Eversince I retired in 2018, I had been seeing two different
kinds of doctors for the past two years as a result of my being diabetic for
more than twenty years – an endocrinologist, Dr. Lu, who takes care of my
endocrine disorders which is the primary doctor who takes care of my diabetes
and my thyroid seventy five percent of which has already been removed in
2003. The other doctor, Dr. Guiang, is a nephrologist, who takes care of my
kidney as they started weakening since the beginning of the 21st
century.
My HMO, which is a carry-over of my employment at DLSZ, was
due to expire in sometime in May, 2023 as I am to turn 65 years old in
September. Our contract says it can only
be extended till that age. When I told
my doctors about this, they agreed that I might as well take advantage of it
and to run all possible tests before it expired. Following the suggestion, I had an ultrasound
of my upper and lower abdomen and my thyroid not knowing these would start a
battery of tests that will give me quite a scare and my first brush with the
Big C.
The tests yielded that my thyroid is acting up again. The result said that it has formed
calcification which means that the risk of malignancy is quite high. I was advised to undergo a Fine Needle
Aspiration Biopsy but even then, I have decided that I will just have to
undergo another surgery and have my thyroid completely removed. I thought that would have been the end of my
worries not knowing that it has only just begun. The ultrasound of my abdomen turned out that
I have developed complex cysts in both of my kidneys. I immediately reported this to my
nephrologist who advised me to have a CT scan.
I had the CT Scan at the Medical City and it yielded that what I have at
the left was Bosniak Type 1 which is okay and that they just have to monitor it
annually. The right kidney was the
problematic one because what I had was Bosniak Type 4 which has at least a 90%
risk of being malignant. I was advised by my doctor to see a Urologist
immediately to address this. As some
sort of appeasement, my nephrologist, showing me several diagrams, said that
normally these cysts are taken out partially and that if taken away, will be
the end of it. Emboldened by this possibility, I immediately went to the
Urologist to have these checked - but he was not available. I was only able to
see him after two weeks.
My meeting with the Urologist was not pleasant. Without any pause or introduction, he said
flatly that the tumor was at the center of the kidney and the only possible way
is to take the kidney out in its entirety.
What really bothered me was his statement that this might mean I will
have to start undergoing dialysis, something I have dreaded from the time I was
told that my kidneys were weakening several years earlier. My head began to spin and I saw my world
crumbling down. I immediately told my
nephrologist of this development and seeing how worried I have become, she gave
me the assurance that dialysis was not automatic. The kidney function should at least be at 15%
before one has to go on dialysis. Mine
was at least at 48%. Much later, I
would have an imaging of the function of both kidneys and it showed that the
right, which was to be taken away, was at 52% while the remaining one was at
48%. It was just my luck that it would be the better one that has to be taken
out but it is what is.
It was at this time that I sought to have a second
opinion. I went to another Urologist,
this time at the Medical City, Dr. Joel Aldana.
Now, upon seeing the position of the cyst, he said he was going to
discuss it with his anesthesiologist and see the possibility of an ablation, a
surgical procedure that partially burn off the cancer from the source. That gave
me a glitter of hope. He asked me to
return a week after he had discussed my case with his team. The following week, I went to see him again
and this time he said that neither ablation nor partial surgery is possible due
to the location of the cysts. The kidney
really has to be taken out. He said that
we can have the procedure done at St. Luke’s, BGC. Asking him for an
estimate of how much the procedure would cost, he said
aroung Php500,000. When he saw the price
blew my mind, he offered that my second option was the Philippine General
Hospital where he said it will be almost half of the price. I discussed this with my wife and both of us
not knowing how it will be at the PGH, it being a government hospital and all, decided
to have my surgery done at St. Luke’s for after all, the retirement pay I got
from my previous employer is still intact. My doctor got a schedule for me to have the
procedure done on April 25, 2023. Seeing that it was only two weeks before, he
ordered me to see a cardiologist for clearance.
I did and after having a battery of tests, it turned out that there is a
deviation on my right lung due to my thyroid which is acting up again.
