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I SCALDED MYSELF...

All because...I was having a tummy ache the whole of Monday morning. And I thought why not fill a tumbler of hot water and placed it over my tummy hoping the heat would somehow reduced the ache. The next thing that happened, the tumbler's lid popped and hot water spilled over my left thigh and as I was sitting down it got into the bum area as well. I was too shocked and the heat + burning sensation I had was masya'allah, so unbearable. It took me a while to recover from the shock and I turned behind to tell my 2 colleagues what had just happened.

Walked to the toilet to check. I was wearing a pair of jeans so it was kind of hard to take it off but when I managed to do so, I saw the skin was as red as a lobster. I panicked and stood in the cubicle thinking of what I have to do, at the same time hoping that it will cool off on its own, which is obviously stupid! I struggled to put my jeans back on which were also soaking wet. While walking back, I tried to bear the pain as much as I can. Got back to the office, informed my editor of what had happened and told him I have to see the doctor immediately. Still in shocked, I cried and a kind colleague offered to drive me to the doctor near my home. Luckily, my husband was at home, so I arranged to meet him at the clinic.

The drive from my office at Ang Mo Kio to the clinic in Sengkang seemed like the longest journey of my life. I couldn't even sit still in the car. The pains were so strong and I badly wanted to be treated as soon as possible. Managed to see the doctor quickly and when I took of my jeans this time, what I saw were blistered skin filled with water all over the scalded areas. I cried harder seeing the condition of my thigh and of course it was painful. The doctor put some wet towels over the areas to bring down the heat, gave me an injection to lessen the pain and applied cream.

Near midnight, I decided to head to SGH A&E seeing that some of the blisters were getting bloated and there were still too much pain. After being assessed by the nurse and doctor, they told me I have to see the doctor from the Burns & Plastic Surgery Department since the scalded areas are quite extensive. After waiting on the wheel bed in the Observation Ward, I was wheelchaired into the Consultation Room to see the 'burns' doctor.

I was told that I got scalded at quite a big area. But it hasn't cause any serious injury that needed surgery or skin grafting. I was then given a pethidine injection, blistered bubbles were pierced, cleaned up with a solution and adhesive plastic dressing were used to cover up the scalded areas to prevent it from getting infected and exposed to other problems. Given 5 days of MC, some antibiotics, painkillers and left SGH at about 4am.

I went for another appointment this afternoon. The lady doctor told me that it will take another 2 weeks for new skin to grow, though while the healing process takes place, I have to avoid heat at the affected areas, keep it clean and there will be itchiness and discomfort throughout. I was reminded not to scratch and to drink lots of fluids and later when the scars have dried up the skin needs to be moisturised. Another 2 weeks of MC were given and I have another appointment next Monday. The nurse changed the dressing again today, cutting off some dead skins and it was painful when she cleaned the areas with the solution.

I'm feeling the tightening of the skin due to the plastic dressing and I have to avoid water seeping through them, which will be tough when I need a bath!

I remember I had scalded myself when I was 6 years old when I accidentally knocked a cup of hot tea and it poured down my body. I was screaming in pain and it was Maghrib at that time, so my mother got a shocked becos she thought I saw Satan in the house! That wasn't a bad injury, I only had two small scalded spots near my tummy. Now years later, a hot water tumbler accident, left me with a painful, scalded left thigh/bum and probably some scars later. But I'm also thankful to Allah that this hasn't cause any serious injury to me.