post lap chole ERCP

I had abdominal pain radiating to the back last Tuesday afternoon so I had to go to Evangelista MHS. They gave me omeprazole IV and buscopan. Pain went away but I was groggy. They referred me back to Alabang Medical so I went there this morning. I had to do some blood works and then whole abdomen ultrasound with fasting this morning at 7am. Dr. Tantuco referred to Dr. Sarmiento for ERCP and I have an appointment with him at 2pm in Asian Hospital today. I am just hoping that we could still afford it or else I have to wait until I am able to save for the proceure. 

Cholecystectomy and Hyperthyroidism

At last! I'm done with my laparoscopy cholecystectomy or in other words, minimal invasive gallbladder removal. I had it in July 31 at 10am. I am still subclinical hyperthyroid, T3, FT4 are normal but my TSH was at  less than 0.005 uIU. 

I went to work on July 30 at 3pm to 12mn and went straight to Alabang Medical Center. I need to be there so that they can monitor me though Dr. Ivor Tantuco and Dr. Dumana already cleared me for the surgery in the morning. I thought I will be operated after lunch but Dr. Tantuco had it done earlier so I had to make some arrangements with our nanny Ate Del and her friend Mercy. They arrived around 8.30 and at 9: 15, I was brought to the operating room. 

I had chills the moment I entered the operating room. The nurses had to lower the temperature and cover my extremeties. The anethaesiologist was trying to converse with me but the moment they injected the anesthesia, I was in a minute. The operation lasted for i guess barely 45 minutes but I had to stay in the recovery room for 3 hours because my blood pressure shoot up to 170/120. 

I went back to my bedroom conscious but felt asleep after a few minutes. The stones are like guava seeds, more or less 50 stones were removed. I was able to sat up, walked to the restroom to pee and was discharged after a day. 

The only problem was on the night of July 31, I was in pain but the nurses doesn't want to give me additional pain relievers so I was not able to sleep and my BP went up to 150/110 again at 6 am August 1. I was still taking methimazole 20 mg for my hyperthyroidism and additional propranolol inderal for the palpitation twice a day.  I went home morning of August and was advised to be on bed rest for 6 more days. 

Stubborn me, I was on bedrest but I always wanted time with my kids so I had to sit up, wrote some reviewers for Keiichi and spend some time with Mariel. 

I went to work last Monday but I need to endure stomach pain. The call queue was so high and I could hardly breath. I gave up at 2am Aug 11 because the pain was unbearable already I needed to take celecoxib and stayed at the clinic for almost an hour. 

Venting out and sleeping 9 hours

I was grumpy today because I do feel so low, I am only sleeping 5 hours in installment for the past 3 days. My schedule changed last Monday from 3pm till 12mn to 7pm till 4am. Our break sched is also terrible because my first break is at 9:30 and my lunch is at 1am. By the time I am about to eat lunch, my stomach is already aching and I have already lost my appetite. It was only last night that I was able to eat rice during just because Andrei Ferreria brought ginatang langka. Last Monday, I just stayed in the diner and on Tuesday, I slept in the clinic because the sleeping room us full and my backpain was killing me. I already had a back massage yesterday but it didn't help at all. 

I broke down this morning when my teammates did not even bother to keep the spreads. I bring tasty and spreads for the team everyday and I was just so pissed off that I would still be the one to pack those things away after shift. I really told my boss my grievances and I decided to stop bringing food next week. 

When I got home this morning (around 5am), my daily routine was to open my mails, read news and play in Facebook but I feel so tired and I just hit the bed and fallen asleep in no time while Daddy is massaging my back. After an hour, I have to wake up and clean Keiichi's wound but I let Ate Del do it. I just woke up and I feel well-rested. 

Now, I am preparing to work again while Keiichi is making her assignment. I just had my first meal and now I am playing while venting out. I know I may be rude but sometimes I need to so that other people would learn.

I have more than a week before my cholecystectomy. I am really pre-occupied with that so bear with me if I am not my usual self.

I am back!

Haven't visited this blog for a long time...been so busy with work and struggling with my sched.

Let me do a quick update on Mariel's progress...

