Sunday, August 17, 2008

The Real Pain

Soon after logging my entry last night, the pain I had been feeling in my private part escalated and then shifted from there, to my back. The pain, confirmed my earlier suspicion (had been feeling it the whole day Saturday, and some on Friday night) but nothing much I can do but bite the pill. It, is a recurrent of kidney stone which I first had sometime in 1993.

I was awaken by the feeling of a sharp pain somewhere in my back. Looking at the clock which showed 4.20 something in the morning, I tried to shrug the pain off thinking it was just one of the 'paranormal' things which used to attack me during my late teens and early 20's. But it was not, and it persisted and grew in intensity. Reciting several verses of the Quran, then followed by several selawats, the pain subsided for a moment, long enough for me to sit up and wonder the cause of it. But that moment was only a few seconds long and the pain came back, sharper and more painful, which had me writhing on the bed in the upstairs bedroom. I was alone at home then, with emak visiting her 'besan' in Permatang Pauh. Yes, the same place where a small war is being waged on right now.

With the pain growing in intensity, I tried to stand up, thinking that a walk-around would somewhat help. But no sooner had I stood, my legs buckled and I was sent sprawling on the floor, again writhing. Knowing that I needed some help, I tried to move towards the upstairs telephone, but my body could not budge at all, and I lay on the floor for a long while trying to fight the pain. My body was getting tired as it contracts and stiffened according to the attacks and soon I lay helpless.
I must have blacked out then for when I opened my eyes, I could see morning light getting brighter by the minute; it was then 6.45am. The pain was had reduced from excruciating to dull, with intermittent sharpness every few minutes. I took the moment to crawl down the staircase one step at a time, inching my body down head first.

By the time I reached dowstairs, a neighbour had woken and was washing his car. Tried to call him, but my voice was barely audible. So I continued the crawl to the telephone, some 10feet away from the base of the staircase and dialled 999 for ambulance. With quivering voice, I spoke as best I can, and alhamdulillah, the operator soon had the ambulance on its way. But it was not to be that easy.

With the front front door and grill locked, I had to crawl back the way I came and managed to unlock the door and threw the keys just outside the grill. The gates, the paramedics would have to climb over. And I lay there waiting in pain.


The paramedics arrived later and did climbed over the gate when the heard me groaning loudly. They made their way in and soon had me on the stretcher while still in sarong and all. The 2 gentlemen who attended to me, were not fully trained paramedics and hence, they were unable to assist at all except to send me to the nearest hospital. Still, I am grateful to them and their gentleness in handling the situation. By the time I reached a hospital in Subang Jaya, the pain had grown alarmingly more and the doctor at the Emergency Room seem to know immediately of my problem. He gave me a sedative and soon I fell asleep. Perhaps, it was not due to the sedatives itself, rather, with the pain numbed, my tired body and mind was able to relax sufficiently.


Back to the present, when the pain begin to persist though in much lesser intensity than the incident above, I was somehow reminded of a name now quite forgotten by many. In fact, had I not been feeling the pain, perhaps I too would not have remembered him.

It was sometime in 1972 or 73, when I heard on the news that a literature giant by the name of Pendita Za'aba, had passed away in a hospital in Petaling Jaya. Allahyarham Za'aba, was a prolific writer and was well known amongst the literature circle locally as well as abroad. To be honest, since hearing the news of his passing away, I never did looked up his works; I could not have then for I was only 9 or 10 of age, and was too busy in a world of my own. InsyAllah, soon after this pain which is more of a nag today, I will begin reading more about him and his works. Just that, its rather sad I have to be reminded of him in such a manner, for if I remember it correctly, Allahyarham passed away due to stones in his private part. And that, I assure you, can be a real pain. Perhaps even more than the pain in the lyings of events in Permatang Pauh now.

Perhaps they learnt it from that foolish guy, but as far as I remember, the Sarkas grassroots have always been like the picture above - mindless, rude, pretentious, and have long lost their morality. Someone, perhaps amongst those in the picture above (courtesy of Harakahdaily), had lodged a police report of being fondled by members of the opposing parties. Truly, were I there and looking at their conduct, I don't think I would have even the appetite to do so. But then, were the case true, would you blame anyone doing so, looking at their slutty behaviour? Carrions, after all, attract carrion eaters. But who the latter really is, your guess is as good as mine.

No, perhaps I was wrong. Perhaps, the Sarkas and the events they whip up in Permatang Pauh is a greater pain.

ps. Check out this Permatang Pauh by-election website here, or www. permatangpauh.com

20 comments:

ZABS said...

Salam Shah,
Semoga anda cepat sembuh dari sakit yang dihidapi. Walau pun saya tidak pernah merasai sakit tersebut, tetapi pernah bersama kawan yang mengalami sakit yang sama, dan ia sungguh menyentuh perasaan melihat beliau menahan kesakitan tersebut.
InsyaAllah semoga di sembuhkan segera.

cakapaje said...

Wa'alaikumusalam Pak Zabs,

Terima kasih. Sakitnya, seperti satu batu kecil yang bergerak malalui saluran darah dan ada masanya tak tahu di mana sakit sebenarnya. Alhamdulillah, ulangan kali ini tidak seteruk dahulu. Dan harapnya sahabat Pak Zabs telah sembuh.

Snowflake said...

