L O S T S T A R: November 2012

Undergoing a surgery just means that there's something wrong in your body.
Surgery uses manual and instrumental techniques on a patient.
A surgery is usually done to treat and/or examine a therapeutic condition such as injury and disease. Having a surgery also help to improve the functions of your body and to improve your appearance.
The act of having a surgery can also be called operation or surgical procedure. It lasts from minutes to hours.

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Hi. I am a 12 year old girl. I undergone 2 Burr Hole Procedures/Surgeries on this same year (2012). I had it last January. Why? Let me tell you a story. During Christmas break (S.Y. 2011-20012), my dad wants me to go with him because he is going to Bicol. My little sister wants to go. So I was forced to come with them so that there's someone who'll take care of my little sister. It was fun. Because I really love to watch the beach wave. I also like the view of the beach. I love the way people in the province interact. Plus! There's a "SAYAWAN" they call during Christmas Eve and Christmas night.

First day was good. Me and some of my cousins had a bonding. Took some pictures by the sea side. Even texted my cousin in Bagolatao to come over at Pasacao. She said she'll come the next day. As in everything went normal. The next day (Dec. 24), my cousin from Bagolatao came. We went to the pier, and took some pics again. Then when we got home, I felt sick. Then when it was like 4:30 pm my dad invited me to go at the pier again and take some pictures with some boats and ships as our backgrounds. lol. That time, I felt really really sick. Christmas Eve.. I was so damn cold during that night. It's like I really want to sleep, but my uncle is still in the room where I sleep. So I sat down at the living room while texting with someone that is..... That person made me feel comforted. It's like that person is really beside me and cares too much for me. Christmas Day.. It's also my cousin's birthday. But that day, I wasn't really in the mood for interacting. All I want to do is sleep sleep and sleep! They only woke me up to sing "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" for my cousin. Then ate some cake then go back to sleep. The next day (Dec. 26), I started to see something like chicken pox on my body. Then I took a bath. That was really the day we planned to go back to Manila. It's already late when we were about to leave, so my dad said that we will go home the next day instead of that day. But I convinced him. Because I got scared of what's happening to me and I want to see my mom. :) Hi Mommy! Yeah. Childish? Ahaha. :D Even if the car's head light isn't too bright anymore, I still convinced my dad to go. We stopped over at a gas station in Quezon Province to buy some food, then my dad saw some of my chicken pox. He said it's nothing. It's normal. Then we stopped again in a gas station in Laguna. My dad rested for a while. Then we arrived at 1:00 am, Dec. 27.

Then during the next days, I only stayed inside my room to rest and for isolation I guess? =)) Then New Year's Eve, we drunk some alcohol, we went outside and stuffs. I got shocked that time, because I felt dizzy. I thought it is because I was drunk, so I was shocked 'cause I didn't drink too much. But still, we slept late. Because of sleeping late, my mom woke us up when it's lunch time already. I didn't even have appetite to eat that time. So I only ate sandwich, didn't even finish it. Then I went back to sleep. My routine was wake up, sleep, wake up, sleep. It's like i'm still tired. Until it is already night time, but i'm still sleepy. So I reacted already. I told them that maybe something's wrong. They asked me to get dressed already. After I get dressed, I lied for a while because my dad is still taking a bath. Then I started to shake.

When we arrived at the Emergency Room of Makati Medical Center, the Pediatrician told us that it is just normal to have high fever even if its like mine which is 42 degrees celsius. She only prescribed me a medicine for the itch and asked me to continue the Biogesic.

Then January 4, my mom woke me up to drink my medicine, then I started to shake again. My dad isn't home so we needed to ride a taxi. While we were inside the taxi, I kept on askin my mom if we are near. Then my environment suddenly became black.It's like it's already night time.

The last thing I remember is that they are forcing me to come out of the taxi, but I don't want to. I also don;t know why. Then the next thing that happened, is that I saw my mom there and I already have dextrose connected on me, also ECG, and something on my thumb. I even told my mom, "Mommy, buti nalang tulog ako nung kinabit to sakin." Because I will definitely yell if they did that while I was awake. Then she answered me "Anong tulog? Dilat ka nga e. Wala kang karea-reaksyon. Kinakausap ka namin hindi ka sumasagot." Then I just laughed. Then X-ray.. Then some more examination.. Then CT Scan and MRI. They found out that I have Polysinusitis, Meningitis & Subdural Empyema.