1) Mariel is now having her speech therapy in Pacita Commercial Center, just a tricycle ride from our home which makes it comfortable to both of us. I'll ask Teacher Agnes, who is also a member of the board of directors in Philippine Institute for the Deaf, if I could post some pics during their therapy session. So far, Mariel is enjoying her therapy, she is getting used to her hearing aid and she is mouthing and verbalizing a lot this days. 

2) Mariel is communicating more with gestures, facial expressions and point- and  - pull system hehe I mean she either points at what she wants or pull somebody else to get that thing for her.

3) She always looks up at her Ate Keiichi - whatever ate does, she should do it too. Just this evening, we were curing ate Keiichi's wound and she would come to us and point at her healing wound and we must cover it too. 

4) Sponge Bob, Dora the Explorer, Tom and Jerry, Mr. Bean, Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse to name a few of Mariel's favorite characters.  She also like pulang bubuyog  as long as there will be fries and softdrinks :-)

I have more stories to tell but I'll just reserve it on my next entry. Mariel is now known by my officemates as "pogi". By the way, I now work with the best place to bank and the best place to work. 

Ate Keiichi is also now in Grade III in Casa del Nino Montessori School in Phase 6. 

Speech Therapy for Mariel

I know how frustrating it is if your 1-year and 9 -month old baby can't even utter the word "mama" but it would be easier to understand when you know that she is profound deaf. Basically, she can't hear so she don't know that sounds exist. She would look at our lips but she might just be wondering why our mouth is opening even when you are not partaking food. 

For her, she opens her mouth because she was about eat and that is the reason why she eats a lot - as in everything. 

  

But on May 15, I enrolled my Keiichi in Casa del Nino and inquired if they have an inhouse speech pathologist that could help Mariel in her speech therapy but unfortunately, they don't have one. They suggested that I contact Trails Center in La Marea, San Pedro, Laguna but they don't have any slot anymore to accomodate my child, unless I enroll her in their class perhaps. So I remembered taking note of Maria Lena Buhay Memorial Foundation, the only oral school for the deaf here in the Philippines which is located in Blue Ridge-B, Quezon City. I called the school and viola! I was give a call back on that night and we scheduled Mariel's first speech therapy. 

The first session was just a warm welcome and orientation for Mariel. She doesn't like to put on her hearing aid which made the session almost impossible to handle since she needs to hear us speak and label things. What we just did is to let her hold our throat as we say MAMA, MOO, AWW, KOKAK, etc or feel the air coming our of our mouth everytime we say PAPA. I know she was sleepy but what made the session a success is her willingness to see our mouth moving, coloring pictures when asked, trying to move her oral mechanisms even if no sounds are formed and her courage to try a lot of things - except of course at that time, wearing her HA. 

According to Mrs. Buhay, Mariel has a graet chance to talk because she makes sounds and she imitates our mouth movements. Just tonight, she started trying to say "mama" which she can sometimes say when she is crying. She also puts her little hands on my throat as I talk and feels the vibration. I do wanna cry but it is not the right thing to do. 

At least in our end, we have started a milestones that will surely made a difference in our lives. QC is indeed that far from Pacita but I did finished in Diliman so I can't see any reason for my child not to attend therapy sessions in Libis. 

I am now working in Convergys, Nuvali, Sta. Rosa and I am glad that my day off is on Fridays and Saturdays and I can accompany Mariel in QC. I will try to post more pics soon and perhaps, more milestones of Mariel. 

Cochlear implant is not a priority anymore since I don't wanna take the risk. If the speech therapy could do good to Mariel, then that is what we will have.

Mariel and Keiichi's Day Out

Just posting pics from my kids day out in Festival Supermal in Alabang. Taken in Pixie Forest. 

Those are not matchboxes :-)

Be Very Busy

Why so? Simply to divert attention, to pass time, to just move on - these are my reasons.

It's impossible not to feel pain especially when you lost someone so important in your life. Moving on means having to live your life unaffected by loneliness and longing and for me, the best way is to be occupied most of the time.

