{"id":293,"date":"2016-08-30T23:48:59","date_gmt":"2016-08-31T07:48:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siangandannie.com\/peregrinate\/?p=293"},"modified":"2025-02-22T18:51:59","modified_gmt":"2025-02-23T02:51:59","slug":"cognitive-biases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siangandannie.com\/peregrinate\/cognitive-biases\/","title":{"rendered":"Cognitive biases"},"content":{"rendered":"

[\u2026] we are all susceptible to a formidable array of decision biases.\u00a0 There are more of them than we realize, and they come to visit us more often than we like to admit.
\n~ Dan Ariely, The Upside of Irrationality<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This update devolves into a lengthy one with too may quotes and our little daily routines.\u00a0 Perhaps because I desire to capture details for myself to reminisce someday, as the days past quickly.<\/p>\n

The few days up to biopsy went well.\u00a0 In the afternoon warmth of Tuesday, as she lay down for a nap, she said she’d like to go to work again the next day for the morning.\u00a0 I was surprised.\u00a0 It makes her feel good, she says.\u00a0 Dinner was quinoa and lentils accompanied by chicken and veg.\u00a0 Seasoned however, with the Singaporean Primataste chicken rice seasonings that KP had brought over the previous week.<\/p>\n

Annie is having a good laugh at my beat down by the elder ajummas of the neighborhood.\u00a0 The stereotyped phrase here is along the lines of “don’t mess with the ajummas”.\u00a0 While buying groceries at the cozy co-op across the street, some of them will get impatient when I choose to politely wait my turn.\u00a0 Typically, the one behind me would get upset if I wait for the one ahead of me to complete her task, be it selecting some item or at checkout.\u00a0 The verbal mutterings happen first, then the shove to tell me to be more aggressive.\u00a0 They have innovative methods to cut in front of you too.\u00a0 The whack I got from a grocery bag? Another story.\u00a0 It didn’t help the ego that two of them also out-swam me at the pool this week too.\u00a0 Admittedly, I cockily perceived myself a better swimmer upon encountering two older, pudgier ajummas in the lap lane.\u00a0 After 15 laps at a blistering pace, with them gracefully switching between styles, I removed myself from the rotation, gasping for air.\u00a0 Don’t mess with the ajummas.\u00a0 And of course, a reminder not to judge by appearances.\u00a0 Appropriately, Annie Zootopia for us to watch over dinner.<\/p>\n

Wednesday was restful after her morning at the office.\u00a0 We simply prepped for biopsy day.\u00a0 There was a possibility for needing to go inpatient, plus incoming visitors.\u00a0 So a “go bag” of sorts was packed, in case of an overnight; and a detailed clean up the apartment instead of waiting for the weekend.<\/p>\n

We awoke on Thursday to cooler temperatures.\u00a0 Well, a high of only 32C (90F) today. After three weeks of up to 37C (98F) days, 32C plus a slight breeze feels much better.<\/p>\n

My sis, M, had taken the red eye out of Singapore and would be accompanying us to the hospital as well.\u00a0 She managed to find her way to the apartment in time and we were off.<\/p>\n

The check-in nurse (a particular one we encounter often) at the international health services at the hospital has not given me a very positive impression.\u00a0 Annie, the kinder one of us, tells me it’s just because of the expressionless face and lack of eye contact.\u00a0 Her instructions to us this time though, simply gave me an excuse to confirm my notions that she is utterly spaced out most of time.\u00a0 We were there for a CT guided biopsy.\u00a0 More interested in getting back to her cell phone, she muttered, “Go to […] and get a CT scan, and then go to floor 1 for your biopsy.”\u00a0 Huh?\u00a0 “We’re here for a CT guided biopsy, not two separate things.”\u00a0 She grew testy with me and replied, “Go get CT, then go get biopsy.”\u00a0 Really?\u00a0 Nurse?\u00a0 Well, I probably proceeded to let whatever sub-surface stress in me take over, “You are so wrong.”\u00a0 I bypassed her and went straight to the desk where Annie’s liaison nurse at the IHS sat, who is much more clued in.\u00a0 We got the correct directions for the correct place to go, and off we went.\u00a0 I need to be more zen.<\/p>\n

As mid afternoon came around, someone with a petite frame, already wearing a surgical mask beckoned us into a side office.\u00a0 She proceeded to review a consent form with Annie.\u00a0 Since we could not read Korean just yet, neither one of us could tell her role from her coat. With only the ability to see her face from eyes up, we (including my sis) had only one mistaken impression, “very early 20s”.\u00a0 No insult meant to medical interns, but an intern is going to poke into my wife’s spine?\u00a0 I worried briefly.\u00a0 Perceptions again.\u00a0 Her eyes however, reflected an intelligent alertness as she answered questions and explained how she would attempt to biopsy from the ilium (hip) bone.\u00a0 And only failing which, she would go for a non-radiated spot in the spine.\u00a0 With that, it was a certainty that she was the one doing the operation!\u00a0 After signing the consent, the doc headed into the CT room, followed by Annie.\u00a0 My sis and I learnt that roles were on the staff coats, and we needn’t worry about our earlier misplaced perception, she was one of the lead docs in the department.\u00a0 About 40 minutes later, it was done.\u00a0 Successfully from the ilium.\u00a0 To quote Annie, the doc said to her, “I targeted well, so we are done.”<\/p>\n