Tuesday, April 24, 2012

HFMD: Hand Foot Mouth Disease

18th April: Somehow my daughter have this type of small red lesions since she come back from her kindergarden. After some careful examination of her hand, legs, and mouth, i had an uneasy feeling that she might get what we call HFMD, Hand Foot Mouth Disease. Coupled with slight fever on the same night and she started complying of pain during meals, HFMD is confirmed.

19 April: Then the nightmares start for both of me and my wife. Big ulcers start developing on her lips, sidewalls, and tongue and she were not able to eat or drink. Constantly crying day and night asking for pity and love causing me to feel so sorry for her.


Due to her intolerance of pain, she refused to take anything even a sip of water. I had to buy a lot of vitagens, ice creams, and other cold drinks. Still we are having a hard time to persuade her to drink any. There were time when i had to force the drink down her throat because she is dehydrated.

20th April: On the third day, she was able to drink vitagens on her own sucking from the side of her mouth, not to touch the ulcers located in the middle, but still the pain is unbearable. Everyone in the family too felt the pain and asking me to do something, or bring her to see a doctor. Being a pharmacist myself i had all the best medicine for her but still cannot do much on the ulcer as it had to run its own course in between 5-7 days. I even come to tears seeing her crying at night saying "very pain very pain". 

The boy consoling her sister.
If you think it is already the worse day of your life, it can be real "fcuking" bad. Due to their closeness, the boy got infected as well. Then the hell break loose.

21 April: Two of them crying at the same time all the time.  After persuaded by our parents, i finally agreed to bring them for a checkup in Klinik Kesihatan Teluk Intan. But my main purpose bringing them there is not for a checkup but for more for the case reporting, so the pegawai kesihatan will go to her kindergarden to disinfect and check on other children.We sincerely hope that no child will ever has to go through what my children experiencing at the moment.

As i expected, we were asked to stay at home for quarantine until they recover. We were dispensed paracetamol syrup for fever and glycerin paste for their ulcers. We still take the dispensed medicine although we had better nurofen syrup, bonjela and lignocaine gel at home. Hey, we pay RM 1 for the checkup what!

We have some sleepless night straight until today because we need to console them and carrying them around hoping to take their mind away from the pain.


24th April: Today is the sixth day of her HFMD, and she is on her recovering way. The younger boy is also recovering well and we are so glad he is able to start eating soft food.

My only mistake here is i didn't quarantine her until it is too late. But come to think of it, how do i able to separate them? Both of them constantly need my wife. They would not sleep unless my wife is beside them.

The only consolation here is now they will have the immunity to this specific HFMD strain of virus. At least less one worry in the future, although there are few more type of HFMD virus strain.

Ask the pharmacist aka Zombie due to sleepless night
1) Always consult your healthcare professional if you are unsure. Do not self medicate on your own.
2) Watch and monitor them for any signs of dehydration owing to decreased food and water intake secondary to their mouth pain. Go to pharmacy and talk to your pharmacist for better medications.
3) Google for more information on HFMD if u need. Any type of emotional support and educational support will be needed.
4) Seek hospital attention if they vomit, not passing urine for the past 6 hours, disorientated, and constantly sleepy.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Funny Tuesday

Some funny pictures to cheer up your day.










Wednesday, February 15, 2012

How to buy second hand car in Malaysia? A honda accord 2.4 7th generation.


Since i had paid up my 2004 Proton Saga loan three year ago, I have been toying with the idea of changing my car to a bigger car to accommodate my growing family. I want something different. Not local car anymore, as 7 years is enough right? After having a baby, the safety of my family during travel is my utmost important priority. So no more milo tin car for me.

Something like D segment car would be nice, as it provide space, comfort, safety and classy (haha) but the price is ridiculously high in Malaysia due to THIS BLOOD SUCKING TAX: Import Duty 30% + Excise 80% + Sales Tax 10%. Camry and Accord don't have import duty, but excise duty of 80% is still very high.

With some simple calculations, i notice if i pay 50% of the new car price, i wont be paying tax. Eat that blood sucking government!! I am not going to pay you any extra tax. LOL! But where the hell i can get a car half of the price? Definitely not with a new car like Forte and Inspira. Second hand car of course. sob sob....

Accord depreciation

2011-100%
2010-85%
2009- 80%
2008- 75%
2007- 70%
2006- 65%
2005- 60%
2004- 50%

My Proton Saga
2011-100%
2004- 30%

So, after having the first hand experience on buying a second hand car, i write it down here as a reminder for me and those who are planning to buy one.

 
In the process of buying, I didn't check the car thoroughly because i thought PUSPAKOM will do it for me. How naive is my thinking. I always think these things should be leaved to the professionals. How am I as a laymen in car mechanic can compare to the PUSPAKOM which has 18 points check, right?

As expected, the result of my car inspection come out perfect.

1. Glass area
2. Condition of the body
3. Wheelhouse
4. Pillars
5. Cut and joint
6. Floor
7. Type of fuel
8. Chassis frame
9. Tyres
10. Engine mounting
11. Air-condition system
12. Odometer reading
13. CNG system for NGV
14. Side-slip test (to check the alignment of two front tyres)
15. Emission
16. Suspension
17. Brake system
18. Under carriage inspection that consists cut and joint, floor, chassis frame, engine mounting, exhaust system including muffler and gearbox (visual inspection for leakages etc).

