Satire: Marcleta Had aMedical Salad of Medical Diagnosis

The grand premiere of the Philippine Judicial Wardrobe Essentials (Spring/Summer Collection) has its teaser, where the ultimate accessory for a politician facing jail time isn't a high-end leather briefcase—it's a perfectly fitted neck brace, paired with a matching, standard-issue hospital wheelchair.

The internet is currently losing its mind over the latest photos/memes of former Representative Rodante Marcoleta.

Just days after the Sandiganbayan ordered his arrest for a staggering ₱75-million plunder case, Marcoleta underwent a miraculous medical transformation.

The fierce, booming prosecutor of the airwaves suddenly vanished, replaced by a fragile, blanket-draped figure rolling into a private medical suite.

We truly have to thank former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for this. She revolutionized the legal game. She made the neck brace the official uniform of political inconvenience.

When ordinary citizens get sick, they get a diagnosis. When a high-profile politician gets an arrest warrant, they get a full, multi-course Medical Salad.

Just like when Jinggoy Estrada was facing his own cell time and suddenly developed a fascinating checklist of spontaneous physical ailments, Marcoleta’s chart has become a beautiful, comprehensive grocery list of geriatric complaints.

Let’s look at the terrifying, "life-threatening" conditions currently keeping him in a luxury hospital room instead of a Payatas jail cell:

A. -The "Dire" Diagnosis - High Bad Cholesterol
-The Real-World Critique --Literally 85% of the adult population who eats lechon has this.
-The Scale of Emergency - 0/10. Take a Lipitor and get in the police van.

B. -The "Dire" Diagnosis - Degenerative Disc Disease
-The Real-World Critique - He is an elderly man. What do you expect? Back pain is a mandatory condition for anyone over the age of 60.
-The Scale of Emergency - 1/10. It’s called aging, not a legal exemption.

C. -The "Dire" Diagnosis - Walking Pneumonia
-The Real-World Critique - There are minimum-wage workers currently commuting on buses with walking pneumonia right now. -The Scale of Emergency - 2/10. Drink some water and rest in the cell.

The public is scratching its collective head, asking: What is the big deal? Since when did having standard joint pain and a high love for fatty food become a constitutional shield against a plunder charge?

If high cholesterol could freeze a warrant, half the country would be legally immune to the law.

But the absolute peak of this medical satire is the definition of "Strict Hospital Isolation."

According to his doctors, Marcoleta’s pneumonia is so highly contagious and delicate that he must be kept in absolute isolation, shielded from the harsh environments of a standard detention center.

Naturally, the very first person to breach this "impenetrable, sterile bio-hazard zone" was none other than Vice President Sara Duterte.

[Medical Command]: "Strict Isolation! No external contaminants allowed!"

[Reality]: VP Sara walks in ➔ Robin Padilla gets speed-dialed ➔ Political strategy session begins

It is a truly miraculous strain of bacteria. It is highly sensitive to police officers and jail wardens, but completely docile in the presence of political allies!

While the ordinary patient in isolation is busy resting, hydrating, and contemplating their mortality, Marcoleta and his high-profile visitors are using the hospital tray table to map out their next political explosives for the trial.

You would think that when a person is supposedly sick enough to require a wheelchair, a neck brace, and an oxygen line, their main focus would be internal peace, recovery, and medical science.

Instead, Marcoleta’s hospital room has transformed into a miniature, satellite tactical command center for the Duterte faction's survival.

They aren't checking his pulse; they are checking the news cycle. They aren't auditing his white blood cell count; they are auditing the prosecution's witnesses.

So, congratulations to the legal and medical styling team behind the Marcoleta Rebrand. The wheelchair is immaculate, the neck brace looks sufficiently tight, and the "Medical Salad" menu is thoroughly impressive.

But a word of advice to the scriptwriters: next time you try to gaslight the country into thinking a politician is too fragile for a jail cell, maybe don't invite the Vice President over for a live-streamed strategy meeting.

Because nothing screams "I have walking pneumonia" quite like actively planning a political war from the comfort of a subsidized hospital bed.

A Filipino Guide To Appendix Russian Roulette.

One of my colleagues was rushed to the hospital for an immediate appendectomy. Kahapon lang nakita ko pang nasa opisina… Ngayon ay nasa ospital na?

Good for her, she didn't dilly-dally seeking immediate surgical attention.

I am making this post para sa mga Pinoys who treat abdominal pain and vomiting as naimpatso lang. Here is a simple guide to Appendic Russian Roulette.

Filipinos always have that School of  Thought of Medical Procrastination where the official motto is: "Wait and see, and if it still hurts, we have to wait some more." 

In the Philippines, we don't just "get sick." We engage in a complex, multi-day negotiation with our internal organs.

 Today’s guest of honor is the Appendix—that tiny, useless-looking pouch that is currently screaming for attention in your lower-right belly, but which you are treating as a minor inconvenience, like a slow internet connection ... or a long line at the NBI.

It starts with a sudden pain around your belly button. 

