Yesterday was spent in pursuit of better health, and hopefully, some progress was made in that regard. The morning began with a bit of a surprise when a taxi showed up at the house instead of my regular driver. It turns out Danny had a conflict in schedules, so he sent his nephew to ferry us about. A heads-up would have been nice, but no big deal.
The first stop was Baypointe Hospital to make arrangements to see a pulmonary doctor. The one I had seen previously was out of town, but I was able to sign in with her replacement and was second in line under the first-come, first-served scheduling system used here. Of course, the office hours for the pulmonary doc didn’t begin until 3:00 p.m., but by God, I was on the list!
My “appointment” with the cardiologist wasn’t until 10:30, so I filled the time with some errands around SBMA. I hit the ATM at BPI, then visited a surplus store and a large hardware store. I’ve been looking for some furniture for my covered rooftop area and was hoping these venues might stock what I needed. That proved not to be the case, although the hardware store had a couple of things I could use.
My next minor surprise was when it came time to visit the cardiologist; we left SBMA and went to her private clinic in Olongapo City. My helper had made the arrangements, and these office hours were the only ones available during the morning. Whatever works. Alas, I didn’t have an “appointment,” but I did manage to secure third-in-line status. Since the doctor was scheduled to arrive at 11:00, I went and sat in the aircon taxi to wait. I got in a quick nap before my helper was tapping on the window, telling me it was my turn. She had somehow managed to get me advanced to the coveted first-in-line spot!
But the efforts to conclude the objectives with the cardiologist were for naught. My helper had brought the electrocardiogram results, which was supposed to be the last requirement before getting the doctor’s sign-off that my surgery could be scheduled. However, the doctor said she could only sign off after reviewing my entire paperwork again; all those documents were at Baypointe Hospital. So, this trip had been for nothing, but the cardiologist did at least agree to see me first when she began her Baypointe hours at 4:00 p.m. The fact that I had to be back at Baypointe for my 3:00 p.m. with the pulmonary doctor made this news a little easier to bear.
So, it was back to Barretto, and I paid the taxi driver 1500 pesos and made arrangements with him to pick me up again at 2:30. That gave me enough time to do my daily post here, but I had to forego my regular naptime. I got a message from my regular driver that he was now available and would provide my afternoon transport. So, it was back to Baypointe Hospital.
I had a very productive meeting with the pulmonary doctor. He suggested a different antibiotic and altered the content of some of my inhalers. He agreed that until I had recovered from my current state of breathing difficulties, surgery was not in the cards. I came away with five new prescriptions and some good advice on process and scheduling my meds for effectiveness. He wants me to return next week to see the regular pulmonary doc, and he thinks my chest congestion will clear by then. Here’s hoping.
Next up was the cardiologist revisit, and true to her word, she reviewed my paperwork and signed off on everything within five minutes. So, at least I’m done with her for now.
My driver dropped my helper at the pharmacy in Barretto, and I had him drop me at The Green Room, this week’s host for the SOB. I questioned my judgment in doing so because it required a three-hour commitment (and a 750 peso entry fee), but life is for living, right? I felt a little “off” all evening but made it through until the conclusion at 8:00 p.m. Triked home and was hoping for a better night’s sleep.
Alas, it was not to be. I managed less than three hours of slumber. I’ve felt like shit most of the day today. Coughing a little less frequently perhaps, but each cough comes with a stabbing pain in my side. My blood oxygen levels are in the acceptable range for me (the pulmonary doc said I’d be alright at 93 or above), so there’s that. Still feeling lightheaded and having difficulty in the prone position. Most of sleep I managed last night was upright in a chair in my living room. On the plus side, I did finish watching “Beef” on Netflix and overall enjoyed it.
So, what’s next? Honestly, sometimes it feels as if I’m knocking on heaven’s door. I know that is melodramatic, but I don’t recall ever feeling this vulnerable heathwise in the past. I’m not sure how much the lack of sleep is exacerbating those feelings, but it can’t be helping my recovery. This morning I said, “fuck it” it’s on me to regain some control, so despite feeling weak and unmotivated, I did a short dog walk. Yeah, I was puffing on the street, but I felt better having gotten some steps in. I managed a two-hour nap this afternoon, which also seems to have helped clear my head. I’m going to tentatively consider that progress and hope that full recovery is only days away.
A friend is celebrating her birthday at Snackbar this evening and Swan is going to join me there for a bit before meeting up with her sister. And life goes on. Until it doesn’t.
I’m going to keep thinking positive and hopefully find some peace and comfort in a good sleep tonight. I’ll let you know how that goes tomorrow.
Dude, for realz, stop dealing with these turd world medical incompetences, delays and general nincompoopery.
