I’ve been going to Cardinal Santos practically everyday for the past two weeks.
I hate wearing hospital robe. Wala pa itong armirol.
I imagine how many persons have worn this and how many have died already. My God I am so negative and morbid.
Wala pa itong armirol.
Even before the scan started, I was already feeling dramatic. Eh kasi alam ko na ang result, pang-bulalo na lang ang mga buto ko.
I look kawawa.
Did I walk on their floor barefooted? Why were my feet dirty?
Mary Ann Joy Santos and Karren May Cabuhat, the two young ladies who did the bone density scan on me. One was my photographer while the other one was the art director “ayusin mo ang palda ni mam”. “Hayan, para maganda sa picture”.
I went to the doctor yesterday morning to show the results of my bone densitometry tests.
Hayy, inis ako, she couldn’t find my medical file.
He said my left arm is susceptible to fracture. Ingatan ko daw hindi mabangga. My left hip daw could break if I slip, fall, or kung mabilis akong umupo.
He said aside from taking 600 mg Calcium with Vitamin D every 10 am and 4 pm daily, I should also take a certain tablet every Sunday for one whole year to strengthen my bones. He said I am too young to have osteoporosis. He advised me to go see my OB-GYNE and to also see an ENT for my throat irritation that doesn’t like to go away. He stands by his diagnosis that I do not have basal pneumonia as shown in the x-ray results.
He mentioned an injection every 6 months to help reverse osteoporosis. He said many women prefer to take oral medication because the injection costs P28,000 twice a year.
I called up my daughter after I saw the doctor. I couldn’t help but cry over the phone over my bones (they rhyme).
Ang tagal pa bago ako mag 60th birthday, parang inip na tuloy ako. Parang inggit ako sa mga 75 years old na sila.
Our HR Manager, Edna, came to my office. She’s been waiting for me. I don’t stay the whole day, para akong kabuti, pasulpot-sulpot. Tsinetyempuhan daw nya ako kasi nga siguro, kala ko naman kung ano ang problema nya. She started crying. She’s going thru some kind of realization of her own mortality. She’s a little bit older than me pero wala pa rin syang 60. Paano daw yun, pag 70 na sya, baka patay na sya.
I told her “buti ka pa, iniisip mo kung buhay ka pa ten years from now, eh ako, I am not even sure kung aabot ako sa next birthday ko, ang dami ko ng nararamdaman”.
“Buti ka pa An”. I hear that comment all the time. Buti pa ako.
People think I am always happy. They see the beautiful me (kapal) and they conclude I am strong, I am invincible, I am free of anxiety and problems.
Oh no no way. I get my own share of tsunamis. Sometimes they are too strong for my powers. Kaiyak ako, but I have no choice but to face my life’s challenges. Yung mga bolang ibinabato ni Mister Life sa akin, tinatamaan ako kasi hindi naman ako marunong umilag. Pagtama, iyak lang ako ng iyak.
Tapos, tayo ulit. Get up and fight. Tapos, eto na naman, meron na namang bagong bola, tsug, tama na naman, bukol pa. Iyak ulit. Tapos tayo uli. Fight. My fights come with faith.
“Buti ka pa matapang (to face sicknesses, to visit doctors, to subject myself to tests, etc)”. Ako? Matapang? Dyos ko, ang duwag-duwag ko nga. I always cry before, during and after medical procedures. Napaka-nerbyosa ko pa.
No one wants to get sick, no one wants to take medicines, visit doctors.
By the way, bigla ko tuloy naalala, I have finished my letter of complaint to St. Luke’s. Idedemanda ko nga yung mammography department nila at pinitpit ang dede ko kahit sigaw na ako ng sigaw. Ang sakit-sakit. Walang mga puso at damdamin.
I forgot na what I advised Edna but it sure made her smile.
Ms Annie.. 🙂 pls don’t stress urself too much.. Lalo ka lang manghihina pag nag-dwell ka sa Osteoporosis mo.. Other people have it much worse.. like ME.. 🙁
I am like a walking time bomb in the sense that no matter if i eat a little, or too much, or even nothing at all, my intestines could still leak again anytime and the acid could make holes in my tummy like a leaking MWSS pipe on the street.. 🙁
Sometimes i make fun of my own health condition coz it’s the only way i could make sense of it all, and the only way i could lighten up a bit.. 😉 During the 2 months after my emergency surgery and ICU confinement that i wasn’t allowed to eat any food except candies and water, i wallowed in self pity and misery.. For a while i kept telling myself that i don’t deserve to be sick and miserable, that i should be up and about, buying groceries and cooking for my kids and enjoying quality time with them..
Then i saw on the internet some pictures of other sick people who have WORSE conditions than mine, and then i started thinking that instead of feeling miserable and angry, i should be GRATEFUL to God that what i have been going through is NOTHING compared to what they were afflicted with.. 😉
Since then, i have learned to embrace LIFE and whatever it throws at me.. I take it one day at a time, and i try my best to ENJOY every single second that my kids and i are still alive and together as a family.. I try not to complain over little things, and i keep reminding myself that i should BE GRATEFUL for the BLESSINGS that GOD GAVE ME even if i didn’t ask for them, instead of COMPLAINING for the things that i don’t have… 🙂
You are always included in my prayers, Ms Annie.. 😉 Pls keep an unwavering FAITH in God.. HE WILL NEVER ABANDON YOU in ur most trying times.. 😉
I am just a text away, Ms Annie.. I will always be your Friend.. 🙂
God bless u always.. Love u Ms Annie.. Stay happy and healthy lagi.. 😉
Thank you Pam.
Hi Annie, Gud day!…dont wori , i’ve been diagnosed 10 years ago , i have advanced osteo. and nasa pinaka lowest level na ung sa akin ,, but thanks God , ok nman ako , ingat lang talaga na madudulas & good for u kc lagi ka nman naka flat shoes /slippers , im taking 1,200 unit calcium citrate magnesium & zinc with vit D3 & Protos every night …dont be sad at least im sure di ka pa tulad ko na ang katumbas ng vertebral ko ay sa 110 years old na , then ung left ko 65 & ung right 63 that was 2 years ago as per my bone densitometry result . Regular monitoring lang every 2 years , i have my bone densitometry test. I got this ng mag total hysterectomy ako when im just 30 years old due of endemetrioisis :;-((….cheer up and nothing will change nman sayo , sabi nga ang osteo nman ingat lang bumagsak & madulas …more exercise daw kc 15 % daw add ng tibay sa bone …ur still great & beautiful:-) God bless!
Hi Annie! Gud day:-)…dont wori , everything is ok , i have advanced osteo for almost 18 years now , & so far ok nman ako , despite na lumiit na ako ng 3 inches …actually nasa pinaka lowest level na ako sa graph ng bone densitometry chart ko, my ortho is monitoring me nman ,evry 2 years i have my bone dens….ang mahalaga lang ay mag iingat na wag madulas at bumagsak , my vertebral is compare to a 110 years old na & my left is 65 ,right is 63 as per my last bone d. 2 years ago:-(…schedule again this March 2016….cheer up & dont be sad , ur still looking great & beautiful! Just be careful lang sa pagkilos mo. God bless!
Vivian thank you for sharing your own experiences dealing with osteoporosis. I appreciate your concern. Regards.
Cheer up. Stay strong. And stay happy po Ms. Annie! 🙂
God Bless You! 🙂
Thank you Southern Juanderer. Regards.
Ms. Annie, please confirm with the doctor if that 600 mg of Calcium with Vit D3 to be taken every 10AM and 4PM daily, should be taken with food, I have learned, otherwise it will not be effective.