Catzie.net Blog

Category: Lifestyle

  • POI Physical Therapy for Degenerative Disc Disease: Review, Sessions, Costs at Philippine Orthopedic Institute Makati

    My orthopedic doctor recently diagnosed me with Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) affecting my lower back, specifically the L1-L5 vertebrae, and referred me to physical therapy at the Philippine Orthopedic Institute (POI) in Makati City, located on Dela Rosa Street. It’s a convenient location as it’s close to Makati Medical Center.

    The intense pain in my lower back started and ended last month. I could barely walk due to the lower back and hip pains, tightness, and spasms. I managed to avoid the emergency room thanks to some resourcefulness — Yoga by Joelle’s video for “herniated disc pain” provided significant relief every time I used it.

    Before you proceed, please note that the following information may have some inaccuracies as Iโ€™m relying on my memory. Even though you and I may both have DDD, our treatments could differ depending on our individual needs and conditions.

    First Physical Therapy Session for DDD at POI in Makati

    Reluctantly, I attended my first session at the Philippine Orthopedic Institute (POI) today. During the initial session, the therapist conducted a quick interview about my lower back pain, asking when it started, whether I had experienced any accidents, and the intensity of the pain.

    By this time, the pain had already decreased significantly compared to last month, only flaring up when I neglected my posture during my desk job.

    Hereโ€™s what was done during the physical therapy session:

    Part 1 – Treatments

    • I was asked to change into a patientโ€™s gown, remove my footwear, and lay on my belly.
    • Application of a heat pack on the painful area, with electrodes
      • This treatment lasted 15 minutes, supported by two pillows.
      • The sensation was more relaxing than painful.
      • I requested to turn on the fan because the room was a little too warm, especially with the heat from this treatment.
    • Ultrasound on the painful area
      • Almost fell asleep at this point; it felt like a very gentle back massage (UwU).
    • Shockwave therapy
      • The therapist warned me it would be painful, but it was supposed to relax my back muscles. The gun-shaped device did sound like it was going to inflict serious pain! lol.
      • Surprisingly, it wasnโ€™t painful for me. I found it relaxing too, like a massage gun!

    Part 2 – Stretches

    • Inner thigh stretch, performed three times on each leg
      • The therapist moved my thigh close to my chest, bent my knee, and let the sole of my foot press against their torso, then applied pressure by leaning towards me.
      • It was an awkward stretch and very challenging because it took a lot of effort to keep gas from escaping… (โธโธโธ- แด— -โธโธโธ ; )
    • Hamstring stretch, performed three times on each leg
      • The therapist lifted my leg and straightened it, with the sole of my foot facing the ceiling.
    • Glutes stretch (figure four), performed three times on each leg
      • The therapist asked me to assume a figure 4 position, then pressed my thighs close to my chest until I felt my glute muscles stretch.

    Part 3 – Warm-up and Strengthening Exercises

    • Core muscle warm-up x 10
      • The therapist asked me to place my hands underneath my lower back (palms facing the bed), then activate the abdominal muscles and keep them engaged for 10 seconds — I timed this with my exhales.
      • During my inhales, she had me relax the abdominal muscles.
    • Bridges x 10
    • Modified sit-ups x 10
      • Lying flat on my back with my knees bent, I performed small sit-ups, lifting only the upper back, with my hands reaching out to my knees.
    • Cat-cows, holding each pose for a count of six, repeated 10 times
      • Cat pose: I focused on drawing my navel toward my spine (I had to be careful with this because if not done properly, I felt like the bending motion could worsen my disc issues) — I timed this movement with my exhales, like in yoga.
      • Cow pose: I focused on lowering my belly, lifting my tailbone, and stretching my head upward — I timed this movement with my inhales.
      • From this point onward, my therapist supported my waist/hips area because my scoliosis (mostly lumbar) was getting in the way.
    • Bird-dogs, repeated 10 times (my scoliosis made this challenging, but the therapist helped me balance my hips).
    • Supermans, repeated 10 times
    • Press-ups, holding the stretch upward for a count of 15, repeated 3 times
      • This is similar to Pilates “swan” pose.

    My wrists hurt from the exercises done in the all-fours position. I think it would have been a bit more stable and comfortable for my sensitive wrists if I had performed them on a hard surface, like an exercise mat on the floor. POI uses a bed wrapped in a plastic cover (which smelled nice, likely evidence of regular disinfection). Iโ€™ll bring up my concern to the therapist next time.

    Although Iโ€™m familiar with all the exercises the therapist asked me to do, I think itโ€™s much better to do them with a therapist’s guidance because they can correct any incorrect posture or positioning.

    The therapist also corrected me when I tried to get out of bed with a swift sit-up movement. (ยฐใƒผยฐใ€ƒ) They taught me that while lying on my back, I should bend my knees and roll sideways to get out of bed.

    Second Physical Therapy Session at Philippine Orthopedic Institute (Makati)

    During my second lumbar back pain therapy at POI, the same therapist led the session, but most of it was supervised by an intern. I wasn’t asked to change into a patient’s gown this time and was instructed to lay on my belly immediately. They had a hard time applying the hot compress on my lower back because of my outfit, so I asked if I could change into my PT clothes to make it easier.

    The intern performed the same treatments as before, and she did well:

    • Heat pack: Application of a heat pack on the painful area with electrodes for 15 minutes, supported by one pillow this time.
    • Ultrasound
    • Shockwave

    Then, the main therapist returned to the room and did the same stretches on me while I laid on my back:

    • Inner thigh stretch: Performed three times on each leg.
    • Hamstring stretch: Performed three times on each leg.
    • Glutes stretch (figure four): Performed three times on each leg.

    For the warm-up and strength exercises, the intern took over. Unfortunately, she barely checked my posture and positioning as I did the exercises, so I felt it wasnโ€™t a very productive session. We did the following:

    • Pelvic tilt (Core muscle warm-up): x 10.
    • Bridges: x 10.
    • Modified sit-ups: x 10.
    • Cat-cows: Count to six per pose, repeated 10 times.
    • Supermans: Repeated 10 times.
    • Press-ups: Count to 15 while holding the stretch upwards, repeated 3 times.

    However, there were no bird-dogs this time. The intern said it wasnโ€™t part of the set exercises for me that day, but I wasnโ€™t sure why.

    One thing I did learn from my therapist on this day was that with a meniscal tear in the knee, I should avoid fully bending the knee and try to keep it at a 45-degree angle at most.

    Third Physical Therapy Session at POI Makati for Degenerative Disc Disease (L1-L5)

    A new therapist was assigned to me this time. Her name is Nam (not sure how it’s spelled) and I really appreciate her. She was very professional in the way she communicated and even in the way she was dressed. I felt that every step of the way during my 3rd DDD therapy session at POI, Ms. Nam ensured that I was performing my exercises correctly by visually examining my posture/position and by palpating (any more accurate word?) my core muscles to check if they’re contracting as expected during my movements.

    Part 1 – Treatments

    Also not asked to change into patient’s gown on this 3rd session. So I don’t know why it was done during the first. Anyway, I had already changed into my physical therapy attire before I checked in to POI’s reception area.

    Same old initial treatments were performed:

    • Heat pack: With electrodes for 15 minutes.
    • Ultrasound
    • Shockwave

    Some things I learned from Ms. Nam’s related to heat/cold treatment:

    • Cold pack treatment: Best for freshly-injured muscles to lower inflammation, e.g., right after weighted exercises.
    • Heat pack: Best after about 24 hours if I did weighted exercises and had DOMS.
    • Heat pack usage: Since I only have a small heat pack at home, Ms. Nam suggested using it on my lower back one side at a time so that it remains effective.
    • Heating pad: The heating pad that POI uses requires boiling water.

    Part 2 – Stretches

    Nothing new in this part of the session, except that I observed how precise Ms. Nam was in the way she performed these stretches. She’s amazing!

    • Inner thigh stretch: Performed three times on each leg.
    • Hamstring stretch: Performed three times on each leg.
    • Glutes stretch (figure four): Performed three times on each leg.

    Part 3 – Warm-up and Exercises for Strength

    I didn’t expect today’s therapist to impress me even further. She was detail-oriented and I was really thankful for that. The exercises felt waaaaay more effective when done correctly.

    • Pelvic tilt (Core muscle warm-up): x 10
      • Therapist’s correction(s): Do not lift your butt!
    • Bridges: x 10
      • Therapist’s tip: Contract your glutes and core as you lift your body up.
    • Modified sit-ups: x 10
      • Therapist’s correction(s): Your shoulders and neck look so tense; Contract your ab muscles and let them do the work for you in this exercise.
    • Toe taps: x 10 — Added by Ms. Nam today.
    • Dead bug exercise: x 10 — Added by Ms. Nam today
      • Therapist’s correction(s): Straighten the leg that you are lowering, but without touching the bed (my muscles hurt more that way but I felt it was the right kind of pain — the kind that will build muscles!).
    • Cat-cows: Count to six per pose, repeated 10 times
      • Therapist’s correction(s): The therapist realigned my hips whenever they moved the wrong way (thanks to scoliosis grrr).
    • Bird-dogs: Added back today
      • Therapist’s correction(s): Ms. Nam patiently corrected my hip positions repeatedly; the left side of my core feels weak. So when I raise my right hand and left leg, I always fell off balance. Towards the end I tried my best to contract the weak core muscles further and finally got a “very good” from therapist-sensei.
    • Supermans: Repeated 10 times.
    • Press-ups: Count to 20 while holding the stretch upwards, repeated 3 times (Yes, it’s 20 instead of 10 counts today)
      • Therapist’s comment: This is just for stretching the core.

