New Gadget for Our Balik Alindog Program

As I was finishing yesterday's blog post our new gadget arrived. For many years I used a MiBand 1. I got one because I wanted to monitor my steps and know if I'm getting enough deep sleep. I didn't upgrade because I didn't want a step counter with a display screen. Eventually I needed to track more things, my pulse, BP and oxygen saturation. My doctor told me to get an oximeter last May. My physiotherapist monitors it while I exercise. 

I've been wanting to upgrade my MiBand since early last year. As usual I took so long to decide what to get. After some research I decided to get a Fitbit Versa 3. Aside from the usual step count and sleep monitoring feature, it also monitors SPO2 and heart rate while you sleep. It's important for me to monitor those while I'm being treated for pulmonary embolism. 

Used it for the first time last night when we went for our evening walk. Wore it also to sleep. I was happy to review the data in the morning. I still kept waking up at odd hours, but the data reassured me that my breathing was normal. I can also show it to my doctor when I go for my check-up tomorrow. It would be interesting to see how much progress I'll be making through this gadget. And I hope next week I can go back to my PT sessions. 

I made sure I didn't push myself too hard last night. I kept myself moving after lunch by making some leche flan and walked about 1,500 steps after dinner. It was a different experience walking outside at night. It was a bit windy and that made it easier for me to breathe through the mask (yaaas!). I usually struggle breathing through a mask, I hope the monsoon sticks around for awhile. 

Thank you to everyone who reached out last night. Really appreciate your prayers and messages. 

CB///286 #StuckAtHomeDay/316 #StayHome #BeKind 

Foiled

I had a good idea about what i wanted to blog about today, but I've been having a hideous roll of headaches and migraine the whhole day. My doctor said, "Let's terminate it now!" Ohhh, it did for about two hours and then it came back.

So now I'm in a semi-dark room trying to blog on my tablet while watching super cute puppies on BBC. My grand post got lost because of the headache. Oh well, maybe tomorrow will be a better day. 

CB///272 #StuckAtHomeDay/302 #StayHome #BeKind 

Muffin Time and Positivity

Day two today at the hospital and it is supper time. Auntie brought in a muffin and Milo. This is what I was looking forward to all day haha.

It's been an exhausting day with the tests and treatment. My doctor hopes we're on the right track because he said I'm a special case (it's complicated hehe). Looks like we are because my breathing has been okay. Once this is resolved I hope the giddiness will be gone too, that's imperative before I can go back to work.

I had Sweetie bring me the books I ordered from Manila. I was so busy today I haven't gotten around to reading it. Hope to read before I go to sleep. I should probably stop watching BBC Earth noh? Since we don't have cable this is a channel I usually watch when I travel. Got to keep learning! 

I'm so grateful a number of Pinoy nurses are on my floor. They come in every so often to check on me. Sometimes it's hard to describe what you're feeling in English! I remember the nurse at the other hospital who was so worried that not all my allergies were listed. I ended up having more flags on my bed dashboard lol. I hope by the end of this ordeal I can send something for the nurses who took care of me in both hospitals.

My other doctor messaged me to send some reminders and said, "Keep positive!" He told me before how amazed he is with my spirit. A few years after my surgery he said they almost lost me and said he believed that it was my fighting spirit that got me through. I've overcome several illnesses that have high mortality rates, so I should be able to get through this small hump soon enough. It's just weirdly taking so long.

I'm on a strict diet right now, but since muffins make me happy I wonder if auntie can give me more heehee. 

CB///271 #StuckAtHomeDay/301 #StayHome #BeKind 

Whoops I Did it Again

I know its not good to start the year like this.

I'm back in the hospital again. I just went in for my follow up consultation, but since I've been unwell my doctor decided to keep me in to figure this out properly. 

Please pray for me.

CB///270 #StuckAtHomeDay/300 #StayHome #BeKind 

Clearing My Cache

Spent most of the day offline. My best friend came over to bring the cakes she baked for me. Check it out --

My doctor also advised I should list the work I left hanging, work on some that are essential. This would help me sleep better since I've been having a hard time sleeping since I've been hospitalized. So I worked for two hours to clear pending matters. Ended up getting giddy again after, but I think it will help me sleep better tonight.

Just resting for now and doing activities to rest my mind. Hope you are doing well and preparing for Christmas!

CB//257 #StuckAtHomeDay/287 #StayHome #BeKind

My Grown-up Christmas Wish

A year ago in Manila. 

Last night's Didache reflection spoke to me deeply. If you're going through challenges, you shouldn't dwell so much on the struggle, but you should be more focused on the future outcome. It was a good reminder for me and made staying offline more bearable. To get well and be able to do the things I still want to do, I have to follow doctor's orders. 