A normal human might think, "Oh, this is a symptom of appendicitis." The Pinoy Logic: "It’s just gas. 

Or maybe I swallowed a fishbone? Or wait—did I eat too much ampalaya yesterday? It’s probably just 'impatso' (indigestion)." 

Instead of calling a doctor, the typical Pinoy calls for White Flower, Vicks VapoRub, or a glass of warm water. 

If you can still walk (even if you're hunched over like a question mark or Ann Curtis in Kampanerang Kuba), you’re "fine." 

If you cough and it feels like someone is stabbing you with a barbecue stick? "That’s just the wind, anak. Pahiran mo ng langis."

As the pain becomes unbearable ... Pinoys still hesitate and entertain the "Sayang Ang Pera Calculus."

As the pain shifts to the lower right side and starts to worsen with every movement, the Financial Defense Mechanism kicks in.

• The Patient: "Ma, it really hurts when I breathe."

• The Decision-Maker: "Huwag ka munang mag-inarte. Ang mahal ng consultation fee! Baka bukas okey na 'yan. Sayang ang pang-Jollibee natin."

In the Philippines, we have a unique medical philosophy: "The longer you wait, the more 'sulit' (worth it) the doctor’s fee becomes." 

We don't want to pay ₱500 just to be told we have gas. We want to pay for a full-blown, cinematic emergency! 

We wait until the pain is so bad that we can’t even pray to the Sto. Niño without crying.

Now, here is the most dangerous part of the satire: The Rupture. Suddenly, after days of agony, the pain... stops.

-The Pinoy: "Sabi ko sa inyo, eh! Magaling na ako! Himala! Nawala ang sakit!"

-The Reality: Your appendix didn't "get better." It exploded. 

It has officially given up on you and decided to share its contents with the rest of your abdomen. This isn't a miracle; it's a countdown to an emergency.

Within hours, the "Wait and See" attitude turns into the "Run for Your Life" emergency. 

The fever spikes, the belly becomes as rigid as a politician’s heart during an election, and your heartbeat is faster than a Marites running to share a new blind item.

What the ordinary Pinoys don't realize is the complication buffet waiting for us - the peritonitis and the sepsis and all.

By the time the family finally decides that "Sige na nga, dalhin na sa ER," the doctor isn't just looking at a simple appendectomy. 

They’re looking at a Grand Cleaning of the Abdomen.

• The Doctor: "It ruptured. We have peritonitis, sepsis, and abscesses."

• The Family: "Hala! Bakit naman naging ganun? Kahapon lang sumakit, ah!" (Note: "Yesterday" in Pinoy time actually means four days ago).

The Filipino habit of dilly-dallying with medical care is the ultimate high-stakes gamble. 

We treat our bodies like old Jeepneys—we only bring them to the shop when the engine literally falls out on the highway.

If your belly button is crying, and your right side is dying, and you can’t cough without seeing your ancestors—STOP. 

-Stop the White Flower.

-Stop the "baka impatso.

-Stop the "sayang ang pera" math.

A surgeon’s fee for a 30-minute operation is much cheaper than a week in the ICU for sepsis. 

Your appendix is small, but its ego is huge—if you ignore it, it will go out with a bang... and collect everything you got in your pocket.

Diverticulitis ... Life Threatening ToThe President?

In the ever-evolving theater of Philippine politics, 2026 has brought us a plot twist that no one—not even the most seasoned soap opera writer—could have predicted: The Great Diverticulitis Drama.

Imagine the president one night in the hospital ... to some, it becomes his abdication speech?

Abdication speech - meaning that the president is currently experiencing a serious health crisis, which forces him to voluntarily relinquish their control over life, power, and daily responsibilities to whoever is next in line?

That's a"dream come true" reverie for the next successor. Nagkukumahog na ba sila ...at nagmamadali?

While most people hear "diverticulitis" and think "maybe I should eat more fiber," a specific corner of the internet, the Diehard Duterte Supporters (DDS), has interpreted it as the structural collapse of the Republic. 

Here is a look at why they are treating a common gut inflammation like it is some kind of Black Plague.

To the average doctor, diverticulitis is what happens when your colon decides to throw a small, painful tantrum because you’ve been working too hard and eating too many late-night snacks. 

To the DDS, however, a "falsified CT scan" is the holy grail of political strategy.

Recently, fake medical reports began circulating online, claiming President Bongbong Marcos (BBM) didn't just have a stomach ache, but was facing "clinical deterioration." 

The speed with which these "leaked" documents—complete with forged logos—spread through group chats was faster than a viral TikTok dance. 

It’s as if they believe that if they wish hard enough, a routine hospital stay will magically turn into a constitutional vacancy.

What do you think are the motives behind the sinister plot? Why go to the trouble of photoshopping a medical bulletin and pretending it is Bible truth? 

Have we as people deteriorated, decayed, and declined in quality and in morals? Have we really gone to the dogs?

It isn’t about health; it’s about some political mischiefs coming into play. Whether true or not, these might be the obvious motives:

1. It is a constitutional shortcut - In the Philippines, the Vice President is always just one "unfortunate event" away from the top seat. 

