The D Spot

Grey’s Anatomy happens to be one of Monica’s favourite TV series. Little did we know that she would be in the same hospital drama like situation, on Christmas day! She started having abdominal pains on the afternoon of 23 December, but the chronic shopper that she is, this did not stop her from joining the family at The Block in SM North Edsa for some last minute Christmas shopping. In between, we consulted a doctor at the Healthway Clinic which has just moved at The Block. Because of the holidays perhaps, or since it was already late in the afternoon, there was no gastroenterologist at that time. We settled for a general practitioner. With no suspicion of anything serious, she was given her usual prescription of proton-pump inhibitor for her hyperacidity and reflux. A complete blood count was taken. Unfortunately, we were not able to get the results, since the clinic closed at 8 pm.

We had dinner at Flavours of China, the kids went shopping, we fetched BA in North Fairview, and we were home by midnight. Monica’s abdominal pain seemed not to have subsided. She seemed to have temporarily forgotten the pain, or it could perhaps have been that a certain part of her brain, the part which blocks all other thoughts and feelings when she goes shopping, was working overtime at that time.

Most Favorite Time of Year

Christmastime is Monica’s most favourite time of the year. She takes time out each year, trimming the Christmas tree, lighting the house, preparing the noche buena, etc. She loves everything about Christmas. That could be the reason why she didn’t take her abdominal pains seriously. In the afternoon of 24 December, we took another trip to the supermarket and picked up some baby back ribs from Kenny Rogers.

Monica joined us for the Christmas eve Mass at 10 pm. We were home by midnight, with Angelo and family joining us. She noticed, though, that the pain was different from her usual hyperacidity or reflux-related pains. She kept postponing the trip to the hospital, the pain masked by a grimace-like smile on her face, while watching the kids open their gifts. We all had dinner together. Christmas, they say, is for children, for us it is not only for the children. Christmas is for everyone, especially Monica.

By 2 am, she retreated to her room, and we found her crying, saying that she could tolerate the pain no more. We rushed her to St. Luke’s Hospital, and we were there by 2 am.

No Meds for Pain

The doctors explained that for cases of acute abdominal pain, no medicine was to be given to relieve the pain. Generally, analgesics should be withheld while evaluating a patient with abdominal pain. History, physical exam, laboratory and radiological evaluation, and for females, OBGYN evaluation, are important to ascertain the cause of pain. At that moment we didn’t have the radiological and OBGYN observation. Urinalysis yielded normal results, CBC showed a slightly elevated WBC at 12,500.

On a scale of 1 to 10, Monica’s pain, she told the doctors, was 8, then 9, then 10. She has a very great threshold to pain. Soon, pain was beyond what she thought was her maximum tolerance, it became an 11 and a 12, on a scale with 10 as the highest!

At that point, I lost my patience! Earlier, the interns and residents on duty were scrambling from one patient to another. It was okay at first, since it was Christmas day, when most people, hospital staff included, should be celebrating the day with their families at home. There was an elderly female patient who had cardiac arrest, then another female patient whose lacerations had to be stitched off, all with cases more serious than Monica’s. But soon, I had the feeling that Monica was not given any attention. I started to make a scene. I told the doctors that if they could not give any relief to Monica’s pain, I would transfer her to another hospital. And I told them I thought St. Luke’s was one of the best, etc., etc.

I called up Dr. Lilia Ortiz, family doctor and friend, who advised us to stay put at St. Luke’s and gave us the name of a surgeon, Dr. Vicente Porciuncula, whom the hospital staff immediately called. The kind doctor spoke tome on phone and assuaged my worries. I felt a certain air of calmness just by talking with him, and felt assured that soon, all will be well with Monica.

In Humility

In humility, I apologized to the interns and resident doctors about my behaviour, and thanked them for being patient. Now I realize that it is not only patients who need to be patient, but the doctors and hospital staff as well.

The Long Wait

Dr. Porciuncula arrived at 5 am, examined Monica, and scheduled surgery right there and then. She was wheeled for surgery at 5:30 am. I vividly remember telling her, aside from praying, that we would go shopping when she gets well. And she remembers saying, “mom, the tiffany necklace.”

