Keeping the Faith (The Sequel)

*Bloggers Note: My family went to a very hard time but I did not post something about it because it was too very hard then. Keeping the Faith is a sequel to my next post.

          I was not feeling good that Saturday morning. But I did not entertain that though. All I know is that I was just stress brought by my Real Estate Appraiser exam the next day.  So my Dad and I started our usual Saturday routine.  We were having our lunch in the mall when I suddenly felt strange. A cold sweat suddenly burst and I feel I’m about to faint and fall out. I was lucky I was with my Dad and brought me to the nearest hospital.

         August 29, 2015 Saturday noon, the ER doctor suspected me of having a dengue virus and based on my Complete Blood Count (CBC) my platelets were dropping. I was strongly advised that I should be admitted. I stayed almost three hours in the ER and the environment of the place aggravated my condition. It was too cold in there. As soon I was brought in my room, I felt the cold transcend on the inner most part of my body. My body is trembling, felt like my bones were trembling too. My body was shaking and I could not do something to stop it.  And because of that “chill” I was now in the spotlight, literally (a spotlight was placed to me to ease the cold I was feeling).

           But if there is one thing I could not forget during my confinement is what had happened on that Saturday night. A few hours after that “chill” I ate my dinner, and had my nap. But that is what I know and what I have remembered. BUT THE REAL STORY IS THIS, according to my Dad, I’m shouting loudly that night and chanting words he could not understand. He is tightly holding me in my bed because I was about to walk and I wanted to get out. Two Nurses came by and assisted my Dad, and then I throw up on the Nurses BP.. on the bed sheet.. and on the floor. The IV that was placed on my left hand was removed. They said that I had a very high fever, so the Nurses injected me a medicine. But was odd about these things is that; when all of those things are happening to me all I know is just I was sleeping. What was really peculiar is what had happened next, when I’m finally awake, I see a figure in front of me wiping my face and talking to me with words I could not comprehend nor understand. I felt so lost. I don’t know who I am and where I’m into. Then information flows little by little. The figure in front of me was a man and He was my Dad. And as the information unlocks I knew that I was now in the hospital but I don’t know why I am in there and the gravity of the situation I am into. Why I was admitted? Why I am in here? Questions are now popping on my head. It took me few more minutes to come into my senses. I was too tired and too weak. I did throw up again and it feels I’m throwing up all what is left inside my tummy. That Saturday night was one heck of an experience I will never forget.

   

          On the second day it was confirmed I had “Dengue Virus”. Day by day my platelets were dropping. It was further confirmed by Dra. Reyes, my personal doctor (an Internist-Pulmonologist) so they had to take my CBC every 12 hours. From 118, 88, 65, 44, and 42 then my platelet drops into 32 my Dr. was quite worried about my situation. We were advised to secure the platelets (I don’t know exactly the medical term for it) if my platelet count will still drop BUT what was positive about my situation at that time was that no bleeding occurred (no bleeding on my gums, on my nose or on my bowel). I also help myself my being hydrated. I think I gulp a huge amount of water then. And also I want to thanked my cousin for sending me Tawa-tawa a herbal medicine for dengue virus (though was not medically proven).

          Friday, as per my CBC my platelets were now 60 from being down to 32. Then came Saturday and Sunday my platelets were increasing day by day. But despite of the fact that my platelets were increasing I do still feel weak. It was due to my low potassium. I was also diagnosed with Hypokolemia. I wanted to recover ASAP so I have to help myself by eating as much as I can and by hydrating myself. Being in the Hospital for 11 days and 10 nights, I was confined on August 29 and released on the afternoon of September 8, 2015 has given me another perspective, a different view of life. Let me share some of that new learning’s:

          Keep your surrounding clean; it is a community effort and a primordial consideration to prevent the virus from spreading. I think I got the virus because I love to run or bike in the morning. Dengue Bite’s usually happens during the day and it usually formed not in canal’s but on stagnant and clean waters like flower vase, tansan (cap of softdrinks), bottles etc. There is no really specific medicine that could kill dengue virus (based on what I have learned); the only way to beat the virus is by being hydrated. Hydration is the corner stone of curing the dengue virus, so keep yourself hydrated. Keep your body in shape to strengthen your immune system so when the virus attacks, you can recover fast. Try to use mosquito repellent lotion when going out (I’m using repellent lotion now, mas ok na ang handa kesa tamaan ulit).

           There are times when you can do nothing except, TO TRUST IN YOUR FAITH. Faith that soon you will be healed that these physical sufferings are just temporary and when you are preparing for something and you did not get it, just believe that things happen for a reason, you just have the faith to trust Him. I may not have taken that board exam but what is important is that my health is perfectly ok. The new learning’s I have acquired during my training/seminar will just be on my head and it will pop up if needed.  When a health conscious like me was stricken by sickness and you are stuck in a hospital for 11 days and you cannot do something about it; but looking on the other side and on a positive perspective, Yes, I may be weak, penniless and stuck in a place you least wanted to be but I am thankful my Dad is there for me and taking good care of me He is like my right arm then. Before this, our family went to a tough time (this is why it is a prequel, I will make an entry on this) and I am thankful having my Dad around and siblings who are very supportive. In these rough times you will determine your real friends and if they stuck on you during those hard times, better stuck also on them because they will always be there through thick and thin.