Assallamualaikum
I should actually ziarah you here or at the hospital. A little confused here. However, I hope that you will get well soon. In a meanwhile, why not retire from blogging until you get better? I am sure you readers will understand the temporary stagnant of your blog.
Again Get Well Soon ok.
Wassallam

cakapaje said...

Wa'alaikumusalam snowflake,

Thank you for your kind thoughts, but I am not in the hospital now, and hope will not be at all, insyAllah. The italics caption is a recount of my history, which seem to repeat itself.

As for a rest in blogging, well, its not exactly a career but one which I do so out of my want. Most importantly in times like this, it helps to get the mind of the pain.

ps. You can visit me at home, if you want to ;)

NS said...

Salam Shah,

Hope that you'll recover and you'll get the help you need when it comes again.

It's true sometimes blogging do put our mind in ease especially during certain period.

p/s:Hope that by bringing cellphones close to you will help prevent the history to repeat itself. : )

cakapaje said...

Wa'alaikumusalam Lily,

Thank you. Though when the stone moves, no amount of blogging can help me fight the pain ;)

lol! InsyAllah, I will always have my hp nearby. Back then, I didn't own any.

Ydiana said...

Salam Shah

Prevention is better than cure. Have you been on any treatment program? Do take the necessary precautions.

As for the police report, I wonder if 'she' has a name and a face to point to. If not, she shouldn't make any report, especially claiming it to be an opposition.

Just read your previous entry on Slyfool. Doing it here in mahkamah or masjid, is between him and Allah. He might get his punishment in different ways, although surely in akhirat. That is wallahualam. But if he really want us to believe him, do it in Mecca, in front of Kaabah. Then that'll be immediate result.

Anonymous said...

salam shah. saya cadangkan rawatan alternatif. berbekam??

saya rasa ramai yang confuse baca yang past and present pada entri ini. hehe. takapa. dapat juga tahu ramai yang ambil berat, kan?

btw, jaga makan and sihat selalu ye. biarpun permatang pauh dalam gelodak. kalau dapat memang nak ke sana. permatang pauh sedang melakar sejarah.

cakapaje said...

Wa'alaikumusalam ydiana,

Well, yes and no, for the treatment program. Simply put, I'm using herbs as well as drinking lots of barley juice.

As for the Sarkas, they might pick a name of someone who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time - similar to another police report made in Kedah some 2 years back. Back then, the judge ruled out the case. InsALlah, as it will be this time too.

cakapaje said...

Wa'alaikumusalam Alina,

Bekam ye? Hmm...tak terfikir pula. Tapi nak cari pem-bekam tu pun satu hal. Silap silap, dia bekam satu kepala saya, lol! But seriously, kalau ada yang pandai, mahu juga saya.

Dulu, ada buat rawatan kat Parit Kurma, Muar. Tapi tukang ubat tu, telah pulang ke Rahmatullah 2 tahun lalu. Arwah, memang specialist rawatan alternatif untuk batu karang. InsyAllah, saya cuba muatkan cerita dia dalam entri lain nanti.

Kerp (Ph.D) said...

eh shah, sounds very dramatic but only it was real. ni kes batu karang ke?

you know, for spinal cord injury person, urinary infection wont cause any pain there on your provate part but instead it goes up to the head, and the pain can be 10 times more than a migrane. it pains like hell even the strongest pain-killer cant help much.

anyway get well soon brother.

cakapaje said...

Salam kerpie,

Yup, a case of batu karang...on the move! When its stationary, no one really know its there unless it blocks the urinary tract as happened to me. But when it moves, ermm...try inserting a pebble into your vein, perhaps the pain is quite like yours too ;)

Anyway, thanks for the wishes.

jaflam said...

Salam Shah,
You can try the watermelon treatment. Eat either fresh or in juice form half a day for few days. If it’s a small stone it will break down and washed away.

To avoid recurrence drink plenty of water everyday, especially first thing in the morning and before bed time.

I little tip from uncertified Doctor heheee

Anonymous said...

saya seconded encek jaflam.

lepas nih borong banyak2 tembikai ye!

Unknown said...

Salam Shah...
Diharap di waktu ini Shah sudah sembuh dr sakit yg ditanggung. Dah jumpa doktor? Takperu dibuang ke batu kecil itu?

Ya Allah, mudahkanlah urusan sahabatku ini...amiin.

cakapaje said...

Wa'alaikumusalam Jaflam,

Sometimes, old recipe or treatment works better, even if its from an uncertified doctor :) InsyAllah, thanks, Jaflam.

cakapaje said...

Alina,

Wah! Borong tembikai dan barli...botak den dibuatnya ;) Thanks again.

cakapaje said...

Wa'alaikumusalam Raden,

Terharu menerima komen...terharu dan segan dibuatnya bila bandingkan sakit yang sedikit ini.

Tak jumpa doktor...takut! Lain le kalau ada doktor kat luar bandar yang baik hati dan pandai membaiki hati ;)

Syukran, JazakAllah khair :)

Roti Kacang Merah said...

Salam Bro Shah,
saja nak share the experience of the Cartoonist... here.

Alhamdulillah his scan late last year showed it clear.

Hope you're feeling a wee bit better by now, yah?

cakapaje said...

Wa'alaikumusalam Lin,

Alhamdulillah, I'm feeling much better now, after drinking lots and lots of barley juice.

About your abang, insyAllah, I'll read it, thanks for the info.