After this, now i think it is always better to do it on your own if possible. You can bring your google girlfriend and ask her whenever you have any queries. I found out all sorts of problems after getting the car.
 
Here is a checklist by importance according to me. 

1) Check for the transmission gear (most important part)

Take it for a ride in the driver seat in the early morning and see if the car can start in cold condition well. Then see if any parts of the car vibrating and shaking. Turn off the radio and any cd player during the test drive and listen to the car. Try to engage all gears from 0km/h to 120km/h including the reverse gear. LISTEN!!

My car got this funny wheezing sound at high speed and i have to flush my transmission and exchange its fluid 2 times. Now the sound is still there albeit lower in pitches. My mistake to believe PUSPAKOM!!

Cost:
Transmission failure (estimated): RM 5000-RM25000
Automatic Transmission Fluid (3L): RM 75.96
Automatic Transmission Fluid (9L): RM 227.88
ATF Flushing : RM 60.00

 

2) Check for any oil leakage. 
It is usually done in the early morning to see there is any oil/ solution underneath the car. You can go visit the car dealer in the morning right after they open shop to make sure nobody clean up the patch. Open the front hood of the car and use a torchlight to look everywhere. Any oil sip from any part of the engine compartment will cost you a repair.

My car leak like hell, oil is everywhere. But how come i fail to notice it at first? I think i was too attracted to the outer appearance of the car and didnt really go and see the whats inside. You see, PUSPAKOM check and say "Dalam keadaan baik"

So i replaced all the gasket which can be replaced. Even the compressor belt as well because of oil contamination due to the leakage.

Cost:
Cylinder head cover: RM 39.64
Filter Assy Spool: RM 30.58
Filter Assy VTC: RM 18.46
Filter Comp ATF: RM 113.38
Compressor Belt: RM 124.41
Engine switch: RM 28
Labour : RM 160
Total : RM 514.47


3) Check for the electrical switches and sound system, air cond conditions, air cond filter.
Try the radio, cd player or dvd player. If your steering got any control buttons, try them too. Try on cruise control, power windows, auto door lock.

Spoiled cd player. RM 2995 (remain unchanged due to the cost)
Air cond filter missing: RM 60
Air cond outlet vent broken: RM 10 (use glue to stick back) -RM 600 (change the whole thing) unrepaired


4) Check for service record.
It is best to get a local car as it will have all the service records to refer. If there is no record, you can always check with the service center for mileage and also its servicing history. Only then you will know if your car mileage meter had been altered to a lower reading.

5) Check for the windscreen damage.

 
All original windscreen and windows will have a stamp on it. If you dont see it, that means it have been replaced by the previous owner. Carefully look for any  defects.


6) Check all the tyres and spare tyre.


Make sure it is the same size as recommended by the manufacturer. +-3% is still ok as you can refer to this useful website. Open up the car bonnet and take a careful look to see if any water sediment in the storage. The tyres conditon report from PUSPAKOM is perfect. But i notice the size of the tyres is not according to the Honda specifications, and each one is DIFFERENT BRANDS DIFFERENT GROOVES as well. Even a laymen will know these kind of tyres will bring trouble.

I have no choice but to refer to the tyre shop and after checking, the boss told me i have to replace all tyres because the old tyres already develop waves and bumps. Inside the tyre shop, i open up the car bonnet to check for the spare tyre and i found out whenever it rains, my car will start to filling up rain water in the boot. So i have to change the belt tensioner as well because it has holes in it.

Cost:
Belt tensioner: RM 285
Service charge: RM 45
Tires: RM 700
Tires: RM 640

The cost of first service after receiving the car

Spark Plug: RM 34.03
Brake Fluid: RM 33.69
Engine Cleaner Fluid: RM 35.98
Power Steering Fluid: RM 138
Valve Clean: RM 108
Valve Clean System Service: RM 50
Air Cond Element: RM 120.23
Fuel Strainer: RM 152.86
Retainer: RM14.92
Clip replacement:RM 4.66
Coolant Anti Freeze: RM 121.88
Door clip: RM 12.60


Labour: RM 130
Total: RM 956.85
 
Insurance: RM 2368.20
Road Tax: RM 780.00

After spending quite a sum around 8k, i am all well satisfied. Although it can be better (human can't be satisfied right), but so far it does not disappoints me. If i would have seen these problems myself, i would have negotiate a better price for the car.

My car is so much fun and enjoyable to drive and the comfort is 1st class. Speed at 160km/h is nothing and I don't even feel tired driving for hours all the way to my cousin house in Terengganu. So far so good as it didn't have a break down in the middle of the road at middle of the night! Lol!

Actually i can't do much comparison because i only drive Proton Saga before this. No way i can compare a Japanese car with our local car. And one is 2400cc and another is 1300cc. But if you want me to compare to Proton Saga, then i would say I wont touch Proton anymore.

update:1/9/2012

Remember to
Check for engine mounting.
RM 927.50 (original)

Check for brake pad using torch light.
RM 200 x2. (if replaced outside Honda Center)

Check for suspension as well. Test drive it.
RM 1937.72 (original oem)

It is not cheap to own a second hand car.