Limlingan: Health is wealth

MY BETTER half went into hospital confinement recently. She being at her middle age, suffered internal bleeding on June 12. After resting the whole day during the commemoration of the declaration of our independence, we went on that night to a private hospital for a mere medical check-up.

After undergoing an immediate simple physical check-up, she was instantaneously told to be admitted due to serious blood loss. We never had the chance to go home and instead stayed for the night while she was due for blood transfusion.

While she had the common blood type, the hospital had the hard time to find for blood to be infused. I was reminded of movie scenes when some casts needs blood to be immediately transfuse and there was no supply available. It’s an ordeal for someone to experience such.

The bleeding never stopped for several days. Blood was secured from the Philippine Red Cross office at the Regional Government Center in the City of San Fernando until it ran out of the type of blood needed. The blood type is common. Ironically, it is the most in-demand type and often lacks supply of it in blood banks, hospitals and the Red Cross.

Days went by and hospital personnel went as far as Tarlac City to find blood. They need so as one of their patients is needing transfusion. Because of the bleeding, immediate transfusion is very necessary and critical.

As for the doctors’ findings, the bleeding comes from two pockets in her colon. The skin in the said part of her digestive system had weakened thus her blood vessels in that portion suffered pressure and oozed occult blood.

During my talk with one of the doctors, the culprits are the low-fiber diet of the patient, intake of over-the-counter, pain-relieving medicines, insufficient water drinking and of course, stress.

Her confinement for several days in the hospital could have been avoided if she is not guilty of what the doctor had said to be lacking. If we just observe, the said culprits are not that hard to avoid. In short, it’s easy to avoid problems on our digestive system such as bleeding if we can religiously eat high-fiber diet, drink enough of water, avoid taking pain relievers and stress.

During our stay in the hospital, I appreciated what old folks are saying: “E baling ala kang pera, ala kamu sanang sakit” (Its ok not to have some money, the important thing is we have no ailment and we are healthy). Health is wealth indeed.

I have missed writing while undergoing stress from the patient’s hospital confinement. I cannot help except to focus on her and try to be medically-inclined as possible to understand her condition and may somehow find some answers on the cause of the bleeding.

There are many of us who hate seeing blood. I am one of those who gets afraid looking at the red liquid. With my experience, I better appreciate now to see blood as long as we see it as a source of life.

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For any comments, ideas, suggestions or opinions, text or call The Advocate at 0921-3636360 or send email at dencious@gmail.com.

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