Welcome To The Third World Country

(Medical Escort Part 2)

Dumating din ang pinakaabangan kong araw...ilang araw ko din itong ikina haggard ha sa dami ng kelangan ayusin na requirements...

Ito ang aking pag uwi ng Pilipinas after almost three months mula nun makabalik ako dito sa Dowha. Through my medical escort.

Uu. Work related itetch hihi. Saya lang di ba. Libre lahat ito. Sinagot ng hospital management ang expenses pati ang pocket money naming tatlo nun Nurse at Doctor na kasama ko.

April 27. 4:00 am. Dumating ako sa ICU kung saan andun naka admit ang vegetative state na patient namin na si Ate Cora. Status/Post cardiac arrest. Hypoxic brain injury. three months na siya sa hospital at chronic case na siya kaya naman napagdesisyunan nang iuwi siya ng Pinas. At kelangan ng medical team na sasama sa knya.

Sila ang EMS team na mababait na nagdala sa patient at sa team namin hanggang sa plane.

Pasakay ng ambulance. Maulan pa nun morning na yan.

Maayos na maayos ang sistema namin mula paglipat sa stretcher sa icu palabas ng ER kung saan nag hihintay ang ambulance team (EMS), na dinala kami sa airport, na ihinatid kami hanggang pagsakay ng plane gamit ang elevator. Pati mga crew ng airline super helpful. Smooth na smooth. Alas otso ang flight namin.

Nasa economy kami at anim na seats sa loob ng plane ang inokupa ng make shift na kama na ginawa ng airline for our patient. Nakapwesto kami sa tapat niya para madali kami makakalapit if may kelangan gawin sa patient. Naikabit namin ng maayos ang mga medical equipment (cardiac monitor/ ventilator/suction machine/oxygen/dextrose). Nag standby din si cute na cute na pinoy cabin crew ng portable oxygen para gamitin ko. Kinilig ako sa knya. As in super asikaso nya kami hihi.

sa wakas ay naipuwesto din namin ang Patient sa bed na ito. effort kung effort ito.

Lagi pa nya ko nireremind na malapit na maubos yun oxygen tank sa gilid. Ang lapit lapit lang ng face nya sa pagkakatungo sa akin hihi. Bango ng breath!

Hindi nakaligtas sa akin ang curious na tingin nun ibang pinoy passengers ng plane. Parang isang artista ang sakay namin na nakahiga kung usyusuhin nila. I can't blame them. Minsan lang magbyahe ng pasyente sa eroplano. At malamang now lang sila nakakita ng medical team na ganito kaganda. charot

Antok na antok na kami niyan. Halos 24hrs akong gising nun araw na ito jusme. Pero pinipilit ko idilat mata ko to monitor her

In fairness stable si Ate Cora the whole time na nasa plane kami. May konting desaturation lang pero thats it. Naka tatlong movies ako hihi. E jusme naman more than 9 hours ba naman ang byahe ketagal!

Nung sa wakas e lumapag na ang eroplano namin sa NAIA ay naghanda na ang lahat ng pasahero para lumabas. Nun makaalis sila ay saka palang kami kumilos para ihanda naman ang pasyente namin na ilabas ng plane. Hindi birong effort at pag aayos ang kelangan para ipasok at ilabas ng eroplano ang pasyente na gaya ni Ate Cora. Alam nyo naman kung gaano kakipot ang daanan sa pagitan ng mga upuan sa loob. Imaginin nyo na idaan dun ang stretcher na may karga na tao. Kalurkei. Idagdag pa diyan ang mga nakakabit naming gamit sa knya.

At dito na nag umpisa ang nakakahaggard naming mga sandali:

Pumasok ang inaakala kong ambulance na susundo at hahatid sa amin sa hospital sa Pasig na siyang mag aadmit sa patient namin. Yun anak kasi ni Ate Cora ang nag asikaso ng lahat sa pinas from the ambulance up to the hospital na pagdadalhan sa knya paglapag namin. So akala ko ok na ang lahat.

Agad kong hinanap ang in-charge sa ambulance at tinanung if may dala silang monitor and ventilator. Isang Pinoy doctor ang nagpakilala sa amin. Sumagot siya ng pabalang sa akin:

"ha? wala. Ni hindi nga namin alam na may darating na ganitong patient e!"

I kept my cool ayoko pumatol at pagod ako. Sa pag uusap namin ay napag alaman kong hindi daw pala makapasok ng NAIA ang ambulance na kinontrata ng relatives dahil di daw nag apply ng gate pass. ok payn. Huli na kaya wala na kami magagawa. Engot lang. So ito palang kaharap naming team ngayon ay team ng NAIA clinic.

