Although I have not told my family the details of my health condition, they’ve got general idea that I have kidney problem.

After telling my sister that my cholesterol level has again spiked up, she again gave me a low fat, low salt  or in other words bland diet.

From boiled chicken breast and veggies to totally tasteless non-red meat viands which are mainly mixed with tofu.  No salt, no condiments just freshly ground black pepper.

On the other hand,  my dad has bought me this Sambong Tea.  As intructred, I need to drink it at lteast three times a day.

Sambong Tea or  Blumea Balsamifera is a medicinal plant grown in the Philippines mountains and is being used to treat various diseases such as colds, diarrhea, malaria, arthritis including kidney disorders. It is regarded as diuretic.

As goood as its and my dad’s intentions, I cannot stand the bitter taste of the tea.  It tastes like boiled freshly cut grass.

Seriously.

I think I have to stick to my Goji juice. I have been chugging it for over a month and its claim to fame “healing powers” is yet to kick in.

I just came from my routine check up. I also got my lab results and why am I surprised to see that my urine creatinine protein ratio shot up, yet again. Other lab tests are normal:  serum creatinine, liver function, potassium but heck my choleseterol level is a bit alarming. It’s 300+. I am guilty on this aspect because i pigged out on red meat in my attempt  to increase my protein intake. I slobbed on slab  of baby ribs, pork steak and barbecue.

Now, I am back to white meats. Say hello to tuna and chicken. My sister whom I have told about my cholesterol level has started to serve steamed chicken breast and veggies – just peppered and unsalted.

Oh, and I contain myself in snacking on roasted garlic bits as it is known here in the Philippines for its natural way of lowering blood pressure and cholesterol level.

My doctor said that I am just on our eighth week of my 24-week therapy so it’s not alarming to see that my creatinine-protein ratio gives a see-saw pattern.

Right now my concern is mainly about my heart.  I feel it hurts when I’m lying on my side as if it’s being pressed against my chest wall.  My doctor has ordered for a 2D-echo cardiogram to  rule out pleural effusion (pleural effusion is an accumulation of fluid between the layers of tissue that line the lungs and chest cavity.) but it’s non-urgent because he set up my next appointment on June 1st.

He warned me to be extra careful not to catch any infections and has asked me if  I got the flu shot already

I pray that everything is okay.