Right after finishing my caregiving course in San Pedro Manpower Development Institute on March 20, I started training for Convergys Philippines in Alabang on the 23rd. I will be assigned in Nuvali, Sta. Rosa and I must say, I am really excited and eager to earn (money, experience, fun, friends...you name it!) :-) The Convergys Nuvali building is such an spectacular site - it is situated in an "eco-zone", the building is eco-friendly and a colleague told us that you can see the Tagaytay skyline from the building. It also has a lagoon and I must say, I remember my walks in the UP Science complex area in Diliman during my college days - from NIGS or CS to the Math Building, when I went there to submit my documents. The place is so relaxing - the trees, the lagoon, the green grass, the landscape.

I still have lot of plans but I think I have to learn what to prioritize. Right now, my top priority is to be in a job where I can grow as an individual and be financially independent.

My family are now adjusted with my schedule and I hope to be more productive now that I am earning my own money.

To wrap up, I want to share something that struck me yesterday from our trainor Mark. "One is the master of one's happiness", "learn to have fun in every task you do" and "ENJOY! Look at the brighter side of life." all the time...

For latest pics, you can view most in flickr or in my friendster account.

Iel walks at 1 year 5 months

At last! Mariel can now walk unaccompanied. We know that her vestibular sense (read: balance) was damaged to some extent so we did not expect her to walk alone so soon. She also knows now how to hold a pen - in tripod grip- and scribbles only in paper! She won't write unless you give her a piece of paper.

She is also fixated to her own possessions - she knows her own bottle, her own place in the dining table, her own toys. She even boxed her Ate Keiichi when her ate sat on her cart. She shows different emotions now and starts showing her temper. Pag galit, nakabusangot at nananampal. Pag masaya, nakangiti o natawa pero nanampal pa rin hehe Para din siyang hapon na mahilig magbow ng head. And she even want you to bow your head too in recognition, pauso nga niya ang forehead kissing e hehe

Above is her walker/cart. We havent reassembled it yet because it's quite high for her. She cannot touch the floor if it's in a cart shape. When tired, she just remove the toy pad and sit in the compartment. That's how creative and resourceful she is :-)

Nanay Lydia Finally Healed and Rested Forever

Nanay Lydia, as we all call her regardless of our affinity, passed away on December 10. We were all shocked and saddened. We never expected that it would happen too soon. Nanay was ready, she knew it was coming but we are not. As what daddy said, our lives will no longer be whole again but we all need to move on - for the sake of our children.

When I decided to try my luck in Singapore in February, Nanay Lydia insisted on taking care of Mariel in Pangasinan even when she was recovering from stroke. When she learned that Mariel is deaf, she cried but bravely told me that Mariel is still lucky because she could be the next Jamilla (PBB?) and that everybody loves her.

LAst October, she was diagnosed with heart enlargement, peptic ulcer and gallstones. She was already being monitored for her type 2 diabetes, hypertension and possible complications when she had stroke. Nanay was static when she learned that Mama Lita and Jade are coming home in March 2009 but she kept on saying that "baka hindi na tayo magkita kung March pa kayo uuwi". So Mama decided to come home earlier. Nanay was so excited and said "Sasama ako sa pagsundo." Mom and Jade arrived in Manila on October 16, Nanay Lydia was even here to fetch them in NAIA.

Nanay was in and out of the hospital since October. On the second week of November, her cardiologist decided to let her go home with the IV. Our uncles and aunties just asked nurses in our village to inject pain reliever when she experienced gallstone attack.

I just know how painful it was to be inserted IV over and over again. Plus the pain inside the abdomen radiating to the lover right portion of shoulder. Perhaps the pain caused nanay cardiogenic shock. The doctors said it was her heart that caused her life.

It was easier for us to let go of Nanay because we don't wanna see her go through those painful symptoms and medical processes. We were in denial at first, we tried to argue and blame ourselves but we also tried to gather strength from each other. We cried and cried...we hugged and cried on each others shoulders.

It was devastating...it was painful. As mama had said, "Nanay is no longer here, the one who holds the bond among us." Nanay is such a wonderful grandmom to me. She was the one who took care of me and Ranny. She may no longer be with us physically but what she taught us will forever be in us.

We love you Nanay. Thank you for everything. I am not what I am now if not because of you. You did not only teach me how to live but also how to touch other people's lives the way you did to other people. I love you so much.

