Little things help a lot

When you are in a wheelchair, sometimes you can find yourself in situations where your "enemy" is inside of you rather than around you.

For the past several weeks, I've been battling with one of the bane of wheelchair-users: urinary tract infection or UTI.

This happens when bacteria enter your bladder or kidneys and cause you to have symptoms like fever, chills, and feeling "lousy" or tired.

The first to know about my condition (next to my doctor) was the editor of this column. I was afraid that because of it, it may result in interruptions in submitting my weekly articles.

Fortunately, it didn't happen.

However, what terrified me at one point was when a private laboratory test on my urine indicated that the oral antibiotics which I was taking to arrest the problem wasn't doing the job.

It was suggested that I get myself admitted into a hospital for at least one week and switch over to more powerful doses of antibiotics, given intravenously.

This meant that I would have to take the antibiotics in an injection form at least three times a day.

While able-bodied people could easily skip the admission part by turning up at the hospital for their injections during the daily intervals, doing it in my wheelchair and having to turn up at the hospital three times a day was a virtual impossibility.

Not only would I need physical assistance each time from my friends to do that but the frequent transferring from my car and into my wheelchair would definitely make a mess of the needle that would have to be planted in my arms during my treatment.

Fortunately for me, that nightmare also didn't come true.

Instead, I found a great government specialist who decided to repeat my urine test in her hospital. The results amazingly proved negative.

The oral antibiotics which the earlier test had said was ineffective had, in fact, done the job to fight the infection.

The specialist also went the extra mile to listen to all my questions and explain in great detail what I needed to do to keep the infection away.

I had to drink at least two litres of water each day. I also had to make it a point to empty my bladder once every three hours.

Holding our bladders for more than that would only invite infection to set in.

This is one of the chief reasons public buildings from government ones to churches, sports centres and others should provide disabled-friendly toilets for the disabled and the elderly.

Our local authorities should see to it that this is done or threaten to remove the licences from their services to operate.

People with disabilities should not to be told to where adult diapers instead or given excuses when such buildings fail to provide such facilities.

Sometimes even the Welfare Department don't really bother to check if the hotels and other buildings where they organise events for the disabled are fully wheelchair friendly.

It not only shows their ignorance of disabled persons' needs but also demonstrates how much they are willing to go when it comes to providing disabled-friendly facilities.

During my recovery, I also came across a private general practitioner who kindly entertained my health queries without any complaints when I rang her up.

And she didn't charge me a sen for all her medical advice.

Having exceptional friends is also a great help during difficult times.

My best friend did the running around to pass my urine samples to collecting the necessary medication for me while I was stuck at home.

There is so much that the able-bodied can do for disabled and elderly people which many don't realise.

These include collecting their medication in the hospital or accompanying them for their doctor's appointment. They may need help to get a wheelchair in the hospital or be wheeled to the doctor's clinic.

Having someone to talk to can also calm the frazzled nerves of someone waiting to hear about their medical results or in some sort of pain or discomfort.

The difficulties I went through recently, I was most touched by the doctors and my friend who helped me.

Little things often make a huge difference!

PS: Thank you to my editor for kindly bending my deadline submissions for my articles during my illness. – November 8, 2015.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.