For the Davao-aligned groups, imagining BBM in a life-threatening state isn't a medical concern—it's a daydream about a rapid return to the "Davao Group" style of governance.

2. It is a distraction, plain and simple. When you’re facing your own set of political headaches (like the high-profile probes into the Office of the Vice President), what better way to change the subject than by shouting, "Look! The President’s colon is failing!" 

It’s the ultimate "look over there" tactic.

3. It is a destabilization - By painting the leader as "weak" or "incapacitated," they hope to rattle the markets, confuse the military, and make the 31 million voters second-guess their choice. 

It’s an attempt to turn a minor medical diagnosis into a major crisis of confidence.

"In the world of DDS propaganda, a fiber deficiency is a coup attempt, and a night in the hospital is an abdication speech."

Despite the flurry of dramatic posts and the "urgent surgery" rumors, the President eventually walked out of Malacañang to lead a meeting, looking remarkably like a man who simply needed some rest. 

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is now hunting the "creatives" behind the fake CT scans, proving that while diverticulitis isn't life-threatening, spreading fake medical records might be life-threatening to your clean criminal record.

Ultimately, the DDS's obsession with BBM's gut health tells us more about their own political hunger than the President's actual health. 

It turns out that in 2026, the most dangerous thing in Philippine politics isn't a swollen colon—it's a keyboard with a Photoshop subscription.

The Sun At It's Warmest

The heat indices recorded this year have toppled previous records.  No wonder the Statue of Liberty decided to strip down to its undies at 40 degrees Centigrade.

Well, what do you know April 28, 2024, Iba Zambales prides itself on a dangerous heat index at scorching 53 degrees Celsius. PAGASA has already reminded us that 42 to 51 degrees Celsius is already unsafe and perilous ... how much more with 53?

Lest we sound like a broken record, we are reminding the madlang Pinoys to be extra careful to curb and limit the time they spend outside under the scalding and sweltering heat of the sun, especially from 9 AM to 4 PM. 

If going out can't be prevented ... make sure to bring a hat or umbrella ... and always remember to bring some water to prevent dehydration.

The world is now warming faster than at any point in recorded history. Warmer temperatures over time are changing weather patterns and disrupting the usual balance of nature.

Heat Stroke - First Aid Kit 101

When the heatwave turns deadly and the heat index is at an all-time high - Pagasa's effect-based classification reminds us that, a heat index between 42 degrees Celsius and 51 degrees Celsius is categorized as a dangerous level in which heat cramps and exhaustion are likely ... while a heat stroke is probable with continued exposure.

Let's suppose the humidity in the air is high ... that stops and prevents the evaporation of sweat from the skin. In that case, you can easily toast and barbecue your brain ... and your other vital organs overheat ... as you literally grill your insides from an elevated body temperature. When sweat does not dry out and evaporate like it used to ... it prevents our body from releasing heat quickly. The heat is contained inside your body furnace ... like an oven making you feel like you are burning.

The body normally cools off by sweating  ... and when sweating does not happen ... our body's temperature control system is carrying a heavy cargo ... more than it can handle.

This is the time for you to be on the lookout alert for signs that will lead to sunstroke - signs like elevated temperature ... skin is red-hot and dry (no sweating seen) ... feeling faint, woozy or unsteady ... tachycardia ... or headache and possibly high BP.

When you see these classic signs ... look no further ... because you are dealing with an emergency situation. Stay focused... and don't be the first person to jump ship.  You are needed here.

It is just common sense ... that when you deal with heat-related conditions - your first old reliable management is to cool down the person. Cooling down here doesn't mean literally chilling out ... calming down ... or going easy to relax  ... you dumdum.

Cooling down the person means ... cooling measures.  And what cooling measures can you think of that will benefit heatstroke patients? Come on this is an emergency ... do something.

If you are not used to grace under pressure ... and you can't function when the going gets tough ... (and the tough keeps going) it is not acceptable that you will just say: "My mind went blank ..." when you could have done a simple first-aid trick ... and simple emergency care ... when it mattered. There are 1001 things you can do to kill a cat ... and the same thing can be said of sunstroke -- there are 1001 ways you can do as measures.

These management are simple ... and it just pains me to know ... you never have thought of one.

1. Bring the person in a shade. Is that not a cooling first-aid? Or a place that is sunless, covered, and cool.  If it happens on a farm ... bringing the person under a tree or any leafy shrubs will be great.

2. If it happens in your house use other methods of cooling down.  Place him under the shower ... or let him cool down in a tub.

3.  If it happens in an orchard ... give him a good sprinkling using the garden hose. 

4.  If it happens in a commercial complex ...  a dip in the fountain is a welcome move.

5. If you are in the market or mall ... give him a treat he will never forget - give him a rocky road or butter pecan ice cream.

If you feel that's expensive ... ice candy or samalamig can be a good option.

6. If you are in the streets ... bring him to life by placing him in an air-conditioned store. If there is none ... douche the poor guy with a pail of water. Just do it ... pronto ... and mind the stabbing stares later.

