LOVE in the Time of COVID-19

This is where it all began: facebook SOTTO LIVE as an intelligent conversation among colleagues agreeing to disagree on some discussion points but willing to continue communicating altogether for the benefit of public information dissemination. 

Our first ever episode discussed
responsible social media use, with Dr Van Phillip Baton as special guest on loan from the Department of Health CHD7. 

Today as we aired our 142nd episode of the SOTTO LIVE, we have our most special guest Dr Van Phillip Baton debunking myths about LOVE in the Time of Coronavirus!

At one point in our discussion we dissected the myth that fighting can doom the relationship, but just like my personal relationship with doc Van, we can argue our points of views and opinion into the wee hours of morning in heated tones, but at the end of it all, we still greet each other "good night" as friends and agree to disagree.

After all, it takes two to tango and building relationship need work and dedication.  LOVE is a choice, more than just a feeling.  LOVE is a conscious choice to make sacrifices, putting the other person's needs before your own.  LOVE is making time for the otherperson despite the quarantine, the isolation, the geographic barriers and the slow internet speed.  LOVE in the time of coronavirus changed it ways of expression: staying at home, avoiding kisses and hugs and bless, being more online than offline, and sending airhugs and flying kisses to your loved ones, making sure they don't feel alone.

Rest, if you must

 

It has been a long fast-paced day today. 

Waking up early for surgery then catching up with the MSGC presentation.  I remembered stopping at lunchtime to squeeze in my not-so low impact core work-out in between meetings. 

After rushing back to finish paperworks, sign documents, resolve arguments, attend meetings then prepared for #TatakSOTTO FB Live program, I had to speedwalk to the training office to join my OBGYN "team" to support the interview for Gawad Bayaning Kalusugan team category.

Slowing down for the night, stopping to smell the roses/beautiful plants, we say THANK YOU for all our blessings despite of or because of all the challenges we face daily.  I need to remember to rest.  Good night!

Bayaran

For several years now, I have been pushing myself to make and publish one research paper per year.  However, teaching research to medical students and resident physician trainees, my ideas end up as their research topics for requirement purposes.

Moreso the COVID-19 pandemic brought everything to a halt, and now we are desperately trying to jumpstart efforts to encourage staff to do researches that would impact policy change, direct clinical management practices and improve health systems.  Collaborating with other healthcare professionals and academicians hopefully will help make work easier to bear.

Our hospital has begun work on COVID-19 related researches looking into the Impact of COVID-19 on the Healthcare System, Patient Management and on Healthcare workers.  Our first step was to start talking about our experiences during the COVID-19 response, looking back at how we handled the different circumstances for patient and healthcare worker safety.  We invited speakers and organized webinars for the staff and the general public.

For tonight's tweetchat, I get inspiration from our current endeavor on the COVID19 RESEARCH PROGRAM and the news article on DENR spokesperson Undersecretary Benny Antiporda lashing out at UP scientists calling them "bayaran" or paid workers.

1. What is your perception of the state of scientific research in the Philippines?

2.  What kind of support do scientists need to create  an enabling environment for conducting research?

3. Considering the COVID-19 pandemic, what type of researches do you think scientists should be focusing on?

NGOs bridge the GAP

Locked in a closet for privacy, I snuck out during lunch break to deliver a message to partner NGOs during the provincial NGO network KAABAG SA SUGBU General Assembly to encourage them to continue collaboration, partnerships and consortia.  Main messages I want to share is that:

1.  There is a big role for NGOs in the community especially despite of or moreso because of COVID19 pandemic.  Obviously the government is not capable of providing all essential public services to the communities.  NGOs bridge the gap.

2.  Teamwork makes the dream work.  Each NGO complements each other in projects, activities, movements. As Hal Atienza says "we make things happen".

3.  There is power in numbers.  We continue to be watchdogs for peace and order, social justice, and good governance.  We call out political leaders who might abuse their powers.

4.  The solution to pollution is dilution.  There is a lot of fake news that abounds on social media where our children are these days.  It is our moral and ethical responsibility to make sure that accurate reliable information is equally available to the general public.

It's called dengue

I was admitted to the hospital on a Saturday night.  Nurses were very accomodating, I just needed to walk in.  It helped that the suite room was awfully nice, and that the aircon was not too cold, because I was still having chills.

Horrible time with needles and pricks.   I tried to be brave when first try my vein burst.  Thankful that nurse Cyril was an expert shooter and was very gentle with this crybaby.  It was exceptionally difficult because I was dehydrated.

I was greatly relieved by the IV hydration and IV antibiotics.  I had fewer chills and no more fever, but my body ached all over and I still didn't have any desire to eat.  Considering our working diagnosis was a urinary tract infection, ai had to submit a urine specimen.  It showed ketones.  Somehow I was ordered CBG monitoring tid, much to my panic... I had to talk with ny doctors re what causes ketones in the urine.

Usually po pag nag starving po or keto diet, but common din po sa dm patients pag inadequate carb intake or metabolism.

An "aha" moment and the dreaded CBG pricks stopped.

Day 3 of my influenza-like illness, it was a Sunday.  I wondered why people started texting me "what happened?" Turns out my attending physician Dr Pen Villamor posted on facebook about me, her intentions were to appreciate thr things that I had done for VSMMC and for Cebu, but that getting sick is a reminder that we have to take care of ourselves as well.

The IDS rotator came in to inform me that the Dengue NS1 came out positive, so what i have is dengue.  He was also very kind to re-insert my IV line with one try, amazing sharp shooting skills!  We documented it with a selfie with my very attentive nurse Alice.

The chill now comes from IV hydration. Seem to have cough.  Slight Pain on deep inspiration at the right side of my body.  No more fever but with muscles aches and joint pains, and a terrible fever. I had a tough time falling asleep, but nurse Cyril was very helpful.  He even gave me a hot water bag to put on my tummy and turned off the aircon and electric fan, and allowed me to drink warm water.

So here I am, I woke up like this - ready to face a new day.  As nurse Cyril gets off his shift I need to prepare for a series of diagnostic tests and treatments.  My other labs werr abnormal too, but I will let my doctors handle that and just allow myself to be a patient for today.

Thank you Lord for another day at this life and thank you to all the people who cared to say a short prayer for my speedy recovery.

Influenza-like Illness

Day 2 of my influenza-like illness.  Everything hurts: fever, alternating chills and sweats, muscle aches and joint pains, sore throat and tummy aches. Haven't eaten since yesterday, can't keep anything down.

Waiting for the results of my RTPCR results.

Serve with honor and excellence

Today we celebrated the virtual commencement exercises of UP Manila via http://upmcommencement2020.com/livelink/ and although this was not a physical ceremony, we felt excited and fulfilled nonetheless.  My classmates and I were in constant communication and we all opted to dress up for the occasion while watching the ceremony:

Dr Pascual's speech seemed to reverberate in my heart.

1.  Be ethical in your professional dealings.

2. Serve with honor and excellence, not because of your reputation, but because we have a country to serve.

The titas of Cebu graduate from Diploma Course in Health Professions Education.

The valedictory address was spoken with so much emotions.  She cited Dr Jose Rizal's Adios Patria Adorada, so I looked it up!

https://www.univie.ac.at/Voelkerkunde/apsis/aufi/rizal/rzpoem7.htm