May 21, 2019
My right shoulder, right arm, elbow, upper back, still hurt. The pain goes from 1 to 10 with no warning. It also radiates to my nape and reaches my left shoulder and back. Buong likod na. I couldn’t start a rehab because I would be away again soon and I was told that once the therapy starts, it must be completed within 30 days.
I went to another orthopedic doctor in Cardinal Santos. He thinks aside from any closed fracture, my tendons were twisted and damaged during my fall. He recommended that I should have an MRI, the only way to find out for sure what was broken and what was damaged. I wanted to get sana a therapy prescription so I could bring it to the US and maybe I could undergo therapy there. He said he could not just recommend therapy without seeing first the results of my MRI.
An advanced appointment was necessary but the secretary of Dr. Palafox was able to get me an appointment. “Sige na, isingit mo si Mrs. Yee, uuwi na sya sa America”.
The guy, was kind enough to give me a slot, 2 pm that day. “Mam, kumain daw muna kayo”.
I ate first at the hospital’s cafeteria. Then I went to the MRI building at the back of the doctors’ clinics. I was early, at 1:30 pm.
I registered and waited for my turn.
I brought baon, buco loco juice. Inom ako ng inom, yun pala bawal.
I felt embarrassed so I kept the wet bottle inside my handbag.
Finally, my name was called. I was asked to wear this hospital robe and to leave all my belongings including my cellphone inside a tiny room.
Parang kulang ito sa armirol.
I waited again for about 15 minutes.
They placed me in a big machine, isinuot ako dun para akong nasa movie. I closed my eyes to avoid feeling claustrophobic. I had to psyche myself otherwise baka I wouldn’t be able to finish the MRI procedure eh sayang naman ang bayad ko.
The procedure took almost an hour, instead of 30 – 45 minutes kasi daw I was moving.
I was instructed not to move and to breath normally. Ang problema ko, busog ako, I ate rice, ulam, macaroni salad, ewan kung ano pa kinain ko, hindi ako makahinga sa busog. Kaya I kept on making deep breaths. The radio technicians told me, “steady lang, huwag gagalaw, huwag gaanong hihinga, huwag matutulog”. I tried to hold my breath eh para akong malalagutan na ng hininga. Instead of MRI lang ang ipinunta ko run baka mauwi sa autopsy.
The machines were making some massively annoying and noisy sounds. Parang cement mixer, rock grinder, and jack hammer. Tatlong klase. They placed something in my ears ewan kung ano because I didn’t see them. Baka bulak lang kaya hindi soundproof. They were not enough to muffle the noise. I had to psychologize myself so I don’t get a headache. But after 30 minutes I was already becoming restless. I couldn’t breathe. Busog nga ako, eh di ba bawal humiga pag busog? My body started itching. Eh kung kailan naman bawal ngang kumilos eh saka pa kakati. My cheek started itching, my head, my left arm, my shoulder, my back. Torture.
After 45 minutes, one of the radio techs told me they have to re-do it for another 15 minutes kasi nga daw malabo kasi I was moving.
“Huwag masyadong hihinga, normal lang, huwag gagalaw”. Bawal din daw matulog. Eh kung bakit naman sinabing bawal matulog eh bigla akong antuk na antok. Tapos pag nasa bahay na ako at gustong matulog, meron naman akong insomnia. Pestengyawok.
