Coconut Oil and Turmeric for Treating Fungal Infection

Most people in rural areas run to quack doctor when something irritable grows in their skin like allergies, bumps cause by air and insects. When an itchy bump grow in my face I treat it with ointment for skin irritation rather than going to quack doctor like what my family has told me but the itchiness didn’t subsides so I have asked my mother to verify if the bump is a pimple since I can’t fully see it, she said it was indeed a pimple.

A few days passed nothing has changed the bump is still quite itchy so I scratched it without hesitation until it grows bigger, so I immediately search online for alternative medicine aside from using coconut oil and creams. Through searching online I have found out the benefits of oil and turmeric. Coconut oil is anti-fungal and anti-bacterial, and nourishes skin cells to inspire softness while turmeric kills bacteria on and beneath the skin’s surface without damaging healthy cells or drying the skin out. According too, to Taiwanese study, coconut oil was found to be the most effective carrier for the curcumin (turmeric) to enter the skin cells. Since I have only small amount of coconut oil I have asked my mother and sister when they went to town to buy me old coconut as well as turmeric in the market.

A coconut oil is made from cooking the coconut milk, I crushed and cut fresh turmeric and mixed it with the coconut oil and treat the itchy bump in my face but since I scratched it a lot, the bump isn’t a simple bump anymore, when I checked it in the mirror it looks like a fungal infection already. I treat with the mixture I have made and the itchiness subsides a bit and it is drying overtime but there is new tiny pimple blisters growing again and the affected area is becoming even larger once the bad skin is treated. Annoyed with the outcome and how my face looks like that I can’t even go to church without putting band aid in it.

One day, when it itches again I rub salicylic acid without hesitation. The burning feeling made me crazy that I didn’t stop until it hurts a lot without thinking I am treating my face, part of my skin that everyone can see. After treating it with salicylic acid I treat it with pure coconut oil after few days the skin dried out like how it looks like in a wound but a new itchy pimple grew beside it so I treat the new bump with salicylic acid again and it is gone but a new itchy bump grew at the other side and what I did this time is different method I treat it with a crushed garlic for a few hours.

Treating fungal infection is very irritating, sometimes I have wondered where did I got it from, I bath every day and clean our house regularly that my family is even annoyed with me for being clean and germs freak. So I guess I got this from interacting with our cats especially it is my nature to pick and bring home abandon kittens from the street, or buying used clothes from thrift shop because according to some health articles that I read online if your immune system is weak you can easily get it from animals or individuals who has it including their personal things.

Well, I have found out too that the coconut oil with turmeric is a good treatment for ant and insect bites after using it to treat my ant and mosquito bites.  Coconut oil and fresh turmeric when mixed together had a foul smell overtime so I wonder if dried turmeric is better than fresh ones.

Originally posted at my health blog on January 29, 2016

Ring Worm Causes and Home Treatment

With the rainy season, a lot of bugs, insects and ants in the field moved to a dry place so it is not surprising to see crawling ants in the corner of your house and get insect bites. I have previously blogged buying a cream to alleviate itchiness brought by insect bites. It was very helpful to avoid scratching and such.

The first time I felt something itchy in my leg 3-4 inches from my sole, I saw a small pimple there that looked like an ant bite. I started putting cream on it, but I noticed the itchiness had gone and kept coming back until a group of three pimple marks developed. I scratched it from time to time and no matter how many times I put cream it keeps coming back, maybe because I always have my feet dirty when I am outside. One day, I felt uneasy because I kept scratching it. The old red pimple marks were gone, but new itchy red marks were growing, and when I looked at it closely, I noticed something strange: after thorough scratching, the red marks were forming like a circle.

When I showed it to my sister and mother they said it is “buni” an allergy you get from eating too much chicken, they told me to avoid eating something fishy like sea foods, chicken and eggs.  So for few days I have avoided eating those things, they said I need it to be measured by going to a quack doctor then I will be given a medication.

To avoid the hassle of going to a quack doctor I have searched online for home medication,  I have found out the cause of this is fungi,  yes it was a fungal infection and not chicken allergy like the belief of the old folks.

Ring worm is caused by fungal infection in the skin and can be acquired through dump places like the bathroom and from people having this type of infection; it can also be acquired through pets like dog and cat. I have first thought I have got it from staying outside, in our outdoor faucet where I always soak my feet when washing dirty rags and our pet bowls especially it has been raining lately, and flooding but then I remember every time I sleep at night it was my habit to put a cushion in my feet and when I wake up in the morning a cat is sleeping in the cushion at my feet so I have thought I’ve got it from them.