7. If you are in a high-rise building ... break the sprinkler system by all means ... if you have the guts to do so.

Other time-tested cooling management include:

1. Place a wet face towel on the patient's head or face.

2. Give him a sponge bath.

3. Apply an Ice cap to the head.

See everything looks simple ... and all it takes is a boy scout who is ready with a snappy mind to think fast and quick. 

Whatever methods you use to help a patient, some of them are funny ... some are grotesque, offbeat, and freakish ... but at the end of the day ... you save the person's life.  

That's all that matters.

GERD 1. Basta Na Lang Kakatok Ng Walang Paalam?

Ang tagal ko nang nagba-blog pero ngayon lang ako napilitang magpost anything about a medical condition. Trabaho ko naman ito ... at direktang may alam ako ... sabi ng isang reader dapat yon ang inuuna ko dahil ito ang pinaka-forte ko.

Hindi naman ako doctor ... pero I know may konti akong alam dito na dapat iniishare ko kung nararapat.  But I don't want to step on somebody's shoes, at mag-galing-galingan ... kaya sabi ko ibibigay ko na lang sa kanila ang floor to share their knowhow and expertise.

Not until last week when I had an unwelcome guest sa bahay ...  kumakatok sa akin ang HEARTBURN at ACID REFLUX DISEASE (GERD),

Ganoon ba yon ... na kung hindi pa ako nagkasakit hindi pa ako magsalita? Totoo yan ... kahit nga sa pagibig "When the heart is full ... the mouth speaks ... and in my case "when the pain is unbearable ... my blog will showcase the kind of pain I am experiencing... and I WILL TELL YOU THE DETAILS at sakali mang mangyari sa iyo ito ... you know what to expect ... and how to manage them.

How it all started?

Last year kasi dahil may high blood or hypertension ako ... tapos matataas pa ang cholesterol at triglycerides ... ang advise ng doctor sa akin ay magbawas daw ako ng weight at mag-exercise regularly. Sa sobra kong gusto sundin ang doktor ... nagbanat ako ng buto ... at hindi lang putso-putsong exercise ito ... aside from putting a restaurant business and renting commercial spaces ... nagtrabaho ako sa orchard namin ... ang dating hospital worker in crispy white uniform na may malambot na kamay (walang kalyo talaga) at sanay sa trabahong pabandying bandying lang at lumaki sa mala aircondition na environemnt at klima katulad ng Baguio ... ay nakipagbuno na ngayon  sa trabahong hindi niya inaasahan pasukin - orchard farming, small-time poultry raising, fruit and vegetable growing, dressed chicken supplying, small egg production and distribution ... pati ba naman growing different varieties of hibiscus pinakialaman?

Almost compete na kami sa prutas - kung hindi kami niloko ng aming pinagbilhan (hahaha ... yan ang mga bangungot na bumabagabag sa aking kamalayan. Imagine maghintay ka ng 5-8 years para makita mo ang finished product ... tapos ang rambutan ay kaimito pala). At present may Thailand lanzones (langkong or langsat) Davao lanzones, Bangkok santol, chico durian, giant atis, Guimaras mango, Carabao mango, ponkan guyabano, Davao pomelo, rambutan, mangosteen, bananas etc na kami ... each has its own individual idiosyncracies at kaartehan para manatiling buhay at malusog.  Nagmistula kaming mga alila worker sa nursery at aligaga sa pag-alaga ng napakaraming babies - bawat isa may sariling topak at pangangailangan. At kahibangan.

Timing naman ang pressures ng pag-alaga namin sa mga fruit trees, manok, hibiscus at mga gulay started to make its toll ... not to mention na nakipagpatintero din kami sa mga problema sa negosyo at mumunting family squabbles that really made me loss weight fast and quick.

I was very happy na hindi ako nahirapan sa pagbawas ng timbang ko. Pero nasobrahan naman yata dahil from 185 lbs nagiging feather weigh na lang ako ... no pun intended. Ayaw ko namang isipin ng mga tao na naimpatso ako sa reversal of roles ko ... from clinical instructorship and ward management napasabak kami sa manual at physical labor ... yong dating trabaho ng tatay namin (na inaayawan naming lahat dahil mainit ... at dahil gusto naming umiwas ... ginawa naming dahilan ang magpapunta sa US of A) ... ay hawak ko na. A case of self-fulfilling prophecy?

Naalala ko tuloy kung paano ako lumobo noon. Kaya balik ako sa dating gawi - kain lang ng kain - maasim man, spicy, fried and fatty foods.  Tapos inom ng inom pa ng Cola drinks hanggang nagiging cocacola body na ako. Hindi pa ako nakontento laklak din ako ng mga Vitamins from A to Z  ... lalo na ang Vitamin C na sobra yata ang asim at naCC-ikmura na ako. Yong inaakala kong konting dagdag lang ng timbang para hindi naman ako mabansagang malnourished ... aba may delubyo palang naghinhintay?

