A Tale of Dengue Nightmare
At three in the morning of
Friday, I was inside the bathroom vomiting. I saw red substance coming off my mouth.
My body was very weak, I
could not stand because my feet were aching. It was one of the the worst parts of my life.
The day before, I tried to
go to work after my fever ceased. In the evening, my fever got worse and I had to call on my brother
to get me food.
I thought it was just flu. But I was sure that early morning that flu do not involve vomiting of blood.
Early that morning when humanity has started the day, I contacted my workmate to lend me some amount of money for me to
go see the doctor because I was already vomiting blood.
With God's mercy, my workmate Joan replied immediately.
After laboratory tests at
Medical Center Paranaque, the doctor told me I was positive with Typical Dengue
Stage 2. He said I needed to be admitted to the hospital.
I found myself inside the Admitting Room being told I needed to pay P10,000.00. I told the staff I really had no money.
With no choice at all, I
contacted my boss to lend me the needed amount. Fortunately, my boss who has got a big, big heart responded immediately sending someone to hand me the money I was requesting.
For four days, I was
confined in a lonely room with other dengue patients.
During the first hours, the nurses were extending assistance because they know I had no "bantay"to look after my needs. One nurse came and fixed my table. Another came to change my suit.
My brother works in Mandaluyong
and he came to see me after work because--- that was his only available time. On the first night, my workmates spared their off-duty time to visit my lonely soul there.
During the first two days,
a nurse would come to extract blood every six hours. The platelet count was low
so I was advised from time to time to take enough water.
I could feel my weak body starting to recover with the help of the medicines given to me.
Obviously, she was very worried. In our Kankanaey tongue, she advised me and my brother to stay in just one house.
My mother, who is taking good care of my sick father, had to travel from Sagada to see me. Good thing that the new bus Sagada- Manila just opened a few days ago so she got to Manila hassle-free.
When the doctor visited me,
he advised me to drink “tawa-tawa” for my platelet count. However because my
brother lacked time, we just depended on water.
My mother already started
her lecture, wondering why I am living separately with my brother. She
commanded us to look for a place where we could stay together for better
monitoring.
My blood pressure and body
temperature were stable; the only thing that worried the doctor was my platelet
count.
When the doctor came back,
he asked us again if we were able to get "tawa-tawa". Good thing that my
workmates said they could find the plant for us.
Two blood extractions
passed with us knowing nothing about the results, the doctor came back telling
me I may go home. What a relief to hear the good news!
At the cashier, I was presented with the bill- P21, 000.00.
I and my mother contributed
for the bill. We went home that very morning.
If there was a huge lesson
I learned from this, that would be maintaining a health card. I was not able to
maintain my PhilHealth for less than a year so my past years of paying did not
benefit me.
I have started paying my
PhilHealth last October so I could not use it yet as per rules. Actually, I have no idea if my previous employer did remit the payments deducted from my salary when I was still with them.
Now I am still recovering. Physically and financially.