    Part 4 – Traction Machine

    I was surprised to find out that there was a door by the waiting area of POI Makati Therapy area. This room contained two traction machines.

    Ms. Nam first measured my weight to determine how much “lower back stretching” the traction machine should perform on me that day. This machine can help decompress the tightness in the lower back.

    They strapped my hips, and then my upper torso onto the machine. The traction device was stretched and then released in repeated cycles of about 10 minutes.

    Fourth Physical Therapy Session at POI Makati for Degenerative Disc Disease (L1-L5)

    I visited Doc Carlo Borbon, my orthopedic doctor, before my 4th session. I told him that I’ve only been able to attend physical therapy sessions once a week. His face expressed disappointment, until he heard me say that I do the exercises almost everyday at home, and that I feel that my significantly strengthened core muscles have been protecting my lower back as I carry out the same daily activities that used to trigger my lower back spasms. He said that it’s a very good progress, and that I may conclude my series of PT sessions by only attending 3 more.

    The 4th session was more or less the same, but Ms. Nam added/modified a little bit:

    • Added a new exercise: Push both knees to chest, while pushing them away with your hands
      • Create resistance between thighs/knees and hands/arms
      • Feel it activate the core muscles
      • It was inserted before toe-taps, if I remember the sequence correctly
      • Done for 8-10 counts each repetition; Repeat 10 times, if I remember correctly!
    • Modified the bird-dog exercise: Do it on one side 10 times, then on the other side again 10 times. Finish it with the classic alternating sides, I think only 5 times for this one.
      • Done because my lumbar scoliosis was making one side more difficult
    • Configured the traction machine with a heavier weight.

    I learned a few things during that session:

    • Of all DDD physical therapy devices used on me, the TENS device is the most recommended for patients to purchase. Ms. Nam said that if I purchase one, I can bring it to my PT session and they can teach me the proper configuration that should be applied to my condition.
    • The knee-to-chest stretching at the beginning stretches superficial glute muscles, while the figure-4 glutes stretch is for the deeper glute muscles.
    • The superman stretch are mainly for lower back muscle strength, but it also works the glutes

    Fifth Physical Therapy Session at POI Makati for Degenerative Disc Disease (L1-L5)

    More or less the same as the third physical therapy at POI. But this time I opted out of the traction machine because the total cost exceeds the budget I get from HMO (Intellicare) per physical therapy session, and I cannot justify the extra cost as I don’t feel significant improvement from the traction machine.

    Sixth Physical Therapy Session at POI Makati for Degenerative Disc Disease (L1-L5)

    The 6th and last PT session at POI Makati was most tiring of them all. There was a seminar being held in the building that day, which the physical therapists attended in AM/PM batches to keep the ops rolling, according to Ms. Nam. Patients were fewer than usual that day. I also noticed that there was a new office at the ground floor — that will be for consults and bone scan procedure.

    On this therapy session we skipped the knee-to-chest stretching before the exercises. Ms Nam added 10 flutter kicks, 10 crossed flutter kicks, elbow planks, and several weighted exercises. I didn’t expect this and was really exhausted after the session.

    Exercises on the 6th (and last) POI physical therapy session for DDD:

    Part 1 – Stretching

    • Skipped: knee-to-chest on 10 counts, repeated 3 times before switching legs
    • Hamstring stretch
    • Figure 4

    Part 2 – exercises on your back

    • Pelvic tilt (Core muscle warm-up): x 10
      • Therapist’s comment: Do not lift your butt!
    • Bridges: x 10
      • Tip: Contract your glutes and core as you lift your body up.
    • Modified sit-ups: x 10
      • Tips: You’re doing it wrong if your shoulders and neck are so tense; Contract your ab muscles and let them do the work for you in this exercise.
    • Toe taps: x 10
      • Tip: tuck your belly button in a little bit towards your spine, for activating muscles that support in this movement
    • Dead bug exercise: x 10
      • Therapist’s correction(s): Straighten the leg that you are lowering, but without touching the bed (my muscles hurt more that way but I felt it was the right kind of pain — the kind that will build muscles!).
      • Tip: tuck belly button in too!
    • Flutter kicks x 10 — added in the last session
    • Crossed flutter kicks x 10 — added in the last session
      • Tips: Inhale as legs part, exhale as you cross them
    • Knee hugs for around 10 counts: x3 — added in the last session

    Part 3 – exercises on your belly

    • Plank on your elbow: x10 at count of 20 seconds each
      • Tip: Tuck belly button in to support core; don’t let core drop!
    • Cat-cows: Count to six per pose, repeated 10 times
      • Tip: pay attention to hips here, if you have lumbar scoliosis
    • Bird-dogs: x 10
      • Stabilize core and pay more attention to hips here to maintain balance; the lumbar scoliosis gets in the way.
    • Supermans: Repeated 10 times.
    • Press-ups: Count to 20 while holding the stretch upwards, repeated 3 times
      • This stretches the core and you should also feel it in your upper/middle back

    Part 4 – weighted exercises outside individual therapy rooms at POI

    • Carry 2.5KG dumbbell on each hand
      • Engage core; Imagine you’re trying to balance while holding grocery bags
      • From one end of the hallway to the other, do high-knee marches (Tip: Straighten leg whose foot is on the floor for balance)
      • Notes:
        • Nam said I can also use a heavy kettlebell held onto the chest at home but best if they’re two weights held like grocery bags on the side of the body; sadly my dumbbells at home are mcuh lighter
        • Lost my balance as I held back my laughter upon eye contact with my partner lol
    • Hold a 6KG kettlebell in one hand with the other arm held across the shoulder
      • Keeping core engaged, walk normally from one end of the hall to the other
      • Repeat with the other hand/arm
      • Notes:
        • It was like an obstacle course too as I had to avoid physical therapist and patients I came across in the hallway xD
        • It seemed to me that the POI Makati therapist were chummy among one another; their work culture must be really nice!
    • Hold 6KG kettlebell on one hand like 1 heavy grocery bag, with other arm held across the shoulder again
      • Perform side crunches, leaning the torso sideways towards the arm with a kettlebell
      • Ensure that you feel core muscles contract here (lean sideways starting from above belly button only, but make sure you lean far enough to feel the ab muscles working)

    Some advice from my physical therapist Nam:

    • Can opt to use heat pad only on sore days
    • Aim for 3 times a week physical therapy exercise to maintain my spine health

    Aside from maintenance exercises, one rule I set upon myself is to maintain the “C” curve of my lumbar spine as much as possible. So far it’s an easy and effective way of preventing the muscle spasm/sprain that I suffered from for so many times.

    After the 6th and last POI Makati physical therapy session, I went to my orthopedic doctor Dr Carlo Borbon for clearance. He did the same checks that he performed before sending me for therapy: Bend forward, bend backward, bend sideways to both sides… He also examined my lower back muscles, and commented that they felt less tense than before!

    Physical Therapy Cost/Fees at POI (Phil. Orthopedic Institute) – Dela Rosa St., Makati City:

    • My physical therapy session for lower back pain (degenerative disc disease L1-L5) costed 2400 Philippine Pesos, including usage of the traction machine. I found out because the POI Therapy Department texted me about exceeding the 1500-peso limit that HMO (Intellicare) set on my LOA/RCS.
    • In initial sessions that didn’t involve a traction machine was probably 1500 pesos or less because we had no problem despite the 1500-pesos limit on the cost covered by Intellicare.

    Cost update as of Sept. 15, 2024: They will increase physical therapy service fees on October 1, 2024.

    Tags: Physical Therapy, Lumbar Back Pain, POI Makati, Degenerative Disc Disease, Heat Pack, Ultrasound, Shockwave, Inner Thigh Stretch, Hamstring Stretch, Glutes Stretch, Pelvic Tilt, Bridges, Modified Sit-Ups, Cat-Cows, Supermans, Press-Ups, Bird-Dogs, Traction Machine, Core Exercises, Meniscal Tear

  • KoleilYutong.. what? And other cryptic credit card charges from South Korea, Japan, etc.

    I’ve recently been to South Korea and had a great time. Learning how to read Hangeul helped a lot, even though I don’t know the meaning of most things that I read!

    One of the things I liked about traveling to South Korea was that many establishments accepted credit card for payment. When traveling abroad, I prefer managing my finances with the help of a credit card, so most of my expenses in Korea were charged to it.

    The only challenge was figuring out which establishment charged which bill entry, because the labels can be cryptic.

    It took some effort, but I’ve finished deciphering where each credit card charge came from.

    I thought it would be nice to share them in case anyone faces the same challenge. Though I don’t know if this blog entry will still show up on Google search results. Ahh, fall of blogs’ popularityโ€ฆ (And years of me neglecting this blog :-p)

    Credit card charge labels from South Korea:

    Anyway, here are the credit card charges from South Korean establishments that I was able to decipher:

    “KOLEILYUTONG(JOO)รR.FJ Seoul KR”: This was from an Etude House cosmetics vending machine, which was located in a Korail subway station. I had already flown back home when I realized that we got double-charged by the vending machine that only released one item. T_T Anyway, I have read elsewhere, that someone was charged “KOLEILYUTONG(JOO)NAM BOOSAN REF# MISC/SPECIALTY R” for baggage deposit at a train station. So I think that if you see any “KOLEILYUTONG” charge from your credit card, it could be a retailer that you transacted with in a Korail subway station. Fun fact: If you search for “์ฝ”๋ ˆ์ผ์œ ํ†ต” (KorailYutong) you may stumble upon the “Korail Retail” website, which is currently at korailretail.com as I write this post!