Three days ago sumakit ang tiyan ko. I checked kung ano ang kinain ko the previous day ... wala naman akong naalaala na masama ang mga kinain ko.  On the contrary lahat ay masarap, spicy, maasim, pepper-salted and oozing with oil when bitten. 

Little did I know na ang kasibaan ko sa pagkain which I thought will not only put the much wanted poundage on my cheeks ... gagawin din niya itong  rosy cheeks para hindi maputla at di  mapagkamalang famished or ill-fed.

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GERD 2: Definition at Causes

So ito na ang siste ... the food that I actually eat in the last 2 weeks was actually my poison. Hindi porke kumakain ka ng three times a day ng masasarap na pagkain ... it is guaranteed that you are A-okey. Sa sarap ba naman ng kain ko ... nakalimutan kong mga acid reflux triggers ang mga ito.

At dahil maliwanag pa sa sinag ng buwan ang mga simtoma na pinagdaanan ko ... at buong ningning nilang sinagad ang pasensiya ko at binigyan ako ng sakit at parusa ng walang preno ... madali kong natandaan ang proseso ng aking acid reflux calvary.

DEFINITION: Ano nga ba ang Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease or GERD? Isa po itong condition na ang laman ng tiyan (gastric contents) ay rumaragasang bumabalik kusa sa lalamunan/esophagus. Para siyang alon sa dagat na malakas na hinahampas ang  sea walls at handang wasakin at durugin ito. 

Ang condition ay maari ng tawaging SAKIT kung type ka niyang dalawin ng madalas. Gaano nga ba kadalas ang minsan? tanong ni Vilma Santos. May sakit din kasi itong sakit na GERD ... palagi siyang naho-home sick  at palagi ka niyang na-miss. Because  of its constant visit ... ugali niyang diligan ng acids ang lalamunan (esophagus) mo. Ginawa niya itong imburnal ... or Smokey Mountain ... walanghiya siya. Eh alam naman natin ang acid sa ating tiyan is very strong at corrosive. Hindi mo namalayan may pinsala na siyang nagawa ... like giving you ulcers.

CAUSE: Bakit kasi may GERD pa? Bakit hindi na lang tinapon yan sa apoy to where it belong. Eh para nga itong dragon na bumubuga ng apoy at panata niya talaga na bigyan tayo ng  BURNING SENSATION ang tiyan natin.  Dapat lang na itosta na yan sa apoy. 

O sigi Tsong at mga Mamsie ... makinig kayo para i-Maritess ko sa inyo kung paano bumulaga si GERD sa eksena ng wala man lang paalam. At sabayan ninyo ng tingin yong visual aid sa itaas ... para magka-intiendihan tayo. OK po ba?

Nakagawian kasi na kung tayo ay kumain tapos lumulunok (swallow) may isang circular band na muscle (also known as LES or lower-esophageal sphincter) sa ilalim ng ating lalamunan na nag-re-relax. Yan ang kanyang trabaho ... paglunok natin automatic itong nagbubukas.  I repeat ... paglunok natin pansamantalang namahinga ito ... kasunod doon ang pagbubukas niya para payagan pumasok ang pandesal at kape na kinain ninyo ... papunta sa tiyan. 

After that ... automatic magsara ulit ang muscle na ito para yong pandesal at kape na kinain ninyo sakaling nagbago ang isip at gustong bumalik dahil nagkahiwalay sila ng kasama nila ay hindi na makabalik dahil kinandado na ng guardia. Para siyang security guard sa school na chine-check muna ang mga ID bago payagang pumasok ang kung sino mang Ponsio Pilato na gustong mang-gate crash. Pag pasok ng pagkain nagsasara kusa yong sphincter muscle (LES) para hintayin ulit ang sunod na paglunok mo at ang bisitang wini-welcome mo sa kaharian ng bodega mo.

Kung ang sphincter muscle ay tensionado at hindi nakapag-relax at hindi ito kusang nagsasara pagkatapos pumasok ang mga bisita ... pagkataon na ito ng stomach acids na gapangin ang iyong lalamunan (esophagus) ... dahil palyado at mahina na ito ... hinahayaang ba na lang niyang bukas ang pinto na hindi nakasara?

Ang palaging pag-gapang ng asido sa lalamunan dahil sa kapabayaan ng Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) muscle  ... ay magiging mitsa na tuluyang maangkin ng mga acids ang kanyang puri... pwedeng mairita ng acids ang lalamunan (esophagus) at iwanan niya itong namamaga (inflamed) at totally violated. Dito na naguumpisa at umusbong ang mga ULCER.

At bakit naman kasi  nanghihina pa ang lower esophageal sphincter (LES)? Aba sisihin mo ang sarili mo. May mga tao kasi na kahit bondat na ... kain pa rin ng kain. Kung may paglalagyan pa ... siguradong hihirit pa. O ... tinamaan ka?