Ibababa nila ang patient sa plane at saka ililipat sa nag hihintay naming ambulance sa gate since di nga pinapapasok.

Ipinaradyo ko sa ground crew ng airline na hanapin yun ambulance namin at pakitanong kung sila ay may dalang monitor at ventilator kasi ay kelangan na namin iwan ang aming mga makina sa plane para ibalik nila sa dowha. Nang sa gayon ay di na namin bitbit ang kebibigat na gamit na ito after maihatid sa hospital si ate cora.

Bumalik si ground crew: sir wala daw po. nasira daw po yun mga machines nila kaya walang dala.

Muntik na kong mapatambling sa nalaman! Welcome to the third world country. E samantalang may bilin kami thru the letters na ipinadala sa ambulance na kelangan ang lahat ng iyon pagdating namin ng pinas. haisssssssst.

Pero sige sabi ko sa mga kasama ko. We have no choice but to bring our own equipment. We cant travel without it. So gow na kami.

Ilang beses na kami nag medical escort sa europe (di ba nga at nakarating na me ng UK at ng Germany? hihihi yabang lang) kaya naman alam na namin ang sistema pano ilalabas ang stretch mula sa plane.

Kelangan ipatong sa troley ng cabin crew ang stretcher palabas sa pinto sa kabilang dulo. Sumagot na naman ang pinoy doctor ng pabastos ng:

"ha e pano pag nahulog yan dito? hindi yan safe! baka mamaya masisi pa kami pag may nangyaring masama diyan"

Nagpanting na naman tenga ko:

"doktor, ilang beses na po kami naghahatid ng pasyente at lagi po namin siya isinasakay diyan papasok at palabas ng eroplano" timping timpi pa din ako na may konting diin bawat salita ko. juskelerd.

Ang nakakaloka pa ipinagpipilitan ng bugok na doktor na ito na sa kabilang pinto ilabas ang stretcher kasi daw iyon ang mas malapit bakit daw papakahirap pa sila itulak sa mas malayong pinto e samantalang ito daw ay napakalapit.

Ilang beses ng sinabi sa kanya ng cabin crew na masikip nga dun. kaya no choice but to the far end idadaan talaga. Nakaka agas ng regla itong doktor na ito promise. Sa makatuwid wala naman siyang nagawa kundi sundin ang sistema namin. Natawa pa nga ko kasi anim na na scrubsuit na nurses ang nagtutulak ng stretcher. E di siksikan sila at di halos magkasya. Parang tanga talaga. Hiyang hiya naman ang dowha EMS team namin na tatlo lang nun pumasok kami ng plane 9 hrs ago haha.

Ito pang kasama kong indian Nurse at Iraqi doctor ay pasaway din. Sukat ba naman magdala ng ke lalaking maleta! jusme! apat na araw lang sa pinas e parang mag 30 days vacay kung makapagbaon ng gamit? ka stress talaga e di kay dami tuloy nilang bitbit na di ko naman matiis na di tulungan magbuhat at hirap na hirap sila.

Naisakay naman sa NAIA ambulance si patient namin after 30 minutes. Sumabat na naman ang ungas na Pinoy doktor sa akin nun makita nya kung gaano kadami ang maleta na dala naming tatlo. Isa sa akin na maliit. at isang maleta for my emergency equipment. Isang malaking personal maleta nun nurse at isang malaki pa for her equipment. at dalawang malaking maleta ang bitbit nun doctor na kasama ko. Total of 6. haha

"sa inyo ba lahat yan? nako! e san yan isasakay????" sabi nya na nakatingin sa mga dala namin.

sabi ko ng pabalang din: " e di diyan din po sa ambulance nyo. san pa?"

"nako e hindi kakasya yan lahat dito"

Hinanap ko ang ground crew ng Qatar airways. Asar na asar na kasi ako. Kinausap ko yun in-charge na ground crew na ihanap kami ng vehicle na pwde isakay ang mga bagahe namin dahil sa buset na doktor na yun.

Infairness mabait sila at nag provide sila ng sasakyan para sa bagahe namin! kudos to you guys! i love our airline talaga! super aware sila na dapat i-assist nila kami at all cost! i dont know baka na-informed na sila na dapat tulungan talaga kami or what.

at nun maayos ko ang bagahe namin at papasok na sana ako sa ambulance ng mayabang na pinoy doktor na ito na di ko na pinagkaabalang alamin ang pangalan ay muntik na ko mapatambling.