    “SSIJEOIIOLLIBEUNETEUUE SEOUL KR”: Olive Young

    “AK PLAZA SOOUEONJEOM Suwon KR”: SPAO in AK Plaza, Suwon City

    “OLMASHUKEUSHUTORI 4HOJ SEOUL KR”: All Mask Story in Myeong-dong, Seoul City

    “7-ELEVEN Suwon KR”: Self-explanatory ๐Ÿ˜›

    “INISEUPEULI MYEONGDONG Seoul KR”: Innisfree in Myeong-dong, Seoul City

    “E-MART 24 SUWON STATI SUWON-SI P KR”: E-Mart convenience store in Suwon Station

    “LODDEOIJIALENJEOILINEO SUWON-SI KR”: ANGELINUS, formerly known as Angel-in-us Coffee, in Suwon Station

    “LIGIMBABAKSOOUEONJEOM SUWON-SI P KR”: Lee Gimbap, in Suwon Station

    “SSIYU(CU) JINJUPLIMIUM” / “SSIYU(CU) INKYEPLIMIUM“: CU (Convenience Store) Jinju Premium branch / Ingye Premium branch

    2025 update with some more credit card charge labels from Korea:

    • “AK PLAZA Suwon KR”: This is a purchase from the AK Plaza Mall, located in Suwon City, South Korea.
    • “CJ OLIVE YOUNG GANGNAM DAEJEON KR”: one of the Olive Young (a health & beauty store) branches in Gangnam.
    • “CJ OLIVE YOUNG GANGNAM SEOUL KR”: one of the Olive Young (a health & beauty store) branches in Gangnam.
    • “CO.,LTD ART BOX SUWON SUWON-SI P KR”: This is a purchase from Art Box, a “lifestyle and stationery” store in Suwon City, South Korea
    • “SSIYU(CU) INCHUNGONGHA INCHEON KR”: SSIYU is CU, a popular CVS (convenience store) in South Korea. This one is specifically a branch at Incheon Airport.

    New! Credit card charge labels from Japan:

    • “Mujirushiryohin” is from MUJI!
    • “Junkudoushoten Ikebuku”: A branch of Junkudo Shoten bookstore in Ikebukuro
    • “Toraberazufuakutori”: This is Traveler’s Factory, a shop that sells stationery such as Traveler’s Notebooks and other retro-vibe tools!
      • “Toraberazufuakutori” is from the NAKAMEGURO Traveler’s Factory branch.
      • “Jr East Shopping Cente”: Traveler’s Factory STATION branch in Tokyo Station. I think the charge is labeled as such because the shop’s operation is tied to JR East (a railway company).
      • “Travelers Factory – Chiba” – Traveler’s Factory AIRPORT branch at Narita Airport

    That’s all folks! :3

    On a side note, I had to fix this WordPress site because an update broke it! Good thing that my host’s support agent was able to point me to a way to restore my site to a previous state. Phew. I don’t like WordPress anymore but I can’t be bothered to plan and actually do the moving to another platform. Maybe someday, on a day, far faaaar away. Or, in a parallel universe.

  • Nasolaryngoscopy experience at Makati Med ENT Center

    I went to Makati Medical Center the other day for a “flexible nasolaryngoscopy” procedure at the ENT Center. This was to examine my throat and see what’s going on there.

    A nurse sprayed topical anesthesia into my nostrils. Despite the numbness in my soft palate area, the insertion of the scope still felt quite uncomfortable, almost painful, but thankfully it did not last long.

    The entire procedure lasted only 10 minutes and we were able to see what’s wrong with my throat.

    Thanks, nurse Janelle and Doc King Cedeรฑo!

  • ECG at Makati Med Heart Station

    I just came home from Makati Med Heart Station, where I had my very first ECG test.

    Several years ago, I started feeling my heart “shaking” at random times, regardless if I was stressed or at rest, but usually lasting for only 1 second and it wasn’t painful so I didn’t worry about it. By “shaking”, I mean that my heart beats louder and faster than usual.

    This year I started drinking more coffee because I’ve been quite busy, and since then, the heart-shaking became more frequent! There was even a time when it lasted almost 3 seconds and it scared the hell out of me. It was still pain-free, but I was scared.

    My family medicine doctor wrote me a referral to get a 12-Lead ECG, to rule out “cardiac dysrhythmia”, which means that there is a irregular heartbeat.

    Preparation for ECG at Makati Med Heart Station

    I brought the following items:

    Valid ID
    ECG Referral (can be a soft copy; ask for their email address)
    HMO Card, if any
    HMO Loa, if any
    Vaccination card, just in case

    What to wear for your ECG at Makati Med Heart Station

    For ladies, if you’d like to feel as comfortable as possible, you may want to wear a bra that provides good coverage, and a button-up top so that you simply have to unbutton it during the procedure. I was told that all staff who perform ECG at Makati Med Heart Station are female, so don’t worry so much about it.

    And for the gentlemen, if not taking off your shirt is the most comfortable for you, I also suggest that you wear a button-up shirt.

    What was it like getting an ECG done at Makati Med Heart Station?

    First, get a number from the kiosk inside Makati Med Heart Station, near the entrance. The waiting line to the reception counter at Makati Med Heart Station was very slow, and the room was so hot in the afternoon. But there’s a cold water dispenser there that may help you feel refreshed. The wait was a bit stressful nonetheless, and I hope it doesn’t affect the ECGs of the patients.

    Once your number is called in the counter, things will start to get faster. A short moment after talking to the lady in the reception counter, my name was called by the lady who was about to perform ECG on me.

    I laid upright in bed as the lady attached the electrodes (correct me if that’s not the right term!) to my legs, arms, and chest. Then she ran a machine for… I think not more than a minute. I hope that it’s enough to catch an abnormal heart rhythm. I prefer not to do the 24-hour monitor because I have pressure urticaria, and I think it’s gonna make me itch a lot for 24 hours! But if it comes to that, then I’ll just have to woman up to get it over with.

    Can you get the ECG result online from Makati Med?

    Results for ECG and 24-Hr Holter Monitor โ€‹are not yet available online, so you’ll have to claim the results at Makati Med Heart Station. Bring your official receipt with you.

    Processing of results is 24 hours, according to the lady who did my ECG. I am confused though, because on the Makati Med website they say it should take 2 business days. Anyway, I won’t be able to go there within the next 2 days so… yeah.

  • Endoscopy experience at Makati Medical Center (forgot price, used Intellicare)

    Endoscopy experience at Makati Medical Center (forgot price, used Intellicare)

    Background

    My chronic spontaneous urticaria still hasn’t been resolved, but I still haven’t given up on looking into other ailments that may be causing it.

    One of my long-term issues is in the stomach: acidity and indigestion. After eating, foods and acid go up my esophagus. During meals, sometimes I get a burning feeling where the food touches my esophagus, and sometimes I feel a slight tightening in the throat with a wheezing-like feeling, like small particles are being stuck there. I also have a problem with digesting food, which I feel sit in my stomach even 3-4 hours after eating. My allergologist said I better have this checked with a gastroenterologist because my stomach problems may be linked to the chronic urticaria I’ve been suffering from, especially if I have H. Pylori bacteria. I also remember reading from the Delayed Pressure Urticaria Support Group that some people’s pressure urticaria went away after treating H. Pylori.

    Hoping to find a cure for my chronic urticaria, or at least find relief in my GI issues, I consulted with Dr. Carlo Cornejo online via NowServing app. He’s the same doc that helped my husband with his own GI issues. I liked how he explained things clearly using only a few words. I wish I could do that too, as I tend to vaguely explain while using too many words. I told the doc about my stomach problems and also mentioned that I have chronic urticaria. He didn’t prescribe any medicine yet on that day, and wanted to check my upper digestive track first through endoscopy to see what’s actually going on in there. He said he wants to rule out GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease) vs EoE (Eosinophilic esophagitis). I think GERD is a common disease that causes acid reflux in most people, whole EoE is related to allergy cells.

    Preparation for endoscopy at Makati Medical Center

    Following were what I prepared prior to endoscopy at Makati Med:

    • Negative test result of RT-PCR Covid test (I got tested at Kaiser in King’s Court building, Makati)
    • LoA / Referral Control Sheet from my HMO, Intellicare (I was supposed to write about the price of endoscopy at Makati Med but I forgot the amount and wasn’t given a copy to bring home, sorry.)
    • Philhealth claim form (because the HMO won’t cover 100% of the hospital bill)
    • Copy of my doc’s endoscopy request
    • Dry fasted for 6-8 hours before endoscopy (no food, no water.)

    Be advised that you may also have to personally pay for the medical supplies (docs’ and nurses’ shoe cover, masks, etc) and “infection control care kit”. The cost varies but it can be up to P5000. Yes, it’s extra expensive to get a procedure done during the pandemic. ๐Ÿ™

    The endoscopy procedure itself

    Come early

    Hubby and I were at the Endoscopy Unit at 2nd Floor Tower 2 around 8:30AM. We came 30 minutes early because there’s no guarantee that they’ll admit me right away, since there are also other patients in line. Luckily, I was first in line! I submitted my documents to the receptionist and signed a waiver, then waited outside for a nurse to call my name.