Pwede ring rason ang pagiging overweight. Ang mga sitwasyong ito ay nagbigay ng added pressure sa LES at kung palaging na lang ganito ... luhaan at hands -up na ang LES kasi nakita niya ang kanyang pagiging iresponsable.  Tuluyan na siyang magresign dahil hindi na nito magampanan ang kanyang trabaho bilang door keeper. 

Tuwangtuwa naman ang mga acid ... at taas kamay pang nagbubunyi para lumusob na sa  lalamunan para ito ay lusubin at durugin. Parang mga tsekwa ... na palagi na lang naka-abang sa West Philippine Sea?

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GERD 3: Signs and Symptoms

Dahil naranasan ko na ang sakit na ipinataw sa akin bilang parusa dahil sa walang preno kong pagpaalipin sa pagkain ... at sa mapanuksong anyaya  ng sarisaring inumin ... tingin ko para na akong eksperto kung GERD ang pagusapan.  Feeling ko tuloy ... para akong walking encyclopedia on this topic. At bakit naman hindi? Eh parang nilumpo ako  ng kondisyong ito ... aba mantakin mo ba naman ... isang linggo akong hindi nakalabas at itinali pa ako sa kama ... making me wonder habang namimilipit ako sa sakit ... if there is life out there outside the confines of my room.

Take note ha ... despite the pain ... people will surely ask kung bakit hindi man lang  sumagi sa isip ko na bumisita man lang sa isang doktor? Ganyan kasi ako. Ugali ko munang tulungan ang aking sarili bago maghanap ng lunas sa iba. Sa nangyari sa akin naging practical lang ako dahil iniisip ko ang financial repercussions ng decision ko ... sakali mang papanig ako at pakinggan na ang madaliang lunas is the right option. 

Kung ang sakit ang driving force at ora mismo kakaripas ako ng takbo sa ospital ... ano pa ba ang silbi ang aking napag-aralan  kung ang mga desisyon ko ay galing sa silakbo lang ng agarang pag-galing at hindi na iisipin pa ang financial aspect ng sitwasyon. I bought extra time sorting out all this mess. Sa isipan ko nagtatalo ang mga contradicting pros and cons ... but at the end of the day ... reason win. 

Nanaig pa rin ang utak ... laban sa puso. And I was glad I persevered ... otherwise it would mean thousands of pesos leaving my coffers. Imagine pupunta ka sa hospital ng disoras ng gabi pagkatapos nagwaldas ng pera para sa isang sakit na pwede namang imanage lang sa bahay. At dahil lang sa nerbiyos at kapraningan sa kung ano ang nangyari ... magtapon ka ng pera dahil hindi ako nagiisip ng mabuti. Hindi ko talaga mapatawad ang aking sarili had I acted because of the fear of the unknown.

Anyways ...  umpisa na tayo sa ating  diskusiyon.

      THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: 

1. Heartburn - ang tawag dito ng iba ay acid indigestion. Ang ibang tao described it as "burning chest pain" at dahil sa pananakit sa dibdib ... akala tuloy ng iba they are experiencing mini-heart attack.  In heartburn may nararamdaman kang pressure going upward sa direction ng lalamunan.  Kung minsan akala ng iba ... the food na kinain mo ay papunta pabalik sa mouth. Totoo yon dahil nalalasahan mo pa ang sour at bitter taste ng acids.

Ito yong time na ang LES or lower esophageal sphincter natin ay nagma-malfunction. In our discussion in our earlier posts  pag kumain tayo ... ang sunod nating gawin ay maglunok (swallow). Everytime na maglunok tayo ... ang LES natin opens ... allowing food na magpunta sa stomach. In normal condition automatic din itong nagsasara pagkatapos pumasok ang pagkain ... pero if there is a breakdown  sa sequence ... something is wrong sa functionality ng LES. When this happens - lahat ng gastric vontents which include food, gastic juices pati na hydrochloric acid ay tinutulak nito pataas (acid reflux). 

Sa kaso ng GERD malala na ang sitwasyon - hindi lang aksidente ang pag-malfunction ng LES ... baka matagal na itong sira and it is not on a tiptop shape.  Ibig sabihin permanente na ang damage dala ng acid reflux - at ginawang nakanganga palagi ang LES kaya wala ng nagsasara para harangin ang mga unwanted acids na ito.

Ito ang tandaan ... ang heartburn usually umaatake pagkatapos kumain lalo na sa gabi. At ang sakit na dulot nito ay matindi kung ikaw ay nakahiga - why? ... kasi kung flat ang position mo  sa bed ... labas masok ang mga hinayupak na mga acids (HCL) na yan. Akala niya bahay niya ang tiyan mo at free board and lodging siya.

2. Pain - Dalawa lang ang rason why there is pain in GERD. Una dahil ito sa bloating dahil puno ng hangin ang tiyan. Sa lumolobong tiyan pwede ka magsuka at pwede ring mahirapan ka sa paghinga. Nagyari ito sa akin kaya alam ko. Ang ikalawa naman ... may sakit talaga kung nakagawa na ng tissue damage ang acid invasion. There will be pain lalo na kung nagkaroon na ng inflammation sa esophageal tissues ... pwedeng din itong mag-bleeding ... at pwede ring mag-ala  Michael Jackson moonwalk sila at napagkamalang buwan ang stomach natin at gumawa pa ng craters (gastric ulcers) sa mga lugar na ini-istambayan nila.

