Last Thursday, icky rashes showed up on my legs so I had a blood test which showed I had a low platelet count. The normal count is around 150. Mine was only 50. I was admitted in the hospital for dengue. I didn't even have fever or other symptoms. Only a low platelet count, rashes, and bruises. I was the only dengue patient there who was perky. My Mommy noted I was even wearing mini skirt, make up, and dangling earrings when I was admitted. And some of the nurses seemed surprised that I was functioning well despite my very low platelet count which went as low as 8. After 5 IV insertions, eight units of platelet concentrate transfused, around 20 blood tests, several glasses of tawa tawa herbal tea, doses of antibiotics and antihistamine, and liters of water, my platelet count refused to go up. With that, my Doctor, also my cousin, decided to refer me to a hematologist (specializes in blood and blood diseases). The hematologist recommended I get a bone marrow aspiration (BMA). OUCHIE! My imagination was full of painful bone marrow extraction scenes from Grey's Anatomy, House, and Scrubs. And for the first time in a…
Tag: health
Things That I am Not Allowed to Have or Do
I have been diagnosed with Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). This is an autoimmune disease. This is further complicated by my pre-existing conditions of being asthmatic, being allergic to a lot of things, among others. Plus, I have a tendency to retain more water and gain weight because of my ITP medication. As a consequence, I have to change my life. Totally! Here is a list of things I am not allowed to have, eat, or do: prolonged exposure to sun stress poor diet or not eating on time coffee hot food and drinks chicken shrimps and crabs salty foods smoke and cigarette smoke alcoholic drinks nuts dirt and dust pollen large crowds sick or sickly people infections massage, facial, manicure, pedicure, and hair treatments things that will cause me to bruise, bleed, or get injured such as sharp corners, sharp objects, and heavy things lack of sleep I have to avoid these for at least a month. Plus, I'd have to wear a mask when I go out in public or get exposed to people. Yeah, I know. I won't have a life anymore. PFT! The only good news, the best news is... I'm alive. :) If all goes well…
From 38 to 29
This is another vanity post. KTHNXBAI! People have been giving me great comments on my new look. My new haircut and recent hospitalization plus some new items in my wardrobe has made more people notice how much weight I have lost. People (mga bolero) have been telling me I look younger even if I just celebrated my birthday. My cousin, my Ninang, and my new Diyosa body at a Davao dorm I am very much basking in the glow of these comments as I have been overweight since I was nine years old. Before that I was a skinny kid. Ever since I was in grade three, I have been mocked for being fat. The fact that I don't have a bubbly personality, and I am quite a competitive girl, didn't really earn me a lot of socialization points. In high school and college, although I have mellowed a bit, I didn't have much of a lovelife. I learned how to cook in college, and I my condo was surrounded by fastfood chains and restaurants which led me to gain so much weight that at my fattest I had a 38 (YUS! 38!) waistline, and weighed almost 150 lbs. The…
Yoga Classes at Smashville
Ashtanga (Power Yoga) instructor Jon Cagas, an Ashtanga (power yoga) instructor will be in Davao City to visit his family. While in town, he will be conducting Yoga trainings at Smashville Fitness Center. The schedule of his training is as follow: July 13, Sunday, 1:30pm Intro to Ashtanga Class July 14, Monday, 7:30pm Basic Class July 15, Tuesday, 7:30pm Basic Class Cost: P600 for the 3 classes They will be providing exercise mats but if you have a yoga sticky mat, it is recommended you bring it along. Contact persons: Jen (0919-320-6473); Lenlen Cruz, Smashville (0917-701-4195) I've been wanting to try Yoga ever since the Manila bloggers tried it out and I am very interested in this class. I MIGHT be attending if I'm free on Monday and Tuesday. See you there (maybe)! ;) Thank you to Jane for the heads up!
Dieting Notes
I am a food. I love food so much I can watch the Lifestyle Network Channel for hours. I can even watch a Food show episode over and over again and still find it interesting. I LOVE FOOD! But my quest for a better wardrobe and boy(S) is now forcing me to diet. Week one was quite a success, mostly because I kept my wallet in a poor state and I stayed away from my cousin who also loves food. Week 2, however, was one big monumental legendary epic fail. I pigged out! A LOT! :( I am now on week 3 and day one, yesterday was quite a success. Today is day 2, and I have been good in eating much less rice. I'm now down to a quarter cup of rice per meal. I only eat two full meals per day. And I don't snack as much anymore. I just came from the grocery and bought two snacking substitutes: Chocolate Milk instead of chocolate bars and candies, and corn flakes instead of chips. Good thing I also like those two things or I wouldn't survive. I have also lessened my coffee intake and is now drinking tea more.…
Information on Henoch-Schonlein Purpura Needed
Vida Maya Ko has posted on her blog, and emailed me this letter: My niece Kaisha, 4, was brought to the hospital several times here in Davao--medical check-up at Brokenshire Hospital and confinement at San Pedro Hospital to be exact. Lab tests and observations were inconclusive until finally her sharp stomach pains and vomiting were dismissed as mere dyspepsia. When they thought she was well enough to travel, they flew back to Manila. However, the stomach pains recurred, but this time with purplish rashes on the legs. She was brought to St. Luke's hospital, and after several visits and a confinement, she was diagnosed for Henoch-Schonlein Purpura, a form of blood vessel inflammation (vasculitis) syndrome affecting the kidneys, though intestinal in nature. The irritation of her stomach due to rashes/swellings in the intestines causes her to vomit. The swelling also causes displacement of her kidneys, thus affecting excretory functions, which also causes arthritis of her legs (edema or pagmamanas) and hypertension. Aspirin is the only medication at the moment that she can take to relieve the pain and swelling. Complications could be cardiac overload, respiratory arrest, and hemorrhage if long term treatment of aspirin is used. A serious long-term complication…