Thursday, April 21st, 2005 | 1,936 Views
Chronological Events of the happenings during my confinement at the hospital and my recovery at home:
Sunday, April 3, 2005
I asked my boss if it was okay to off-set my day-off from Wednesday to Monday. She readily agreed. I managed to get a few hours sleep and proceeded to get busy with the PS2 all day. When I got tired of it, I decided to tidy up the pad. Even though I hated doing these types of chores, I pushed myself into doing it to forget my infinite sadness. Good. It worked for 3 hours. I spent the rest of the day reading, playing, eating, and doing just about anything I could get my hands on. I managed to get some shut-eye at around 4 in the morning.
Tuesday, April 5, 2005
I woke up at around 11 am. Followed my daily routine of making coffee and proceeded to get to work. I still felt sad and alone. I was almost late that day. I punched in a minute before 12 noon. Not much happened that day. I was touched by JJ, my big sensitive co-worker and friend. He noticed that I was not as boisterous or loud as I used to be. He said that he could see the sadness in my eyes. He told me this while we had lunch. I was trying my best to pop my usual smile, but miserably failed. I was moved to tears by his sensitivity to my feelings. I kept the water from falling from eyes but I’m pretty sure that he noticed that I was on the verge of tears. He quickly changed the subject for me. I was relieved. Dianne also noticed my sadness that day. She was comforting me at the Podium and was her usual funny self. Good thing I was the Break-master that day, else my loneliness would have eaten me alive.
Wednesday, April 6, 2005
Still couldn’t sleep right. It was the usual toss and turns and the super light sleep that came, waking up at the slightest noise. I didn’t expect the melancholy to have this effect on me. I woke up at 1pm feeling exhausted and very late for work. The odd thing was that I didn’t exert any effort to hasten my actions that day. I just moved around feeling depressed and alone. I got to work a few minutes before 2 pm. Everyone laughed at me for being late. I had to pay the fine of 100 pesos. You see, if you were late in the first 10 minutes, you had to pay 50 pesos. Every succeeding minute thereafter would be a 5-peso charge, but not exceeding 100 pesos. The total earnings were added up at the end of the month and spent in a night of partying. Neat. When I got to the Podium feeling embarrassed and all, I asked Dianne if I could be the Break-master for the day. I begged her for this job lest my dejection eat my alive. Again, I was my unusually quiet self and on the verge of tears. Depression sucks. Anyway, at around 6 pm, I felt this dull pain welling up in my right side just above my hip bone. I ignored it thinking it was the effect of sleep deprivation. The pain kinda left me once I focused my attention at something, but the moment I remembered the pain, it came shooting back pounding on my insides. Everyone at the Podium heard my whining about the pain. No one was concerned dismissing it as a simple stomach ache. I thought so too. Since there were only a few minutes before our end of shift, I decided to pass dinner until before I went home. Oddly, the pain didn’t leave me anymore. It was building up inside me and was keeping me from concentrating on the things I had to do. I went home feeling depressed and in pain. Arrived at around 11 pm, ate dinner, and lied down in bed to read. I was exhausted and despondent beyond measure. I managed to finish Anne Rice’s “The Mummy” at around 1 am. I barely understood the whole story since the pain I was feeling overwhelmed me. Clutching my side, I went to my flat mate, Jeky’s room, woke her up, and asked if she could take me to the hospital. I suspected that the pain I was in was caused by a swollen appendix. We headed straight for the ER of the Makati Medical Center, popularly known as “Makati-Med.” I feared that they were going to ask a few thousand bucks for deposit if I was admitted but they proved me wrong. The moment I came through the hospital doors, I was immediately accommodated, my vital signs checked, and was sent to the ER doctor’s room.