Mariel's First Four Teeth

Oh well, lots have happened but nothing can compare with this milestone... She got her first four front teeth...move over hippos... :-)

Mariel's 1st Birthday

As usual, mali ang spelling ng name ng baby ko! Keiichi was named Kelichi by Goldilocks on her first birthday din...I never expected that we will experience it again with Lira Mariel. Her name is too common and easy to read and spell. Nevertheless, the cake was beautiful and delicious.


These are some of her guests. Carrying her is Ate Melissa. Actually, most of them are Ate Keiichi's friends.

Spaghetti was cooked and prepared by Kuya Alex and Ate Vicky (Sayang wala silang kuha!) The lumpiang ubod was made and sold by Daddy's suki Kuya Joel. Ate Amor Magracia, mommy's classmate in Nursing Aide, cooked lumpiang shanghai especially for Mariel. Ate Vic also prepared a special birthday macaroni soup for the celebrant - Macaroni, ground beef, carrots and horse radish leaves (in other words, malunggay!).


This is her girft, she thought it was food hehe

She is now learning to walk and eats a lot of solid. In no time, she will be competing with Ate Keiichi.

Mariel Turned 1 Today!

Clap! Clap! Clap!

It's Mariel's special day today. for pics, pls see http://flickr.com/chrysz

We are still busy so i'll give details tomorrow. Thanks everyone for your prayers and unverbalized care.

From Hyperthyroidism to Hypothyroidism

I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism last November and this month, it was found out that my thyroid is underactive. My endocrinologists, Dr. Ma. Cecilla Gonzales advised me to take 20 mg of Methimazole Tapdin and after a few months, perhaps my thyroid activity went back to normal but because I was only advised to have the TSH and FT4 testing every three months, we were not able to monitor the changes over time. My medicine intake is now cut down to 5mg.

When I had hyperthyroidism, I get tired easily, lost a lot of weight and often experienced shortness of breath. The thermoregulation of my body was also abnormal, I felt so cold even when it is hot and I don't sweat at all. Recently, I still felt cold most of the time but I am gaining so much weight even when I eat less and I am lossing more or less 100 strands a day. I also had my menstruation twice this August and the blood flow was excessive.

We often neglect changes in our body, never bothering that it could be caused by disorders or diseases. I thought, my hair loss is only due to my last pregnancy or perhaps due to aging (I can't accept it!). It was my endocrinologist who told me that hair loss is due to hypothyroidism. Excessive sweating is also one symptom though, I feel the opposite.

So for any abnormal changes in your body, better seek medical help immediately.

10 Days To Go!!!

Mariel is turning one ten days from now. There will be a small celebration as Thanksgiving (dinner). She can now stand up and crawl really fast. Here are some of her latest pics.

More pics are posted in flicker

In Memoriam

This was Auntie or Lola Caridad in 2004 Birthday celebration of Keiichi. She can still walk at that time but with a cane. Two month ago, she was diagnosed with cancer but due to old age, they did not pursue her operation. She passed away on July 31 at the age of 93.

She is Daddy's grand aunt. Tatay Rogelio's father, Lolo Justiniano was her brother.

Lolo Isyo or Lolo Simplicio is my father's father. Our last meeting was on June 5, the day before he was brought home from Region 1 Medical Hospital in San Fernando, La Union. He suffered from heat stroke and was under coma for a few weeks. He was still able to recover but succumbed to death on August 6. He will be laid to rest on August 18.

I spent my summers in Sudipen when I was still in elementary. I maybe talkative, hyperactive and sometimes pasaway but I don't remember being spanked by Lolo. That is what I am proud of and that is what I am keeping in mind as a proof that I am much better than my other cousins and that my mom and my grandparents brought me up nicer than what other people claim. (Pasensiya na, pero that's the truth and Lolo recognized that because he had seen the good things in my mom and her parents that her other children tried to ignore.) Every afternoon, Lolo would go to Coop store to fetch Lola Amparo or Lola Sayong. That's how sweet they are...I know that because Lolo would always ask me to accompany him when I was there.

The Countdown Begins!!!