Ang ganda ng upo nilang anim sa loob. Yun talagang wala na kaming uupuang tatlo nun mga kasama ko. Hiyang hiya naman kami sa kanila. Sila kasi galing ng ibang bansa di ba. Sila kasi ang official member ng team dowha. Nakakaloka talaga.

Hinanap ko ulit si ground grew at ihinabilin na isakay nalang yun Iraqi doctor ko kasabay nun mga bagahe namin  since hiyang hiya naman akong paalisin sa pagkakaupo yun anim na unggoy sa loob ng ambulance. Hindi na kasi kami kakasya.

Nagsiksikan nalang kami ni Indian nurse sa kapirasong upuan na muntikan pa kami mahulog tuwing liliko ang ambulance.

Naghintay pa kami ng mahigit 20 minutes dun sa tapat clinic ng NAIA dahil nawawala daw itong official ambulance namin! jeskelerd! please help me. Yan ang laging laman ng isipan ko nun mga moment na yan! hahaha. Napaka init pa nun mga oras na ito ha kahit alas onse na ng gabi!

Nun sa wakas ay dumating na ang ambulance namin talaga ay pinigil ko nalang matawa nun matanaw ko ang pag mumukha ng isang konsehal na naprint ng malaki sa mga bintana nun ambulansya. taray di ba. hahaha.

Mas lalo ako naloka nun lumabas ang dalawang laman ng sasakyan. nakashorts sila ng wagas na wagas na parang mag sasabong lang kulang nalang hawak na manok na tandang. Napatingin sa akin ang mga kasama ko. Na parang sinasabi na ganito ba talaga sa Pelepens ang member ng EMS nyo? haha

Ininspeksyon ko ang loob at hinanap agad ang power outlet incase malow batt ang mga dala namin machines. wala daw. Sabi ko asan po ang oxygen outlet nyo? ito po dito po. sabi ni koyah. Pagpihit ko to check ilan ang laman: 200 liters!

Huwaaaaaaat?

Nagpakahinahon ako. I need atleast 1000 liters or psi or dapat at least puno yun laman ng tangke nya. E halos paubos na itoooooooo! huhu gusto ko na maiyak nun sa inis at magpagulong gulong habang nagpapadyak sa sahig!

"hindi naman po namin alam na kelangan may oxygen dito..." paliwanag pa ni koyah sa akin. Hindi na ko nag aksaya na makipag argumento sa kanya. Hindi pwde maubusan ng oxygen si Ate Cora. Dependent siya dito.

Nilapitan ko itong mga tao sa NAIA clinic if baka pwde sila magpahiram sa amin ng oxygen cylinder. Itatanong pa daw muna nila sa pinaka supervisor na inabot na ng siyam siyam!!! hanggang sa wala din naipahiram! jeskelerd!

Anyway, I composed myself at inasikaso ang pagsasakay namin kay ate sa loob ng ambulance na may mukha ng kandidato haha. No choice na din ako kundi tipirin ang kapirasong oxygen na dala nila. Sana lang ay makaya ni Ate ang ganito kababa na supply hanggang Pasig hospital.

Inasess ko if kakasya ang sangkatutak naming mga bagahe sa loob. Masikip. Hindi kakasya unless sa bubong namin ilalagay. FYI: ang liliit ng ambulance natin compared sa abroad na ang luluwag at malalaki talaga na kumpleto sa gamit.

Tinawagan ko ang kapatid ko na susundo sa akin sa hospital sa Pasig after namin maipa admit ang patient dun. Nasa C5 na daw sila at malayo na kung babalik pa sa NAIA para isakay ang mga bagahe namin. No choice ako kundi magpatawag nalang ng taxi. Tinulungan ako ng pretty girl na ground crew na kumuha ng texi.

Bait nila talaga! winnur!

Ako na ang nag volunteer na sumakay ng taxi at sunod nalang sa ambulance. Nun makalabas na ng NAIA ay nakahinga na ko ng maluwag. salamat naman.

After an hour ay nakarating din kami ng Hospital sa Pasig. Kasio may problema ako. 500 pesos ang metro ko sa taxi. Wala akong dalang pesos! only dollars! hundreds of dollars yah know. LOL

"sir ok lang po kahit dollars ibayad nyo sa kin ako na bahala magpapalit" sabi ni kuyang mabait na driver.

"oo nga kuya kaso ala ako smaller bill!" kamot nalang siya sa ulo haha

Sinubukan ko tawagan ang mahadera kong kapatid. Pero di ko makontak! luminga linga ako sa paligid ng bakuran ng hospital pero di ko sila makita! e dapat andito na sila di ba kanina pa sila nauna! juskelerrrrrrrd!

