This is an ordeal that i will never forget in my entire life. My problem started when i experienced shortness of breath, insomnia, lack of appetite, fatigue, LBM, vomiting all lead to covid sysmptoms. I got my first RT PCR test at OsMun and the result is negative so i was given antibiotics prescription. I have done a lot of test and my xray yields a pneumonia on both lungs, then have a repeat procedure after a week. The pneumonia decrease but my symptoms get worst so we got a second opinion at Asian Hospital where i can barely walk and talk. The doctor advised me to be admitted immediately negative or positive, he even gave us an admission letter. We tried to be admitted at Asian but they need first a positive covid result.
We decided to go home and next day i was supposed to have another swab test but my body is already swelling, so we tried to be admitted at Perpetual Help Medical Center. I was at the Emergency Room and they started working out on me. They do all lab test, ECG, ABG, Chest xray, and RT PCR Test. They classified me as Covid probable while waiting for the result of my swab test. I have a very high pulse rate and really cannot breath but they cannot put oxygen on me because my O2 level is fne. My daughter Aizza facilitated my admission to the COVID ICU where for 3 days no contact with family, cellphone not allowed. My children are updated with infos about me thru the number they gave. My antigen test is negative but still need to wait for the RT PCR test result. In the ICU, it was so heart breaking, i was alone but closely monitored by ICU nurses who are good to me. They change my diaper and boost my spirit, though they are really very strict. I don't have IVs so i need to eat something for my antibiotics to have less reactions. I suffered muscle cramps, stomach ache and the ups n down of my heart rate. I was hooked to the ECG monitoring machine and sometimes my heart rate goes up to 160. I was relieved when my negative covid test result was announced and i will transfer to the clean ICU meaning its for non covid. Anyway, at covid ICU, there are lots of rooms but its only me and an older man who is hooked to ventilation but i think he is getting better. I have a team of doctors who are monitoring me round the clock.
Level 1 finished so off to level 2, the clean cardiovascular ICU. I stayed there for a few hours only. Then i was transferred to the Cardiovascular ICU where for the first time i see a family member. They allowed one companion provided he has negative result and will not leave the hospital premises. My ordeal continue because of my muscle cramps and its good my son is there to massage my legs and foot. I was still hooked to the machine where it shows my blood pressure, O2 level, heart rate and more. In this room i experienced a near death experience when i felt numb all over my body as if a big block of stone is on me, i cannot breath and move and my pulse rate reached 170. But my presence of mind saved me by coughing several times to lower my heart rate and i was able to instruct my son to massage my whole body. It was a terrible experience, now i know why people died in their sleep because of cardiac arrest. The doctors said it might be the result of my allergies to medicines, foods and lactose intolerance, it all affects my body. My body is so weak because i don't really have appetite and they need to drain more fluids in my body to remove the swelling. I was diagnosed with enlargement of the heart and my lungs accumulated fluids thus the shortness of breath.
When my heart rate becomes normal, i was transferred to the next level, the private room. Here i was again closely monitored by my medical team, had repeat lung ultrasound, 2D echo readings and comparison. My cardiologist now believe that i have a Rheumatic Heart Disease and provide a treatment plan. In our private room, i can now freely go to the toilet and use my cellphone to talk to my children. Two days before discharge, i just suddenly feel the urge to eat. Slowly i am eating because my will to go home and to get well is very strong. My final lung ultrasound reveals no fluid anymore on my lobes, thank God. I was given a go signal to go home by my pulmonologist and my lung doctors. The next day, my cardiologist came and we discussed the treatment plan. Our hospital bill reached 210k high and thanks to the maxicare, philhealth and senior discount. Its a great relief for my family that we did not worry about the hospital bill. It is really very important to think in advance when it comes to health care. We are now back at home and hopefully we can come up with the best treatment plan for my heart which will last for two weeks before my follow up check up. My condition needs a forever treatment, i just hope and pray that my body will respond to the new sets of medicines.
Again, i would like to thank my family especially my children who really exerted a lot of efforts for me to get well. Its really a very difficult time for all of us because its not only me who is sick but two of my daughters had Covid, they are now okay. Thanks God, Mama Mary and all my angels and saints for being with us in this trying times. Thank you also to our extended families and friends who prayed for us and for bringing foods in the hospital, to our friends in Canada thank you for monetary and moral support. Again, i will end this blog by expressing my heartfelt thanks to my family especially my children who are with me thru ups and down of our lives. To my medical team, nurses, technicians, staff at Perpetual Help Medical Center, thank you very much from the bottom of my heart.