2. Dysphagia - otherwise known as (troubled swallowing). At bakit naman pati paglunok ay problemado aber. Kasi naman yong Hydrochloric Acid ay ginawa nang swimming pool ang tiyan mo ... at dahil retirado na ang LES ... wala na itong silbi ... yong dating mga guardia na humarang sa mga unwanted na  bisita ay senior citizen na. Stomach acid backing up sa esophagus can create permanent damage sa esophageal tissues. Minsan ginagawa nilang masikip ang LES kaya ang ibang taong apektado ... has problem swallowing.

3. Feeling of a lump in the throat - actually wala namang bukol sa throat in real life ... pakiramdam lang ng pasyente yon. Ako nga naramdaman ko rin ito. Akala mo tuloy nagka-goiter ka. Ang explanation dito ay ganito: Kapag pumasok na ang hydrochloric acid sa lalamunan ... it creates a feeling of muscle tension or swelling sa throat ng pasyente ... kaya nagiging praning ito making him believe na may bukol or may blockage sa throat niya.

4. Bloating/Burping/Belching - Ang 3 B's na ito madalas maobserbahan especiallly pagkatapos na ang patient was observed to have frequnent swallowing kahit walang kinakain as a result of the backing up ng acid sa lalamunan. This will allow him to swallow more air ... at ginawa ang stomach na magiging bodega ng excess air. Kaya ano pa ba ang aasahan mo sa tao na puno ng hangin ang tiyan ... kundi magdighay, umotot or sumuka. Expected na yon.

5. Nausea and vomiting - Pwede nating ihalintulad ang GERD patients sa mga buntis. Bakit sumusuka ang buntis? Simpleng sagot - the growing baby inside as it increases size pushes stomach contents out ... making her throw up. Eh bakit ginawa ang mga pregnant women as basis of comparison aber? Hindi naman buntis ang mga GERD patients. Hinay hinay ka lang Tsong pero ang explanation ay malapit na doon. Hindi nga sila buntis pero di ba kung bloated ang tiyan nila dahil sa sobrang hangin at dahil nahirapan silang ilabas ang hangin di ba parang buntis na rin sila. The excess trapped air will push the food out ... tingnan mo nasusuka na sila.

6. Shortness of Breath - same explanation as number 5. Kulit mo talaga sa pagtanong kung bakit. 

May shortness of breath ang mga buntis kasi sinisipa na ng baby ang lungs kaya parang nagmarathon ang mga buntis sa paghabol ng hininga.  Ganoon din sa mga GERD symptoms - the bloated stomach pushes the lungs to its seams kaya hingal kabayo sila.

(to continue)

GERD 4- Managing Acid Reflux at HOME

Yong acid reflux ... may theme song yan na bagay sa kanyang masamang ugali ... ito yong Strangers In The Night. Para siya kasing akyat bahay gang na umatake ng wala man lang abiso. They usually take aggressive action and begin the offensive at the time when you least expected it.Kung kailan ba naman gabi or wala kang kasama sa bahay saka sila umaakyat ng ligaw? Saan ka makita ng ganoon?

Pero familiar na ako sa mga simptoma at mga palatandaan ng acid reflux at GERD ... parang minamani ko na ito. Kahit basangbasa na ako sa pawis and the chest pain looks like its the real thing ...hindi ako nagpapanic.  Sa mga first time victims ... kakabahan ka talaga at lahat na yata ng mga Santo pipilitin mong tawagan. At dahil super-duper talaga ang sakit ... pupunta ka talaga ng hospital at akala mo katapusan mo na.

I saw it first hand sa mga pasyente sa hospital, tapos nangyari rin ito sa brother in law ko. Ayaw ko namang magdesisyon sa kaniya at baka masisi pa ako ... at mapagkamalang nag-dunongdunongan ... pero pumunta talaga sila sa hospital para makasigurado. I don't blame him for coming up with that decision ... dahil masakit talaga. At tama nga ang suspetsa ko.

 Sinundan pa ulit ito ng kapatid ko who exhibited the same symptoms... pero one word isn't enough for a wise man lalo na't mahal niya ang asawa niya.  I blamed myself for not being assertive enough - pero sa totoo lang ... sayang lang talaga ang pera. 

Nangyari din ito sa aming relative na tumutulong sa bahay.  Kinatok niya ako at putlangputla ito sa sakit ... cold clammy yong pawis na yon. Hindi naman siya diabetic ... pero kinuwento niya yong kinain niya at balik ng balik siya sa bathroom sa pagsuka, at nag-eebak daw ... pero hangin lang naman ang lumalabas. E meron akong emergency na gamot na nakalaan para sa akin just in case. Kusa niya itong kinuha eh sabi ba naman "mamatay na ako sa sakit ... ano pa ba ang gagawin natin eh alas dos ng umaga at tulog ang lahat ... pati ang doktor. Walang mawawala sa akin kung subukan ko ang gamot mo." May point din naman di ba?

