THANK God I am finally on my way to full recovery after a health scare I went through. No, it wasn’t coronavirus-related. You see, I loosened up a bit on my diet after I retired, more so because I no longer had to go through the annual physical examinations regular employees go through. I also felt confident because of the early morning hikes to the hills that I did.
Then it happened. I checked something in the yard one early morning when I suddenly could not see straight. I went inside the house and sat on a chair, calming myself up until I finally could see straight again. Then I told my wife to accompany me to the doctor where I found out that my blood pressure had shot up to more than 200 (systolic).
As they say, when it rains, it pours. The doctor had me take a ton of medicines that did pull my blood pressure down but also triggered a migraine episode. I missed dinner and after the migraine went away I had what we Cebuanos call “pasmo.” I lost my appetite and so felt weak I lay in bed for days. I thought a bottle of dextrose or two would have helped but the Covid-19 scare had me choosing to stay home instead of going to the hospital.
It was a struggle. For days I let go of my daily routine and just lay in bed. Things changed when I started regaining my appetite. The process was slow but I had to do things slowly for fear of another old Cebuano belief: “bughat. “ I just hope I would not be having a relapse.
Of course, Covid 19 will be a continuing concern even with the current loosening up of quarantine protocols. This actually should be a concern by everybody. Until a vaccine is found and people are inoculated. We do not want a resurgence of infections and a return to strict community quarantine situations.
Besides, there is this looming possibility that the Duterte administration will use the pandemic as reason to extend the term of current officials. Rep. Mikey Arroyo, yes, the son of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, is currently pushing for a “no-el” (no Elections) scenario for 2022. He filed the resolution in Congress even if the possibility is high that a vaccine will already be available early next year.
Anyway, we have to continue following protocols like the wearing of face masks and, in crowded places, face shields and maintaining physical distancing. I have observed some people beginning to act like everything has normalized. It’s good, though, that government has ordered cemeteries closed on All Saints, and All Souls, Day and has gone strict on fiesta celebrations.
There just are some people who are eager to enjoy even at the risk of spreading the coronavirus again. They just couldn’t sacrifice for the good of the community, especially now that the Province is reopening tourist sites to save a sagging economy. I have no question with that for as long as health protocols are still in everyone’s mind. This is what is the so-called new normal is about.