The rather sporty-looking female doctor was the one who made some tests on me. She pressed my painful side several times and had me explain the type of pain that I felt. She also flexed my legs to see if I felt any pain at all. She asked me if I had any fever, or if I was vomiting and stuff. I answered negative to all her questions except for feeling extreme pain when pressure was applied my painful side and shooting pain when the pressure was released. She instructed me to proceed to another room for a CBC (complete blood count), and a urine sample and to wait for the results. The nursed ordered me into a small cubicle where I lay
down hoping the tests would indicate negative on the appendicitis issue.
A couple of hours later the doctor went to my bed took off her clothes and raped me. Hahaha! No. Sporty-Doc just confirmed my fear. My appendix was swollen and that I had to be admitted for immediate operation. I was paralyzed with fear! I have a high tolerance for pain and am never afraid of needles but the thought of a scalpel grazing my skin was like a nightmare. Jeky and her guy Dion (who rushed to our aid a few minutes later) were surprised at what Sporty-Doc said. I gathered my wits and inquired if there was any way around the operation. She wasn’t sure and advised me to wait for a specialist to find out. Jeky arranged for my hospital accommodation while an IV was setup on my right hand vein.
At around 330 am my bed was wheeled into room 467. We managed to joke around saying that admittance to the hospital was good since it was freaking hot at home. I barely let out a smile but deep inside melancholy, fear, and pain were threatening to turn on the water valve in my eyes. I pretended to sleep to hide me tears.
I called my mom and informed her of the recent events. Being my mom, she was overly worried and advised me to call my dad. Having no direct contact with my dad, I called my aunt’s house and had her call my dad instead. I informed them that I was in the hospital and asked if they could come over. I also called my elder cousin, Ate Mylene but got no response from her for another couple of hours.
My dad arrived at around 5 am, while Jeky and Dion were sleeping. He had my “madrasta” with him. She looked funny in her curly hair and vicious eyes. They bombed me with a thousand questions. I received a call from my Ate Mylene a few minutes later asking me if I was joking or if it was true that I was admitted to the hospital. I informed her of the recent events. She arrived about 30 minutes later. Ate Mylene was going to be my guardian throughout my entire “vacation” at the hospital. A few more hours later, my doctor came in, woke me up and conducted a few prodding tests on me. He went away saying that I was to be under observation to confirm that I needed operation.
I contacted my bosses a few minutes after being admitted to the hospital. I informed all three of them that I may not be able to report for work for a few weeks because of my condition. My immediate superior, Alex was very concerned and supportive of me. She sent PH, my co-worker, ex-TL, and friend to arrange my papers with Cocolife who was going shoulder all expenses with the hospital. PH informed me that he has going to bring the necessary documents for my insurance. He also said that he will be taking JJ with him to visit me. Shonuff, the two of them arrived a few minutes after 12 noon. I was touched by their concern. PH even took charge of the situation and asked the hospital of the charges. I was surprised when my good friend Maui arrived later. She too was concerned. With the three of my good friends around, the smile on my face showed genuine appreciation and respect for the people who took time out to visit a friend in the hospital. With happiness in my heart, I went to sleep.
Thursday, April 7, 2005, 5 pm
I woke up at around 5 pm when my doctor came in. He prodded my painful side again and confirmed that their observation confirmed a swollen appendix. I again inquired if there was any way around it. Doc Joey Sanchez said that it could be the end of me if they sent me home. Doc Joey seemed to be the funny guy. He always made jokes and made people laugh. I resigned the fact that I was to be operated on. I was afraid and gave the doc a few instructions. I told him that I do not want to see the tools they were to use; I want to be completely asleep during the operation; I do not want to feel any pain whatsoever during the operation. These were simple enough for him and they were followed down to the last detail.
What was funny was that the hospital was so booked with operations that we had to wait until a slot was available. My time came at around 6-7 pm. Nurses in green came to my room, had me change to the hospital gown, and wheeled me to the operating room. I was nervous beyond belief.