    Briefing and donning the Makati Med gown

    The nurse gave me a detailed briefing of the procedure, discussed about my urticaria and triggers, among other things. I was glad I didn’t have to remove my clothes for the procedure, just the shoes! They gave me slippers which they let me take home because it was part of the bill. I still had to wear the Makati Med gown though. I tried peeing right before endoscopy, just in case. I was surprised that I still peed some liquid, despite not drinking anything for 6-8 hours!

    The endoscopy room

    They then let me lay on the hospital bed, and after attaching my IV fluid, they finally took me to the endoscopy room and then took my eyeglasses away. And oh, because my eyes are so bad, I requested that they let me keep my eyeglasses case in the bed so I could wear them when I woke up. Laying down with many layers of clothing felt a bit uncomfortable. ๐Ÿ˜…

    The attending nurse then attached a BP monitor on my right arm, a blood oxygen monitor on my left hand, heart rate monitor pads on my chest, and oxygen cannula in my nose. My gastroenterologist’s fellow doctor, Dr. Chatto, asked me questions, particularly what my complaints were. He also examined my stomach for pains by pressing on it. The anesthesiologist, Doc Connie Huan arrived and started asking questions too, mostly about my urticaria. Then I saw Doc Carlo approach to check if I was ready for the procedure, and gave a reassuring pat on my shoulder. Good thing I still recognized him without my eyeglasses. A nurse sprayed a liquid directly into my throat to numb it and avoid gag reflex during the procedure. It tasted like an alcoholic drink and my throat quickly felt numb.

    Falling asleep before the actual endoscopy at Makati Med

    Last few things I remembered before being knocked out to sleep were being asked to lay on my left side, the nurse attaching a mouthpiece into my mouth, and the anesthesiologist cracking some jokes to help me relax. It was kinda frustrating not being to respond to her because of the mouthpiece. LOL. Gosh, I wish I could fall asleep that fast every night!

    Waking up in the recovery room

    My eyes opened and I saw the nurses who attended to me earlier. I was in the recovery room, on my back (when did they move my body?) and with my mask and eyeglasses on! To whoever placed the eyeglasses back on me, this four-eyed girl be forever grateful to you!!

    Waking up felt weird. It’s hard to explain, but it was very unlike waking up in the morning. It’s like my eyes just suddenly opened and I didn’t feel sleepy at all. Remembering how loooong I waited for my husband after his procedure in this unit before, I tried to sit upright to get the attention of the nurses, thinking that maybe if I tried to look alert they’ll discharge me early. Hehehe. And I was right. ๐Ÿ˜‰ They gave me a cup of water to drink when I asked for one. Nothing hurt in my throat at all despite no longer being numb, but just a little bit uncomfortable… I think it’s from residue of the throat spray that they applied.

    I didn’t have an allergic reaction to the anesthesia, thankfully, but I had rashes/hives where the IV, BP monitor, and heart rate monitor pads touched my skin. Not all of them were itchy, but doc Connie the anesthesiologist removed all of them immediately when she realized that rashes and hives appeared on my skin.

    Mild pressure rashes/hives where IV was injected and where the tape touched. Not itchy.

    Post-endoscopy consultation with Doc Carlo Cornejo

    After my quick stay at the recovery area, the staff led me to a room to wait for my husband and Doc Carlo Cornejo. I think it’s common for patients’ companion to join the post-procedure consultation with doctors because we’re still groggy from sedation.

    The general finding is that whatever’s going on in my upper stomach, it’s not very serious. Although I think that if I waited for a couple more years before having this checked, it may have become serious.

    Test for H. Pylori came out negative. I wasn’t sure how to feel… relieved because I don’t have this ulcer and cancer-causing bacteria, or disappointed that there’s nothing to treat related to my pressure hives?

    Comments and advice from my gastroenterologist:

    Doc is still trying to figure out if my symptoms are related to allergy (EoE) or simply acid reflux. Diagnosis will depend if meds will work.

    My lower esophagus (lower esophageal sphincter?) is loose, which may be causing food and acid reflux. Part of my esophagus is also thickened, probably from frequent contact with acid.

    There’s also a “scratch” in my stomach, another evidence of acidity. The scratch is not deep, but should it deepen, it will be called an “ulcer”.

    With the meds prescribed to me, my stomach acid will be suppressed as much as possible from 2 weeks to 2 months. If symptoms persist, it could mean I have EoE (linked to allergy). Otherwise it’s just acid reflux.

    I was advised to avoid dairy (cheese, ice cream, milk, etc.), chocolates, all nuts, and tomatoes for 1 to 2 months. Butter should be okay. This will be hard because the said foods are most of my favorites. We let doc know that my work involving tasting dairy and chocolates will make it a greater challenge, and he told us that I can try eating them in very small amounts and not frequently so that I don’t reach my threshold.

    Aside from foods to avoid, I was also advised to watch the volume of foods I eat to avoid reflux, since my lower esophagus is not closing properly. Bawal ang eat-all-you-can! I should have earlier dinners, and stay upright 2-3 hours after.

    I asked doc about my bloating after eating fatty foods. He said fat is slowly digested so I should try to avoid it too.

    Medications prescribed

    I’ll be taking meds that reduces acid (proton pump inhibitor?) once a day every morning for two weeks, and gastritis meds for dyspepsia (slow digestion) 3 times a day before meals for one week.

    Moving forward

    I’ll report again to my doc via NowServing app after 2 weeks.

    My endoscopy experience at Makati Med was smooth and fast. The nurses had a warm, approachable attitude too. I think it was fast because I arrived early when there weren’t a lot of patients in line yet, and because I recovered quickly from sedation after the procedure.

    Related: Nasolaryngoscopy experience at Makati Med ENT Center

  • Our fave Mint Chocolate desserts in Manila, Philippines

    Looking for mint chocolate desserts in Manila? I gotchu! I am a mint chocolate fan who decided to list down my favorites in this blog post. This post about mint chocolate is not sponsored, but some of the products are made by me. What I can promise you is that I LOVE each and every mint chocolate product in the list.

    I never really ate mint chocolate desserts before my then boyfriend (now husband) influenced me. Many people hate mint chocolate, saying it tastes like toothpaste, but I wasn’t put off by its flavor. I actually enjoy it (although not as much as my mint-loving hubby does), to the point that I created Mint Chocolate Cake for my small-time online cake shop. Yes, a mint chocolate cake exists in Manila!!

    I’m listing down below mint chocolate desserts that we loved, in no particular order.

    Mint Chocolate desserts in Manila that we love

    Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream from Baskin Robbins

    Mint chocolate desserts in Manila, Philippines

    The mint choco chip ice cream milkshake at Baskin Robbins is actually one of the best milkshakes I’ve tried, even compared to non-mint ones! So yummy and refreshing~ You can get it from their stores.

    Mint Chocolate Gelato from Caramia PH

    Photo Source: Caramia Mint with Chocolate

    Mint gelato from Caramia was one of the first mint chocolate treats I had tried. It’s extra delicious because gelatos in general have this silky smooth texture that makes them better than ice cream! Get it from their stores.

    Mint Choco Chip Cookies from Cookies PH

    Big, chunky, soft, and buttery peppermint cookies with a generous amount of premium-tasting Belgian milk and dark chocolate chips! You may order it from the Cookies PH website. This is the best mint chocolate cookies I’ve tried so far, even compared to mint cookies outside Manila and Philippines.

    Its recipe was developed by me. Maybe I like it because it’s based on my preference, so I’m open to other mint chocolate cookie recommendations~

    Mint Choc Chip Bar from Gnaw

    Photo Source: friars.co.uk

    Chunky, minty white chocolates with chocolates. I choose this as my number 1 favorite mint chocolate bar! If I remember correctly, we used to buy Gnaw Mint Choc Chip bars from Robinson’s Manila supermarket.

    Mint Belgian Chocolate Cake from Catzie’s Cakery

    A delicious mint chocolate cake exists in Manila! Moist chocolate cake layers are sandwiched together and coated in creamy, minty Belgian chocolate frosting. We’ve talked to other mint chocolate dessert fans about this cake, and they say that they love the perfect blend of minty and chocolatey flavors here.

    The Mint Belgian Chocolate Cakes are made in small batches and delivered in limited slots every Wed/Sat/Sun. We recommend to reserve your date at least 1 week ahead because the slots are sold out quickly. You may message Catzie’s Cakery to inquire on the availability of your preferred delivery date first.

    “Winter Chill” Mint Chocolate Bar from Goya

    Photo Source: Goya Chocolates

    We didn’t expect so much from the mint chocolate of Goya, but it was better than Hershey’s!! It’s a smooth milk chocolate bar with an ample but not overwhelming amount of peppermint extract. We got it from SM Savemore in Chino Roces corner EDSA.

    I’ll update the list when I have a new favorite mint chocolate dessert! Got suggestions for my list of mint chocolate desserts in Manila? Comment away! ๐Ÿ™‚

    . . .

    Our tastes in mint chocolate treats may not be the same, but below are some of the ones we had tried but didn’t enjoy as much as the ones above.

    Mint Chocolate desserts in Manila and beyond that we didn’t like

    • Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Mint bar (a bit too sweet for us, and not enough chocolatey flavor)
    • Cold Stone Minster Ice Cream (peppermint flavor was too strong)
    • Subway Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies (the plain cookie dough tasted eggy and the mint only came from the chocolate chips. Maybe a way to improve it is to use higher quality melt-in-the-mouth mint chocolates.)