Sorry for those who are waiting for the updates...we've been very busy these past weeks. Keiichi had her first monthly test on 3rd week of July followed by her Nutrition Month parade the next week and then, I had my first exam in my Nursing Aide class on August 1. So far, Keiichi passed most of her exam except Science but at least hindi zero hehehe!

I got 5 mistakes in Nursing Skills and only in my anatomy exam and I am really frustrated but then, brown out kasi the night before the test hehe (Kanya-kanyang palusot lang po yan!)

Mariel can now sit down and crawl forward. She loves books . She can stand up - aided, of course... She's turning one in a few days now and we haven't plan for her party yet for some reasons...

Truth is, we are mourning for the loss for our grandparents, daddy's Auntie Caridad and my Lolo Simplicio, Papa's dad. Lolo Isyo's interment will be on August 18 in Sudipen, La Union.

Got a class to catch, I'll try to update later :-)

Laughing Mariel

Playing with Daddy...
It's now 12 midnight but she is still awake and very playful. She would pretend to be crying but the moment you approach or touch her, she would giggle.
More pics are in my flickr.

Treasures

Our precious angels in their own treasures - the big teddy from Mama Carol (sent 3 or 4 years ago), Elmo dolls for Keiichi, laughing Big Bird for Mariel (from Ate Jade's own collection hehe) and the Squeaky Butterfly bought especially for Mariel by Mama Lita (which brought me to tears when Nanay Lydia handed it to me because I feel pity for my child because I am wondering how she will be able to appreciate it if she is deaf. Ate Keiichi showed me how. She held the butterly and made the wings flap and moved it near her sister which made Mariel giggle. We are glad we have a puppeteer in the family. )

This crib was Keiichi's so it is now 5 years old too. The red Dora blanket is Jade's but as usual, Keiichi said "akin na lang!" so Jeddai gladly packed it and sent it to her.

Food Crisis?!?

It is actually a delicacy from Gumaca, Quezon. It's like dilis but it more tasty. But it is really tuyo not dilis...

This is nilupak na saging na saba, not cassava or rice. This is my first time to eat this. It's like nilubi or boiled then mashed or pounded while they mix sugar and made into suman or wrapped with banana leaves. Mahal na kasi bigas!

I miss Quezon's tikoy, pinagong and espasol! I also miss Nanay's bilo-bilo/tambong-tambong since that's what she always cook when there's an occasion in Pangasinan. Daddy misses sumang malagkit or steamed glutinous rice in coconut milk, wrapped in coconut leaves then dipped in sugar, coco jam or eaten with ripe mango.

Iel's First Month with the Hearing Aid

We went to Vision and Hearing International in Highway 54 (infront of SM Megamall) for Mariel's check up. This is another branch/affiliate of Ear Diagnostics Clinic and since the audiologist is there, we went there instead of going to EDI-Taft. It is more accessible to us since it takes 2-rides for us to get to Taft while to get to Highway 54 (EDSA), Mandaluyong, it takes only one bus ride.

So far, Mariel's development is improving. The main goal of having the hearing aid for the first month is sound awareness only but for Mariel, she is not only aware of the sound but she seeks for the sound producer and sometimes imitates the pitch and tone of the sound. According to the audiologist, it was really an advantage that we diagnosed her handicap early and were able to make necessary interventions/corrections because in some cases, children who were diagnosed late were not able to develop verbal speech and some social behaviors. Her being weary and crying more often only shows that Mariel is now realizing that if she cries, we will attend to her at once. It was like being a new born again in terms of social behavior, hearing and speaking and we are happy with what she is showing. Sometimes, we get irritated because we would rush to her because she is crying but the very moment she sees you, she would giggle or smile wryly.

She is outgrowing her earmolds so we don't have a choice but to go back to EDI Taft after seeing n ENT for her ear cleaning but since we don't have a regular ENT yet, I will have to look for a more affordable doctor near our place. It's really hard budgeting when you don't have enough funds! Hope you could recommend a good one that doesn't charge much :-) I am willing to go to as far as UP PGH. The ENTs here (in and near San Pedro, Laguna Area) charges patients P500 for consultation and another fee for other services.