To help me stay offline I set limits on distracting apps so it won't send notifications. I also kept my phone under my pillow. Out of sight, out of mind! I did respond to a few messages, watched a few videos, but eventually I got busy with other things and the silence became comfortable. 

Through the silence and having my hands busy sewing, I was able to think through how I should proceed. I didn't sleep well last night because I was worrying about all the work I left hanging. Eventually the Peace & Calming oil helped me fall asleep. My sleep though was filled with several weird dreams. 

As I worked through my quilt project I was able to re-focus and remind myself that it's not my fault I've been sick. I need this time to rest and heal from what this terrible year has brought. There is still so much to be thankful for this year. My family has been coping well despite some challenges. We're all apart, but we're here for each other. My only wish is good health for everyone and hope we can see each other soon. 

How I wish I could be with you two this Christmas.

And my sole Christmas wish is for the whole world to heal together and defeat this pandemic as one big community. 

CB//255 #StuckAtHomeDay/285 #StayHome #BeKind

It's Hard to Stay Offline

My doctor advised me to stay offline, reduce screen-time, and rest. I was surprised they mandated an extended medical leave so my body can rest and recover properly. I understand why my doctor mandated this, but it's been hard to stay offline. 

I woke up early and was about to get up, but Sweetie encouraged me to sleep more. I did because my head was throbbing. I took a peek at my phone and my head hurt more. I immediately turned it off and went to sleep. I finally got up after lunch because I was hungry. 

Yesterday's ride back home. 

After lunch I took several peeks on my phone. I think I'll need to keep my phone away from me so I can stay offline and keep my mind off work. I also need to stop multi-tasking to give my brain a proper rest. I guess it's the time of the year to clear the cache. 

For the next few weeks I'll catch up on sleep and spend more time doing offline stuff like reading books and quilting. Last night I finally finished decorating our tree since the additional gnome decor finally arrived. I'm still working on my Christmas project and started to work on it again today. The funny thing is I ended up sewing my daster on it. That means I really need to rest! 

I sewed my daster to the quilt! Gaaaah.

Will focus on resting my mind and body for now. I will still blog daily :)

CB//254 #StuckAtHomeDay/284 #StayHome #BeKind

Discharged!

Staying at the hospital is really exhausting. At the ICU, I'd wake up hourly because the blood pressure monitor would turn on every hour. At the regular room someone would also come in often. Since we had a breakthrough last night, I asked my doctor if i could go home.

Before I could go home, I was still assessed by an additional doctor. Within a minute of waking up, she was assessing me and then the other doctors arrived too. I only got to pee two hours later LOL. I must've looked hideous.

Got cleared to go home by one in the afternoon. Luckily, we still got served our lunch. Hospitals used to have this bad reputation serving tasteless food. I think I gained weight during my stay because food just kept coming non-stop. Check out what I had before going home.

The ride home was a bit stressful since the Grab driver drove so fast. I couldn't even spin any Pokestops! I remember that time I went home after heart surgery. I clutched on to my chest because I was scared it would open up haha. 

Arrived home before two and we both promptly fell asleep on the couch. I'm on medical leave until month end and doctor's order is to rest. Christmas is going to be definitely quiet this year.

Grateful to all my doctors, nurses, radiologists, and health practitioners who took care of me. Will follow your orders :)

CB//253 #StuckAtHomeDay/283 #AdmittedDay5 #StayHome #BeKind

Got Back on the Horse (Got Me in Trouble Last Week)

I went to see my doctor the other day to get the results of the DVT and IVC scans I did last week. I also raised my concerns about how I felt after I had physiotherapy last week (the one that triggered the post "It's complicated". 

I really wanted to move forward from the setback so I immediately got back on the horse last week. My physiotherapist monitored everything and we only did 4 minutes on the bike and other light exercises. My body's reaction a few hours after was bad. I barely slept and my whole body felt like it was being pricked the morning after. 

My doctor said, "Please send my congratulations to your physiotherapist." He said that if I felt pain after the session it meant the exercise was working. I was honestly surprised with his reaction! Because it was my first time to feel that kind of pain and I thought it was really concerning. 

My doctor said it's normal that my stamina isn't back yet after having myocarditis and it may take 3 to 6 months before things normalize. It was a nasty virus after all. He said I was on the right track to get well since I'm doing the needful -- eating properly, sleeping 8 hours and exercising. Nothing to worry about since my heart and lungs are fine. And the good news is my scans came back clear so I'm now transitioning a less evil medication. 

So today my physiotherapist gave me the option to take things slow. I chose to get back on the horse immediately. I don't know how I'll feel tomorrow, but I think it's better for me to just keep going to get back my stamina and continue my quest to be better. Pain must not defeat me! 

Wish me luck? And, of course, pray for me :)

#CB//239 #StuckAtHomeDay/269 #WFH159 #StayHome #BeKind