The Truth Why I Run

Had you ever been called fat? A Pig? A Planet? A Constellation? Or worst, a Galaxy?

Me? The first two yes, but the rest, probably? Haha

I weighed almost 198lbs last year. I eat to overcome stress worst is depression. I used to be thin when I was a kid, I remember being sick every start of school year, from common colds to kidney stones that occurred once at Christmas Holidays. When I reached 10 years old, my weight went up. I used to blame it on multivitamins (that was when I was in high school and now I learned it doesn’t have that effect) but the serious reason aside from genes was also the lack of physical activity. I hated sports then! I hated sweating! I hated the sun!

Funny thing was my relatives last year kept on telling me that having extra pounds on a physician is better rather than looking like a wimpy stick. I know they were trying to console and tries hard not to compare me to my brother who lost almost 60 lbs after 2 years of diet and exercise,

Then last October I received news that an old love was getting married. Don’t worry, I moved on already! I’m happy for her, that she had her dream wedding with her man. That she’s finally getting what she deserves, and that’s to be happy. But I'' be honest, the situation made me feel like I’m a loser. I’m fat, I’m a failure, 24 and still jobless. Some of my friends try to cheer me up by telling “you’ll be a great fucking doctor!”

But prior to that, I also had unresolved medical issues; I had a history of vomiting for 12 hours. Everytime I’ll try to lie down in bed and try to sleep, I feel nauseous and needs to vomit. It occurred twice already. Their impression was Vertigo. There was also one time that I can’t sleep and it felt like I was drowning. I had my heart check and was delighted that the results were normal.

But that was my epiphany that I have to do something about my weight.

I started running. Upon taking my 2-month break from Med School, I took the opportunity to lose weight. Our house here in Cavite is near in a private cemetery (I know, weird right?), that’s where I usually run for 30-40 minutes.

I enrolled myself in a gym. I was hesitant at first because of the some stories I heard and read. But as long as you do your own business, you’ll be ok. Good thing my instructor was very helpful in assisting me. My 3-month membership ended so I bought sets of dumbbells for my dorm.

I continued running in UP, for 2 hours, 3 times a week.

But everything changes, the truth why I run now is for myself. I run for my health. I run because I finally found an activity that I enjoy. I run because it’s a cheap way to lose weight. It’s true that when you try to set goals make sure you’ll do it for yourself and not for others and what they think of. It’s more realistic and more effective. :D

Still far from my ideal body weight, I know it’s a long way to go. I’m still called fat by some. Haha. But who cares, I don’t mind, I know I’ll reach my target weight soon, One step at a time!

False Alarm

The wind on the night last 20th was different. It was chillier and like piercing to the skin. Since I was so preoccupied of my thoughts of what will happen that night, I didn’t immediately notice that my whole body was shaking out of cold since my dad was driving so fast to my grandma’s house. Earlier that night, my mom received a phone call from my aunt who’s living with my grandma. She said, it’s urgent, she cried and dropped the phone call.

When we arrived at their house, my grandma is in somnolence state, trembling and was unaware of what just happened. She passed out. I took her vital signs, let her drink, waited her to calm down then asked questions.

She said, she was just praying then fell asleep. My cousin who lives with them heard loud snores coming from her room. They panicked when my grandma didn’t respond to any attempts they made of awakening her.

Then they told me 2 days ago, my grandma fell on the edge of a bed thinking it was still safe to sit on. They had her checked up at a local clinic to an Orthopedic, had her X-ray where they found a mild compression on her spine. She was given a medication as to relieve the mild pain on her back. After she took the medication, she started manifesting the above symptoms of somnolence and trembling. She stopped the medication. 14 years ago, she had an operation on her left hip when she slid in her bathroom. She also has a history of Osteoporosis.

Since my grandma hesitated to be hospitalized for that night, my mom and I decided to stay and look after her. We asked her to lie down and sleep. I observed she has a difficulty in breathing, and she wanted to cough something out but she can’t. I asked her if there’s a problem and she said her back ached when she coughs or tries to. And I pleaded to her that we should go to the hospital to alleviate her cough and at least she can have ease to her breathing and at the same time she can rest. She agreed. I asked my mom not to open up to everyone that’s on duty that I go to a med school.

