High Cholesterol

In addition to Metformin for my diabetes, nagsimula na rin akong mag-take nito since July 19.

Yep, maintenance meds to lower high cholesterol. Nang magsabog yata ang mundo ng sakit, sinalo ko na lahat. Mag-39 pa lang ako pero may mga gamot na ako for life. Whew!

Kasali sa blood works ko ang cholesterol last July 7 and just as I had expected, mas tumaas pa ang cholesterol level ko kesa last December. Sa dami ba naman ng nilaklak kong isaw sa Pinas. I am to be blamed, I know. Wala talaga akong disiplina.

From 6.14 in December 30, 2017, 6.57 na siya ngayon. Normal is between 2.00 to 5.19. Very high na daw talaga kung tutuusin. Walang epekto ang fish oil ha. My doctor gave me a month to lower my cholesterol, tapos magpakuha daw uli ako ng dugo. When I asked him papano kung hindi pa rin bumaba, no choice na raw kundi mag-take ako ng gamot. I told him resetahan na niya ako kasi mukhang di ko naman kakayanin.

I want to be realistic. The only solution for my cholesterol level to drastically lower down is for me to significantly cut down on red meat and fried foods. Ano pa ang pwede kong kainin kung ganun? Since I am diabetic, talagang konting carbs na lang ang kinakain ko. At para ako mabusog, talagang nilalakasan ko sa ulam o protein.

It's actually hard to live here in Canada kapag hindi ka talagang taga-dito. I've had a Filipina doctor in Edmonton two years ago and I won't forget our last conversation. Noon pa lang kasi nakita na na medyo mataas ang cholesterol ko.

Ang sabi niya, sa talagang maggagamot na lang ang mga Pinoy dito sa Canada dahil nga sa nature ng pagkain. Mostly greasy, high in carbs and calories, processed. Ano bang healthy ang pwedeng kainin dito sa totoo lang? Salad lang yata. To be honest, hindi naman salad-eating ang average Pinoy (ako hindi kumakain ng salad). Hindi tayo mabubuhay nang yan lang. Ang mga isda naman na nabibili dito na galing Asia, puro frozen na. At dahil frozen, usually ipiprito mo na lang kasi hindi naman masarap sabawan. Super mahal din ang Asian vegetables dito tapos ang lalaki ng pack. Kung magluluto ka ng chopsuey, sobrang laki ng magagastos mo sa dami ng ingredients na kailangan. Sana kung marami kayong kakain. Pinakamura na talagang iulam ang karne sa totoo lang.

Tapos dahil mabilisan ang buhay dito, pinaka-convenient talagang kumain ng mga instant food (noodles, canned goods). Pinakamadaling luto rin ang prito. Sa case namin, ako lang ang kumakain ng mga niluluto kong may sabaw kaya nakakatamad magluto sa totoo lang. Yung anak ko puro pritong galunggong at manok lang kaya madalas sinasabayan ko na lang. Ang sabi ng doktor ko, mag-ihaw na lang daw ako instead na magprito. Ang tedious kaya nun, tapos good for one person lang iihawin ko for lunch halimbawa? Eh madalas gutom na gutom na ako by lunch time tapos magluluto pa ako ng ibang pagkain para sa anak ko tapos susubuan ko pa. Kung may nabibilhan lang sana ng lutong ulam dito sa tabi-tabi na parang sa Pinas, ayos sana.

Basta ang punto ko, ang hirap mag-healthy-eating dito lalo na sa puntong ito ng buhay ko huhu. Kaya talagang tinanggap ko na na maggagamot na lang ako. Pero siyempre pipilitin ko namang bawasan ang pagkain ng mga bawal na pagkain pero I doubt it kung talagang maiiwasan ko totally. Kahit ang nanay ko naiintindihan ang sitwasyon ko. Siya nga raw na nasa Pinas na eh hindi na rin malaman kung ano ang kakainin, ako pa ba na very limited ang food options dito.