Anyway, the medication that is useful for this type of fungal infection were coconut oil, turmeric, garlic and etc.,

Calmoseptine cream was also good for fungal infection as written in the packaging, since I have started putting cream in the infection in my leg it alleviate the itchiness and redness, but since it still occasionally itch and I have found more alternative medicine for it, I have tried it in different days. I first tried garlic, by cutting it in half and rub it through the mark, then the next day I tried rubbing salicylic acid which is a bit painful but surely the itchiness stops and faded a little. To take care of the skin and have the mark to disappear completely we cooked coconut milk to make coconut oil as a new alternative medicine.

Originally published on Herzline/ Sep 2, 2015 at 02:45

Boredom, Happiness and Free Medicines

It was been a long time since I posted in my blog, if I we weren't asked to share or to let others know the location of the training center, I wasn't able to update this blog. Wish me luck that in a few days before the training I can do backlogs, back dated posts.

Well, there are times I felt bored, I felt bored with the slow internet connection that I wanted to fly to Mars (lol), felt bored reading horror stories because they sounded like just the same old story, watching Korean drama series and even living at times I felt bored (lol), in short I felt bored talking to myself alone (haha), I wanted someone to be friends with and to talk with. Then, I remember I have created a profile online and after guessing many times what was my password I was able to login and saw many messages I wasn't able to open and replied back then. If you think, I have opened them, well I let them as they were and started to browse profile to profile from males to females, young to old ones. It was entertaining knowing people in their profile, giving them encouragement, praising and applauded them for the things they have accomplished like helping a community and etc., It was good thing at first but it becomes tiring browsing and browsing and no one to talk too (well I do talk to one). I just felt I need to recharge, sleep a lot and maybe in a few days, a one or two I will have a full battery again (lol).

Anyway, my younger sister came home yesterday with sets of tablets and capsules. It turns out they were given to them, each employee was given different kinds of medicines and since they are too many for us, we have to share them in our neighborhood. Their office owned a pharmacy and a store, but it is going to close because it wasn't performing well. They will just focus on space rentals and loans.  As I look through the medicines they were for colds, pain relief and fever, I wish there is a medicine to be happy and to be comforted because the world needs it.

Aching Foot and Knee Minor Accident Made it Feel Better

I wasn't feeling well these past few weeks, I have indigestion and acidity to deal with, painful upper back and hips and then these past few days I felt a discomfort on my left foot and since yesterday my knee hurts like it was dislocated.

My mother told me that I drink too much coffee that's why my hips is painful, she encourage me to drink a herbal coffee, I have been drinking it for sometime but I got tired of the taste of it so I switched back to 3n1 coffee and since a few days ago I drink the herbal coffee again but the pain didn't still go away. I guess, it is already sign of aging, the perks of getting old.

[Photo courtesy of Kaboompics // Karolina/pexels.com]

Early this morning I did cold compress into my left foot, it was very painful but to no avail my foot didn't feel any better, my knee hurts even more especially when I stand up from sitting.

Anyway,  I have feed my cats and dogs at lunch and I accidentally slid with my left foot (like someone push me) while carrying their food, I have already thought of getting a broken bones but surprisingly my foot got better, it fixes my foot and knee, the discomfort was gone and my knee didn't feel that painful anymore. I have wonder how did I slid but I didn't think much of it anymore, I am just thankful that it made my foot and knee better.

My back still hurting though, I don't know if it is because of acidity. I was washing the dishes when I tried to burped and puked many times, when I did I tasted acidity in my mouth. I am feeling anxious about my upper back pain because I inhaled a lot of muriatic acid fumes almost a week ago when I cleaned our bathroom and living room. Morbid thoughts about my lungs is disturbing me, huhuhu.

Sick and Infected with Chikungunya Virus - Symptoms, Diagnosis, & Treatment

About a month ago I was infected and sick with chikungunya virus, a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. It hits me by surprised because it wasn't viral yet in our village and I didn't hear any one had it, in neighboring village yes but to ours none.