When we got to the operating room, the nurses immediately set me up for the operation. One thing caught my attention: the heart rate monitor. It gave out a beep that was synchronized with my heart beat. When they put this machine on me, the nurses laughed because it indicated that I was nervous and that my heart was threatening to leap out of my chest. They told me to calm down. There was this guy nurse who was keeping me company while waiting for the doctors. He noticed that I was playing with the machine because the beeps were irregular. I laughed when he said that it was the first time he’d seen a patient play with the heart rate monitor. The other nurses noticed my skin art and began looking at them. They all inquired where I got them, but surprisingly, they didn’t ask if it hurt. This was the first time in my life (since I got tattooed) that a person/stranger didn’t ask me if tattoos hurt.
Several minutes later, my Anesthesiologist came. It appeared that she was given instructions not to show me the gadget she was going to use for my anesthesia. She had me curl into a fetal position while an Orderly held me tightly. I anticipated overwhelming pain due to the tightness of the Orderly’s grip on me. I was surprised that the pain was just a small sting.
Finally I was ready for the operation. I was embarrassed because there was a pretty female nurse who was going to assist in the operation. These people were going to see me naked, on a table ready to be cut open like a turkey. She probably saw that I was flushing and assured me not to worry as they’ve done this and seen everything a million times.
The last thing I remembered was a couple of injections in my IV, with the nurse informing me that it was Demerol, for the pain, and something else to make me relax. After that it was utter darkness and dreamland for me. Not that I dreamed or anything. I don’t really recall. I woke up while I was being stitched closed. I was shocked to find my world in green. It took me quite a while to realize that there was some curtain in front of my face. I could feel some sort of tugging in my waist. I looked to the side and the pretty nurse was there smiling and saying that the worst was over and that the operation was a success. I tried smiling being the fun person that I am but dozed off instead. The next time I woke up I was in the recovery room feeling shit pain in my operated area. I called the attention of the nurse and he injected me with some drug to alleviate the pain.
I was half asleep when they wheeled me out of the recovery room and into my room. Ate Mylene was there smiling. She questioned the nurse about the operation and smiled as her questions were answered. I smiled at her and told her a bit about the operation. I slept a few minutes later. I woke up at around 8 pm. Ate was there watching television. I told her I couldn’t feel my legs. She said it was just the effect of the anesthesia. I tried wiggling my toes but the effort caused me pain. They bought me a little urinal jug and informed me that if I couldn’t take a piss by 1 am, they were going to put a catheter on me. Now I had an ex-girlfriend who was a nurse and I saw how big the tube was. This tube had a rubber end which was inserted in the penis. The other end had a bag attached to it. I grabbed the urinal and strongly said that I will manage to piss by myself. Now, I hadn’t eaten since I was admitted. I was terribly hungry. It was quite an effort to concentrate and will myself into pissing. I thought that if I could wiggle my toes first then pissing would be easier. I managed to wiggle my big toe ala Kill Bill after a couple of hours. I spent the next two hours with the urinal jug positioned between my legs. What was funny was that when I touched my penis, I couldn’t feel it. It was like touching someone else’s cock. I was able to piss a little at around 11 pm. I had a silly grin when the nurse checked in to see if I already urinated. I proudly told her I already had and showed her the jug. She laughed understanding that it was quite an effort being able to piss a few hours after the operation. Ate and I laughed with her. My first real piss filled the entire just. Ate laughed out loud when she saw the jug almost filled. I slept in the next several minutes, only waking up to fill the piss container.
Friday, April 8, 2005
I had a hard time sleeping. I couldn’t change positions and I was laying face up for a little above 16 hours. The pain in my back was unforgiving. The heat was building up under the bed covers and then throbbing followed. I had Ate adjust the bed so that pressure was relieved from my lower back. I woke up at around 9 am and watched television the whole day. I had now gained movement on my legs but couldn’t easily move them since I still felt intense pain even with just the effort of moving them. I could now feel my cock and was filling out half the jug every two hours. It was hell sleeping with an IV attached to my hand. The tubes always got entangled everywhere. I was itching to get out of bed but didn’t get to doing so until lunchtime. I could only get up or sit with assistance. Without it, I couldn’t sit at all. At around 12 noon, Ate helped me out of bed so that I could move around and take a leak, or walk around the room. The next challenge was farting. I would not be served food unless I’d already farted. When the Doc made rounds that afternoon, I begged him for food. He consented but it was to be all liquid. I was served arroz caldo and gelatin at around 4-5 pm, which I consumed in less than 3 minutes.