  • My chronic pressure urticaria: Triggers, relief, Makati Med Allergologists

    Feb. 28, 2022 Update: I am trying to get my stomach acidity and indigestion issues treated, hoping that I’ll also find relief for my chronic urticaria.

    I’ve been suffering from itchy rashes and hives for a few months now. It happens every single day, all throughout the day. My allergologist at Makati Med said that this is called chronic urticaria. I know there are many people who have worse skin problems than mine, but this condition is really affecting my lifestyle negatively. I’m a generally anxious person and the itching makes it worse, and I feel that the anxiety makes my itching worse too, causing an unbreakable cycle. What makes it worse is that I still don’t know what’s causing it. The pandemic is making consultation with allergologists a challenge for me, but I am working on it. Thanks to my husband for sticking with me as I battle through this itchy nightmare.

    The beginning of my itchy journey ๐Ÿ˜’

    Some time in August 2021, the palms of my hands began itching like crazy. I thought they were only itching due to dry skin, similar to eczema, because I wash my hands with soap so many times everyday, with all the baking and fear of the coronavirus. I was diagnosed with eczema several years ago but it went away quickly after moisturizing my skin, so I simply tried to moisturize every day. After one week, there was still no improvement so I consulted with a doctor at Medgate. I think even before this I was already having non-itchy rashes on my face.

    Medgate consultation with Dr. Natasha Andrea Fernandez

    The impression was “To Consider Generalized Hypersensitivity Reaction”. Doc Natasha prescribed steroid-antihistamine meds to be taken for 1 week, and 3 days into taking it, my itchy rashes/hives were gone. After stopping the meds, the red itchy little devils came right back. During this period, she put me on a hypoallergenic diet, which I continued even after quitting the meds, but the problem persisted. I didn’t feel that my itching was triggered by any food I ate. She recommended that I see an allergologist.

    Makati Med Allergologist Consultation with Dr. Manuel Canlas

    Finding an allergologist in Makati Med

    We couldn’t find an allergologist in Makati who is accredited by our HMO, Intellicare, so we decided to just pay for our allergologist consultation. Honestly, I thought that everything would be solved after one visit to an allergologist. Maybe I just got lucky with the eczema thing from years ago — all it took was one dermatologist visit and then POOF! Itchy patches skin were gone. This one’s different.

    Consultation in Dr. Manuel Canlas’ clinic at Makati Med

    The actual doctor that I consulted with was Dr. Katrina Canlas Estrella, who I think is his daughter. She’s a cool lady who seems to love pastries, and I think she remembers me as Cookies PH. ๐Ÿ˜‚ Due to pandemic and Doc Manuel being a senior citizen, he couldn’t be at his clinic at Makati Med, but you could talk to him directly via video call c/o Doc Katrina. A prick test for allergies was required before the consultation. The skin test and consultation combined were a total of 8000 pesos. Consultation alone costs 1200 pesos. Ang mahal magkaproblema sa katawan, guys. The allergens that I was most sensitive to were house dust and dust mites, according to the results. They prescribed antihistamines and steroid meds, and sold me steroid cream and Hyalure lotion, which I was instructed to combine before using. They asked me to take urinalysis and fecalysis in case parasites were causing it. The results were all clear. Me and my hubby were asked to apply Kwell for 2 nights in case this was caused by scabies, but it didn’t help.

    Avoiding the top allergy trigger didn’t help

    They suggested anti-dust mites measures but a week after that, I felt no significant relief, even with the meds they prescribed. On my follow-up consultation at Dr. Manuel Canlas’ clinic, Doc Katrina no longer called Doc Manuel, and instead prescribed more antihistamines and tapered down the dosage of my steroids meds. When I told her that avoiding allergens didn’t help, her recommendation was to undergo immunotheraphy. This means that they would inject allergens into me so that my body will slowly become immune to it. According to her, this only works on patients 80% of the time.

    Went home disappointed

    I was a little bit disappointed that not all possible causes were tested for, such as autoimmune diseases like what I often read from the ‘net. I also felt bad about all the steroid meds, both oral and topical, because I read that they are really bad for long term use. Our pockets were running dry too because of the hefty consultation fee, so we decided to get a second opinion from an allergologist who was referred by someone from Aventus Filomena Makati.

    Makati Med Allergologist Consultation with Dr. Caroline Aquino Biolena

    I’m happy that I got to know Doc Caroline because our mindset on this matter seem to align. She doesn’t like to prescribe steroids on patients, and her first order was to get tested for autoimmune disease.

    So it’s called “pressure urticaria!”

    One big help that I got from her was that she recognized the appearance of rashes/hives that I often had — it’s pressure urticaria! So that’s why many of the itchiness I had were along fabric marks from clothes and bed sheets. Because of this new knowledge, I was able to avoid several new hives by avoiding pressure on my skin. Although I also get hives on areas that didn’t touch anything, such as my face where hives randomly appear while I watch TV. Some even look like small pimple marks or small insect bites. These randomly appearing little devils make me really anxious.

    Autoimmune tests were ordered for my chronic urticaria

    Doc Caroline wasn’t convinced that this was simply allergies, so she ordered diagnostic tests such as chest xray, and blood tests to check for thyroid issues and presence of ANA (antinuclear antibody). All results were negative, except my ANA test. I was told that this may be caused by an autoimmune disease, and referred me to a rheumatologist, Dr. Caroline Katigbak.

    Bye for now, oral steroids!

    She let me quit the steroid meds and replaced it with montelukast which I took every night before bed. It initally kept me awake, so I took melatonin and sleep-incuding teas before bed time, which really helped.

    “Now Serving” App Consultation with Dr. Genevieve Katigbak

    I was able to book an online consultation with the rheumatologist via Now Serving app. I really recommend this app. You may also book face-to-face consultations through it, if the doc does face-to-face. Consulation fee was 1000-1200 pesos because the doc doesn’t accept Intellicare for online consultations. ๐Ÿ’ธ๐Ÿ’ธ๐Ÿ’ธ

    Detailed ANA (Anti-nuclear Antibody) Test ordered for my chronic urticaria

    Doc Gen had a warm personality and was really easy to talk to, and I’m thankful for that because voice calls and video calls make me anxious. She ordered a detailed ANA test to find out if I have lupus. Gosh, this reminded me that I’m a vulnerable living being who’s susceptible to incurable ailments such as lupus.

    Well, my lupus test came out negative! BUT I am due for another test 6 months from now, just in case anything develops.

    Last consultation with Dr. Biolena before the end of 2021…

    Hello December, it’s already been four months and I still have itchy hives that make me anxious. The anxiety seems to make everything more itchy, forming this terrible itch-anxiety cycle. Doc Caroline told me that I should try not to stress so much about it, because stress can really aggravate my condition.

    Finding out that my rheumatologist declared that I’m free of autoimmune disease, Doc Caroline on the other hand declared that I have chronic idiopathic urticaria, which means that I have a long-term urticaria without any known cause. It wasn’t a pleasant news. I hate it when I don’t know the cause of things, especially something that’s happening to my body, but we don’t get to choose what ailments our bodies develop. Still better than lupus, which may attack my kidneys, right?

    She up-dosed my antihistamines and gave me the green signal to quit montelukast. Our next option is for me to take Omalizumab (better known by the brand name Xolair). It’s quite expensive, each dose over a whopping 20,000 pesos! And one needs around 4 doses for it to work (oh dear, do the math), if it’s going to work at all. Doc said it doesn’t work on all urticaria patients, but it works for some. Also, I will need to be confined upon taking the first dose due to the risk of anaphylaxis (severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction).

    Doc will be on vacation until the end of next year January. I hope nothing new comes up before then.

    What gives me relief from the itching:

    For the pressure-induced itchy rashes and hives (these completely disappear in about an hour if completely ignored), applying cold compress for at least 15 seconds on the skin makes the itchiness disappear, but not the redness. I don’t care much about the redness because the itch is the bothersome one.

    Showering in cold water helps with pressure-induced urticaria too.

    For the random itchy pimple-like things that appear on my skin, honestly, nothing but time helps. On day 1 they are very itchy, and on day 2 & 3 they’re still visible on my skin but they get much less itchy. Anti-itch lotions such as Aveeno Anti-Itch Concentrated Lotion and Cerave Anti-Itch Lotion help just a little bit.

    As much as possible, I stay away from steroid creams, as I don’t want to depend on something that I’m not allowed to use long term. I only reach out for it when I’ve done all I could and the itching remains intense.

    Just a friendly reminder: please try NOT to scratch your rashes and hives! Scratching intensifies the itching and sometimes it makes more hives pop up.

    January 2022 Low Histamine x AIP Diet for Chronic Urticaria

    I am happy to share that I’ve lowered my antihistamine dose from 4 times a day to just 3 times a day! What a good way to start the year. I’m glad I’m still comfortable enough to sleep even after lowering the dosage. Some itchy rashes appear before bedtime but I take care of them by using ice packs. My sleep is the thing that my chronic urticaria affects the most.

    So, I decided to try a low histamine diet fused with AIP (Autoimmune Protocol) for now while my doc is on vacation. I’m also trying to avoid high FODMAP foods which may cause upset stomach. After all, many people suspect that a bad gut is one of the causes of pressure urticaria. I thought that if this doesn’t work, I got nothing to lose because at least I’ll shed some fat and get closer to my healthy weight as I am currently overweight.

