I have been admitted to the hospital and tomorrow morning I will be undergoing surgery... another major surgery after 34 years.
While I am not a great fan of hospitals (because who wants to be hospitalized, right?) I have to take my hats off to St. Luke's Medical Center, where I will finally be having the hysterectomy. The place screams of professionalism and efficiency, which makes it so great for clients, easing them into something that not many look forward to. If I didn't know this was a health facility, I would actually mistake it for a hotel. A five-star one.
Can you imagine, my room has a clock! Because I made a reservation as early as Saturday, it did not take long for me to get admitted after my papers were processed. This morning, I was very tense -- like there was a fist clenched in my stomach. For the last two weeks, I haven't really thought about what I was diagnosed with and what needs to be done, so it must all be sinking in now thus the nerves.
Another thing making me so tense is my HMO, which I can't understand. They can't make up their mind if I have enough for the procedure or if I need to prepare for any excess. My gyne-onco, however, insists that what I have is enough since he's had other patients with the same HMO who did not have to raise additional funds for the procedure. I do have to say bless him, because even if I have to shell out extra funds, he is not charging an arm and a leg, unlike other similar specialists. I can live with his 40,000 professional fees. That really took a load off my shoulders.
It also helps that the room I was given (although way up high) is within the coverage of both the HMO and Philhealth. I'm on the 5th floor, and while the room is quite old (it's not among those already refurbished) but it is spacious, there's a TV and a ref and more importantly, it's PRIVATE.
Now to the operation, the doctor's only worry is if my previous surgery will make it a but more difficult to carry out mine. I sincerely hope not because it will mean bringing in another surgeon, which means more costs.
I still have to worry about the staging of the C. I really, really don't want to go through treatment.
Starting tomorrow, I won't be able to move around as I have been used to and I can only hope to heal quickly. Lots of Vitamin C and protein will address that, according to my nurse. Maybe, VCO will also help.
The guys at the office scampering but if they concentrate on what needs to be done and use a lot of common sense, they will survive. As it is, they've been calling and texting for every little thing since this morning. I know things are difficult because of the budget hearings.
So, I hope it won't be long till I can post another entry. Pray for me...
Monday, September 22, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Things to know before going through a major operation
In the last 30 days or so I have a) gone to 6 hospitals (New Era General Hospital, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, FEU-NRMF, Medical City, Philippine Heart Center and St. Luke's Hospital); b) seen seven (7) doctors either for consultations or clearance; and c) wasted almost 24 hours waiting for doctors to see me, yet spending an average of 15 minutes for each visit/consultation. This is not to include the hours alloted for all my laboratory tests and the actual amount I had to spend to get all these accomplished. Thankfully, I have medical insurance from the office, but in the end, these preliminary expenses have eaten into my allotment when I will finally go through my surgery scheduled for Tuesday. By then, I estimate I will have less than one hundred thousand pesos to cover even bigger expenses. I don't know if I am to believe my primary doctor that this will be sufficient to cover the hospitalization.
It is no joke to be sick, and in my case, contract a dreaded disease such as cancer. The hysterectomy will determine at what stage the cancer is at, and I am praying that it will either be Stage I-A or I-B so I don't have to undergo further treatment. It goes without saying I am anxious about all this -- not only the procedure itself and the eventual outcome, but the money that must be coughed up for everything.
Through all this initial/preparatory journey, I've picked up quite a few things that could be helpful in the future:
1. The insurance company (at least ours) will not pick up the tab even if the procedure or confinement is at an accredited hospital if the attending physician is not accredited with them. (this really sucks...)
2. The average professional fee charged by gynecologist-oncologists for the kind of procedure I require is between 60 to 80 thousand pesos.
3. Doctors base their fees on the kind of room a patient will occupy for the duration of the confinement. So if you want to save on costs, but suffer inconvenience, enter using a private room, then transfer to a ward before checking out.
4. That a boutique hospital like Medical City that charges an arm and a leg for their services is not necessarily the best.
5. That there are many women afflicted with cancer of some part of the reproductive system and the survival rate when detected at its early stages is quite high.
6. That Medical Arts Buildings, where doctor's clinics are housed, are not created equal. They range from the most swanky to the almost hole-in-the-wall types, but in the end, it is still the competence and integrity of the attending physician that spells the difference.
7. That OB-Gynes and Gyne-Oncos are basically friendly, jovial and do take the time to explain the procedure and what to expect before, during and after the operation.