Hindi ko din makita yun anak nun patient namin at utangan ng 500 hahaha. Tapos biglang may nag "ting!" sa utak ko! si doctor na iraqi nalang! LOL

Ayun inutangan ko siya ng 15 dollars hihihi. nakokohiyah lang! pero what do to. No choice na nag iintay na yun driver e.

Naipasok na namin sa emergency room nun government hospital si Ate Cora. Ni-received naman nila ang endorsement namin. Mukhang baguhan yun doktor. I could tell.

Tapos lumapit sa akin at nagtanong:

"sir, ano pong settings ng ventilator nyo?" sabay tingin nya sa cardiac monitor namin. Muntik na ko mapatawa. napag kalaman niyang ventilator yun cardiac monitor.

"doc, naka SIMV pressure control mode po ako. with rate of 16bpm and 40 percent Fi02."  ako na ang nagturo sa kanya kung asan yun machine ko. LOL

Nag endorse din ako sa knya about sa condition ng lungs nung patient at lahat ng mga strategy na ginawa namin kung paano siya unti unti maalis sa makina. Nagtanong ako kung pwde na ba iakyat sa ICU si ate. Ipe-prepare pa daw nila.

Gusto ko sana sabihin na: teka 2 days ago pa kayo informed na darating kami from Qatar di ba? e bakit di pa prepared ICU nyo?

Hay as usual nagtimpi nalang ako. Ano pa ba naman talaga aasahan ko di ba, e di yun worst!

Nagtatanong sa akin yun dalawang foreigner na kasama ko na bakit daw ganito ganyan ang sistema. Di daw dapat ganito. nakakahiya lang di ba. kaya nagbiro nalang ako:

"doctor, welcome to the third world country"

LOL!

Pinag intay nila kami sa napaka lamig na ER nila. Sa sobrang lamig nga e tagaktak na pawis ko at ramdam na ramdam ko na ang oily face ko. nararamdaman ko na din ang waterfalls sa kili kili ko. Mega long sleeves pa naman ako di ba. LOL

May isa silang giant bentilador yun gamit pang movies ata yun sa laki pag kunyari may bagyo. LOL!

Lumipas ang ilang minuto.

15 minutes.

30 minutes.

45 minutes.

Wala pa din nababa or umaasikaso sa amin. Yun mga staff tuloy lang sa routine nila. Buti nalang nalilibang ako dun sa cute na resident doctor. As in ang cute nya! feeling ko nga lalo siya nagpapa cute sa harap ko e kunyari kasi titignan si ate cora. e wala naman siya gagawin talaga. hihihihi

1 hour.

1 hour 15 minutes.

Hindi na ko nakatiiis!!! tumayo ako at hinanap yun nurse in charge nila.

"sir. pakikuha naman yung cardiac monitor nyo kasi aalisin na namin yun sa amin."

" ay sige po sir. wait lang" nakita ko na naghahanap siya. May nakita siyang machine kaso wala daw cables. sira daw pala.

Ang saya. Sabi ko siya paki follow up nalang sa ICU if ready na sila.

1 hour and 30 minutes.

Nilapitan ko na si poging doktor sa desk nya at sinabing:

"doc aalisin na po namin yun mga machines namin ha? aalis na kami. pwde na?"

" ay yes sir, pwede na po. thank you po"

Nagi-guilty kasi yun dalawang kasama ko na alisin mga gamit namin, natatakot silang baka di mamonitor ang ecg ni ate cora. Sabi ko:

"doctor, we already endorsed her to the staffs. Its not in our hands anymore. Our mission is to transport her to the hospital from Dowha safely. And we did that. Now its time for us to go."

Kasi naman kung di ako mag gagaganun e walang mangyayari. Mapapanis kami sa napaka init nilang ER. Ang protocol kasi, pagka endorse namin. at ni-received na nila aalis na kami at kukunin na ang mga machines namin at sila na ang mag take over. Kaso wala nga nagte- take over! kaloka ang hospital na itetch!

Ipinaalis ko na sa indian nurse ko yun mga cables nya. Pulse oxymeter lang ang meron sila sa ER sabi ko pwde na yan sige gow. Since wala silang portable ventilator. Tinawag ko yun isang nurse at sabi ko i-ambubag nya si Ate. Inalis ko na machine ko at lumabas na kami ng ER dire-diretso!

Saka ako huminga ng malalim.

Alam nyo bang nun nasa Plane kami ay 85 ang cardiac rate ni Ate Cora. Bago kami umalis ng ER sa pasig ay nasa 45 bpm na lang toh! jusme pag di nila inagapan yun maaring mag cardiac arrest ulit si ate!