    From what I read on the Internet, we can do a “histamine flush” by eating only low histamine foods for 3-4 weeks. Continuing the diet beyond this period is not recommended. If we don’t feel better within that period, it could mean that we aren’t histamine intolerant or one of the supposed low histamine food is actually something we’re sensitive to! (Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional, just a desperate sufferer of pressure urticaria. Feel free to comment if you’d like to correct anything, or to suggest anything.)

    For the first five days of the diet I roughly followed this Sample 5 Day Low Histamine Diet Plan by Low Histamine Eats. It was too late though, when I found out that kiwi, one of the items on her safe list, is actually a histamine liberator. ๐Ÿคฆโ€โ™€๏ธ My fault for not verifying before starting the diet.

    Anyway, I’m listing down foods I ate/ingested per day of the diet. This entire month I’m taking antihistamine 3 times each day, 1 Kirkland mutivitamin, and vitamin D3 (alternating between 2000 and 5000 IU). I season what I cook with salt everyday. I also stopped taking “drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol pills” which I take for my PCOS, last December 4. Some say it can be bad for the gut so I decided to stop it for now, see if it helps. Like I said before, I am desperate.

    Click here to see what I ate during my low histamine diet, in hopes of curing/easing my pressure urticaria.


    Week 1

    Jan. 3

    Chicken breast
    Olive oil
    Frozen fresh basil leaves
    Sweet potato
    Fresh turmeric
    Fresh ginger
    Kiwi (I shouldn’t have had this)
    Fresh coconut meat and juice
    Chia seeds
    Jicama
    Kale
    Dried Lemongrass

    Jan. 4

    Carrot
    Chicken
    Fresh rosemary
    Fresh thyme
    Frozen fresh basil
    Olive oil
    Arugula
    Kiwi (I shouldn’t have had this)
    Chia seeds
    Reheated frozen sweet potatoes
    Kale
    Lean pork
    (Taking note in case this is hormone-related: On the night of Jan. 4 my period had started.)

    Jan. 5

    Sweet potato
    Dried lemongrass
    Chicken breast
    Pure coconut milk, packaged (Real Thai brand)
    Chia
    Turmeric
    Ginger
    Yellow ginger
    Kiwi (I shouldn’t have had this)
    Jicama
    Carrots
    Beets
    Olive oil
    Arugula
    Frozen leftover chicken with rosemary, thyme, and basil
    (Taking note in case of reactions: today I put a strawberry-flavored fluoride treatment in my mouth and swallowed a little bit)


    Jan. 6


    Frozen leftover cooked lean pork
    Ginger
    Fresh cauliflower
    Yellow ginger
    Chia seeds
    Pure coconut milk, packaged (Real Thai brand)
    Sweet potato
    Pork ribs
    Garlic
    Onions
    White radish
    Kale
    Ginger
    Turmeric
    Sleepasil capsule

    Jan. 7

    Arugula
    Pork
    Dried lemongrass
    Onions
    Garlic
    Coconut oil
    Coconut milk
    Frozen leftover chicken with rosemary, thyme, and basil
    Carrots
    Broccoli
    Turmeric
    Yellow ginger
    Ginger
    Peppermint leaves
    Jicama
    (I got sick starting on the night of Jan. 7. I started my isolation too.)

    Jan. 8

    Frozen butternut squash
    Frozen leftover lemongrass pork
    Coconut oil
    Jicama
    Chia
    Coconut milk
    Pork ribs
    Garlic
    Onions
    Onion leeks
    White radish
    Bokchoy
    Ginger
    Yellow ginger
    Herbal tea of dried chamomile, lemon balm, marshmallow root, and peppermint
    Decolgen tablet, No-Drowse
    (High fever that reached 39.1C. Surprisingly, I think I didn’t feel any itchy rash on this day of Jan. 8! Could it be that my mast cells were busy fighting a virus so they don’t overreact to harmless things such as pressure against my skin? ๐Ÿ™„)

    Jan. 9

    Chicken
    Onions
    Garlic
    Fresh rosemary
    Fresh thyme
    Carrots
    Frozen broccoli and cauliflower
    Marshmallow root tea
    Lettuce
    Frozen beets
    Honeydew melon
    Carrots
    Coconut milk
    Apple cider vinegar, a splash (might be a mistake but I couldn’t help it)
    Chia seeds
    Turmeric
    Ginger
    Decolgen Forte tablet
    (In the morning my rashes were very mild, but in the evening they’re back to being as itchy as usual. I also had rashes that seem like rounded version of pressure urticaria rashes. Could it be the virus I’m sick with?)

    Jan. 10

    Kalabasa (our local squash, resembles kabocha squash)
    Cauliflower
    Coconut oil
    Frozen leftover chicken
    Curly kale
    Chia seeds
    Ginger
    Honeydew melon, sliced yesterday (I hope this is OK)
    Frozen leftover pork rib soup (cooked with cauliflower and broccoli but no actual veg anymore)
    Garlic
    Onions
    Carrots
    White radish
    Turmeric
    Ginger
    Zucchini
    Olive oil
    Decolgen Forte tablet
    (Itchy rashes really pestered me on this day! Oof– just found out that my 2000IU Kirkland Vit D has soybean oil ๐Ÿ˜”)

    Week 2

    Jan 11

    Frozen baked chicken
    Garlic
    Turmeric powder
    Frozen cauliflower
    Frozen beets
    Fresh turmeric and ginger
    Chia seeds
    Coconut milk
    Potato wedges baked with olive oil
    Romaine lettuce
    Carrot
    Jicama
    Flax seeds
    Egg
    (More itchy little pimples appeared on my body this day. Pressure hives that appeared were expected where my skin pressed against things. A bit bloated after chia and coconut milk but it’s not always like this. Had loose stools.)

    Jan 12

    Lettuce
    Frozen baked chicken
    Garlic
    Flax seeds
    Olive oil
    Jicama
    A sip of marshmallow root tea
    Honeydew melon (I ate a lot of this)
    Pork
    Carrots
    Broccoli
    Bok choy
    Yellow ginger
    Ginger
    Onions
    (Still getting tiny itchy pimples at random places. Had expected pressure hives plus a few on my cheeks.)

    Jan 13

    Chicken
    Basil
    Olive oil
    Sweet potato
    Honeydew
    Yellow ginger
    Ginger
    Chia seeds
    Coconut milk
    Chamomile tea
    Peppermint and spearmint tea
    Fresh coconut flesh and juice
    Carrot
    Rosemary
    Thyme
    Broccoli
    Jicama
    Turmeric
    (Had big rashes scatted across my right chest at 11:11PM, followed by a little more rashes were on my hands than usual. Thinking it may be hormonal because ovulation should be around this day.)

    Jan 14

    Chia seeds
    Coconut milk
    Gluten-free oats
    Chicken
    Garlic
    Strong ginger tea
    Broccoli
    Olive oil
    Small amount of sesame oil
    Sweet potato
    Basil
    Zucchini
    Turmeric powder
    (Still getting several tiny itchy pimples. So much less pressure rashes on this day, even at night! I was thinking maybe it’s because I skipped fruits and teas today, and I scraped off basil from the chicken I cooked (thinking of pseudoallergens) and also been practicing relaxation through deep breathing. And oh, the strong ginger tea.)

    Jan 15

    Chia seeds
    Coconut milk
    Gluten-free oats
    Pork (butterfly cut and ribs)
    Onions
    Strong ginger tea
    Honey
    Frozen kabocha squash
    Frozen butternut squash
    Carrots
    Onions
    Bok choy
    Turmeric powder
    (I tried to avoid herbs and fruits today just like I did yesterday, to hopefully get virtually no pressure hives again, but I actually became quite sensitive in the evening! In the day time there were only non-itchy little red pressure marks. In the evening, I easily had large non-itchy rashes on my arm and chest upon pressure. Worse, I had many other itchy rashes all over my hands, and on my arm from my t-shirt sleeve which doesn’t happen often anymore these days. A thing I did today that didn’t do on the previous day was clean the bathroom using bleach and Greenex. Does chemical trigger pressure urticaria?)

    Week 3

    My arms used to always have pressure rashes while using my laptop on the table but that very rarely happens on week 3. I still have pressure rashes on my arms, hands, legs and feet that I don’t remember being in contact with pressure though, so I think my skin is still sensitive at this point.

    Jan 16

    pan-fried chicken
    honey
    turmeric
    garlic
    zucchini
    fresh moringa tea
    grapes
    lettuce
    olive oil
    flax seeds
    ginger
    onion
    pechay
    small amount of white rice
    (Pressure rashes appear when I bump into sharp objects’ edges. Used dumbbells briefly and had slightly red palms but no itching. After drinking moringa tea my tummy felt acidic and my throat itched. The next times I tried moringa I didn’t have the same discomfort. About 30 minutes after lettuce+oliveoil+flaxseeds+grapes salad I burped and felt so acidic in the chest!)

