Filial Duties 1 - Parents' Medical Drama 1H 2026

I was meant to post more regularly this year, but I guess I got busy with work and I get tired easily - I sometimes sleep at 8pm!  Age is catching up ... or perhaps it's just lack of discipline in keeping up with my resolution ... just like my gym routine.

But I was also occupied in seeking medical treatment for my parents.  Well, dad has fully recovered from his cataract surgery in May (it took him quite about 5 days before he could see clearly again - at first I was worried if he could see again at all).  The doctor indicated that his cataract was very dense and very very difficult to remove.  Dad complained that he was in a lot of pain during the procedure (he rarely complained as he has quite a high threshold for pain).  Fortunately, the procedure was a resounding success!  He could now see quite clearly now, read his ipad, write and watch his badminton on tv.

And then, in early June, mum's lower left second premolar cracked diagonally into two.  It is her second cracked tooth this year - her first was her upper left first molar in February.  Unlike her first extraction early this year, this second extraction was more painful for her.  The first attempt failed as the doctors suspected she had a bad gum infection underneath her tooth.  She had to take antibiotics and come back again a few days later. As she had Alzheimer's, she couldn't understand - she was screaming in pain / discomfort throughout, making the extraction process more difficult than normal. Luckily, the experienced doctor managed to take the tooth out, quite forcefully IMO.  But I think he doesn't want to see my mum anymore as he wrote a referral for my mum to see "special needs specialist" at UMMC for future dental treatments.  

Concurrently in June also, a 60 year old side table (old furnitures are heavy) fell on his shin, and scraped a patch of his skin off.  So we had to seek first aid treatment at the nearby clinic a few times - as it is slow for such wound to heal for an elderly.  It's been 4 weeks, and it still hasn't fully healed yet.  Also in June, my helper got her annual gastric attack and she was out of action for 2 days.  

So yeah, perhaps I've got a good excuse for not updating my blog right? :-p

   

Cataract

We did a simple celebration (with cakes) for my parents' 66th wedding anniversary just now.  

Dad will be going for his cataract procedure tomorrow.  Over the past year, his vision has deteriorated rapidly. He used to watch badminton a lot on tv, but has gradually cut down.  Early this year I began noticing he stopped watching all together.  He has essentially lost his vision on his right eye primarily due to glaucoma (which causes nerve damage) and cataract. His left eye is also affected by glaucoma and cataract, but still have some vision left. 

We realized we've taken him to see an eye specialist about 12 years ago, when his cataract wasn't that bad.  Couldn't remember why we did not proceed with it.  And just around 3 years ago, we went to see another eye specialist, but the doctor discouraged (did not want to perform) any procedure due to age factor - his supposingly inability to listen to instructions clearly as dad is also relying on his hearing aid.  No word about glaucoma back then.

At his age now (94), it is going be a lot higher risk to undergo the procedure - but then there is nothing much to lose I guess, as he is already almost blind.  A successful cataract removal will also likely to help improve pressure from glaucoma and arrest further decline in his left vision.  Really worried about tomorrow, and I pray he recovers well.  

One lesson I learnt from managing my parents is that if you need to go for a procedure for a health problem at a younger age, just go fix it.  The longer you delay and the older you get, the risk is going to be higher and healing much slower - and sometimes, some doctors decline to perform the procedure.

Sigh ... I fear about growing old - both mum and dad have totally different set of health problems:

• Dad - Sharp memory, failing vision and hearing, limited mobility (weak knees)
• Mum - Alzheimer's, sharp vision and hearing, two-times cancer operation (oral, colon)

Which is the better of the two situations if it had been me (or you)?