At sa wakas ay nakita ko din ang mahadera kong kapatid kasama ang bayaw ko na natawa ako sa naganap sa kanila.

"nako Mac! alam mo bang nawala kami! yun driver kasi ng van na kunuha namin akala ay sa taytay rizal itong hospital! ayun napalayo kami! kaya pala andami kong tollgate na binayaran!"

"kow! ke tanga nyo naman! o siya halika na at ihahatid pa natin sa hotel nila tong mga kasama nating bisita!"

Where's The Doctor? Where's The Doctor?

Nagkatawag ako sa emergency room kamaikailan lang para umattend ng code blue (may inatake sa puso), pagdating ko sa resuscitation room, sandamakmak ang mga kamag anak nun pasyente, halos di nga ako makadaan sa dami nila! Oa lang sa dami! Hinanap ko agad ang guard at tinanung ang nurse kung bakit andaming audience participation at ba't di palabasin. Siguro nasa kinse ang total nun andun!

Ayaw daw makinig ng mga kupal. Puro sila lalake at nakasuot ng traditional arab dress (thobe). At obvious na magkakamag anak sila. Pare-pareho ng built ng katawan e! Puro payatot! (uyyy laki-titi? chos!




Mga taga dito sila sa bansang pinagtatrabahuhan ko. Meaning, hindi mo sila mapapasunod sa gusto mo. Bakit? E dayo lang kami dito e! Sila nagpapasahod sa amin! Yan! Ganyan attitude dito!

Ang nakakabuwisit pa, ang kukulit nila! Nangingialam pa e critical na nga yun ginagawa namin para buhayin yun kamag anak nila noh. At sinasabihan pa nya ko ng dapat ko gawin! E di naman nila naiintindihan kung ano ginagawa namin!

Nung nag iinsert na ng endotracheal tube yun manggagamot, aba akalain mo nakahawak pa siya at tumutulong ipasok! e docktor lang dapat mag-insert nun at kelangan ng skills. Muntik na ko mapabunghalit ng tawa!

Agad na hinawi nun doctor yun kamay nya at sinabi'ng tumabi ka nga! LOL

Nung mag-stabilized na yun patient agad kaming naghanda para itakbo siya sa ICU for close monitoring and management.

Nung hinugot ko yun saksak nun portable ventilator ko, sabi ba naman sakin nun isang ungas in arabic: bakit mo hinugot????! wala ng hangin ang tatay ko! isaksak mo!Isaksak mo!

Gusto ko sana sabihin! wag ka alala sasaksak ko sa ilong mo!

Naloka ko promise! E may internal battery kaya yun machine ko! Pinaliwanag ko na sa knya. Pilit niya isinasaksak yun cable ko! E hello, pano kaya kami lalakad kung nakasaksak sa wall yun ventilator! Kung gusto nya, tibagin nya yun dingding at isama niya ang saksakan palakad sa hallway! Burat! Ungas! LOL

At nang pwde na namin i-push yun stretcher palabas ng ER, sila na mismo nagmamadali itulak! Muntik na ko maiwan! ano taing-tae na? may lakad?

Tulak tulak ko kasi yun portable ventilator sa may ulunan ng patient. Sinesenyasan ako na bilisan ko daw! Iritang irita na ko!

Palingon lingon ako, sa isip isip ko, asan ang team ko? naiwan ang dalawang nurses at natabunan na ng sangdamukal na kamag anak! Asan ang doctor?

Nun nasa lift na at nag iintay bumakas ang pinto, sabi ko in my super modulated voice: "Wait, wait, we cannot go without our doctor! Where's the doctor? Where's the doctor?" Medyo may authority yan nun binigkas ko haha!

Epektib naman! Mukha naman silang na-intimidate sa pagpapanggap kong men na men ako!

Napatingin sa akin yung mga kupal. Takang taka bakit ko tinanung yun...Pero nagsalita pa din ako..."

wait, please call the nurse...the doctor!"

Tapos parang nahihiya'ng tinuturo sa kin nun isang payatot na kamag anak yun nasa tabi ko...medyo may takot...nakita ko nakatapat ang hintuturo nya sa tabi ko...parang sinasabi: andiyan siya sa tabi mo brother...

Nun titigan ko ang katabi ko...maitim...mukhang kargador...Pana...naka gown....may stet na nakasabit sa leeg...may ID ng hospital...

Aba akalain mo yun! Siya nga! Si doktor nga!

Toink!