I didn’t have sleep till Sunday morning. I asked my mom to take a rest as well since it’ll be more difficult if my mom will also feel “something”. That same day my grandma’s okay and was brought home. She’s much better than last night. Her attending physician gave us good details of her condition and what to do.

"I expected this before, that there will come a time; I have to make a decision for the rest of the family regarding health. That if I made a mistake of doing so, my relatives may blame me. It’s not the fear of what will they say to me but some will rely on someone to make immediate decisions. I admit I still lack some knowledge, I admit that I have more things to learn. I didn’t ask my grandma for any exchange to what me and my mom did when she was confined that night. It’s a matter of I cared for her. And I feared of losing her."

This coming 25th is my Grandma’s 91st birthday. Happy Birthday Lola!

And I wish everyone to a Happy Christmas!

Ang diet! lol

As I promised...

First I have to say sorry. Later, went 24 hours later. So as I promised, I’ll post something about chest pains. Well, recently a very good friend, with the same age of mine, asked me about chest pain. I was surprised because chest pains on our age is a little bit suspicious. Before I start differentiating we have to define some things such as:

Radiation – pain or tenderness moving from a location to another.

Aggravating factors – any factor that may increase or worsen the pain; also called precipitatingfactors

Angina - painful constriction or tightness somewhere in the body particularly

Angina pectoris which is chest pain due to lack of blood supply in the heart muscle.

Pleura – a membrane that surrounds the lungs

Pericardium - double-walled sac that contains, covers and protects the

heart


*pictures are taken from 20th U.S. edition of Gray's Anatomy

Reflex/ reflux – reversion of gastric substances especially gastric acid due to insufficiency of valves that separates esophagus to stomach

We now go to differentiating chest pains as to aggravating factors, quality, radiation severity and timing. Differentiating factors, quality and radiation may help you diagnose what type of chest pain

For Heart…
Angina Pectoris
Aggravating factors – physical exertion in cold, meals, emotional stress
Quality – pressing, squeezing, tight and heavy
Radiation – from sternum radiating to arms, shoulder, teeth and jaw
Severity – mild to moderate
Timing – 1-3 mins upto 10 mins

Myocardial Infarction (MI)
Aggravating Factors - -
Quality – same as angina
Radiation - same as angina
Severity – severe pain
Timing – 20 mins to several hours

Pericarditis
Aggravating Factors – breathing, changing position, coughing, lying down, swallowing
Quality – sharp and knife-like
Radiation - tip of the shoulder and neck
Severity – often severe
Timing - persistent

For Pulmonary (pleura, lungs, bronchioles, trachea)
Tracheobronchitis
Aggravating Factors – coughing
Quality - burning
Radiation - upper sternum or on its either sides
Severity – mild to moderate
Timing – variable

Pleural Pain
Aggravating Factors – breathing, coughing and trunk movements
Quality – sharp, knife-like
Radiation - confined to a single position usually at the bases of the lungs (lowest part of lungs)
Severity – often severe
Timing – persistent

For Gastrointestinal Tract (only involves esophagus)
Reflex Esophagitis
Aggravating Factors – hunger, stress or foods (spicy, sour, coffee and alcohol)
Quality – burning and squeezing
Radiation – may radiate at the back portion of the upper trunk
Severity – mild to severe
Timing – variable

Others
Anxiety
Aggravating Factors – unclear
Quality – stabbing, sticking, dull and aching
Radiation – to left breast or anterior chest
Severity – variable
Timing – hours to days

So, there you have it. These are the usual causes of chest pain but there maybe other more indications. Now if you’ve been experiencing one of this, I advise you to immediately visit a doctor especially a cardiologist. This is just a type written reviewer I made and just decided to share it. I’ve been experiencing reflex esophagitis since my Medical Technology internship days; I hope this is nothing but most books I read said this maybe a precancerous. So konting ingats lang tayo! And if you are feeling something unusual or atypical in you, not just a chest pain, see a doctor immediately, so you'll get the right medication and get proper care. Mahirap magkasakit!