You’re spending $6,000 a month there feeding chubby ingrates and stuffing yourself full of bar food slops, so can obviously spare the moolah to fly to Bangkok and actually see some qualified, properly trained doctors in world-class medical facilities….and possibly at a cost comparable to what you are paying now…..MRIs, ECGs, CT scans, whatever is needed done on the spot, polyps, bum boil, ear hair removal surgery all done as soon as possible.
I understand you may just being fatalistic or facetious, but to be legit posting about dying when there are viable options within a couple of hours flight to get all of these maladies cleared up toot suite, and wash your hands of these lazy, incompetent quacks once and for all.
To your good health, and SHALOM, dear sir!
So, what’s next? Honestly, sometimes it feels as if I’m knocking on heaven’s door. I know that is melodramatic, but I don’t recall ever feeling this vulnerable [health-wise] in the past. I’m not sure how much the lack of sleep is exacerbating those feelings, but it can’t be helping my recovery.
Some solutions are staring you right in the face. The question is whether you’ll adopt them. Anyway, it’s good you went on that walk.
Sorry to hear about more bureaucratic runarounds with the hospital, but they’re at least clear you’re not getting surgery until the lungs get better.
I managed a two-hour nap this afternoon, which also seems to have helped clear my head.
During my long walks, if I ever have a bad night of sleeping, I knew that I could make up for lost sleep by taking naps at intervals during the following day’s walk. As a policy, this seems to have worked out thus far, and I don’t mentally punish myself for taking siestas instead of powering through the day’s route. None of us is getting any younger.
And I purchased a second oxygen tank (7500 pesos) today. I was concerned I’d run out of air when I needed it most, so now I have a backup in place.
Are you giving back the other oxygen tank? I assume it was meant to be a loaner, but was it actually a gift?
re: “The men I please is none of your business.”
I’m pretty sure that’s supposed to be, “The men… ARE none of your business.” But maybe the writer of the sentence was thinking of things like distance, time, and volume, which you can talk about uncountably despite countable units of measure. Examples:
Fifteen miles is a long distance to walk.
Ten weeks is a long time to wait.
Two gallons of milk is a lot to shove up your ass.
But sometimes, countable is just countable:
The past three hours on the toilet have been hell. (not “has”)
That final photo of the clouds and sky was nice. You get a lot of that where you are, I gather. Beautiful.
Did you hear the latest news that the PI is separating itself from a Belt-and-Road deal with China? I’m glad to hear it.
Dammit. I wrote:
During my long walks, if I ever have a bad night of sleeping,
Should be:
During my long walks, if I ever had a bad night of sleeping,
As I said, we aren’t getting any younger. I often wish your comments box had an “edit” feature, but mine on Blogger doesn’t either.
Kev, thanks for the interesting link. I also took the three quizzes offered to see where I stacked up on the alcohol abuse scale. I passed two with flying colors (meaning no indication of addiction). On the third, I scored twelve points out of forty (lower points being the good end of the scale), but that one said I might have an abuse problem. Then I saw it was from the World Health Organization, which has zero credibility with me.
Now, I acknowledge that I do drink every day, and I consume several drinks when I’m out. Is that a problem? Well, given that I’m drinking low-alcohol beer, that I usually don’t get classic drunk, that I confine my drinking to a narrow window of fewer than four hours, and I rarely drink at home, I feel like I’m in control and don’t have a drinking problem. Regarding health, I do not see cause and effect. Yeah, if I’m boozing it up with whiskey or other hard stuff, the impact would likely be evident. My six to eight Zeros contain less alcohol than two or three stiff liquor drinks. I usually know when to say when and rarely come home drunk. I’d say the beer helps my mental health and provides about the only social interactions I have these days. Bottom line, I feel like I’m in control of my drinking, and drinking doesn’t control me. I enjoy it and don’t want to stop. That’s different than not being able to stop.
Regarding the oxygen tank I borrowed, I offered to buy it from her, and she declined, my impression being that she considers it helping out a friend. So, once it is empty, I will ask her again: do you want it back, or should I buy a new one? I like having a backup tank in case of emergency.
Heh, I never even thought of the “is” versus “are” in that meme. They both sound right to me.
Yes, the views from my place are amazing. Makes it harder to be depressed when you are surrounded by beauty.
I did hear about several China-funded projects being canceled. I wasn’t sure who initiated that. Either way, though, I agree that the less China, the better!
Thanks, Goldberg. There is no easy fix for my lung damage–that’s on me for twenty years of smoking. My nasal surgery concern is about going under general anesthesia, but I checked when I was last in Thailand, and they put you out there too.
I’m trying to remain confident that I’m on the road to recovery. I appreciate your support and concern.
Countries are finally wising up to the “ Belt and Road “ (Bait and steal) strategy… congratulations to the Philippines!
One day at a time.
Take it easy.
Cheers