The Dengue Misadventure - HMO

Irene'e platelet count was slowly going up. From a low of 9 x10^9/L on day 2, it was already at 157 by day 8. The dengue episode seems to be over. The sigh of relief was short-lived though, she now has fluid on her lungs. When will this end?

Asian Hospital Room Rates

While we were fighting the disease, we didn't mind the costs. After all, Irene's Medicard can cover up to Php200,000. With the doctors telling us that treatment for Dengue would just be hydration and monitoring, for sure this would not cost us more than Php200,000. Wrong.

The Dengue Misadventure - Telemetry

telemetry  [tuh-lem-i-tree], noun
a portable device that continuously monitors patient ECG, respiratory rate and/or oxygen saturations while automatically transmitting information to a central monitor.

We were quite relieved that Irene's platelet count started to go up. Painfully slow as it is, it was still a positive sign. On our 3rd night, platelet count was up to 37. Things were looking good. Or so it seemed.

The Dengue Misadventure - Help Is On The Way

November 29, I posted a call for help on facebook, looking for A+ blood type donors. This was the first time our friends were made aware of Irene's situation. The response was overwhelming but at the same time, this experience taught us that not all your friends, not even the closest, will help you at your most difficult time. And some, while silent, without communication for years, will put in all effort to lend a helping hand.

Hard times will always reveal true friends.

View from the hospital room

The Dengue Misadventure - Hospital First-timers

On our first night at the hospital, Irene's platelet count went down to 15, from the initial 21 upon admission. Something has to be done. We looked for A+ blood type donors but none was available on such short notice. A cousin, who was a doctor, luckily secured 4 units from Red Cross Intramuros. But upon checking with the hospital, 1 unit would cost us around Php5,000 for transportation and re-screening. We didn't mind the cost at that time, Irene's health is more important.

Fresh Frozen Plasma

The Dengue Misadventure - A Tale of Two Hospitals

Five days after Irene started having fever, we called up to check with the hospital if there's an available room. None. The hospital asked us to call again after lunch to check. We decided to run to a different hospital expecting better treatment. Irene would've ran out of blood had we waited for a room at that miserable hospital.

On the wall

The Dengue Misadventure - Paranaque's Dysfunctional Hospital

We were at the fourth floor of the nearest hospital from our house. We went to the emergency room earlier but our case was deemed as not an emergency. So now here we are, fever for three days and fourth on the list. Irene was having a difficult time managing her chills but we still had to wait. Everyone had to. A woman I saw at the emergency room was ahead of us, also waiting. When asked to step on a weighing scale, she walked but started to vomit. The weighing scale had to wait. In this hospital, their definition of an emergency is still a mystery to me.

Photo from Google Maps

The Dengue Misadventure

I was on my last post, chronicling our New York escape when tragedy struck. A single bite changed what's supposed to be a routine weekend to a start of something no person deserves to endure.

Telemetry