First Birthday of the Year

It was Baby Daania's first birthday yesterday.

Happy Birthday Ia! O O!

P.s. her birthday bash will be this weekend and it's going to be a PJ-themed party!

Another bother with eczema....

My eczema does not seem to show any sign to be abated. What seemed like a simple skin discomfort has developed into full-fledged eczema in a space of less than a year.

During my trip to Shanghai, I had another outbreak of eczema. It was not helped either with Shanghai being cold, most days the temperature never break the 10degC barrier. I have always had problems with the day being cold; my skin would get very dry. This time, it was worse; I developed eczema spots on my legs and arms.

So this morning, I went to Panaga Health Centre for help. I had been going to the Skin Clinic at RIPAS Hospital, but after repeated similar prescriptions, I got fed up. One of the doctors at the Skin Clinic also said that one of the doctors at the Panaga Health Centre had an interest in skin diseases, so I thought I might give it a try. I heard almost the same things too; my skin was too dry, it could flare up anytime, bla, bla, bla. But I also learnt a few other things. The doctor believed that I might not be allergic to any food and the eczema was probably contact eczema. I also told to ditch my current Johnsons and Johnsons' pH 5.5 shower cream, which I had been using since I swtiched from Dettol a few months back. I was advised to use soapless shower cream, one of which was from QV, which costs something like BD35 per litre!

As a reward to my effort to see the doctor, I was given a big tub of moisturiser (I was also told to stop using Vaseline or Nivea moisturiser!), a big tub of soapless shower thingy (to see if they would actually work), a nice package of oatmeal-based ointment (which is to be added to my bath water and I would have to soak for 10-15 minutes), some steroid cream and some anti-histamine tablets. I left the Health Centre, looking as if I had just shopped at Guardians!

Another wait for a fortnight would tell if this regime of medicine would actually work. I hope it does.

New Year 2010

Finally got back into Brunei after spending the past week in Singapore and Shanghai. I hope it is not too late to wish all a very Happy New Year 2010. May the new year brings happiness, wealth and peace.

Here's for a productive 2010.