A Day at the Clinic
I have an appointment with my doctor today. It was a follow-up check-up, so last night I slept as early as 9:30 p.m. Yesterday, I was so troubled because my balance in my wallet was not enough for today's appointment. And my husband could not ask for a cash advance from his employer because he hadn't started yet on his project. So it is inappropriate to ask for a cash advance. So I borrowed money from my friend Daphne, and she gladly lent me one thousand pesos and even told me that I didn't need to return it. That it is a gift for me to help me with my medicine. I literally cried when she said that. I was so lucky to have friends like them that I did not have to ask twice because they would gladly help me.
Then, before I went to sleep, I received a message from GCash. It was from our "bunso". I did not ask for money from her, but my other sister told her that I needed some and that's why she sent me some.
So I called to thank her, and she said that if she had any extra money, she would assist me with my expenses. I cried again when she said that. I am so happy because now I know that I am not alone in my battle. I have my friends and family to help and support me every step of the way. But of course, I am not thick-skinned that will only wait for them to hand me money. That is why I am doing every grind and hustle that I can find to sustain my meds.
So this morning, I withdrew the remaining BCH in my wallet, and it was only worth 918 pesos. That was my 2 days' earnings in read.cash and noise. So with what I got from my friend and sister, I withdrew 2,800 pesos for today's check up. Due to the fees, I was only able to withdraw 2,800 pesos. I kept the 500 pesos in my Gcash account because I don't want it to be totally empty. We arrived at the clinic at 10:45 a.m. and there were already patients waiting for the doctor, while the doctor was in his gym doing his daily workout. We can see him because the only thing that separates his clinic from his gym is a mirror wall. More than 20 minutes have passed, so my husband is getting annoyed already. He asked the secretary what time the doctor would start his consultation. She said around 11:30. And so my husband was more annoyed. I told him to calm down. He said that why would the doctor have his patients wait for him when all he was doing was his workout? Isn't the patient more important than the workout? I am getting annoyed too because I am already hungry. It was already 11:30 when he started his consultation, and I was third in line. So we have to wait another 30 minutes. I told my husband that I would go inside the room alone because, knowing him, he would surely burst out in anger.
So when I entered the room, I was nervous because my husband was not beside me, but it was better that way than to have a commotion caused by him. After all the assessment was done, checking my blood pressure, my body, my face, and he even let me read some sentences to see if I could speak and understand them properly, he said that I was doing good, that the meds had still had an effect on me. He told me to please follow all the medications that I have, to take them on time, and not play with my meds, because that is when the meds will have no effect on a patient when they do not follow the prescription given to them.
"Doc, what is the worst thing that could happen to me?"
"You'll die. I will not sugar coat the words that I have to say to you because that is the worst possible thing that could happen to a Myasthenia gravis patient. When you experience a myasthenia crisis, you'll have to be admitted, put on life support, and just wait for your body to react to the medication again, or you'll be on life support forever, and that means money."
"Does it mean that my life is numbered?"
"No, but you will live a shorter life than the healthier person."
I was not shocked or surprised anymore. Little by little, I have accepted my faith. I just have to make the remaining days of my life happier. He told me that I needed to return in 5 days for a follow-up check-up and that I needed the blood chem result when that time came. And need to undergo CT Scan as soon as possible. I have to accumulate more bch for that because we all know that CT Scan is pricey. He also told me to stop drinking coffee and soft drinks. Ugh, where is the fun in life?
After the consultation, I bid the doctor goodbye and headed out to buy the meds that I needed for a week. But sadly, I was able to buy it for 3 days of consumption only. My money was not enough, so I have to grind again. hehe.
And so that's it. I am still happy despite everything because the medicine is still working on me. I just have to follow everything that my doctor has told me to have a chance of a longer life. I know that God is with me in this battle. That he knew that I could beat this And also, I have you all guys, the bch community who keep encouraging me to continue fighting and my family and friends. I should end it here because I am getting emotional already.
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Date Published: February 23, 2022
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I need to go to the doctor too, but I can't find a queue at the hospital.