8. That doctors, especially OB-Gynes/oncos and cardios) are notorious for being late because they can always be called for emergencies and they usually do hospital rounds before coming to the clinic... and that 9 a.m. usually means 11 or 12 noon.
I'm not quite sure what all these discoveries and realizations will amount to, but if it should enlighten someone who will be in a similar situation as mine, then it would have served its purpose.
It is no joke to be sick, and in my case, contract a dreaded disease such as cancer. The hysterectomy will determine at what stage the cancer is at, and I am praying that it will either be Stage I-A or I-B so I don't have to undergo further treatment. It goes without saying I am anxious about all this -- not only the procedure itself and the eventual outcome, but the money that must be coughed up for everything.
Through all this initial/preparatory journey, I've picked up quite a few things that could be helpful in the future:
1. The insurance company (at least ours) will not pick up the tab even if the procedure or confinement is at an accredited hospital if the attending physician is not accredited with them. (this really sucks...)
2. The average professional fee charged by gynecologist-oncologists for the kind of procedure I require is between 60 to 80 thousand pesos.
3. Doctors base their fees on the kind of room a patient will occupy for the duration of the confinement. So if you want to save on costs, but suffer inconvenience, enter using a private room, then transfer to a ward before checking out.
4. That a boutique hospital like Medical City that charges an arm and a leg for their services is not necessarily the best.
5. That there are many women afflicted with cancer of some part of the reproductive system and the survival rate when detected at its early stages is quite high.
6. That Medical Arts Buildings, where doctor's clinics are housed, are not created equal. They range from the most swanky to the almost hole-in-the-wall types, but in the end, it is still the competence and integrity of the attending physician that spells the difference.
7. That OB-Gynes and Gyne-Oncos are basically friendly, jovial and do take the time to explain the procedure and what to expect before, during and after the operation.
8. That doctors, especially OB-Gynes/oncos and cardios) are notorious for being late because they can always be called for emergencies and they usually do hospital rounds before coming to the clinic... and that 9 a.m. usually means 11 or 12 noon.
I'm not quite sure what all these discoveries and realizations will amount to, but if it should enlighten someone who will be in a similar situation as mine, then it would have served its purpose.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Funny Boss
When he is in the mood, the Boss can be really funny. Actually, he admitted so much that his peers want him to be part of their committee meetings he a lot of life to it. He's very participative and since he's a lawyer, he can articulate himself very well. Of course, when the mood swings the other way, he can really drive people off the wall, and launch a tirade that you'd want to wish the ground would just swallow you up.
Anyway, today he was in quite a good mood, in spite minor annoying characters in the office. When he was wrapping up for the day (around 8 pm) he rubbed his palm over the knees and remembered that the material had caught a snag.
Suddenly, he was in an uproar again. On Monday, I will rise to manifest about the substandard equipment here... Look, my pants caught a snag because of splinters under the table, he sputtered. When I checked where he was motioning to, I could hardly see it. He then insisted that he was even poked by nails and lifted his pant leg to show off pinpricks. He said he was very particular about his clothes, and hated the thought it had a run, a snag or a tear. What irked him really was because his suits are customized by a very expensive brand tailor/haberdashery. He was wondering if they could contain the damage.
He was really funny, showing everyone at the office what happened to the pants, and that he really would be standing up to complain about it on Monday. Let's wait and see.
Anyway, today he was in quite a good mood, in spite minor annoying characters in the office. When he was wrapping up for the day (around 8 pm) he rubbed his palm over the knees and remembered that the material had caught a snag.
Suddenly, he was in an uproar again. On Monday, I will rise to manifest about the substandard equipment here... Look, my pants caught a snag because of splinters under the table, he sputtered. When I checked where he was motioning to, I could hardly see it. He then insisted that he was even poked by nails and lifted his pant leg to show off pinpricks. He said he was very particular about his clothes, and hated the thought it had a run, a snag or a tear. What irked him really was because his suits are customized by a very expensive brand tailor/haberdashery. He was wondering if they could contain the damage.
He was really funny, showing everyone at the office what happened to the pants, and that he really would be standing up to complain about it on Monday. Let's wait and see.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
The verdict is in
I may not be a doctor but when I saw the diagnosis on my histopathy, I knew it was bad. Forget the with or without atypia phrase. There was none of that. Instead what was written in black and white was adinocarcinoma. Anyone who has ever read up on diseases is aware what carcinoma means. Yep, the Big C.