The nurse Boyet later said that food will be served at 7 pm and that I should eat the food slowly since my stomach may still be asleep because of the anesthetic. I finished the entire tray after 40 minutes. Dad came over and asked when I was being discharged. Told him I’d no idea and had him ask the nurses. Dad was funny in a way because he had to ask the same question three times before he believed in the answer. Several times he had his witch-looking girl with him. Ate and I would joke about how unattractive she was when they left.
Mickey, Tita Nelly, and my nephew (forgot his name =P) also visited me in the hospital. When Mickey first came, I sent him home after an hour because my nephew was getting impatient. Dad was furious because he had instructed Mickey to stay until he arrived. I covered Mickey’s arse for him. =P
There was this one nurse whom Ate caught flirting. She was making “pa-cute” when she came in to take my vital signs. Ate and I would laugh our butts off whenever she left. Of course, my laughter was confined to “HEHEHEHE,” instead of the usual “BWAHAHAHA!”
JJ would have loved it if he stayed a couple of days there. There were lots of attractive female nurses and all of them had well-developed arses (JJ likes butts =P).
Saturday, April 9, 2005
I can now take a bath by myself. The Doc ripped the gauze bandage from my stitches and said that it had to be removed for faster healing. I’ve also managed to sneak in a few smokes in the bathroom. I already farted and shit by this time. I can now get out of bed alone and spend most of time sitting. My back has been killing me and I had to sleep with the upper side of the bed slightly inclined. The Doc says I might be discharged sometime in the next couple of days. I phoned Dad and told him that it would be utterly impossible for me to sleep on the mattress I had at home. I had no bed. He assured me that he would be getting one for me (finally my own bed! =P).
I spent the day watching TV. Ate has developed a liking for the book, “The Vampire Lestat,” that someone got me.
Sunday, April 10, 2005
They took off my IV early in the morning. I can now go around the hospital without dragging that stupid IV.
I shit 3 times a day because of the liquid diet I was in for three days. We ordered pizza for dinner, but saved it until 1 am. I managed to reheat the pizza in the pantry all by myself. The pantry was some 20 meters away from my room. =P
Monday, April 11, 2005
I woke up feeling depressed. I am now in a regular diet. Doc came in earlier today and said that I could now go home. I begged Doc to let me stay another day. I’ve been showing my stitched side to all the nurses where they commented that my healing was faster than usual. Dad arrived with the witch a while ago. He brought me a shirt coz I didn’t have anymore left.
I couldn’t risk a nap because I kept dreaming shit.
I got tired of the National Geographic Channel. Survivor, Contender, and Fear Factor has been showing nothing but reruns.
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
I got home from the hospital. Ate accompanied me home. Tita Nelly and Mickey were there. She handed me 2 Grand. The heat was unforgiving but the journey home took less than 20 minutes. I told Ate about the time when I was run over last year. As ever, the cab driver butt in and bragged about what I should’ve done. I sneezed once I got in the cab. I also coughed. The pain was insurmountable!
Altogether, we got home just fine. Ate was still engrossed with Lestat. I spent a few hours playing with the PS2. We went out at around 8 pm to do the grocery. Spent half of the 2 grand on it, had pizza delivered, and gave my remaining bling to Ate for cab fare. I still had trouble sleeping.