Namula ako sa hiya ng mga slight-slight na ten seconds ganyan! Taena kasi naman, sa sobrang dami ng naka puti sa paligid ko e na-color blind na ata ako! At isa pa, di naman kasi kapasa-pasa na mukhang manggagamot itong sumama sa amin! Toink!

Kala ko e taga tulak lang din ng stretcher!

Nung makahabol yun dalawang nurse, agad na kami sumakay ng elevator, at talagang walang kamatayan ang pambubuwisit ng mga kupal, nagpupumilit sila sumiksik sa loob! Puno na kaya!

Ano? MRT????! LOL

Dali-dali silang naghanap ng ibang elevator.

Nakarating kami ng second floor at sinabihan ko ang mga kasama ko na bilisan namin at once makalampas na kami ng third door ng ICU agad na i-lock ang pinto!!!

Tawang tawa ako nun ang bilis humarurot nun stretcher namin at dali dali ikandado ang pinto! hahaha! Para lang kami nagpahabol sa aso!

Matatawa ka talaga sa itsura nila nung maiwan sila sa kabila ng pinto at marealized nila na kelangan ng card swipe sa door lock para makapasok sila!

Yes!!!

This is me at the ICU main entrance :-)

Yukey

Tomorrow is my flight going to London, ( Feb 24) I am excited and nervous at the same time. I'm trying my best not to show any doubt on my capacity as a professional heath care provider, for my superiors will lose their confidence on me. I know I can do it. Its just that it is my first time and I know this is normal.

I will be escorting a pre-termed baby for a procedure to be done at a children hospital in central London. I will be traveling with one doctor and one nurse (ate eliza, which made me so happy because its much better goin with your fellow kabayan, mas masaya). It is my first trip to UK.

There's a reason for my anxiety. Too many things might happen when you're up there in the sky. Patient might deteriorate or worst, die. Its a bad record! or baka di ako bayaran LOL

And preparing your papers are stressful too, I also have to prepare all of my equipments and other stuffs. These things are not easy. Andami gagawin at papipirmahan! Grrrrrr!

Nakaka-toxic taena!

Pero ang pinaka nakaka-toxic ever e ang mag isip ng outfit sa 13 and below degrees na weather!

Thank God that I managed to do all of that, I hoped so! Wala na sana ako nakalimutan!

We will be staying in London for 4 days, all expense paid by our hospital by the way, well, actually its for 3 days only, because on the first day of arrival we would bring the patient first to the children hospital and do the proper endorsement and etc., then our service will bring us to our hotel, and Im planning to sleep first! LOL

On the second day, and the next and the next blah-blah-ba-blah we would be exploring the whole of London! yes!!! Shopping! pork! parks! castles! and....men!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so excited! sana magkasya pocket money ko! So any of my reader in London would like to give me a tour? I might get lost there hahaha! It would be very much appreciated.

See you there!

A Dying Wish???Nooo!!!

It was almost dark when I woke up, I came from a night shift, so I slept the whole day. Its a habit for me to check messages on my cel first before getting up from the bed. Three sms from Clayton. We just ended our cool off which supposed to be for a week! But only lasts 3 days LOL. We are starting over again and he told me he will visit his cardiologist that day.

Its not serious, he told me. But he still want to have it check.

But his messages made me worried:

"Are you awake? Doctor told me, the findings are still unsure..."

"Bebe, I realized my shortcomings with our relationship, for taking you for granted, I don't know, I didn't mean that. Maybe Im not use to the idea of spending much time with someone...I feel ashamed. I'm sorry Mac..."

"Bebe are you awake now? wala lang..."

Hold on, is this really my boyfriend?!!!! LOL

I mean he's not like that! He's always goofy and cheesy most of the time but not serious. In my mind: what happened to the test, maybe he is seriously ill, a bad heart condition! I immediately replied to his texts. But trying to be calm as possible.

Me: "that's good! That's why I asked for a cool off anyway, for you to realize stuffs...So what now?"

Clayton: "Nothing, I just wanna change. For us. Please help me..."

Me: "I already told you what I noticed about you...its up to you now..."

Clayton: "No, I'm asking for your patience. If you can't stand me anymore, or you got tired of me already, just tell me...I'll take the blame. Its on me..."

Now it got me more worried! Its seems I'm talking to a different person! I'm nervous, damn it! Maybe he just don't wanna tell me he is dying! I mean why on earth you would speak as if you have a dying wish like that, and you wanna make up for all the stuffs you think you did was bad????

Me: "wait, wait..what led to this realization Clayton? Tell me!!! grrrrr!