I tried to make light of it when I finally sat down with my OB-Gyne. She did not want to unnecessarily panic me. There were cancer cells on my endometrium or the uterus lining. No question about it, I had to have a hysterectomy, PRONTO. Cancer is cancer, she said and the earlier it can be determined and treated, the better. She was optimistic, though, because the initial prognosis showed Grade I, and while this in no way determines what stage the cancer is at, (the hysterectomy will confirm it), it is most likely in the early stage. What she wants to know is if it has gone beyond the endometrium because this would require further treatment: either chemo or radiation, which I am not looking forward to.
In truth, I didn't know what to feel. I went to the doctor alone so except for her, there was no one to discuss it with. And with her, I couldn't be emotional, if I really wanted to. There was a brief moment when I wanted to break down and cry but somehow, I didn't. She immediately sent me to the HMO coordinator to check if there was a gynecologist-oncologist within the hospital who was accredited with the HMO, to perform the surgery. Fortunately, there was. But I missed him and will have to come in for consultation on Thursday yet.
My OB-Gyne wants the surgery set next week. The earlier, the better. It will be a 3 to 4 hour operation. My, my that will be a long nap. Five days, at least, in the hospital, two weeks to recover, 2 months to heal. The good news, if it could be called that, is that the HMO will likely shoulder all the expenses. That's why I needed an accredited doctor. I need to be prepped, and I need to prep my family and the people at work, especially the boss.
Am I scared? You betcha! I have to hang on to my doctor's word that all will be well. I don't want to be cut up again -- been there, done that. But there is no other way. Bottom line, I want to get better. Please pray for me.
I tried to make light of it when I finally sat down with my OB-Gyne. She did not want to unnecessarily panic me. There were cancer cells on my endometrium or the uterus lining. No question about it, I had to have a hysterectomy, PRONTO. Cancer is cancer, she said and the earlier it can be determined and treated, the better. She was optimistic, though, because the initial prognosis showed Grade I, and while this in no way determines what stage the cancer is at, (the hysterectomy will confirm it), it is most likely in the early stage. What she wants to know is if it has gone beyond the endometrium because this would require further treatment: either chemo or radiation, which I am not looking forward to.
In truth, I didn't know what to feel. I went to the doctor alone so except for her, there was no one to discuss it with. And with her, I couldn't be emotional, if I really wanted to. There was a brief moment when I wanted to break down and cry but somehow, I didn't. She immediately sent me to the HMO coordinator to check if there was a gynecologist-oncologist within the hospital who was accredited with the HMO, to perform the surgery. Fortunately, there was. But I missed him and will have to come in for consultation on Thursday yet.
My OB-Gyne wants the surgery set next week. The earlier, the better. It will be a 3 to 4 hour operation. My, my that will be a long nap. Five days, at least, in the hospital, two weeks to recover, 2 months to heal. The good news, if it could be called that, is that the HMO will likely shoulder all the expenses. That's why I needed an accredited doctor. I need to be prepped, and I need to prep my family and the people at work, especially the boss.
Am I scared? You betcha! I have to hang on to my doctor's word that all will be well. I don't want to be cut up again -- been there, done that. But there is no other way. Bottom line, I want to get better. Please pray for me.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Can we finally make it to the Oscars?
I recently read the news that the movie topbilled by Judy Ann Santos has been selected as entry to the Academy Awards for Foreign Film. The movie, "Ploning" was hyped a lot before it was shown because it was considered a maverick of sorts. It was certainly not a formula movie, and one of the most glaring difference was its use of a native dialect that even we as Filipinos are hardly familiar with. Many were wondering if it would also succeed in the box office because it was unconventional.
Well, it passed with flying colors and I think was even given a B rating by the Cinema Evaluation Board. Thanks to Judy Ann's appeal, people trooped to theaters to see the film and critics were also generous with praise for this experimental project by first-time director Dante Nico Garcia.
I must confess I was unable to catch the movie during its commercial run and am now very curious as to why it has been chosen to represent the Philippines in the Oscars. Of course, it remains to be seen if it will eventually be chosen so let's all keep our fingers crossed.
I happened to read a review of the movie from the Philippine Daily Inquirer, (Ploning) which I will share with you and let you decide if it is worth seeing and worth being the representative. Whatever the outcome, congratulations are in order for Judy Ann, Dante and the rest of the people who worked to see this film's completion. Thank you for breaking out of the norm but showing nevertheless how talented and creative you are. That's the true Filipino spirit.
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