It's been a while since I touch my needles! Got to know a lovely site "Little Cotton Rabbits" and fell in love with their rabbits. Also found a "leaves" pattern (also found in Ravelry) which I am currently very busy with. Check out my completed leaves!!
Still recovering from my injury. Its been almost 1.5 months now. Seen specialist after specialist. Maybe I could have developed Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) or Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) after the venepuncture incident. Pain seem to have decreased but not completely. There are still minor discomforts and occasional pulls up my hand, arm, shoulder, thigh and even near my chest at times. Very irritable feeling indeed! What an unfortunate incident during venepuncture that I had really (see previous post on 'Traumatised'). Hope all these will go away soon... Meanwhile, I try not to strain my hand too much as I understand there were also some signs of muscle injured/ spasm/ stretched from ultrasound done. Having said that, doctor still says I should try to use it as per normal (despite its pain) so I will take it slowly. Now even typing too much makes my hand/arm ache but I try to ignore it. I find that now I try to spend much more time resting. Been working too hard.. and ... I also play with my nephew at times too. Look at him! Playing with him cheers me up.
Its the 13th day today. I had spent a traumatic 5 days medical leave at home last week!
I also cant remember how it happened. Things had happened so quickly since the fateful 15 April morning when I had my routine Annual Health Check. It happened during the the blood extraction (the so-called "venipuncture" process) where, midway while the nurse was extracting blood from my left elbow, I suddenly felt a sharp burst of pain in the inner part of hand between the elbow and palm. The feeling was like something had snapped inside, just like a rubber band broke. The pain was unbearable and I felt my hand turn weak after that. But the nurse did not take out the needle! I was told she was unable to draw any blood from me at that juncture. She seeked assistance from another nurse and both then took a while to fiddle to find the vein to continue the process. All this being done despite the pain in my hand!
[ Note: I realised after this whole episode that I was stupid enough not to have asked the nurse to withdraw the needle despite the pain and left them to do what they wanted! I had thought then that it was best left to them but then, I believe in this process, I got either my skin nerve or muscle injured. ]
After the venipuncture process, into about 5 days then, the inner part of my left hand was in pain. Whenever I try to straighten my arm and at certain movements, I would feel a very sharp pain in the inner part of my hand and the intensity of the pain never goes away. Realising that this was not normal, I quickly went back to the clinic responsible for the healthcheck.
It was a traumatic week after! I was referred to specialists who did not seem very helpful in my opinion. All they could tell me was that a major nerve was not injured. Their diagnosis was that the skin nerve could possibly be injured but could not say more on what could be done or what could have gone wrong. I seeked a second opinion from another independent GP and was told maybe the nurse could have poked a little too deep and hurt me. Its likely the nerve or muscle or tendon could be injured. Despite given the entire week to rest at home, I was worried sick that it would never recover or that there are residual damages done to my hand in future. Why do I keep getting a sharp pain whenever I move my arm? Why does my palm will start swelling after I move my hand? Why does it ache? Why do I get a funny feeling at certain movements? All these questions kept spiraling in my mind. I never used to have such symptoms before the venipuncture process.
Its the 13th today... My hand seem better though it still hurts slightly at certain movements and my arm feels weak. I am very thankful for it seem to have turned for the better. I am praying that it will recover fully soon!
It was an unfortunate incident really. Lesson learnt is to find a good, experienced nurse to extract the blood and to scream at them loudly, if ever the process hurts. I think enduring the pain wont bring you any benefit. The physical and mental suffering you have to go through after that is also not something you will want to experience ... I am still praying the pain will all go away soon and I can knit and do what I like with my left hand again! God bless me.
Discovered this Big Bag Pattern on Ravelry and its a lovely bag which you can put in a lot of things. It should be especially useful for knitting stuff! And I just love big bags!
So I really like it a lot. I will make it my next project, after i complete those outstanding ... (Maybe am getting too ambitious?)
There happens to be a Big Bag Knitalong but unfortunately its only open to US & Canada citizens and not for us from overseas. Too bad. Thought it would be good to join one of these KAL to get inspiration from fellow knitters. Anway, if you like the pattern like me too, you can find it on Maia Spin blog with more info there.
Happy Knitting !
I am now back to knitting my usual piece of shoulder warmer again!. I should have completed it 2 years back but I just couldnt bring myself to do it. I told myself I have to do it this time! Its only left with about 6 or 7 cm more before I can sew the seam together and bring it to a complete finish!!
I got to do it, i got to do it, i got to do it...
Went to the MAAD (Market of Artists and Designers) December 08 event at Red Dot Museum. Its the last MAAD event of the year before 2008 comes to a close. And boy, was I impressed with the interesting and crafty designs made by the artists/designers there! In particular, I was attracted by the Headbangers Brigade and bought a beautiful headbanger costing SGD$6. Its actually a hairband made using a black rubber band accompanied with some beautiful polka dotted ribbon and a little red bow flower. Simple yet refreshing design. There were quite an assortment of the ribbons available but I fell prey to this polka dotted design! See the beautiful ribbon ..
Handknitter Craft Journal turns one on 8 October 2008! Hooray!
1) my first pair of blue knit socks which I am still stuck with the 2nd pair 
3) sewing up a third small pink pouch that i intend to give as a xmas present during year end to my friend and intend to knit up a few more for my colleagues
Cant believe it! The Sun Festival is going to be here again from 17-26 October 2008! So I understand this festival was also celebrated at Tuscan, Italy in August 2008 and will be at Napa, California next year in July 2009 too. So after a successful launch of the Singapore’s premier arts and lifestyle festival last year, here it is again!
Last year I attended the Sun Festival with Teddy at the Botanic Gardens knitting away while watching the movie "Under the Tuscan Sun" in the evening. It was good time spent there, laying our mat, having our sandwiches and watching a good movie. Spending some relaxing time of our own under the stars in the Gardens. Of course, plus I could knit away leisurely too..
Cant wait for the day to come. Got to take out my picnic basket and start planning on some nice food for a lovely evening out. Till that day, an experience awaits ... wish you can be here too!
A Feast for the Senses.
A Joy to Experience.
A Gift for the Soul.
Experience it all in Uniquely Singapore.