At first, I didn't know anything about that. I really have no idea what am I suffering. Because when my parents and the neurologist, Dra. Nolido, talks about it, they keep a distance or they talk outside. I have no idea that I will undergo a surgery. I just woke up not inside my room, but in the ICU. There's stuffs connected on my right & left hand, and on my right foot. Plus! The stuff on my thumb that counts my heartbeat, and the ECG and the thing used in getting your blood pressure. That time, I can't move too much. It's like everything is limited. Even a single move. I had a soft diet. As in the only food I eat is soup, soup and soup! Never ending soup. Which isn't what I like to eat. Then I undergone a CT scan again. When they injected the contrast, my skin reacted. So we needed to continue it the next day. I was scheduled to have my wound cleaning that day, I got sleepy because it was very cold. So I slept. Then I woke up again at the ICU. Then a resident doctor of my Neuro-surgeon (Dr. Alvarez), visited me, his name is Doctor Bravo. He showed me my brain before they operated me, and the picture of my brain again during my CT scan after my 1st surgery. And it is worse. He prayed for my recovery. He even told me something. Our conversation was like this Dr: Diba sabi nila if you're not yet sleepy count the sheeps? Ginagawa mo ba yun? Me: No. D: Dapat talk to the shepherd. Sino ba ang shepherd? M: God. That was a cool one. I was supposed to be on a soft diet again, but I asked Dr. Bravo if I could eat something else. And he's so kind 'cause he allowed me to eat something else. Oyeah, food!

When I got home, I searched for Polysinusitis, Meningitis, and Subdural Empyema.

Source: medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/polysinusitis
Polysinusitis: Simultaneous inflammation of two or more sinuses.
Source: www.livestrong.com
Sinus infections occur when the sinus cavity becomes inflamed and swollen due to allergies, the common cold or physical deformity, according to the National Library of Medicine. While most acute sinus infections are not a concern, complications may occur if left untreated. Some of the most common sinus infection are meningitis, infection around the eye, chronic sinusitis and ear infections. A person suffering from the symptoms of a sinus infection should seek medical advice. A sinus infection may spread to the tissue surrounding the eyes, resulting to orbital cellulitis. According to the National Library of Medicine, orbital cellulitis is a dangerous condition, requiring immediate medical attention. If not treated quickly, it can lead to permanent blindness. The common symptoms are severe swelling around the eyes, a fever over 102 degrees Fahrenheit, eye pain, decreased eye movement, and discoloration around the eyes.

Pictures of orbital cellulitis victims:

Didn't focus too much on Sinusitis.

Source: Wikipedia & other sites.

Meningitis: inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or the microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs. Meningitis can be life-threatening because of the inflammation's proximity to the brain and spinal cord; therefore the condition is classified as a medical emergency.

Causes: Viral infections, Chemical irritations, Drug allergies, Fungi, Tumors, etc.,

Risk: Bacterial meningitis infections are extremely serious, and may result in death or brain damage, even if treated.

Symptoms:

Fever
Chills
Mental Status Changes
Nausea
Vomiting
Sensitivity to light (Photophobia)
Inability to tolerate loud noises (Phonophobia)
Severe Headache
Stiff neck (Meningismus)
Confusion or Altered Consciousness
Unusual posture, with the head and neck arched backward.

Expectations (Prognosis): Early diagnosis and treatment of bacterial meningitis is essential to prevent permanent neurological damage. Viral meningitis is usually not serious, and symptoms should disappear within 2 weeks with no lasting complications.

Complications

Brain damage
Buildup of fluid between the skull and brain (subdural efussion)
Hearing Loss
Hydrocephalus
Seizures

Treatment:

Because meningitis can cause serious damage in a short amount of time, anyone suspected of having meningitis should get immediate treatment. For bacterial meningitis, strong doses of intravenous antibiotics are required. Viruses cannot be killed by antibiotics, so most treatment for viral meningitis does not involve medications to kill the virus. Depending on the source of infection, infected sinuses may need to be drained as part of treatment.

Viral Meningitis: Caused by Mumps, Varicella (Chicken pox & shingles), measles, influenza, Abroviruses, etc.,

Chronic: Caused by cancer, chemicals used in diagnostic tests, inflammatory illnesses such as lupus, or an allergic reaction to certain medications.

Fungal: rare and usually the result of spread of a fungus through blood to the spinal cord. Although anyone can get fungal meningitis, people with weak immune systems, like those with AIDS or cancer, are at higher risk.

Bacterial: Usually severe. Most people with meningitis recover, it can cause serious complications, such as brain damage, hearing loss, or learning disabilities.