I was referred to a pulmonologist who ordered that I have a
CT scan of my chest, among others.
Before I could do that, I had to secure a clearance from my nephrologist
to have it done since the procedure would require a contrast, a dye that would
show the organ to be scrutinized . I
went to Dr. Guiang only to be told that she won’t be available for the whole
week as she was attending a convention of nephrologists. That meant I would not find any from anywhere
as they were all in that convention. To find one was like looking for a needle
in a haystack. We had to cancel my scheduled surgery until I have obtained the
necessary clearance that it would be okay that the anesthesia tube won’t stand
in the way. After a week, I was able to
get the needed clearance from my doctor so I immediately went to St. Luke’s for
the CT scan. The contrast, which is some sort of a dye that would make the target organ be visible is not
pleasant. I knew it would cause me itchiness albeit not being allergic to
it. Just the same, I had the CT scan and
after a week got the result that it won’t be a problem. I was advised to see an
ENT for clearance. I went to one who
said it will be okay as he sees it would not be a problem – and yet, he added
to be sure, to have someone insert an instrument down my throat to see the
opening! Since he categorically said in
his clearance that he saw no obstacle as to why it would cause a problem from
his professional point of view, I showed it to my urologist. True enough, he wanted to be sure and have an
ENT view the interior of my throat. I went
to another ENT, who, put an instrument down my nose all the way down to my
throat. I was given the go signal. Armed with a clearance from the ENT, I went back to the cardio to get my clearance
from her. However, realizing that my
tests show that I have a slightly fatty liver, she asked me to get another
clearance from a Gastro. I did as told
although I knew that in order for a fatty liver to be considered high, the
number should be at least three times the upper limit. Mine was not even
double. Anyway, I got the clearance and
went back to the cardio who finally released her own clearance.
It was at this time that I decided to have my surgery done
at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) as my HMO has, by this time,
expired. I was contacted by my Uro’s secretary
who told me that my schedule will be on July 3 and that I should go there two
weeks before to get a reservation. That gave me plenty of time to go to
Calatagan, Batangas and do the school’s graduation stage. This gave me some money plus the painting
commissioned by its Principal, my good friend, Henry Magahis was my income for
the month.
One morning, I received an email from DLSZ asking me if I
wanted to renew my HMO. I thought they may have made a mistake forgetting that I
cannot renew anymore. I read the email carefully and surprised that the school
had decided to extend the benefit for five more years. I will continue enjoying
the benefit till I turn seventy. Great!!! It just might turn out that I won’t
be paying anything for this operation with it being done at the PGH. All that delay might have proven to be a
blessing after all.
Although I had to pay for a higher premium, I immediately
went to the bank to pay for the renewal of my Health Insurance. Everything seemed to be falling in the right
place. So, on July 19, two weeks before
my confinement, I went to the PGH with my wife to reserve for a room. As instructed, I had to be confined a day
before the operation. Unfortunately, I
was told there was no room available on that day.
They had a vacancy the day prior, July 1. So, I grabbed
that, paid for the reservation and was on our way. Again, that worked like a blessing as it gave
me more time to prepare before I went under the knife. Days before the procedure, I remembered my
friend, Doc Emer, who taught at the UP Medicine which used the PGH as its
hospital. I contacted him at his Instagram account and told him of my
plight. It was then that I learned that
he knew my Urologist - his classmate in Med school. He had to go abroad on the day of my surgery
and will be back days after when I have gone home. Just the same, he promised to endorse me to
my doctor. This turn out to be another
blessing as I found out from my Insurance provider that my doctors are not
accredited and that I would have to pay the Professional fees from my own
pocket. Maybe I can get a discount.
On July 1, we were taken to the hospital by my son, Mizel.
We were met there by Dennis Lopez, the nephew of my eldest sister by marriage. He worked at the hospital and promised
assistance with whatever we would need.
I was admitted around 11 am, three hours after we checked in. I was taken to room 708, which was
surprisingly big. I would have gotten a much smaller room for a higher price
had I gone to either St. Luke’s or the Medical City. It was immaculately clean. The only misgiving I had was I waited for
lunch, only to be told that it has been delivered already. An apologetic nurse offered to help me order
food from outside.