Clayton: " When I was having the doctor's check up...I suddenly realized that life is so short...and I want to make into reality my plans with you for the future."

Me: "what does the doctor told you? You sounds like the findings are serious! Its like your dying!"

Clayton:" No idea Bebe. My mom's the one talking to him. I don't wanna hear what he has to say. Its better that way. What we don't know wont hurt us, ayt?hehe. Like what I've said before and mean it...I love you, Mac. As in uber..."

Me:" I love you too Clayton. Andaya mo naman..kakainis ka...you're only making me worried here! Tell me the result, I know you already knew!!!"

Clayton:" No need to worry. I'm good. I don't want you to think of anything else. Just focus on work, your family, friends...and us... Yun lang. Don't stress yourself. Mwah! "

Me:"Maybe there is already a findings and the result, you just don't wanna tell me!! ano bah!!!!!!!!!"

I'm restless that night. I wanna know the truth. I want to squeeze it out from him.

Clayton:" Gago! Wag ka nga ganyan. Takte ka! sasabihin ko naman agad noh. Duh. Pumasok ka na nga sa work! Pinapainit mo ulo ko eh! hahaha. I love you."

(idiot! don't be like that! damn you! I will tell you if its something ok? Go to work, you're annoying me! hahaha. I love you)

I was laughing too hard when he said that! I could imagine his face being so half annoyed! hayyyyy. I said goodnight to him and did a little prayer up above that my boyfriend will be OK.

Passageway

I saw my younger cousin today, he's 10 years old, and wearing a...skirt!!!
to my surprised! hehe but he seems so proud of it ,and told me "tuli na ko!"
"oh...that's why. I thought to myself. He's circumcised now".
I remember my circumcision days, I have mine right after grade six.
But i didn't wore skirts or "daster"
I wore a gown!LOL!

Its a tradition here in the Philippines that every male kid during the summer, before he reached 12 years old that he should undergo the procedure of circumcision or "tuli" other parents do it on their children while they are still babies or else, you will be teased "supot" or uncut, and its a shameful thing if others found out about it.Only in the Philippines hehe.Its like every man's passageway to adulthood, that you are no longer a kid "makakabuntis na" said by my folks.

On my case, I was turning 12 that time and I knew it was coming! I'm kinda nervous about it. I heard that they are injecting the large needle of anaesthesia right in the hole of my penis! at the urethra!I imagined it and scared the hell out of me!LOL. I told that to my father when were alone at the house and he told me that its a lie!That its not done that way, not in the urethra where urine comes out and semen too (which i later found out of course!haha)

(Wanna see uncut erected penis?click here.Check out male sex anatomy here)

He told me that the needle was injected at the outer skin only of the penis, that my friends are just scaring me. Maybe he thought that I'm still confused, so to my shock, father pulled down his shorts and underwear in front of me and showed me his d*ck!!!!!!!!waaaaaa! it was horrible!!!!!!!!!!My eyes are wide opened that I thought it was needed to be sewed to make it close!he gave me a demonstration and where it will be cut and all!I have nightmares for so many nights!

When I looked back I cant help but laughing my ass off! Dad looks like that father of that guy at the movie American Pie where he overdid everything!haha. Anyway, going back to my circumcision story, aside from the needle scare, there's one major-major problem that I realized later....I already have pubic hair!Waaaaa!Its too soon!

One time I was at the bathroom and I touched something around my genitals, I didn't realized it at first, until I examined it, but it was really pubic hairs! I felt like crying..this is bad, i told to myself and embarrassing too!!!!Imagine, what will the doctor think of me? that Im too old for circumcision? that I should have done it earlier!I didn't tell anyone of this, they might laughed at me for centuries!

I thought of a brilliant plan. I'll shave it. I found myself in front of the mirror on the floor my legs wide open and shaving LOL! I also discovered there are hairs growing directly at my crotch areas haha in other words "my bulb*l sa betl*g ko" hahaha! When Im done with it, I'm not happy at all..its too obvious that I shaved it huhu if Brazilian wax was available at that time I could have resort to that!LOL!

When I have my judgement day, the doctor asked me to strip and lie down on the bed, I felt like my face turned into violet! I just closed my eyes and ignored his "mysterious smile" when he sees my "bazooka" LOL!

(They said circumsicion is more hygienic and lower the risk of STD.Read here)
(Read history of circumcision here)

choose which style suits you

Lets talk about penis.When did you have your circumcision?haha
Are you from "pukpok" or with a doctor?
Do you mind if your sex partner is uncut or not?

What The Hell is an RT?