I have visited a herb doctor thinking I was bewitched by unknown being, I felt better after doing so but the next day, upon waking up I can't get up, my legs and my knees are very painful.  I was in severe pain and feverish as well, my family doesn't believe me, I guess they are thinking I am making up things. It was a very hard for me to get up and dragged myself to the bathroom, I can't get up without crawling and looking for something to hold on to.  I have told my family that I have chikungunya virus but they insisted I am only brewing a flu. My sister even get angry when I keep insisting that I have the mosquito virus, I think they can't accept the truth that I am sick.  I have never been sick this grave so I guess they have the perception that I am made of steel so they are on denial that I am indeed sick because at first, they wanted me to get up and do things like I usually do.

They knew that I never failed to attend church during Sunday so things sink in to them that I am really sick especially when I show them the rash that are developing, my mother even says they looks like measles rash. Anyway, I have asked my sister to buy paracetamol tablet for me I took it after they force me to eat lunch.

Chikungunya Virus Infection Symptoms & Treatment

Symptoms of Chikungunya usually begin 3–7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito and below are some of the symptoms when you have the virus -

• The most common symptoms are fever and joint pain.
• Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash.
• Chikungunya disease does not often result in death, but the symptoms can be severe and disabling.

When I took paracetamol my fever subsided but the pain in my feet and wrist still there so I research more about the virus and I have found out that there is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat chikungunya virus. All you can do is rest well, drink plenty of fluid and take paracetamol to reduce fever and pain.

The pain is really disabling, it feels like you just had a stroke. I experienced a lot of pain on my right leg and knee, I read somewhere that when you are sick with chikungunya virus it will ache a lot in the part of your body you had an injury, my right leg was hit by a motorbike in Jeju while crossing the street so imagine my horror when I can't walked and felt a severe pain on my right leg, I got so anxious and almost got panic thinking my feet will be cut.

On the second day of getting the mosquito virus my skin was quite dark, bit feverish and feet, legs, knees and wrist is still painful but I can move a bit.  I heard my younger aunt asked my mother if I am already well and what is my sickness because an older cousin has it too, he has red rashes all over his body but no fever.

On the next following days I was covered by red rashes that looks like minor burns and on the sixth day the rashes became worst  and when I was accidentally got wet by drizzling rain I felt itchy so I thought the rain drops were just so dirty so I took a bath and there I itched even more, I have thought again the water in our bathroom is dirty because it was so itchy that I don't know which part of my body should I scratched first, and there I found I have rashes all over me.  I dry myself immediately and pour lotion into my body and uses the ointment I have bought online for treating allergies, the itchiness wasn't that severe anymore.

My fever was gone after 2-3 days by taking paracetamol tablets, the pain didn't disappear right away.  When I wake up in the morning my joints felt so painful, even until today.

You know what is ironic? My mother who keep insisting I only have flu also got the chikungunya virus the after two days I had it, it was terrible when she had it because she suffered stroke a year ago and she was disabled for a day that my father didn't go to work so he can carry her.

Anyway, when I was a bit well and can go out I have found that an older cousin was sick too before us but they didn't know it was chikungunya because they just said he has a high fever, and less than a week after, another older cousin had it, I thought he didn't suffer a fever but he did actually before me.

Maybe if  we only knew that a cousin in the neighborhood had chikungunya infection we are able to do some prevention not to be infected as well.

Legs Swelling and High Sodium Intake, Urinary Tract Infection

There is a day I don’t feel well, either I have headache or my hands and legs get swollen.  There are times to my blood pressure isn’t normal especially my diastolic pressure. It was been long that I was urge by my mother to get a medical test to check if  there is something wrong with my health, it was also advised by the village nurse so when my father had his medical tests done I did too.

My blood test was normal, my sugar and uric wasn’t high, my kidney is healthy but my urinalysis isn’t good I have a urinary tract infection I guess from holding on to my pee at night was too lazy to get up and use the bathroom,  or is from eating dirty food?  I love eating street foods if you may ask. The doctor prescribed a three day antibiotic for me to take which made me to drink too often, I don't drink that much before because it is burdensome to always use the bathroom.

[Waiting for the doctor to arrive, the clinic was too small you can literally hear why the patient see a doctor]

Anyway, since my kidney test is good. There was nothing wrong with me I just need to reduce my salt intake because it turns out too much sodium in the body can cause swelling and can cause the heart to work harder I guess that's why my diastolic pressure is higher than normal, and why I am suffering from frequent headache. I have found out that overtime increase of sodium intake can put too much stress into the heart which can lead to stroke or heart failure.