    Jan 17

    juice from fresh curly kale, morgina, pechay, ginger, honeydew, carrot, coconut water
    jicama
    chicken with skin
    turmeric (fresh and powdered)
    ginger
    pechay
    coconut water
    coconut oil
    olive oil
    lettuce
    honeydew
    frozen leftover pork soup
    garlic
    onions
    turmeric
    ginger
    carrot
    broccoli
    (Had hive on face, less itchy body pimples, fewer pressure rashes easily controlled with ice packs)

    Jan 18


    juice from fresh curly kale, moringa, grape, ginger, honeydew
    Lettuce
    olive oil
    fatty pork steak
    browned garlic
    fresh rosemary
    jicama
    sweet potato
    started immunpro supplement
    oats
    turmeric
    pechay
    chicken

    (Solid stool now finally. Itchy ears. Persistent hive on the neck. Tiny super itchy pimples pop up randomly in the body. Today was when I noticed that my elbows/forearms no longer itch while using laptop on table. Pressure rashes that came out of nowhere appeared on feet. Used clobetasol+hyalure lotion mixture.)

    Jan 19


    juice from fresh curly kale, pechay, lettuce, carrot, ginger, turmeric, grapes
    small amount of apple cider vinegar
    chicken, pan-fried
    caramelized apple
    lettuce
    olive oil
    flax
    garlic
    honey
    pechay
    moringa
    olive oil
    (Stomach ached when I ate the pan-fried chicken and apple quickly. Still getting itchy pressure rashes on areas that I don’t know what touched, but some small rashes don’t itch. )

    Jan 20

    Juice from curly kale, moringa, cabbage, turmeric, ginger, frozen beets, and honey
    chicken
    onion
    garlic
    pechay
    gluten-free oats
    boiled egg
    fatty pork steak
    zucchini
    sesame oil
    (Mix of expected and unexpected pressure rashes on this day)

    Jan 21

    apple
    lettuce,
    flax
    olive oil
    cantaloupe melon
    sweet potato
    (stomach ache after defecating)
    frozen leftover tinola (chicken, ginger, onion, garic, pechay, moringa)
    juice from curly kale, cabbage, ginger, turmeric, pechay, honeydew,carrot
    (Earphones make my ears itch. Used clobetasol mix again. About 40mins after eating sweet potato at night I had acid reflux. Super itchy hand rash after using bidet, I thought my hand is already desensitized to it…)

    Jan 22

    gluten-free oats
    chia
    honey
    cantaloupe, small morsels
    cabbage
    olive oil (oops cooked in same pan as canned tuna and eggs)
    chicken with skin, pan-fried
    garlic
    rosemary
    (acid reflux in the afternoon)
    juice from celery, curly parsley, ginger, moringa, honeydew, pechay, lettuce
    chicken (stew)
    thyme
    carrots
    potatoes
    onions
    molasses
    (Slight burning in esophagus/stomach after drinking today’s juice. Today I had a mix of expected and unexpected pressure urticaria too, but there are times when I expect rashes but none break out! I might have missed my 5PM dose of antihistsamine, I really can’t remember but I had no out of the ordinary rashes today. I felt overwhelmed and stressed today from the mountain of things I had to attend to.)

    Jan 23

    gluten-free oats
    pumpkin seeds (1 Tbsp)
    flax seeds
    more pumpkin seeds (4Tbsp, after about 20mins I had bitter taste in mouth)
    chicken thigh, pan-seared
    honey
    garlic
    olive oil
    coconut oil
    lettuce
    carrot
    (almost 1 hour after eating I had a dull upper stomachache)
    juice from apple, celery, parsley, turmeric, ginger, moringa (ugh moringa started growing molds)
    onion
    leeks
    bok choy
    squash
    curly kale
    small amount of rice
    (Today I had minor pressure rashes even in the morning but can’t associate with pumpkin seeds, because after eating 4Tbsp of it I didn’t notice itching until evening. Some small pressure rashes are gone before I could take note of them, but many of my rashes today were extremely itchy and resistant against ice packs. I also felt overwhelmed and stressed today from the mountain of things I had to attend to. Worth taking note that this week I’ve been sleeping well even without Sleepasil! Maybe it’s the reduced stress from taking less work, and the healthier diet without caffeine. Started Pharex vitamin B complex on this day but there will be days when I skip it.)

    Jan 24

    celery juice for breakfast (made me hungry, either the juice contents or didn’t make enough juice)
    jicama
    fresh parsley tea
    chia seeds
    honey
    gluten-free oats
    melon
    very small amount of wasabi white chocolate (dairy, sugar, and other bad stuff — tasted for work)
    apple
    olive oil
    lettuce
    chicken
    (Bloated lower abdomen or puson today, hurts a bit when pressure’s applied. Also had more appetite than usual. Relatively large itchy rash on right of neck in the afternoon.)

    Jan 25

    scrambled eggs (2pcs., well-cooked with carrot, parsley, olive oil)
    ginger
    turmeric
    evaporated milk (trace amounts)
    condensed milk (trace amounts)
    frozen mango puree (trace amounts)
    all purpose cream (trace amounts)
    fresh parsley tea
    jicama
    baked chicken
    basil, fresh
    fresh parsley
    garlic
    pumpkin seeds
    olive oil
    lettuce

    (Woke up quite early coughing with some phlegm and left nostril was a bit congested. Had itchy hive on left jaw and a fleeting left shoulder itch right after. Could they be connected? Three hours after scrambled eggs, 1.5 hours after evap and condensed milk trace, and about 1 hour after mango and cream trace, I had slight tummy discomfort. I was laying down for a while watching TV, when I raised my body I felt fluid in my tummy moving. I felt really fine before this discomfort. Note that for many years it’s always taking long for me to digest foods. Discomfort lessened after burping, which felt slightly acidic in the upper tummy. That was in the afternoon. I had a stomachache after working out at night which is unusual. What I had before workout was jicama and fresh parsley tea. Around 10:20PM stomach ached again, passing gas gave relief. This continued up to 11PM. The noted puson/lower abdomen bloating has lessened today though. Had bitter taste in the back of the mouth tonight but not sure if it’s the turmeric powder or stomach acid reflux. At 12:40 I had a headache concentrated around my eyes which didn’t last long. It was a busy and moderately stressful day at work. My feet were sensitive to pressure rashes tonight, but recently I’ve been able to trust the small pressure rashes to go away on their own, observed at a maximum of 1 hour.)

    Jan 26

    gluten-free oats
    honey
    chia
    ginger
    turmeric
    reheated frozen chicken stew (thyme, celery, carrots, potato, onion, garlic, cabbage, molasses)
    peeled apple
    fatty pork chop, fried
    garlic
    parsley
    onion
    cucumber
    apple cider vinegar, small amount

    (Woke up with right nostril congested. It stings/burns too near the soft palate. Acid reflux? But my chest or stomach didn’t feel the burn. About an hour after that I noticed an itchy hive on my left cheek. Not sure if worth noting but today I drank water from a refrigerated bottle that hasn’t been washed in a while. Played guitar a few minutes and the itching was significantly less intense than before! They became raised hives later on. Maybe it’s the antihistamines keeping them calm? In the afternoon while getting up from bed I felt acid again moving below my chest. That left cheek hive from the morning still itches. Twelve minutes after dinner of fatty pork, garlic, parsley, onion, cucumber and apple cider vinegar I had slight tummy discomfort. Eight minutes after discomfort, a right toe was very itchy! It went away on its own within 45 minutes. An hour after the itchy toe I had a very itchy “pimple” on my right side. Couldn’t help it and used clobetasol on it.)

    Jan 27

    light ginger tea
    (fasted for 16 hours)
    baked chicken thighs with skin
    fresh rosemary
    garlic
    bok choy
    olive oil
    yellow sweet potato
    coconut milk
    chicken
    celery
    carrot
    onion
    celery
    ginger
    (Itchy pimple over left deltoid muscle. Many of the pressure hives I got today faded out quickly, but at 1AM I had a very itchy left thumb that I had to ice before calming down. Couldn’t exercise well tonight as if my muscles didn’t wanna move.)

    Jan 28

    (fasted for 16 hours)
    all purpose cream, trace amount
    frozen chicken soup
    chicken
    celery
    carrot
    onion
    celery
    ginger
    chia seeds
    coconut milk
    sweet potato
    small amount coconut oil
    baked chicken
    olive oil
    parsley
    garlic
    basil
    carrots
    bok choy

    (Woke early because I had left nostril pain near soft palate. Acid? Tried to sleep again but nostril was flooding with mucus. Almost an hour after that I had many small scattered rashes on my hands that look like they’re pressure rashes. I don’t recall applying pressure on my hands, and about half of the rashes itched. Could it really be connected to stomach acid? Funny how I applied so much pressure on my palm at work and yet had no itching. In the morning I was annoyed at someone and my heartbeat’s speed/intensity was heightened. Had a persistent itchy pimple on the chest, also appeared on the arm later. In the afternoon I felt acidity below my chest after drinking cool water. An hour after that I had a slight pain in my left chest, maybe the lung? Not sure. At 6pm I didn’t feel so well with slight headache, could it be work fatigue and lack of sleep? Had a mix of expected and unexpected pressure rashes today but resolved within an hour.)

    Jan 29

    light ginger tea
    (fasted for 16 hours)
    frozen chicken soup (celery carrot ginger garlic onion cauliflower broccoli squash)
    small piece of frittata (egg, chicken, coconut oil, coconut milk, broccoli, cauliflower)
    round grapes
    white sweet potato
    Juice using juicer: celery carrot parsley ginger apple grapes pechay cucumber moringa
    chicken stew with turmeric (fresh and powdered), coconut milk, carrot, celery, garlic, onion, sweet potato, fennel seeds, bok choy, and rice!