Hay, diabetes at high cholesterol. Apart from my unhealthy lifestyle, namana ko rin ang mga sakit na yan sa magulang ko. Pero buti na nga lang at hindi ako "high blood" na katulad ng nanay ko. Bata pa lang ako eh low blood na talaga ako. Sana Po talaga hindi magbago.

July 19, 2019

I am grateful though kasi covered naman ng health insurance namin ang maintenance meds ko kaya hindi ko pinoproblema ang additional gastos. Kung nasa Pinas siguro ako, sobrang manghihinayang ako sa pera. Ang sabi ng nanay ko, Php52 ang isang piraso nung cholesterol medicine niya. Hindi birong halaga yun ha.

Pero dito pala sa Canada, usually 'generic' lang yata ang gamot. Basta ibibigay mo lang ang prescription sa Pharmacy tapos sila na ang bahalang mag-dispense. Unlike sa Pinas na makakapili ka (o ang doktor mo) ng brand na iinumin mo.

Kaya kung titingnan mo, mura lang naman pala ang cholesterol medicine ko for 90 days. $23.17 lang o Php926.80 (around Php10.30 per day). Mas mura pa nga sana yan kung walang dispensing fee na $10.

Yun nga pala, sa bawat prescription medicine na bibilhin mo dito, may $10 silang china-charge. Kahit na good for one month lang halimbawa (o 30 pieces), $10 pa rin ang babayaran mo. So better na imaximize mo na ng for 3 months para tipid. Good for three months lang ang maximum na pwede nilang ibigay eh.

Sa ibang health insurance companies, may co-pay. Minsan 20% ang share ng patient. Buti sa insurance namin (sa company ni Daddy Ford), sinasagot nila ng 100%. May health spending allowance kami in a year at iyon lang ang dapat naming iconsume. Malaki naman sya kaya hindi naman basta mauubos. Kailangan mo lang munang paluwalan sa pagbayad tapos irereimburse nila kaagad through bank deposit kapag nasubmit mo na ang resibo online. =)

D-Day -- August 16, 2017

Hello! Yes, I am still alive.

I just have diabetes. *sigh

I'd probably never forget August 16, 2017 (aside from it being my BFF Raxie's birthday). It was my D-day, the day I learned that I have diabetes.

Parang deja vu. Three years ago (August 2014), I was diagnosed din with gestational diabetes.
Then three months after giving birth (February 2015), pre-diabetes naman. As I have said in my previous posts, ine-expect ko na rin naman na magkaka-diabetes ako. Both my parents are diabetic at napakalaking factor talaga ang family history sa pagkakaroon ng ganitong sakit.

It's just that I am only 37 years old (38 on August 27).

I only have myself to blame for this. I abused myself. I had a very unhealthy lifestyle. Despite the "warning" of pre-diabetes, I continued to eat a lot and live a "tamad" life. Di na rin ako bumalik uli sa family doctor namin sa Edmonton para magpa-check up. If I remember it correctly, they mailed me two laboratory requisition forms and I just ignored them. Sa isip ko, saka na lang. We were so busy then with our pending move here in BC kaya hindi ko siya pinriority. Tsk. Akala ko rin kasi mga 5-10 years pa bago mag-fullblown ang diabetes ko.

I also did not listen to my body and to those symptoms that I felt -- extreme fatigue/lack of energy, weight gain, frequent urination, blurred vision, numbness in my hands, frequent infection (UTI), many "low sugar" episodes.

Kaya nasa huli talaga ang pagsisisi.

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The doctor was 'apologetic' when he told me the bad news. Diabetes is a lifelong disease so I would have to deal with it for the rest of my life. Again, I am only 37.

I honestly wasn't expecting him to tell me that I have diabetes. Ang dami dami ko ng inisip na pwedeng sakit ko because of my stomach pains, pero never nga nag-occur sa akin na diabetes ang sasabihin niya. Ang tagal ko na kasing may problema sa tummy. Almost two decades na siguro.