If our body has quota for sodium levels, I think my body had reached its quota. I have been eating unhealthy food for many years with J, like pizza, fried chicken, salty chips and instant noodles then when I went home I did the same, eating salty foods like instant noodles, salty chips and peanuts. Instant noodles are cheap and easy to prepare so it is the easiest way for me to fill my empty stomach when hungry.

Accident and First Aid Kit at Home

Many parents says raising a child is hard but for me raising a parent is harder. No matter how many times you told your mother that she is not allowed to eat this and that, and not to do this and that. It is to no avail she will eat and do what she want so yesterday she fell and slid in our stairs. Good thing she didn't hit her head and broke only a toe nails and since my father brought the first-aid kit to work I practically chew young moringa leaves so I could stop the bleeding in her feet.

So this is what I got on my shopping bag last night, petroleum jelly to treat minor burns, antibacterial ointment for cuts and wounds, pau liniment for muscle and back pains (she need to get a massage now since she is complaining of sore body), betadine to treat fresh wounds, basically they are all for first aid. There goes a part of my funds for Saturday, I am planning to visit a diagnostic center on the weekend to have a medical check-up eh but I guess my health can wait. 💉

Oh well, my sister told our mother to be careful and not to let me jump out of my chair again, because I might die first before her due to high blood or shock on seeing her doing gymnast moves in the stairs.

Good thing my blood pressure is normal these days, thanks to regular intake of pineapple juice. 🍍

It Seems Like Only Yesterday

A few days ago, I have blogged about my father getting a stomach flu. He was not able to go to work because he felt very tired and have a fever, making me to remember J when he suffered stomach flu in India where he looks so helpless. Anyway, since my father was feverish I gave him the medicine intended for me. After taking it he wants to cut firewood so he will perspire but I stopped him thinking it is not a good idea and he might get sick even more. I told him just to rest and lie down, he listened even though he complains that there is nothing to do since there is nothing worthy to watch in the television. What is funny at home, my mother, instead of looking after my father, she mumbles and blamed him for eating something out ordinary and eating food aside from his lunchbox (lol).

[Photo courtesy of Kaboompics // Karolina/pexels.com]

My father went to work the next day even he is still feverish, I asked him if he is already well and he said he has too feel well even he is not, so as expected he came home feeling cold after work that he has to take a medicine again, I instructed him to take vitamin C as well to stop his colds.

There are times I felt like I am already old, it was like it was just yesterday when my parents look after me when I am sick and tell me what medicine to take, today is the other way around, I was the one who told them what medicine to take when they felt sick.

Nursing Two Patients: Stomach Flu and Turmeric Ginger Tea

Long time no update because my internet is quite slow to go online and I have been sick with colds.  The other day I have two patients to nurse after my father had a stomach flu and felt feverish, when he came home from work he asked me to make him a cup of coffee since he is feeling cold, I have offer to make him a turmeric ginger tea but he doesn't like the idea and within just a few hours he started to use the bathroom almost non-stop, he just went out and he has to use it again. We've asked him what did he ate at work, it turns they had a raw radish salad for lunch, which make me teased him that maybe the radish was planted near a poop tank that is why the radishes where contaminated, or his co-worker who prepared it has contaminated hands.

[Photo courtesy of Richard Revel/pexels.com]

Anyway, I initially gave a biogesic capsule to my father since he said he felt cold and feverish when he came home but since he had a situation  I bought two loperamide capsules and asked my sister who went to store to look for ripe bananas but unfortunately there's none. At dinner I have asked my father to eat so he could take the capsules, he did but since he ate only a spoonful it didn't help him. It was already midnight and nothing has changed on my father's situation so I told him, it happens because he didn't listen to me, he didn't eat a lot on dinner and not agreeing with me to drink turmeric ginger tea and when I guess he already felt exhausted and tired, he gave in and asked me to make him a turmeric ginger tea, he also ate  a big serving of rice, and that's where the urge to use the bathroom stopped.

My father wasn't able to go to work the next day because of what happened overnight, he complained of gassy stomach in the morning so I prepared again turmeric ginger tea for him while my sister teased our father to always listen to his Doctor (pertaining to me), lol.

Well, my father wasn't feeling well until today, he is complaining for sore body and I hope he will felt better tomorrow already.

