People, particularly friends, that I did not see for almost two weeks said that I lost weight, which is true. Before getting admitted to San Lazaro Hospital, they took my weight and in my surprise, I only weigh 49 Kgs. I’m expecting it to be around 55 Kgs. Maybe the loss of appetite when I had fever for five days took effect.

Oh well, speaking of that fever, I really thought that it’s just a normal flu fever. I never thought that it will be dengue. The last time I had a fever for around a week is when I were a freshman, and the UP infirmary also took some blood samples but it’s negative for dengue.

Actually, I didn’t have any plans to go to the infirmary since my fever already subsided that day, which is friday. I had the fever since monday that week. But due to an exam on that weekend, I decided to go to the University Health Center to secure a Medical Certificate for my excuse letter, since I can’t study well. My roommate, Louis, and I went there and from the moment I said that I’ve been sick for almost a week, the people there (the nurse and the doctor) told me to have my blood checked at the New Era University Hospital (?) since it may be dengue. We traveled to the said hospital, had my blood drawn, and waited for the results.

When the woman gave me the results she said, “baka i-confine ka na niyan.” Nice encouraging words! But yeah, it happened. The UP doctor said that I should be confined for my blood count to be monitored so I called my father and asked him to accompany me to a hospital. He was shocked since I didn’t tell them that I’m sick. But still, he came and we went to San Lazaro Hospital.

The doctor there asked to have my blood checked again. And for the second time (since this also happened at the New Era Hospital), the nurse had a difficulty drawing my blood out. She used two needles since the first one failed. Additional pain? Haha. Feels like a big red ant bit me. XD The results of that count was worse than the first one so they decided to admit me.

The most painful part in this story is when they’re putting the “suero” (dextrose). Actually, the nerve/root (basta yung ugat) that they’ve used still ached when touched until a few days ago. I think this is better, since the last time I had the dextrose thing is when I was in third grade and I had typhoid fever. They used both two hands for my dextrose and they injected something which really is painful.

Anyway, the pattern was like this. Sleep, then someone will get your vitals (blood pressure, temperature, and heart beat), eat then repeat. Plus checking of blood count which was done twice a day. The medical people also always remind me to drink a lot of liquid since that will be the only cure. There are no medicines for dengue. You just need to rest, drink a lot of fluids, and check for any complications. They said that the critical part when having dengue is when the fever subsided because that will be the time when your platelet count will decrease. Lucky me, my lowest count is 103 then it increased. Low platelet count was the reason why some patients needed blood transfusion. And I don’t want that (who wants it?).

I was released two days after, rested for another two days then returned to school. That day was a bit weird or maybe hard for me since I need to cope for at most three missed meetings and that’s a lot! But I think I managed (or maybe not?).

Anyway, I want to thank my dear family for assisting me in this hard time. At night, every time I need to pee, I need to wake my sister to assist me. My father buys me Gatorade and some food.

Thanks to our relatives, especially the Caldit family and Auntie Nita, for assisting us also. They brought some utensils, pillows and blanket for our use. Thanks to kuya Dodoy, Precious and Ate Sweet for visiting. Thanks also for Steven, Mary Rose, Tita Malou, Ate Shieme and everybody who knows and texted my father. Thanks! Thanks also to the CFC people who texted.

Thanks also to my EEE friends, Ivy and Kian, for texting me updates about the exam and updates about some people. Thanks also for those who helped me with the lessons and texted me, Kuya Pat, Fabs, China, Dar, Nikko, Cecil, Hazel and many more (T_T). Thanks also to my roommates who took care for my things when I’m away. XD Thanks to my Hapon 10 buddies too. Arigatou Gozaimasu. Thanks also to my UnPLUG buddies, esp. JP, Darwin, Liz and Paolo, and also with the DilNet people.

WTH? I think the Thanks part took half of the post. XD