Kaya nung sinabi niya sa akin na, "I am sorry but you have diabetes," ang unang pumasok talaga sa isip ko ay "hay, buti hindi cancer."

Later na lang nagsink-in sa akin na ang hirap hirap magka-diabetes, forever na talaga ito.

After texting my husband, who of course was shocked as well, I cried. Umiyak ako dahil sa regrets. Umiyak ako dahil nga panghabambuhay ko ng dadalhin ang sakit na ito. Umiyak ako dahil siguradong nabawasan na ang buhay ko (kawawa naman ang asawa at anak ko). Umiyak ako para sa mga pagkaing di ko na pwedeng kainin. Umiyak ako para sa malaking pagbabagong ito sa buhay ko/namin.

After wallowing for just a few minutes, I calmed myself. Ayoko ng mag-dwell sa negative. Inisip ko na lang na hindi pa naman katapusan ng mundo. Hindi lang naman ako ang may diabetes. In fact, one niece of mine (daughter of my first cousin who is also diabetic) was also diagnosed last month, and she's only 29. We also have one employee in the Philippines who is the same age as me who has it. Manual pa ang trabaho nun ha, kaya sagana sa "exercise."

Ang sabi ko na lang sa sarili ko, it's about time na rin naman na baguhin ko ang lifestyle at eating habits ko. At saka gusto ko ring pumayat kahit papano.

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So here I am today, feeling a little bit better than week ago. I've been instructed by my doctor to test my blood sugar every morning (after I wake up). He also prescribed Metformin and Glyburide for me to take. My numbers are good so far, kasi talagang on low carb diet na ako.

It isn't easy. Everyday is a struggle to get better. Ang daming adjustments and challenges. Pero sige lang, kakayanin.

I still have an ultrasound on September 9. I can feel na may ibang problema pa ako other than diabetes because my stomach is still not well. Sana naman hindi grabe. =(

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D-Day = Diabetes Diagnostic Day

I am sick

I am sick. I haven't been feeling well for a couple of weeks now. I am scared, I can feel that this is something serious.

I actually went to a walk-in doctor already last July 24 for my stomach pain but I was told that I need a family doctor who could request tests for me. He just prescribed antibiotics because I suspected that I had UTI. They didn't even test me for it.

Since then, the state of my stomach has fluctuated. There were days that the pain is manageable, and there were times that I just wanted to die. I was actually hoping to get a Filipino family doctor so I was indecisive to go to the clinic near our place that accepts patients. But because I couldn't take the pain anymore last weekend, I promised myself I'll have myself checked. The hell with my fears, I have to get better.

August 14, 2017 (Monday). Bringing Nathan with me,  went to see the doctor after lunch. I was lucky he had no scheduled appointment that time so he was able to see me immediately.

He asked several questions and briefly examined my side stomach. He then handed me several papers and instructed me to have some blood works and ultrasound done. He also gave me a prescription for acid and gas pain.

I asked the receptionist on where the nearest laboratory is. Hay, I feel like starting all over again. I am already familiar with medical procedures in Edmonton, eto panibago na naman dito sa BC.

There's a lab at the back of Sheraton Hotel daw so I googled it if it's walkable. I wanted to finish my blood works as soon as possible. It was only a 13-minute walk (1.3km) daw so off we went.

It was sunny (but thankfully not that hot). While walking (and pushing the stroller), a lot of mixed thoughts have run in my mind.

Mamamatay na ba ako? Kawawa naman ang anak ko, ang liit pa niya.

Paano pag ooperahan ako? Paano na kami? Sino na mag-aalaga kay Nathan? Kelangan ko sigurong umuwi sa Pinas pag ganun.

Kawawa naman ako, naglalakad ako. Eh me sasakyan at nakakadrive ako sa Pinas. Hindi ako maglalakad sa initan doon.

Ano nga ba ginagawa ko dito sa Canada? Ba't nga ba ako napunta dito?