Soon, doctors were coming to the room to do their routine
interviews. Then, one of them asked me about the blood donation. It then dawned on me that I had forgotten about
the order to have someone donate blood, just in case I needed it. My two sons could no longer donate blood as
they have already done o together with Mizel’s brother in law, Jeartley. This was recent which disqualified them to be
donors, until three months have elapsed.
My son, Mizel, to the
rescue again. He is an active member of
the JCI and one of their programs is helping out with the Red Cross. He asked around and found there was of my
blood type at the Port Area branch of the organization. He made arrangements to pick two units the
following day. That settled, I had
nothing to worry about anymore.
I woke up the following day and since I was the first
patient to undergo surgery at the time, I was picked up from my room at around
5 am. I patiently waited while they were
all busy preparing the operating room. I
noticed a beautiful woman helping to prepare the room. When I got to see her name plate, it turned
out she was part of the anesthesiologists. Everybody was busy preparing the sterilized
room, machines being prepared while I remained lain on my bed. One by one, the doctors arrived. I was rolled
in the operating room and soon, Dr. Aldana who was to perform the operation
greeted me. It was at this time that I
was assured that everything would go well. I was asked to lie on one side, hold my feet
together in some sort of fetus position as I was being told by the beautiful
young woman that they were putting me to sleep.
As expected, I was roused from my deep slumber at the recovery room
after I was told I was under for four hours.
It was all over and I never felt a thing. It was there when I saw the beautiful young
doctor again looking at the records. She approached me and muttered that they
are taking me back to my room. It was there
that I gathered enough courage to talk to her.
“Miss, there is something I want to get off my chest.” Without batting
an eye, I told her, “You are very beautiful!”
She smiled and said something I could no longer remember. I was wheeled back to my room after what
seemed to be about less than an hour.
Two
days after the operation and I was given the go home order. This is quite fast
and I am on my way to a fast recovery. There are a lot of people I have to
thank for making this event of my life pass like a breeze.
My expression of gratitude will never be enough but all I can do is give my
sincerest appreciation to the doctors who performed the operation,
anesthesiologists, resident doctors, the medical staff, the nurses, orderlies
of PGH who made sure that I was comfortable and safe. I would like to thank my
friend, Dr. Emer Faraon, for giving a
shoutout to my Urologist, Dr. Joel Aldana, my former student, Dr. Raphy Arada
who endorsed me to his resident friends, Dr. MKristoff Delos Reyes,
Dr. Nats DelCarmen,
my nephew, Dr. Manny Glorioso,
Dr. Pau Gonzaga
and Dr. ED Ecle
for patiently explaining and helping me understand what I was going through
from the discovery of my ailment till my operation. I give special thanks to my
former student, Cong. Bryan Revilla
and his people at the Agimat Party list for offering financial assistance, my
eldest sister, Rosalinda Delos
Santos Lopez and her in-laws especially Dennis Lopez
and Andrew Lopez Cacnio for their invaluable assistance during my stay at the
hospital, her son Renato Jun Lopez,
my children who gave me their full support, especially Mizel
for driving us to and from the hospital and acquiring the blood from the Red
Cross, my friends, Raymond and wife Angie Cadlum, my very close friends, Ollie
and wife Catherine V.
Marcelo, my former principal, Alfred Sagum
who took time out to come visit me, Aura Gonzales-Trinidad
for the fruits she sent my way. I would like to thank the more than 450 virtual
and personal friends here and abroad, who liked, hearted or gave out virtual
hugs and/or commented on my post right after my surgery – my prayer warriors
from the very start. Lastly, I thank my wife for staying with me all throughout
the entire procedure.
While
I am still waiting for the result of the biopsy, I was told by my doctor that
the complex cysts in my kidney seem to have been contained inside and could not
have spread which means I do not have to undergo chemotherapy. Today is my
third day after the procedure and I am now at home and on my way to a speedy
recovery, comfortable, and in high spirits.