It was a long wait for me and my husband by the OR’s waiting area. In times like this, a mother’s heart becomes a really prayerful heart. Storming the gates of heaven with prayers, that all would be well for Monica, that it would a simple case of appendicitis, and God, please, not anything serious. The 1-1/2 hour wait was a very long wait. Finally, at 7 am, Dr. Porciuncula appeared, and announced that Monica was well, and that the appendectomy was a success. He beckoned us to come to him, by the OR’s door.

A Macbook – My Christmas Wish

What came to sight was my Christmas Wish – a Macbook! I was not only amazed when the surgeon opened a Macbook to show pictures documenting the surgery; I was impressed! I couldn’t help myself saying,
“That’s what I wanted for myself as a Christmas gift!,” seemingly forgetting Monica at the moment.

Even if I was not able to buy the Macbook as Christmas gift to myself, the surgeon’s Macbook at that moment was more than enough for me. It was symbolic—that I have received a gift more than what I have longed for, a gift of health for Monica, which no Macbook could match. Afterwards, all I said was, “Thank you, Lord, Thank you, Doc!” Only then, did the tears roll down my cheeks. The tears that I held for a long time.

Thank You

Apart from the Good Lord, I have a lot of people to thank this Christmas day, particularly for Monica:

• Dr. Vicent Porciuncula for coming to the hospital at 5 am, his clinical impression and diagnosis, his unwavering decision to immediately open up, and the successful surgery. And yes, for the symbolic Macbook. Monica would also like to thank Dr. P., simply for being NICE. Simply for playing her favourite song, “Sailing” by Christopher Cross, while preparing for surgery. It was the first song she uploaded onto her Ipod. She likes it because when she hears it she feels like she’s being taken to a peaceful place. When she told Dr. P that it was her favourite, he ordered for it to be played continuously. She fell asleep before the second song ended.
• Dr. Ma. Fe Pacheco, anaesthesiologist, who Monica said gave her the best sleep ever in her life
• ER residents, interns and staff, who remained ever patient, despite my having lost my temper when I thought Monica was not attended to properly. They kept firm their decision not to give medication for pain, explaining that pain reliever could mask the symptoms of a case of surgical abdomen or appendicitis.
• Ward staff who took care of Monica.
• Dr. Lilia Ortiz, of World Citi Hospital and Cardinal Santos Hospital, our friend and family doctor, whom I had to wake up at 3:30 am, for referral and advice. We heeded her advice not to transfer to another hospital, for me to stay cool and not panic.
• My former officemate Edna Atangan, who saw to it that Monica’s medical insurance card was processed, even when most of the office staff were on holiday. Monica and I have delayed sending the pictures for the insurance card, as we wanted to have a studio picture (what vanity!)
• Issa Mijares, Monica’s best friend, who cheered her up, made her smile and even made her laugh
• Mommylola who was all the time nagging me to bring Monica to the hospital and not spare any time.
• Alan, my husband, who was there for moral support, supporting me even when I lost my temper, and supporting my decisions.
• Monica’s siblings who were there for her all the time, Angelo and Caren, who brought their 2 kids, Pia and Cate who have always brought joy to the family, BA (see related post), Angela, Pauline, Alan, Jr., and Vince (I quote from his post – “It has always been my problem, that I keep on thinking that Christmas should be a grand celebration enjoying the day somewhere and spending lots of money, eating delicious food. But this time, I learned that it’s much important that we’d stick together as a family and celebrate Christmas together”)

Monica’s surgery and hospital stay did not stop the family from having fun on Christmas evening. Monica said it was ok if we all went out to dinner. Her Mommylola volunteered to sit by her, while the family enjoyed a sumptuous dinner at another favourite restaurant, California Pizza Kitchen at Tomas Morato.

A Gentle Reminder

And don’t forget what we always hear or read in the advertisements: “If symptoms persist, consult a doctor.” Do not take persistent abdominal pain in stride. One of the doctors explained that appendicitis occurs in 10% of the population. Monica read somewhere that mortality rate is 10% for adults and 40% for the elderly. Very high, indeed!

Wikipedia gives a lay man’s explanation of appendicitis. It also states that mortality is high.

Happy Birthday, Dad

Monica was discharged on 27 December, her dad’s birthday. We were home by noon, went to church at 6 pm, and had dinner in another favourite restaurant, TOSH (the Old Spaghetti House) in Katipunan.

Happy Birthday, dad, we wish for you long life, and good health. We all love you.

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