    (no nose pain upon waking today, maybe from the change to a slightly thicker pillow. Throat was coated in phlegm upon waking though. About an hour after eating frittata I had an acidic burp. After the chicken stew at night my nose was a bit runny despite not being a spicy dish. Eighteen minutes after we started eating, I had itchy pressure rashes in my forearms. For many days, even when I try to induce it, I no longer have itchy pressure rashes in that area while using the computer in the table! But it’s here again and I felt so frustrated at the unpredictability of pressure urticaria. This was a very tiring day for me, and it’s HOT. Could they have been factors? I also had egg, grapes, and fennel seeds today. Could they have been culprits? I don’t know anymore. Later at night I found my feet sensitive to pressure rashes too, and the back of my hands had small scattered itchy pressure rashes, maybe from touching my husband’s beard. This day sucked! This is already day 29 of my low histamine diet and yet there are still surprises.)

    Other things I might try to help make my chronic urticaria go away:

    This condition is frustrating, and even more so when all doctors answer the question “why did I suddenly started itching like this?” with “your body has become hypersensitive.” That doesn’t explain WHY this is happening. I guess they don’t know either.

    Someone on Reddit suspects that pressure urticaria may be caused by a “leaky gut” and that healing the gut may help make the rashes go away. It’s possible that I have a bad gut because I have many of its symptoms, one of which is skin problems such as rashes. If I have no luck with low histamine diet, I’ll consider a diet for healing leaky guts.

    A quick Google-ing let me find out that acupuncture had cured a good percentage of chronic urticaria sufferers. I may consider trying this in the next few months if diets don’t help.

    Someone on the Delayed Pressure Urticaria Support Group on Facebook got rid of his pressure urticaria by juicing for one month. If the antihistamine diet doesn’t do it for me I might try this too.

    Immediate / Delayed Pressure Urticaria Resources

    Other sufferers talking about their Delayed Pressure Urticaria

    I gathered several posts/communities that you may wanna check out if you’re experiencing the same ailment. These are real people talking about the ailment, so you might feel a little better knowing you’re not suffering alone!


  • Makati Vaccine (Pfizer) – My experience and side effects from 2 doses

    This post was revised on July 17 to reflect my second dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine.

    I got my first and second dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Palanan Elementary School, Makati City. I was prepared to get Sinovac because that’s what most people have been getting, but to my surprise, the vaccine was Pfizer!

    Palanan Elementary School, Makati City

    Getting a schedule for vaccination in Makati

    (more…)

  • Open swimming pools in Metro Manila (Swimming allowed in GCQ)

    My main workout before the pandemic was swimming, while my husband also swam regularly in addition to his gym sessions. Not being able to swim for exercise forced me to do only indoor HIIT exercises and I often hurt my joints in doing so.

    The pool in our neighborhood has reopened this year, since swimming is allowed in GCQ, but it’s quite difficult to reserve a slot. Sometimes the slots are 3 weeks away. When we search for a list of open public swimming pools in Metro Manila while in GCQ, we can’t find anything. So here, I’ll try to gather a list myself.

    Do note that these are not public pools where anyone may swim. You either need membership or need to stay as a hotel guest. I know it’s a hassle. We swim in hotels in time for our socially distant event celebrations (just me and the hubby staycationing while avoiding everyone else). I know almost everyone else are tired of being socially distant. We are too, but we believe that avoiding gatherings is still the right thing to do. So yeah. Too bad the public pool at Makati Aqua Sports Arena is still closed.

    List of swimming pools in Metro Manila that are open during GCQ:

    Joy Nostalg Hotel

    We have personally tried checking in at Joy Nostalg and swimming in their 20-meter 4 ft. 6 in. pool. Only 3 people are allowed in the pool (covid-19 health safety protocols!) so it feels safe. Their swimming pool is temperature-controlled so you won’t feel cold even if it’s indoors and you swim in the morning or evening. Plus: there’s a jacuzzi too! They have a pool locker room, shower with shower gel and shampoo, and towels you can borrow for free. The pool also has an underwater sound system. How cool is that? The only problem we encountered was that they lost one of our pool reservations for unknown reasons. Upon arrival to the pool area on our scheduled slot, someone else was swimming. They made up for it by extending our stay for free until 4PM. By the way, not swimming related, but the food at the hotel tastes amazing, especially their croissants and other pastries. We had them delivered in our hotel room.

    Fitness First RCBC Makati

    The pool at Fitness First is open during GCQ but it needs membership. We haven’t tried it because they are so difficult to contact! What if we need to schedule a swim session but we can’t reach Fitness First?

    Aruga Hotel by Rockwell

    We booked a room here for an isolated birthday celeb, but they ran out of slots for the pool so we canceled and switched back to Joy Nostalg. Their slots fill up easily because the swimming pool is shared with residents.

    If you know of a pool that we can access during GCQ in Metro Manila, please let us know!

  • Cleaning services in Metro Manila – a personal review

    I’m not bad at programming and baking sweet treats, but I seem to be have terrible cleaning skills! ๐ŸคฃSo, when we want to get the house really really clean, we let professional cleaners handle the job.

    In this article I shall talk about my experience with professional cleaning services that I’ve tried, or tried to avail but they started ignoring me. ๐Ÿ˜…Read on to find out.

    And oh, please do comment on this blog post if you have your own experiences as well. We would love to hear recommendations!

    Ate Girl Home Cleaners

    So far, my favorite professional cleaning service provider is Ate Girl Home Cleaners! I thought that their slogan “Ang ATE na walang ARTE!” was just for online marketing, but when I tried them out, aba, totoo pala!

    The reason for this cleaning session was to totally clean our home’s floor area, because we wanted to begin the ban of shoes inside the house… like Japanese homes! hehe. Our floor is colored “cream” so the shoes makes it dirty so easily.

    The cleaner assigned to us was Ate Amy, and I must say, totally walang arte nga siya. Madali pa kausap at masipag.

    We availed the 2-hour cleaning service for a 26sqm unit, plus grease trap cleaning.

    Cost: 488 for 2-hour cleaning + 450 for grease trap cleaning + 120 for extra time to clean grease trap = 1058.

    During the 2-hour cleaning session, Ate Amy made sure to clean the area I told her was priority: the floor, including areas covered by appliances. We had a mop and pail ready for her to use, but she ditched it! She was wiping our floor with a rag and small pail. We told her, “ate pwede mo gamitin yung mop” so she wouldn’t have to bend down so much. She told us that the mop couldn’t clean the floor so well, unlike manual wiping with the rag. That was proof that her priority was cleanliness of the unit she’s servicing.

    Ate Amy also arranged some things in the house (trays on our dining table, and the positioning of a pantry shelf) in a way that we gained a little more extra space, and I loved it!

    The cleaner cleaned our grease trap without a mask and gloves. We offered and she declined. Kinamay ni Ate Girl yung dumi sa grease trap at wala siyang paki sa baho. Totally walang arte.

    The most amazing thing Ate Amy did was remove the “marbled” stains on the floor tiles of our shower room. We were surprised to find it like new. We just bought muriatic acid to hopefully remove those stains some time after the professional cleaning service, but Ate Girl Amy said she used a steel scrub to remove those stains. Whoa! Super sipag ni Ate Amy!

    Did she miss anything? I wouldn’t say that she “missed” anything, but with the limited 2-hour cleaning time, we couldn’t fit in the dusting of high furnitures and the wall. No big deal to me, because it’s not so dirty anyway, and like I told Ate Amy, the floor was priority.

    I will definitely book Ate Girl Home Cleaners again!

    Cleanhome

    The first professional cleaning service I’ve tried is at Cleanhome. It was good service. Gotta love their online booking system! ๐Ÿ˜‰ They were also very responsive on Facebook Messenger and I liked that.

    Reason for booking this cleaning was for the bake space for Catzie’s Cakery. I began renting a 40sqm 1-bedroom space, which had minimal furnitures but was very dusty.

    Cost: 750 for 3 hours.

    Josephine was the cleaner assigned to us by Cleanhome. She worked non-stop on our place, so I can say that the cleaning service was “sulit”. Lagi din siya naka-smile when she talked to me and I appreciate that.

    There were a few dusty parts with spider webs missed such at the bottom of our shelves. I pointed it out to her and she worked on those parts right away, so no problem.

    I also liked that she texted me hours ahead of the scheduled time, because it made me feel confident that a cleaner will really come to us that day. In the Philippines there are lots of services scheduled for the day, but you’ll never know if they’ll really come. Ahem, PLDT and Globe, ahem!

    Despite being responsive when I had inquiries on Facebook Messenger, they didn’t acknowledge receipt of the review I sent them. I hope it reached the cleaner, Josephine, because it was a positive review.

    Lemon Cleaners: they suddenly stopped responding to me while I was booking an appointment

    If there’s any cleaning service in Metro Manila that I won’t recommend, it’s Lemon Cleaners. We were about to book a cleaning service from them, we had a set date and time already, as well as the number of cleaners, and then Lemon Cleaners stopped responding to my texts. I even followed up, but to no avail. Who knows what happened that they couldn’t respond to me anymore. If I recall correctly, we even phoned them but still, nada.

    This was my exchange of texts with Lemon Cleaners.

    It was so frustrating not to get anymore response when we were so close to getting an appointment. Could they have changed their mind because of the water interruption in our area? Sana kung ayaw nila kami i-service, sabihin nang maayos with the reason.