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
I started doing the laundry but decided to do just our undies. I packed 3 bags full of soiled clothes to be sent to the Laundromat. I counted all of them. I had 86 items packed, including 19 pairs of socks, 7 short-sleeved polos, 3 polo shirts, 9 black t-shirts, 8 white t-shirts, 4 colored t-shirts, a basketball jersey, a malong, a sarong, 3 towels, 3 bed sheets, 4 pillow cases, 6 shorts, 4 handkerchiefs, 10 pairs of pants, and 3 jackets. This will cost around 800 pesos including pressing for all my pants and polos. Geez! I didn’t realize we had a lot of shit here.
I played video games all day after that, alternating between Devil May Cry 3, Need for Speed Underground 2, and Red Alert 2.
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Nothing much happened today, I just video-gamed my way all throughout the day. My freaking wound’s still quite painful. I still can’t cough, sneeze or do anything that requires a lot of effort (yes, sneezing and coughing requires effort).
Managed to sleep-off my loneliness at 5 AM.
Monday, April 18, 2005
I started doing this Flash thingy. I thought of making a flash site. I first attempted to create a flash site about 3 years ago. My attempt was pathetic and I sadly gave up. Now, armed with a better understanding of the program, better computer skills and far better understanding of the internet, I make another attempt at Flash. Hope it doesn’t turn out as sad as the site I created a few years back.
Didn’t sleep a wink. Guess who was on my mind… umm… JJ? 
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
I got through creating my “enter page” today. I also started the ‘main page” where all the shit will be located. Jeeez! It sure took all day for it to finish. I’m thinking of publishing it to the web (for everyone to laugh at).
Slept a few hours after almost finishing a book. It’s still pretty hard to get some shut-eye though. I don’t think I can really adjust. Next time, she and I always go together - no one leaving the other behind. She told me via email that she was having the same problems. Damn! Anyway, I know for a fact that she wouldn’t really go unless she had to. In this case, there was no choice. Her Visa was about to expire. I guess it’s for her own benefit. I don’t to clip her wings or anything. I don’t ever want to be selfish.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
I’ve managed to complete almost everything I wanted in just three days. Problem is, it’s not what I’m expecting. The whole project was made using Dreamweaver, Flash, and Fireworks (all Macromedia). It’s quite an accomplishment compared to the efforts that I had done 3 years ago. I certainly put on more work on creativity on the whole project, though, I wanted everything in Flash. No pictures or any other shit can be stolen if I decide to put it on the web. Some silly part of me wanted to join the Philippine Web Awards.
Went to the office today to follow up my sick leave for the duration of my confinement, operation, and recovery. Got to talking with my big boss. I was told that I, together with a few other people will be reporting to a different person. I didn’t expect to hear of the news until tomorrow. I’m gonna miss me boss. She’s really one of a kind; in fact, she’s the best boss I had in my whole career.
I’m going back to work tomorrow. 80% of my whole being would not agree with going back in the office. The remaining 20% wanted to go back to work because of practical purposes.
For some reason, I felt exhausted in my 4-hour stay at the office today. My wound was getting kinda painful, sort of pulsing under the skin. Maybe I shouldn’t be pushing myself too hard.
Haven’t been getting enough sleep.
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LOLz. I won!!!1 I never thought I would, but I did. Hoink.
This morning, when I arrived home, I played around with my BIOS for bit, thinking that I could somehow overclock with a few BIOS tweaks. Bad idea! After saving my changes and restarting Sofie (yes, my computer, among other things, has a name), I got NO POST. LOL Just one long-assed beep. It’s gotta be memory right? So I reseated my two memory modules and powered up. Yay! I’m back up, but it’s detecting only my processor. No nothing beyond that. Irritatated at the thought of reopening my CPU, I hastened and reseated my memory modules again and was about to screw the cover back on when I remembered that I’d been putting off fixing my CD-RW drive, so I unplugged the cables to my drive and proceeded to tear it’s guts out.
While highschool chicks clamor on the design and pricing for their 