Dream About Quarreling With Someone, Feeling Sick Afterwards

Not really feeling well since yesterday, wake up with a bad dream yesterday.  On my dream I am having a word fight with someone (an ajumma) which is in reality a woman neighbor I am good terms with since it was the mother of my friend in grade school, I was so angry in my dream so I think I gnashing my teeth while sleep that I woke with a swollen gums, it looks like my lower tooth cuts through it. Actually, I didn't noticed that I have blister in my gums until inspected through it last night, my neck hurts too and it is hard to chew, my tonsil is inflamed from drinking icy pineapple juice in the cold weather. I was feeling dizzy so I drink glasses of pineapple juice, thinking the my blood pressure went up suddenly.

[Photo courtesy of werner22brigitte/pixabay.com]

My gums felt a little better after I gargled warm water with salt but the discomfort is still here and the cold weather doesn't help to make me comfortable today especially with head hurting.

Anyway,  my dream yesterday was so bad that I felt so angry. I really don't know how the fight started all I know I am already having a word fight with an ajumma, I went home and it was already a bit dark, found my mother and other people in a cottage in the middle of the field, then I saw the weird color big moon rise up in the sky, gray clouds was partly covering the moon then I don't know how my dream hop in to another location, we are walking in the street and it suddenly rains and we hurriedly look for a shade under the cogon grass and then my dream went to another location, found myself inside a store/pharmacy buying something, my mother came wanting me to buy something but since I already paid in the counter, we decided to do it next time and my dream ended seeing us standing in the aisle near the door looking at the counters and then when I wake up my gums feel weird already.

When It Rains, It Pours - Sickness, Pain and Sadness

When it rains, it pours. This saying isn't new, lot of things happens within the clan in a week, it wasn't that long when my blood rise to the roof and then one of my older aunt had a high blood attack just a week ago, she almost didn't make it if she didn't crawled to their porch to call for help. The first relatives who help says my aunt was already icy cold and her blood pressure is soaring to the roof that cause her headache and tremendous vomiting. When I went to their house, she was not in good shape anymore she looked very helpless and very sick, they were getting ready bringing her to the hospital after long deliberation with my aunt. It turns out she doesn't want to be brought in the hospital and just cried silently but since she is too weak she was rushed to the hospital right away where she was confined for a few days.

Not long after, another aunt had a high blood attack I have heard of it after my cousin's wife bought an ice pack, I went to my aunt house which is just beside us, she is lying on their sofa chair with leaves on her temples. I have ask what happened then a cousin informed that our aunt had a high blood attack and there isn't medicine for first aid, upon knowing what medicine they need I immediately went home, there are some aspirin in our home, they were one of my mother's maintenance medicine but since she developed rashes while taking them she stopped taking those medicines.

[Photo courtesy of unsplash.com/pexels.com]

A younger cousin is set to wed in a few a months but it looks there is a chance it won't take place because of unforeseen issues that will affect a lifetime.

Anyway, today a very sad news came. A younger pregnant cousin who married a few months ago had an ultrasound done in town and they have found out the baby in her belly has no heartbeat anymore... I don't know much details since it just happened a little while this afternoon but as what I have heard she will be brought to the hospital before we went to town to shop.

Well, while I am creating this blog post I am hearing some yelling and glasses being thrown and broken into pieces, it looks like a neighboring couple was having a couple fight... ahm dunno...

Headache and Vomiting: High Blood Pressure Attack

It was been almost a month since my last update on this blog, where have I been? Well,  I have been nursing myself at home, I have not been feeling well lately it feels like my organs are not working. I have been disturb with my aching head and maybe if I didn't realized that I am killing myself slowly I will not be back into shape. It started after eating crabs in coconut milk, at first I have thought food intolerance strikes again, headache and non-stop vomiting. I have bought blood pressure monitor for my mother and with me insisting to my sister to take my blood pressure we found out my blood pressure isn't normal, I have monitor if for few days and it begin to slowly went down but my diastolic pressure is still high than normal. As what I have read from webmd.com the diastolic blood pressure number or the bottom number indicates the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats. This  is the time when the heart fills with blood and receives oxygen. I think I over work my heart that my arteries are struggling that my blood pressure went to stage 2 of hypertension.

My kitty cat waking me up when I was sick

Anyway, I was told by a cousin that the village health nurse advice that I should see a doctor soon and have medical test done because my blood pressure isn't good nor doing good but instead of following the advice to see a doctor I made sure to exercise daily, eat non-fatty food, less salt and caffeine. Honestly, I have been eating blunt food, no taste at all. I guess I have been paying for pigging out and eating sugary, greasy and oily food with J a few years back, we ate like pig those times like there will be no more tomorrow.

