I came to see my doctor who is now holding most of his clinic hours at St. Luke’s in Global City. The travel was a bit painful considering that the summer has kicked in. One hour already late for my appointment, I still waited for an hour for my turn. My turn has come and the doctor was pretty pleased with my latest lab result. Just the same I did not tell him that I no longer take two of his prescribed medications. The reason why I was there was so that I could get the medical advice on properly tapering the steroids.
He noted that my urine protein and blood (hematuria) are at +1 from +3. They should be negative of course. My cholesterol level is just 5 points above the normal. Although he scribbled on his prescription pad the same medications. I still do not plan to take in those medications except for the steroids, sinvastatin and losartan potassium. I might consider taking in some protein powder to replenish the one that I waste in my urine.

I feel so low that I am not able to feel ecstatic checking on result of my latest lab work up. They are as follow:

I have stopped taking in any medication except for the steroids. This is so far the greatest lab results I have gotten since I have gotten ill. A reason to celebrate but I am seriously not in the festive mood. I am about to see my rheumatologist and I know he will not be happy with the sudden withdrawal from the medication. I just hope that he would approve of me getting an alternative way of keeping up with my medical condition.

The only drawback of my resignation from my post, if there would be any, is the insurance coverage that I have lost. I know that there is always affordable life insurance around but still, my faith is stronger than ever and I know that God would be my shield against any danger in this world. He knows that my heart beats for something else and the pulsation of this reality has been trying to escape my chest for the longest.
I have my mindset. I have my dreams. I have my desire. I had to breakaway.

Part of the requirement for the apprenticeship program at the Philippines Heart Center is the chest x-ray to ensure that none of us has a communicable disease. Although I have gotten mine about 2 months ago, I decided to have the test to ensure that I have not contracted any lung disorder when I was at the Lung Center of the Philippines.
After three days, gotten the result of my x-ray and I am pleasantly surprised to see that I have normal findings. After being exposed to pathogens while on immunosuppresant, I only have God to thank for keeping me safe.

I got a text from my officemate asking for my dentist’s address. Her gums are swollen ad her dentist is nowhere to be found for almost a year already.
He braces have been removed by my dentist and she is scheduled for a fitting of retainers today. I told her to get dental discounts from the dentist.

There are so many reasons for having halitosis or bad breath. It may be acute or chronic and most of the causes are poor dental hygiene, tooth or gum disease, or intestinal disorders.
Either cause, I think it is hard for someone to know that his or her breath stinks especially if the disease is chronic. For the reason that he or she is already used to his smell, which is like a body odor.
While it is curable, the dilemma lies on how to break the news to the person concerned especially if that person is our friend. Simply because we do not want to hurt his or her feelings.
I have a groupmate whose breath would really make your stomach turn and this observation I chose to keep to myself because it is a sensitive personal issue. I was just surprised to hear from my other groupmates while we were having our late lunch that they’ve been thinking of a tactful way in telling our groupmate that he has breath issue.
So while we save someone else’s life, how could we save our groupmate from further humiliation without making him feel humiliated?

In the past few days, I have noticed that my morning sniffles have returned. I have been sneezing like before, sneezing like there is no tomorrow.

I’d like to think that I am back to the good ‘ol days but that would be a  pulsating  lie.

I have developed joint pains, my feet continues to swell if I stopped popping  in diuretics, I still have hematuria and my back pain begins to eat me.

Maybe morning sniffles has just been added to my list of  unending physical condition.

Here’s to life. Cheers to life!

I decided to go  back to work after four days on bed rest.  I did not rest actually because I have been to St. Luke’s for some lab work up, tests and consults.  So  basically I was just on sick leave.

Punched in at exactly 9:00 a.m. and towards the middle of the shift I felt frail.  I was able  to produce an acceptable amount of work but I felt so exhasuted.

I don’t know but I think being in the office really makes me sick.  I am sticking to my job because I need an insurance to cover my medical expenses but  if this work is causing me enough stress to hammer the final nail in my coffin, I think I should just quit.  My only fear is that if I quit, will I get better?  I am really giving it a serious thought.

I never thought that call center stress could be harmful enough to take someone’s life  progressively.  It is really catching up on me.

As I have said, if ever I will die, I wanna die  with a smile on my face because I have served my purpose and I have done the things that I really wanna do.

I want to save lives even If I can’t save mine.

Yet again.  Seriously.

I got my lab  result and although the creatinine-protein ratio has improved  to 2.84 (which is still high, should be less than 1), I am still on edematous state.

My cholesterol level spiked at 400+ since I stopped taking in Crestor.

I took the liberty of getting urinalysis as I noticed that my urine is getting reddish plus  the fact that I have had fever in the past couple of days.  The tst revealed that I indeed have hematuria or blood in the urine and lots of bacteria too.

The doctor simply asked me how long  have  I been on therapy, I said about four months.  He just scribbled the same prescription as last month adding Crestor 10 mg (the previous dose before it was raised to 20 mg) to the list of medications.  I asked what he will do about the hematuria, he said that it’s a sign that I am on exacerbation and that I just need to take a rest.

He recommended a bed rest for the next 2 to 3 days.  Which I have requested by the way.

I don’t know but every time I come into his clinic, my mind always gets lost that I always forget to ask important things.  Is it because I could sense  that he’s always in a hurry? Or is it just me? I have been told by my friend, and as a nurse I should know, that it is my right to ask since I am paying for the consult.

Well, he asked me if I am experiencing pyuria (difficulty urinating). I said no, except that  I feel my urine is quite acidic that I need to wash after I urinated. He also asked if I have had fever, I said I had for two days but it went away immediately after taking paracetamol. He did not say anything.

My fear is that, I am close to finishing my treatment but I do not see any signs of light at the end of the tunnel.  Does this mean that I have to submit myself to chemo therapy in two months?

I am really scared.

God please help  me.

This week is the opening of classes for public schools ad the weather is really crazy.

There’s intermittent hard rain and strong wind and today was no exception.

After six sessions  of physical rehab, I  was bound for a follow up check up with my doctor. To make sure that I will not be wasting my time, I phoned  her clinic before 1 p.m. and  was able too confirm that she will be holding her clinic today  in the midst of  the rowdy weather.

I was fifth on the list.

Since I know that she will not show up on time, I decided to  swing by the Lung Center to claim myy Bsic Skills Training (BST) shirts.

My BST training at LCP will start on June 15 an I am really anxious.

I arrived at St. Luke’s around 2:30 p.m.  and I went straight to rehab  department to  get my  progress report.  I reached the doctor’s clinic before 3 p.m. and the doctor was still checking on patient number three!

So I had my turn after 20  minutes and the doctor asked why I was wearing a mask. So I told her that I am on immunosuppressant and I am seeing a nephrologist.

She asked me why I did not tell her about it during my first check up. I told her that I was so tired waiting for  her and she seemed to be in a hurry then that it slipped my  mind.

She was concerned about me taking the pain killer (Myonal) as it is nephrotoxic (would harm my  kidneys). I told her I did not take it.

After some physical exam, she told me that the spasm is so minimal but I have to continue with my rehab  and she ordered for another six sessions.

As I have mentioned, the weather was crazy and as I went out of the doctor’s clinic, the sky was dark so I decided to go home straight.

Darn, I forgot to swing by the rehab dept to  request for a rehab sked on Saturday!

I phoned St.  Luke’s and I was told that I need to go there personally for the sked unless I want to have the six sessions with  my former PT.

I want another therapist. So I will just drop by tomorrow.