Sa totoo lang pagkatapos niyang mag-inom ... after 5 minutes parang spilled water lang siya sa mesa ... isang punas lang tanggal at malinis na ang chest pains niya. That was almost an instant relief.

Mga Tsong at Mamshie makinig kayo para magkalinawagan tayo.  Hindi ko sinabing gayahin ninyo ako. Bawal mag-doktor doktoran at lalong bawal ang self medication. Ang gamot ay dapat prescribed ng inyong doctor. The relative I was talking about na inagaw ang gamot ko ... pagkatapos niyang na-relieve sa aking gamot the next thing she did that morning ay pumunta sa doktor niya. Kinuwento niya ang nangyari ... pati ang pagkuha ng gamot ko na nakatulong naman sa symptoms niya. Ngayon legal na niyang mabili yong gamot ko - at legal na niyang maiinom kahit sinong Herodes pa ang haharang. Nagiging medicine of choice niya ito kaya binigyan siya ng reseta.

Ako practical lang akong tao ... at ginagamit ko ang utak ko. Hindi ako nagpadala sa nerbiyos ... kesyo ... at baka. Eh noong nangyari yong attack, I told myself to relax and think. Which I did ... kaya sinubukan ko muna gamitin yong konting stock knowledge ko ... kung walang nangyari ... e di direcho na sa doctor o hospital kinabukasan. Fair enough?

Basta ako ... I can't forgive myself for throwing away hard-earned money paying for hospital bills when I can manage the situation at home without spending a buck or two.

MANAGEMENT: 

I want to emphasize na ang sakit na GERD ay traidor. If it is not treated  pwede itong magbigay ng problema sa iyo kung payagan mo at hindi mo ito seryosohin. Good thing maraming tao ngayon ang maka-manage  ng sakit na ito at home by way of self-care and lifestyle changes. ITO ang mga dapat gawin lung sa bahay ka lang.

1. Eat right.  Huwag kang masiba. Huwag kang kain ng kain - na kung maghikab ka makikita na ang pepperoni sa ngala-ngala mo. Basta ang isipin mo: Pag bondat na ang tiyan mo ... maghunos dili kang dagdagan pa ang sobra na. Chances are naghihibtay lang si acid reflux ng fo-signal..

2. Eat slowly. Dahan-Dahan lang is the key. Kung pwede 6 SMALL frequent feedings daily ang bagay sa iyo. I know hindi mo gusto ito kasi hindi mo nakasanayan.  Pero  kung i-compare mo yan sa 3 LARGE meals daily - doon na ako sa una basta walang acid reflux.

3. Know acid reflux triggers - Alam mo naman ang mga bawal na pagkain --- sadya ka lang marupok kapag pagkain ang pagusapan..  Alcohol, citrus, chocolate, tea, coffee, garlic, onions, tomatoes, spicy and fatty foods. Included diyan ang sigarilyo kahit hindi pagkain yan. Huwag ka ng sasabat.

4. Avoid cola and carbonated drinks. Ang mga inuming ito ay takaw-dighay. They make you belch or burp kaya yong hydrochloric acid is backing up at bumabalik sa esophagus. This is a clear picture of a reflux in action. Kaya hanggang tubig ka na lang.

5. Avoid lying after eating.  Maglakad-lakad ka kuya.  Kasi pag nakahiga ka ... isang kalabit lang nandiyan na si acid reflux. Flat ka kasi sa kama.  Naghihintay lang siya ng pagkataon para magbantay salakay.

6. Stay away from strenous exercises after eating. Huwag kang magjumping jack kasi para mo na lang winawasiwas ang tiyan mo. Lalo na yong mga bending exercise ... para ka nang nag-tumbling diyan at ini-encourage mo pa si acid reflux na umakyat. Pag nakatayo ka kasi ... gravity will make sure na mahirapan silang maglambitin papunta sa esophagus.

7. Sleep with an elevated head. Si Edward yong panday namin ... devised this novel idea na gawan ng "sapatos" ang aking kama. Tawa akong tawa ... pati ba naman kama may sapatos. He placed blocks on the head part of my bed ... kaya slighly inclined ang kama. Talagang nakatulong!

8. Loss weight. Imagine matabang tao ... tapos lomolobo pa  ang tiyan?

9.  Quit smoking.  Ito tip ko sa inyo mga dude. Nicotine relaxes your lower esophageal sphincter ... kaya kaibigan ito ng acid reflux. Huwag nang makulit. OK?

10. Consult your doctor and have your medications ready. Ako Gaviscon sa sachet  lang naman ang katapat. At mura na at P40. Pwede rin ang Mylanta, Pantoprazole, Pepcid, Prevacid atbp. Basta ano ang nasa prescription ... yon na!

10. When sleeping make sure you are sleeping on your left side. Tingnan mo ang image sa ibaba ... napaka self explanatory.