she said…”Google it!” NO JOKE!!!
I don’t know how many times I have to say this because some people don’t seem to understand how serious this is… It’s got to the point where I just ignore what some people say because they just don’t understand.
YES, I KNOW there is 75% chance that we will have a healthy baby. BUT WHAT IF?
The EARLIEST they can diagnose the problem is 14 weeks. FOURTEEN WEEKS!!! That’s a long LONG time. So what would I do? Would I deny it if people asked if I was pregnant? (HECK, people already suspect I am pregnant when it’s just FAT!)
Definitive testing through chorionic villus sampling which has 1% chance of miscarriage.
Amniocentesis has 1 in 200 chance of miscarriage.
And then, imagine…just imagine…I find out at FOURTEEN WEEKS that there is a problem. What next?
Basically, alpha thalassaemia major babies are “INCOMPATIBLE WITH LIFE”! - These were the Genetic Counsellor’s exact words.
I wanted to know when such babies would die. She said shortly before or just after birth. But what are the stats? Tell me more! She didn’t know. Refer to “Alpha Thalassaemia Guru” (her words, not mine).
When I asked what would happen if I refused termination if this were to happen, she looked at me…rather shocked… She said that after working in the field for over 10 years, she had never seen a couple continue with such pregnancies.
Why is that? There are complications for the mother. What complications? She didn’t know. I wanted to know the exact statistics of death. She didn’t know. Refer to “Obstetrician”.
She wasn’t entirely sure about IVF. Refer to “IVF Specialist”.
Don’t know why I am upset considering I knew this months ago.
How would you feel if you got pregnant and had to wait 14 weeks to find out if it was an alpha thalassamia major baby who is “incompatible with life”? Would you be happy arranging a termination appointment…or would you be happy to wait till it died naturally – and if so, risk dying along with it??
YES! There you go! SO DON’T TELL ME THAT THERE IS A 75% CHANCE OF EVERYTHING BEING OKAY!! BECAUSE YOU DON’T KNOW EITHER! And if the 25% were to happen…what then? Yes, you can carry on living your life…whereas I…well…WE would have to go through with whatever we decide!
Gosh, I’m such a drama queen sometimes! I need to lighten up! Apologies, but life is pretty stressful at the moment. Some light-hearted food posts shall be making its way here sometime this week – *pinky promise*
Posted by Ling on September 4, 2011
I apologise. I haven’t found free time to update here this week. But so many things have happened so I shall try and do this in 10 sentences. Here I go :-
1. We got our blood test results back and it is confirmed that the alpha thalassaemia trait that we both have is the severe one.
2. We have our first Genetic Counselling session tomorrow morning and I have somewhat mixed feelings about it.
3. I am sick and tired of people asking me if I am pregnant when I have just put on weight.
4. A complete stranger asked if I had just given birth!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rude, much?? After much consideration, I realise I am EXTREMELY annoyed because I’m at a point in my life where it’s not me who thinks I am fat, but others think I am fat!!!
5. I have officially joined the gym…but it doesn’t mean that I go every day! I have some funny stories about the gym…which I will share another day.
6. My birthday celebrations appear to be never-ending! On Friday, Mr and Mrs B took us out for a lovely dinner. Thank you!
7. Job-hunting remains unsuccessful as I don’t hear back from another interview.
8. Still seeing a physio for my persistent back pain which has now moved onto my neck.
9. This week, I have been loving the sunshine in Melbourne and the Mr bought me daffodils which are my FAVOURITE flowers in the world!
10. I know there are more than 10 sentences in this post. I can count! And I am 99% certain that I will update tomorrow because of the Genetic Counselling. I have a feeling I will get upset as I am getting upset thinking about it! SIGH! I hate my female hormones!
Posted by Ling on August 28, 2011
The Husband and I have been rather impressed with a newly opened restaurant in Box Hill, Fancy Oriental. We ventured in their last week for lunch and at first, I was like, “Meh, whateverrrr!” – but then the food came and the more I ate, the more I liked it. In fact, we returned a few nights later for dinner and left the place with big, round bellies full of good food.
Fancy Oriental Lunch Review
Sunday Lunch time is always busy in Box Hill eateries and Fancy Oriental was no exception. The waitress who pointed us to an empty table must have forgotten about us because after a few minutes of sitting there looking like lost sheep, we had to ask a passing waiter for menus. The laminated Lunch menus are written in Chinese with poorly translated English – but what put me off was that a number of items had been crossed out with black marker pen. I also noticed that the free serving of Chinese tea was not offered to us – damn them! I love free stuff and I love Chinese tea!
(more…)
Posted by Ling on August 21, 2011
It was my birthday yesterday. The Hubby spoilt me rotten and cleverly planned a surprise party for me. I was genuinely surprised! Won’t bore you with all the details but if you’re interested, here’s the link to my Facebook photo album - which was taken with my birthday gift – my new camera which is a Canon G12. I love it! Feel so loved and blessed! It’s a great feeling!
Will be learning how to use the camera properly and then I will put loads more photos on the blog so look out for them!
(BTW, I have a BIG birthday giveaway on my beauty blog at the moment with plenty of great prizes!)
Thanks for reading! Will update next week!
Posted by Ling on August 16, 2011
“You can be family even if you don’t have the same blood running through your veins. Sadly, the vice versa can be true too. You can have the same blood running through your veins, but it doesn’t make you family.” – Ling Tung
Have been trying to be more positive the last few days…but I think it’s all for “show”.
A friend’s friend’s friends had the same problem as us. They discovered they both had alpha thalassaemia trait and went for genetic counselling…and then they decided not to have kids because of the risks. They now have household pets. I hate animals! I hate pets! OH GREAT!!!
Last week, Hubby and I celebrated our official first wedding anniversary by eating peking duck. We shared one whole duck between the both of us. It was great. Sometimes in restaurants, I see couples who sit there in silence. And it’s not always the “comfortable” silence. Hopefully, we will never get to that stage!!!
He wanted a printer so we went to choose one after dinner. As for me, I wanted a piece of writing. He wrote me a note on a scrap of paper. It wasn’t a fancy schmancy card…but I still treasured every word. It means more to me than any gift that one can buy. I’m a sentimental fool!
Saying that…there’s only 4 more days till I turn 31!! Shock, horror! GASP! How can that be?? I felt so disappointed with myself the other day because I am turning 31 years of age and I haven’t accomplished much in my life. Well, okay…I know, I did a lot in my twenties – thriving career, bought my first property, travelled and somehow, got married. But being in my thirties has been rather unfulfilling… Sigh. Or am I expecting too much? Or am I not putting in enough effort? Job-hunting is fruitless…which, of course, isn’t helped by my chronic back pain. SIGH!
Have no idea why I can only write when I feel crap.
