The D Spot

Lest it be rumored that I am very ill (...and the next thing is—I am dying), I am sharing with you the state of my health. And I thought that it is only the former president’s family who should be issuing a state of her health following treatment for colon cancer. Or, PGMA who has been reported to be in a hospital in Muntinlupa City—for removal and replacement of breast silicone implants as reported by the Manila Bulettin online edition, aside from her 2-day self quarantine following her travels abroad, and precautions on the over-hyped A(H1N1) scare.

The reason I am writing this is because I got this message in Facebook from a former office mate, who asked:

Subject: are you OK?

hi dine. are you OK? been hearing rumors about you being ill.  hope you can find time to reply and confirm it’s not true….here’s wishing you well…

love, L

Thanks, L, for the concern.

Before my family members, especially my kids, and friends hear it from other people, and before they become unduly apprehensive, if they hear this rumor from other people, I felt that I have to speak out. The nation may not care, but my family and those who love me do care for me.

Yes, I have been to the doctors, twice in early May for a minor eye surgery (actually, it was a procedure done with my eyelid) and I was hospitalized last May for which I shared a post I am Alive! Praise God! I also had complete workouts—pathological (meaning blood chemistries, routine and special tests), cardiovascular (ECGs and 2D Echo), x-rays and ultrasounds. Kidney function tests and adrenal gland tests gave normal results. Admittedly, I am 51, and these tests are taken just to make sure, yes, just to make sure that everything is ok, should be ok, if they are not, should be addressed.

My last visit to the doctor was last Saturday—blood pressure has been within normal except for a few times that it has risen again and blood sugar which has climbed up from the high normal to more than normal has now been maintained to comfortable levels. All the other expensive and special tests have yielded negative results (thank God!). Except that, hear this, EXCEPT that, my potassium level is still low, despite the potassium pills that I have been taking and the tons of bananas and oranges that I have been eating, which they say are the best sources of potassium. Other sources of potassium include  cantaloupe, grapefruit, honeydew melons, molasses, oranges, prunes, tomato or prune juice, and potatoes.

At least, the level is maintained—it does not drop further. As I mentioned earlier, potassium is that mineral which when in deficit causes hypertension. Tomorrow, I go again for another round of blood tests to check on my potassium level (and calcium, and sugar—again), and I do really hope that the potassium level increases, even if very slowly.

And I want to thank my family for taking care of me—hubby has been extra attentive waking me up late at night if he sees that I have not taken my meds. The boys have been my drivers, my little one has been keeping me company, to the extent of making kulit (he is on a 2-week vacation, hello A(H1N1)) reminding me to eat my bananas (gosh! I am having an overdose of bananas already). My girls have been very attentive, too (ain’t it fun to have as much attention as I want to?) And my mom has started to cook and serve healthy food now. And now, my friends—their concern.

There, I have shared with you the state of my health. I am alive, and not dying, THANK GOD!

Life is too short—there are so many things to celebrate and be happy about! So many reasons to live and love

Here’s me and Vince in a happy pic taken on Pia’s birthday a few days ago.

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