Subdural Empyema: It is a form of empyema in the subdural space.

Bacterial or occasionally fungal infection of the skull bones or air sinuses can spread to the subdural space, producing a subdural empyema. With treatment, including surgical drainage, resolution of the empyema occurs from the dural side, and, if it is complete, a thickened dura may be the only residual finding. Symptoms include those referable to the source of the infection. In addition, most patients are febrile, with headache and neck stiffness, and, if untreated, may develop focal neurologic signs, lethargy, and coma. The CSF profile is similar to that seen in brain abscesses, because both are parameningeal infectious processes. If diagnosis and treatment are prompt, complete recovery is usual. It can be associated with sinusitis.

My Hospital Stay?

It was sghjcnudifjkxnmcdvbhjxv. Yeah. I don't know how to describe it. I'm glad yet sad. Sad because I am suffering from a serious disease. It's really hard fighting something you don't know. Of course during that time, I still don't know what am I suffering from. They still don't want to tell me. They always tell me to fight, and of course I am fighting. But sometimes, I think of giving up because the pain is too much. A day is always accompanied by a severe headache. From time to time, my neck stiffs. I always cover my whole body with the thick blanket because I don't want to see the light. Plus! The noise from the TV irritates me. And so does the voices of my family and the doctors and nurses. That was before operations. But after my 2nd surgery, when they visit me, I don't have the photophobia and phonophobia anymore, so we talked and talked since those cousins are from Paranaque and Antipolo, so it's kinda far so we only see each other occasionally. We laugh so hard. But I can't move too much because of the stuffs connected to me. Then when they left, before I sleep, I experienced a severe headache again. And that feeling when you keep on moving because there's no position comfortable enough for you? I hate that! That's why when my classmates visited me, my mom told me "Oh, wag ka masyado magpakasaya." Even though it is hard for me. I'm still glad because there's still people who cares for me. Plus! The nurses are so kind. And so are the doctors. :) I am really sorry and thankful to those nurses at the PICU! They know why. =)) Mehehe. Maybe that's supposed to be left unspoken. ;) Some of the nurses became my friends. Also in facebook =)) Haha. Also enjoyed having Physical Therapy/Rehabilitation. My first therapist, Kuya Jude, was a jolly person! He always tell me jokes while we are having the therapy. Then they needed to change him :( It has to be a girl. So my new therapist is Ate Mhel. She is also kind. :) Another thing, at the hospital, there's always, ice cream, biko, spaghetti, chicken, pizza and more! I love it as long as its a food. <3 Oh btw, gotta show you this:

My eyes. It isn't severe anymore. I'm using eye pad that time.

@ Makati Medical Center

Soo. I guess I forgot some details. Haha. Sorry ^_^ I guess this is too long and you got bored. Right? And you didn't even read some parts :D

Oh! Btw, one of my cousins in Bicol saw this picture on facebook:

I know I look weird. -.- Haha. My cousin commented " Ky, tingin ko dito ka nagustuhan ng salbahing tao na hindi na nakikita. Parang ininggitan niya yong itsura mo kaya nangyari sayo yong ganUn at diyan sa lang sa may side mo dito sa picture. Ksi tlagang meroong ganon, kyLa." She even asked me "Nagbato ka ba diyan noong araw na yan?" In that same day when those pics are took, that's when I started to feel sick. Then she also commented this: " Diyan sa my side na yan meron diyan hindi nakikita na kasamaan ang ugali. Marami na ring nagkaroon ng sakit diyan pero yong mga hindi lang sanay na mga taong pumupunta sa space na yan, nga lang hindi gaya ng katulad sau na subrang tindi. Kasi mas grabe yong nangyari sayo, kY." She also told me this: " Kasi dati diyan rin ngkasakit yong anak ni uncLe eLmer na c sheena kapatid din ni aTe tiNay na matindi rin. Subrang galaw niya sa higaan at di niya alam kong anong ginagawa niya at ayaw rin kumain. Natamaan niya kasi yong andUn sa dagat." Sharee! xD I don't know what to believe. What's important is that i'm already well. And thank God! Still having check-ups and i'll have EEG on Dec. 8 and will have to see my ENT doctor after I finished my nasal spray so that we can schedule another CT Scan. And i'm at risk again. :( Pray for me, please. :) Thank you :)

Thanks for helping me choose a topic Sigmund! =))

L O S T S T A R

11/10/12

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11/2/12

Vacation, Illness, Surgery & My Hospital Stay

11/1/12

Pagbabago

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