Sayang, sana nasa Edmonton na lang kami. Marami akong kaibigan doon na dadamay sa akin. 

Tsk, tutusukin na naman ako. Ang sakit nun. Di talaga ako masasanay sa tusok tusok na yan.

Sana Pinoy na lang ang doktor ko para mas ma-explain ko sa kanya ang dinaramdam ko.

Tiyak mahaba ang wait time sa ultrasound. Tsk, kung nasa Pinas ako tapos na agad ito at alam ko na agad ang results kasi nga Radiologist mismo ang pinsan ko. Siya na ang magu-ultrasound sa akin.

"Libre" nga ang health care dito sa Canada kaso pahirapan naman. Paras mas ok pa rin magkasakit sa Pilipinas kapag me pera ka.

Gusto kong umuwi sa Pilipinas. Gusto kong makasama ang Nanay ko.

I received a call from the doctor's office this morning. They now have my lab tests results and the doctors want to see me. I am going there in an hour.

I am so nervous. It's good that my good friends in Edmonton (Mylene and Joy) are cheering me up.

My ultrasound schedule is on September 9 pa. Ang tagal pa. :(

My little boy is sick =(

This is the worst feeling ever. My son is sick and I am miserable.

This is the first time in three months that Nathan got sick (it started last Tuesday). Common cold at cough lang naman pero as a first time mom, I can't help but be worried. As a first time mom, I had no idea what to do. Ito na nga ba ang kinatatakutan ko, ang magkasakit ang anak ko. It's so painful seeing him cough. Barado rin ang ilong sa sipon kaya nahihirapang huminga. Kawawa talaga ang babies kapag may sakit because they can't properly express how they feel. A mom could only cry.

I am thankful though na wala siyang fever. We opted not to bring him to the clinic anymore kasi wala rin naman mangyayari doon. We just bought a nasal aspirator to help him relieve his nasal congestion.

It's been four days and his condition is already a bit better. He vomited nga lang the past two days. Hay, I can't wait till this ordeal is over. I myself am sick. Hindi ko nga alam kung ako ang nanghawa kay Nathan o siya ang nanghawa sa akin (the past days medyo may pasipon-sipon na rin kasi siya). Pero hindi ko afford na isipin na masama ang pakiramdam ko. I have my son to attend to, walang ibang mag-aalaga sa kanya kundi ako (while his daddy is at work).

Anak, please get well na. Let's go broom broom na. =(

Get well, Amang... =(

My 90-year old grandfather Amang (in the Philippines) is in the hospital again. I heard he's been asking for me and I feel awful not being by his side during this time that he needs his family the most.

Picture taken from Tita Lulu Cera-Garcia's Facebook account

Seven of his eight children are living in North America and couldn't be with him as well. It is only my father who 'takes care' of him now. My mother and brother, because of some conflict with my father, could not even visit him. Tsk, he's very close pa naman to Mamoosh and has been constantly looking for her.

 Amang actually is an American citizen but he preferred to spend the last years of his life in Malolos. With no one to really take care of him in the US (because everybody's working), he felt better staying in Pinas with Boying and Neng (a longtime helper of the family) as his sole companions.

Getting sick in the Philippines is so difficult especially for the elderly. The costs of hospitalization alone is so difficult to bear. It is sad because not all his children are willing to shell out money for his health needs. Majority are dedma talaga, nakaka-disappoint. I know that life here in North America is not exactly a bed of roses but there are expenses that we cannot avoid and should do something about. One of them is the care for your father. If only I am working, I won't hesitate to regularly send some money for him, if only to make his remaining days comfortable.

My grandfather is a fighter. He's got a very good disposition. He's got cancer and was given six months to live a decade ago but look at him now, still alive and smiling. But of course, at almost 91, his body is deteriorating.

I just wish that he could "wait" for me. If anything happens to him now, I cannot go home. I want him to still see Baby Chicklet. Please get well, Amang. We love you!