It was quite ironic, I have been abusing myself so I'll die young and escape life but when I was near death I want to live. If I didn't push myself out of bed and started working with the stationary bike at home I maybe ended hospitalized and had a stroke like my mother. The thing is one day, I woke up with a headache, sleepy and it feels like my blood isn't circulating, my legs are inflamed, my body is retaining water and when I exercise, I perspired a lot and was able to breath well and my body felt warm and lighter.

So today, I have been trying to take care of myself, live a healthy life, not to overthink of life and be happy on my own little way amidst of depression and nervous breakdown when things are not going well around me.

Eating Salty Foods and Urinary Tract Infection

My mother and most of my relatives suffered from UTI,  even my toddler cousins does so when I felt sick I thought of the worst having kidney stones, someone thought me to think that way so when it was lighter than I thought it will be relieving (lol).

Anyway, I took plenty of vitamin C and drink a lot of water to flush the infection in my urinary tract; I maybe got it from eating salty and processed foods, junk foods  and not peeing when I have to pee especially when I have to get up at night just to use the bathroom. I was just so lazy to get up and scared of the dark. Lol

The other day my sister complained of stomach pain and not able to pee while the two of us were in town, I almost brought her to the hospital when she kneel in pain. Well, some of my toddler cousins were diagnosed with UTI as well but despite of this their parents still keep feeding them junk foods and unhealthy foods like what happened today,  I told my youngest toddler cousin that her stomach will get bloated if she keep eating the chips but she never listened and almost cried when I took the chips she is eating, I have no choice but to returned it because I don't want to create misunderstanding with my cousin for interfering.

To identify a UTI, keep an eye out for the following symptoms:

• A burning feeling when you urinate
• A frequent or intense urge to urinate, even though little comes out when you do
• Pain or pressure in your back or lower abdomen
• Cloudy, dark, bloody, or strange-smelling urine
• Feeling tired or shaky
• Fever or chills (a sign the infection may have reached your kidneys)

Busy, Sick and Lost Prescription

It was been a long time since I post has an update over here, I guess I have to published backdated post for Sundays I have missed to create a blog. I have been busy during the day with household chores and looking after my mother so I was already quite tired in the evening.  I did laundry yesterday and they are quite a lot that we are able to eat dinner past bed time, our neighbors were already asleep eh. They're hand wash so it took me long time to finish washing the clothes.

[Photo courtesy of kaboompics.com/pexels.com]

Not feeling well today, I took three vitamin C in one day to relieved the discomfort I am feeling. I hope I feel better tomorrow, I have already research ways to home treat kidney stones and hopefully I can gather all the necessary condiments, my cousin has been confined to the hospital for this and he spend plenty for it and for his a month medication so I was scared on adding more expenses to my family after my mother has been hospitalized . My mother told me to go with her on her upcoming laboratory test and check-up but thinking of the expenses I have just said I am already feeling well.

We went to pharmacy today to buy my mother's maintenance medicine,  my sister lost the prescription it is either she left it in the pharmacy a week ago or it slip on her bag, we have asked the pharmacist if they have found a prescription, she doesn't know since she was not the in pharmacy on duty that day.  Good thing we are able to buy medicine without it, we just show sample of the medicine.

ENT Check-up for my Father

Today, my sister accompanied our father to the hospital where my mother has been confined so he could have a check-up I can't because I have to look after our mother at home, his been complaining about his ears for almost a month already. The hospital has a specialized ENT doctor and the doctor's finding - my father's ears were too dry, maybe because he overdo the cleaning. He clean his ears every day and every time it itches, I have decided to have my father's check up since he I have heard him a few weeks ago complaining that there is something ringing in his ears and then these past few days he can't hear well that I have to repeat anything so we could understand each other.

[Photo courtesy of earnoseandthroat.wordpress.com]

My father doesn't want to go to the hospital because he is thinking about the doctor's fee since we are financially down at this moment but I have told him he should go right now while it isn't so serious yet and asked him that when is he going when he is totally deaf already or in need of operation. I also reasoned out that we are going to save more if he went immediately than later, I handed extra money to my sister so he could also bring my father to an optometrist since he is almost blind without the $1 reading glass from the street but when they went home they were not able to get a pair of glasses for him.

My sister had told me that after doctor's fee our father has almost a thousand of pesos medicine prescription for a week for his ears and a follow-up check-up after a week so the ENT doctor could see if something improved on his ears after the medication. They didn't buy the prescription yet, they went to the optometrist  and they found that it cost a thousand of pesos too. My sister went home to ask if what to do so I have told her to buy the prescription first and we will just get pair of glasses for our father when we already have funds for it. It was the right decision isn't it?