I'm sick and tired of telling people about my job,I am a respiratory therapist! but they don't know what it is !hahaha and they were like,what the hell is that?! Every time I'm chatting online or meeting some one on a date and they would ask about my job,they have no idea about it.Unless of course if you work on a hospital like me.

So i decided to give you guys an idea about the nature of my work,I searched some pictures so that you would have a much clearer understanding.I worked as an RT for 5 years at a tertiary hospital in the south.My course in college was B.S Respiratory Therapy.But i gotta admit,only few are getting this course we are not as popular as the PT's or the OT's and the Nurses,well maybe because this is not a glamorous job.

So here it is :

When a patient arrived at the ER and have a difficulty of breathing (nangingitim na kuko at mga kamay and lips) and all signs indicating that he needs an invasive help to breath (OR any patient confined at the hospital) we immediately do a procedure- intubation where-in the doctor will insert a tube into his mouth directly to his trachea(lalamunan) and lungs to breath.We are required to be there when they start to do this.We assist the doctor together with the duty nurse.I was the one responsible checking the air sounds if the doctor inserted the tube right.If I say "out" he will do it again until he's "in" hehe taray!

Code blue-this is the craziest time! If I'm on duty especially at night!(tanggal ang antok ko!haha).When they call our laboratory and say its a code blue humanda ka na!This is when a patient suddenly stops breathing or suffered a cardiac arrest.Everyone was like running here and there giving this and that medication and injections to make the heart beats again.What is my role?I am the one giving the CPR,the heart compressions(like you see on the pic,kapag napagod salitan kami ng doctor or headnurse) and sometimes using defibrillators.The staff included in a code blue are: the doctor,me(RT),head nurse,nurse,med tech,x-ray tech,midwife and an orderly.This usually takes 30minutes to 1 hour,and I gotta tell you its tiring you have to make that patient alive in 30minutes to an hour,if not,dedo na yun!

Once we revived the patient's heart,I have to rush to the ICU to prepare this machine:the mechanical Ventilator-responsible for breathing for the patient until he can completely breaths on his/her own.I have to set and manipulate this machine with the doctors orders on how many breaths it have to give and how much air does a patient needs including the alarm systems.

Then here it is,after checking if the machine is ready,I will hook the patient in its tubings and check again if there is an equal air going in and out of the lungs.If there are too much secretions(like plema or dugo)we need to suction it using a suction machine sometimes an entire bottle was filled with this secretions so kadiri talaga!Pero sanay na me!hehe.I can compare it to a Bavarian fillings hehe

Same procedure with the infants.Then we have to monitor these patients whether adult or babies every now and then and coordinate with the nurses.That's why the nurses are my best friends!hehe

we do check their tubings and conditions if they are comfortable and if they are ready to breath on their own,we asses and do some suggestions to the doctors.

This is a less invasive gadget,we call this the oxygen hood.That plastic container was sealed and oxygen are inside to help the baby breath.

This is the PFT machine,this procedure is sooo tiring for me and the patient! I takes 30minutes or more to be done!especially if the patient cant understand your instructions (they may be too old or too weak or deaf to follow! lagott)This machine measures your lung's capacity and functions.Most of our patients are those with complications due to smoking and those with asthma and patients who will undergo a surgery.

This is my favorite,I'm good in extracting blood from the artery. This is called arterial blood gas or ABG.This is really really painful!When we were just students,we are required to do this with our partners!Ang sakit nito waaa!According to my instructor we have to experience this so that we have an idea how painful it is so that we will be gentle to our future patients.

This is the most boring part of our job,the nebulization-this treatment is given to patients who have difficulty of breathing,the medicine inside release mist and absorbed by the lungs once you inhale it,dilating the airways and air sacs.I'm glad we have an assistant to do that job.In other hospital the nurses are the one doing this.

Whew!this is long haha.But those are only few important part of my work, there are more procedure and gadgets we use for the therapy/monitoring of the lungs,I'm afraid it will just bore you guys to death so I rather not talk about it anymore.I hope I gave you an idea of my exciting and tiring job.But I love this job.I hope I can work abroad na,wala pa ko visa!!tagal nman!hehe.

A Rectal Examination!

Tomorrow, I have go to a clinic in Malate,Manila to have my pre-employment medical exam as a requirement for working abroad but I'm anxious about it ,imagine I'll have to strip down in front of the doctor if I'm unlucky they might do 4 person at a time! Meaning I'll be with other 3 guys naked!Sooo embarrassing!!!Waaaa! And to top it all, he or she might do a rectal exam!!!!

Look at some of the photos I've found at the internet with regards to rectal haha!