the ecu 4

I had trouble sleeping. This is hardly surprising since the bed and the environs are strange. And my room was quite near the nurses station, so I could hear the banter. They seemed to be coaxing some old patient to eat across the room "Nanay, kaya yan." Over and over again.

I was also afraid of falling from the single bed. I didnt put up the side barriers. I was also conscious of my bowel and bladder activity. I couldn't urinate because I need a full bladder for my lower abdominal ultra sound test. The nurses also took my vital signs at 5am. No wonder people get even more sick once inside the hospital.

By 7am, my bland breakfast came and I still couldn't touch it. I could only eat after my blood extraction and the upper abdominal ultra sound. And that happened only by 830am. I wasn't too hungry nor too thirsty. So that was good (and surprising).

I was wheeled into the Ultra Sound area. (Yes, wheelchair. SOP for patients. Even if I finished that treadmill test. LOL Being on a wheelchair felt funny. You feel helpless. Yet you like the ride. Uy, Mamang Porter, may isa pang naka-wheelchair. I-race natin! Wheee!)





This unsightly photo is of my abdomen exposed. The technician (lady) placed tissue all over. The gel she placed on the instrument is darn cold. It gave me quite a shock. I thought this would be as long and as unpleasant as yesterday's 2D doppler thingie. But it wasn't. And we were done quite fast.

Then I was taken to the Pulmonary function testing area. This is the only test I "failed". I was having difficulty executing the super-mega deep inhale then exhale till the last ounce of breath step. I wasn't making the "75"level. Meaning my smaller airways didn't seem to function as well. She even had to give me a bronchodilator dose. I think this is my asthma coming back to life.

Yes, I was born with asthma. My mom, who never had asthma in her life, developed asthma while she was carrying me. That gave my Dad the idea that I was going to be a boy. I had terrible bouts in childhood, and right up to college.

It became less and less pronounced as I started working and working out regularly. I thought it had disappeared completely. But I think age has a way of resurrecting my old nemesis.

The urologist was out of the country so I didn't get my digital rectal examination. Darn. hahaha. After the pulmo test, I just had to wait for my discharge slip. By 12 noon, I was officially free to go. The total cost of P25K shouldered by the HMO. The funny thing, I still wasn't able to move my bowels properly. I managed to move out some "stuff" while in the hospital and quickly gave that to the nurse. After 30 minutes, the Laboratory gave me another container. My initial sample was "contaminated" with a mosquito. What the hell?!?

They allowed me to belatedly submit a new sample. And I was able to do this in the comfort of my own bathroom. No shyness there. Lol

A lot of executives I know do not avail of this benefit. And usually, the reason is the bliss in ignorance. Not knowing. if anything ails them comforts them. This is such a sad attitude because early detection is the primary tool in keeping healthy and fighting disease.

I'll get my formal results next week.

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