Relieved That My Mother is Out of the Hospital

My mother was released from the hospital on Wednesday afternoon, I was at home preparing to return in the hospital in the morning when I received a text message from my sister that my mother was already given a permission that she can go home already, so I have to prepare money so they could checked-out. My father fetched me at home, he went back ahead of me in the hospital because my mother has to pee and she need to be assisted to the public toilet, my sister can’t carry my mother alone that’s why it needs two people to bring her out. It was been our routine for over a week already when we are at home and my mother’s need a toilet break my father has to return to the hospital.

We have no health insurance, we are not given free health insurance from our barangay because I guess they thought we are rich. For over a week my mother being confined in the hospital she is stressing herself with the hospital bills and our due dates in direct selling group in town, we have told her that it won't help her thinking too much all she has to do is to get well so the hospital bill will not soared too high, our relatives were being problematic too that we are staying longer in the hospital, I think they pity us, they're thinking of our hospital bills because they believed every time the nurse were called or went to the patient room there will be payment, my father became distressed because I guess he doesn't know in who's hands he'll get the money for my mother's hospital bill, my parents has no savings since my father's wages is just enough for our daily living.

[Photo courtesy of Pixabay/pexels.com]

The good thing I have money, which is supposed to be our tuition fee (my sister and I are planning to take up education unit this school year but I guess it wasn't for us) and then I received some payments from people who has due dates from the things they loaned from direct selling so your guess is right as mine I didn't pay in the direct selling group in town right away since my mother's medicine comes first but of course I have informed them what we are going through and why we are going to be late in paying, we are willing to pay penalties anyway.  The church and other relatives extended financial help, my grandmother and older aunt also handed us some rice grains, I may say it was an unexpected blessings that we are thankful, honestly I have already thought setting up a fundraising profile online if my mother stays in the hospital longer and our hospital bill soared very high.

It was true that you will only knew your real friends in times like this and I may say I have a lot of superficial friends, I guess they were scared that I'll borrow money from them or asked some help.  I knew the fact that most of them were talking behind my back, asking what had happened on me and in my personal life.

God is gracious, He prepared and supported us financially because I also received several tasks on my few blogs before and after my mother was hospitalized that help us a lot so we are able to pay our hospital dues and take my mother home, the doctor prescribed sets of medicines and required a follow check-up in two weeks.

New Doctor and Partial Account of the Hospital Bill

A new doctor check-up on my mother since today, her second doctor was in Manila and I guess the first one wasn't around or been busy with other patients. According to the new doctor my mother's sugar level and uric acid wasn't too high, his finding my mother maybe had a stroke because of cholesterol, he said that even a person has a lower cholesterol level it can cause a stroke. Her medicine were changed  to tablets already unlike before they were thru IV,  one of her medicine were lowered on dosage.

[Photo courtesy of Pixabay/pexels.com]

We are told that my mother might be discharged tomorrow, my mother requested the sales clerk in the hospital pharmacy to have a partial account of our hospital bill, she was from our barangay so we knew her. The partial amount was quite high, it was almost three months of my father's monthly wages as a carpenter (his rate is ₱2,100 per week) and we have already spend almost two months of my father's wages in medicines and other expenses so the bill was like a fortune for us, quite sad too we have no health insurance.

My mother can now sit without being felt dizzy unlike the last few days that she can't even raise her head although her affected body has still no sensation but she can move her hands and feet already.  She's recovering quickly isn't it?

My Mother Being Confined in the Hospital

My head is spinning, maybe because lack of sleep, fatigue and not eating on time.  Everyday the doctor handed a new prescription and everyday the prescription bill cost more than a thousand of pesos, my mother's first laboratory test cost a lot as well and then there are other succeeding test that isn't free at all. My mother was recovering, she is doing better than her first two days in the hospital that she looks like in a vegetative state. Every day something is improving, she's able to move her paralyzed body but there isn't a sensation yet. At first I have thought there was but I guess my mother is confused and high with different medicines injected to her, she became short tempered, emotionally down and stressed with anything, the house, the hospital bills and money no matter how we told her to relax.

On the first few days my mother doesn't eat anything nor drink, the doctor says it was fine since there is nutrients coming from the drip in her hand. The laboratory tests shows she has high level of sugar, high uric acid and UTI problem that resulted her stroke attack and with this a lot of food was prohibited for her to eat, mainly the food she enjoy so much.

