Visit to Doctor Huh's

I can still remember vividly to my first visit to Dr. Huh's clinic. It was Saturday 13th. Arlene took me there after my uncle dropped me outside XO Suki Ngesong. I could not remember how I looked at that time, but I do remember that I felt so weak and restless after poor sleep for several weeks (then people told me that my face looked so pale and white!).

I was taken to a treatment room. Arlene was there for me. Yani, Dr. Huh's nurse check my BP. She was shocked to find out that my BP. It was 150/100! She hurriedly called Dr. Huh. Dr. Huh came to the room and asked me to undress my t-shirt, then he carefully checked my pulse rate and heart beat. It was 115 in one minute. I could see his face so worried. Arlene explained that I'd been to a doctor and acupuncture before. Then Yani asked me whether I'd taken the medicine. I explained my situation with my previous doctor, then Yani asked me to take the pills and relax. "We'll see if your BP would go down.... "Initially, Dr. Huh refused to treat me to seeing my situation. They left the room. I did not know what's happening outside my room. I heard Dr. Huh also checked Rey's BP and heart beat. I was left alone in the room for 15 minutes, almost fell a sleep.

They're back, and checked my BP. My BP went down to 130/80. Then Dr. Huh started to treat me. He put 19 acupuncture needles in my body. Then, they left me alone again for 30 minutes.

After I was done with the treatment, Arlene walked in the room. She explained in a soft but clear voice: "You could get stroke if you came late for the treatment. You've been with high BP for a quite sometimes. So, the treatment may take around 2-3 months. You're lucky as your BP went down. As it was not, Dr. Huh might ask you to go to Emergency Room... " I was shocked, but felt a little bit relief. I can still be treated. It's OK if it's gonna take sometimes. Arlene also told me about the cost for the treatment. She needed to explain in advance since it could be consider a little bit costly. I said yes to the cost.

baked brie at Sixpence Cafe, Savannah.
(kinda miss this food)

If I recall the first visit to Dr. Huh's office, I was still quite terrified. But it's OK now. This visit is the beginning of the strict diet I'm currently doing. I need to see him twice a week for a treatment. Well, he does not only treat for my BP, but also for my acute gastritis. Also, he did a chiropractic to my back last Monday! :)

PS: I cooked Indonesian chicken soup today! It tastes really GOOD.

Salt and Coffee

deep dish pizza at Pi Pizzeria, St. Louis

It's been 10 days I'm on a strict diet based on Dr. Huh's suggestion. I can't eat something hot and spicy, sour, fried and grilled foods, and too salty foods. In addition, I can't drink alcohol, coffee, and drink from fermented rice and cassava. Some fruits must be avoided such as durian and jackfruit (no problem, I'm not their big fan). Also, I need to avoid all instant and processed foods (No problem at all). Besides all those foods, I can eat everything such as fruits, vegetables, meats, and fish.

It is a problem to have a strict diet?
Yes, and No.

Well, it's not about the kind of foods you eat. I get used to avoid some kinds of foods since I had been a semi-vegetarian for more than two years. But the problems lie on the "can't eat hot & spicy and sour" :P. I'm a big fan of something spicy and sour, especially during the PMS (Pre-Menstruation Syndrome). My mouth wants to crave or eat something spicy and hot; something that really makes me mouthwatering... :)). As a foodie, I like foods with rich flavor. I don't like something too salty, but I love something tasty! I can imagine, how food in a plate could be tasted really really good or not. Also, as a foodie, I've traveled to several places in and outside Indonesia and tasted traditional and ethnic foods. I love foods in general. Food is not just something you can eat to make your tummy full, but it's an art. It's hard to how tell that food is an art. But it is. During my study time in St. Louis, kitchen was my sanctuary place and food blogs could light up my hard times.

Avoiding fried foods sometimes become a huge problem too. Well, since I was a kid, like most Indonesian, we grew up with fried foods, like tempe goreng, tahu goreng, ikan goreng, bakwan, kerupuk, etc. All those fried foods make everything so delicious. We don't use to with everything boiled and steamed.

My favorite cappuccino at Kayak's Coffee

Prohibiting drinking coffee and al is no longer a problem. I quitted drinking coffee and al (this one, I swear, I will NEVER touch it again). Coffee was my favorite drink. I was well-known as a coffee lover. Wherever I traveled, I always looked for the best coffee shops in town. As I traveled in Indonesia, I always bought coffee as souvenir for friends, family, and myself. During my time in St. Louis, I drank 2 to 3 cups each day. And people were really astonished in a way I made my coffee (two  spoons of grounded coffee for one medium cup). Crazy was not it? :P.

For al, I was an occasional-social drinker. I usually drank at home (I took red wine all the time), and I drank outside, like in a pub or friends' houses whenever I felt convenient with people around me. For me, quitting this one is NOT a PROBLEM at all.

Since my food is so specific, no one would have enough time to cook for me (I live with my aunt and she's busy working during the day. She does not have much time to cook. She usually just buys ready foods or cooks something simple or cooks in the evening for the rest of the family members). So, I need to cook by myself!. Well, I love it, although cooking all natural would make my brain confusing. What should I cook? What spices I should put on the foods? That's a big problem. They foods usually come up with plain and tasteless, LoL. In order to create a fresh foods and a little bit rich in flavor, bandeng is my savior. I can make asem-asem bandeng, it's the most glorious food these days.

All people around me take a pity look on me.. :)). Yeah, am I miserable? Not really. As I avoiding those foods (especially grilled and fried), I could see that my skin becomes lighter). And, I would have this kind of strict diet for about 3 months.. :)).

Wish me luck, guys.

PS: I should  have told you, that I lost a few pounds due to this diet since I also have difficulty in craving snacks. I crave no snack...

Recent Life: SICK

I've been sick for several days. I got hypertension. One thing that I was really afraid of since years ago. Now it happens.

Deep in my heart I was still curious why. Yeah, why? I exercise regularly and I'm a semi-vegetarian. But nothing is impossible.

I did and planned everything well... It seemed like "I won't get sick since I follow the rules of healthy life... " But many things were missing: I never have time to take enough rest. I was just too busy with working, meeting (other) people, and having fun outside home. I did not have enough time for just doing nothing and being with my family. I've been away from them too long.

Now that I'm sick, I'm back to my family. And I see how these things really have roles in my phsycology.

I don't think I can write more this time. My brain needs a lot of rest!