It was hard for us to see her in bed lying and can't do anything that even a little move required an assistance, my mother was put in a cathether when she can't pee in the adult diaper, she can pee in the toilet but the problem the public toilet is a little bit far from the room since the room we rented has no private toilet room. The doctor ordered that my mother needs a complete bed rest since when she insisted to go the public toilet of the hospital in a wheelchair she went very tired and exhausted. The doctor says going to the toilet won't help her recover faster since it is draining her energy.

As day goes by, she is able to drink a little as 20 ml of water.  It was hard at first because she can't drink or swallow well, we massage her paralyzed body the best we can. She complaint of pain which she can't point where, it was also difficult for her to sleep especially the first day where she doesn't want to sleep scared of not waking up anymore.

Medicines are expensive the good thing a few relatives and the church extended financial help to us, we are not expecting it but we are thankful because it helps a lot to us, my father wasn't able to work and my sister too while my mother is confined in the hospital.

Unexpected Stroke Attack and Private Hospitalization

It was normal Tuesday morning, I was starting my day surfing the internet looking for some opportunity to earn online when suddenly I head a loud bang in our bathroom, I already knew what happened so I stand immediately before I can hear my mother calling out my name. As expected I found her in the bathroom floor, I immediately took some ice pack to mend her head that was hurt since I was told she hit the wall and then the rest was quick like a lightning bolt after I asked someone who's buying ice pack to call for help, people came in panic and carry my mother who is already tongue twisted. I don't know if I should go with them in the hospital or just stay home, I consciously handed the motorcycle key to Pastor E and asked him to let my sister knew what happened to our mother but he waited for me while I am collecting things to bring in the hospital like blankets since pillows were already taken by my older cousin.

I've found my mother in an emergency room of a private hospital, she was rushed over there since it was the nearest hospital from our barangay, she is lying in the stretcher being check-up by nurses and a doctor. I was asked several questions like her medical history and etc., It was the first time my mother was brought in the hospital, she was never confined for any reason and never had health tests.  I was asked to sign a paper for admission after the nurses asked my age. I would like to wait for my father but I was told it was needed to be sign right away so my mother will be admitted in the hospital and will be given care.

My sister was already in the hospital since the water station where she is working was just nearby after a cousin in-law notify her, Pastor E and my sister went to my father's workplace after calling his contractor where he is working that day. My father didn't immediately went to the hospital I don't know if it is because of shock because when he left the house my mother's still doing fine.

My aunt's and a cousin was in the hospital with us, the hospital asked what room we want to rent, I was given a choice an air conditioner room or a room with just a fan with other patients, I choose the latter since we can't afford the higher room, well even their cheapest room cost a lot as well, I have heard later that there are also suite room upstairs. My mother was brought in the room, it was hot, no toilet room and very simple then I was given a prescription and the price is shocking for a penniless like me and then I was asked to buy adult diapers since my mother was like in a vegetative state and then another shocking prescription to buy at another pharmacy, good thing Pastor E drove me around.

Then the next day, we are asked if we want the hospital to refer an internal doctor. I have asked first how much does it cost , if it cost a lot we can't afford it since we have no land to sell anymore and we have no health insurance. I didn't get a direct reply but I have agreed for the referral since my mother's health comes first.

Coping Up with Colds and Cough During Rainy Season

It's almost rainy season in the Philippines and it already rained frequently, with sudden change of weather and temperature many people got sick, most of our neighbors has colds and cough. My father is also sick with colds and cough, I already bought two bottles of medicine and a mentholated topical cream for my father, then he is also taking vitamins C and drinking luke warm calamansi juice but but he didn't get well yet.

[Photo courtesy of Mizianitka/pixabay.com]

So, next month I am planning to have my father do a medical check-up since pulmonary and lung disease is common in a third world country like ours. I hope I could save more money so I could bring my parents to optometrist as well since they've been using $1 reading glasses from the street, according to health news in television it doesn't do any good but make worst of an eye problem even more.  Maybe if I didn't bought a mobile phone I am able to have this plans materialized right away, I have bought a phone with a high resolution camera so I have a camera to use  on blogging, my DSLR is not getting any better. I have already gave my old phone to my sister but aside from the wifi button being broken, it doesn't read sim card anymore. She already brought it to a shop that fixed mobiles but she was told they can't fix it, so my sister just uses it as a camera for her selfies.