A Breaking News

Just this morning, I posted something on Facebook regarding the current condition of my wife and praying that what were both worrying will not manifest. But I am here to break a bad news that my wife Mary Anne, had been diagnosed with Urinary Track Infection (UTI).

She had Her urinalysis and the count as indicated in the paper showed that She exceeded up to 90 Pus cell, where in the normal is 0 to 1.

The attending resident announced it as...it's just a common and normal thing, where in, in my case and I believe my wife also did, it was a very shocking news.

The dictionary defined the ailment as...Urinary tract infection (UTI)

 Infection in one or more of the structures that make up the urinary system. Occurs more often in women and is most commonly caused by bacteria. 

My wife was given an antibiotic to prevent the ailment from worsening. Bad for She has to be taking it for a week, and twice a day.

Personally, maybe i'm just lucky because never in my entire being I experience it. Upon learning it, interests develop and some helpful research as to understanding it's very nature and how to avoid it really puzzled me.

Facts related to it came out from the google.

It is more common in women than in men because of the relative shortness of the femaleurethra. Men over the age of 50 are more susceptible because of enlargement of the prostate and urinary stasis. Symptoms include dysuria, malaise, nausea, urinary frequency and urgency, and nocturia. There also may be a feeling of suprapubic fullness not relieved by urination. If the infection is higher in the urinary tract, in the ureters or kidney, there can be lower back pain or genital pain.

Treatment includes antibacterial, analgesic, and urinary antiseptic drugs and increased fluid intake up to 3L/day, unless contraindicated. Teaching the patient about increased fluid intake, frequent voiding, and good perineal hygiene is also helpful.

A good way to clean your unrinary tract system is to drink cranberry juice and other high acid drinks. This will remove the bacteria due to high acidity or at least help the process of you getting better.

Signs and Symptoms:

• Pain or burning during urination
• The need to urinate more often than usual
• A feeling of urgency during urination
• Blood or pus in the urine
• Cramps or pain in the lower abdomen
• Chills or fever (fever may be the only symptom in infants and children)
• Strong smelling urine
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Nausea, vomiting, and malaise

What Causes It?:

Risk factors include:

• A new sex partner or multiple partners
• More frequent or intense intercourse
• Diabetes
• Pregnancy
• Escherichia coli (E. coli)
• Staphylococcus saprophyticus
• Use of irritating products, such as harsh skin cleansers
• Use of irritating contraceptives, such as diaphragms and spermicides
• Use of birth control pills
• Heavy use of antibiotics
• A blockage in the urinary tract (benign masses or tumors)
• A history of UTIs, especially if the infections were less than 6 months apart

Nutrition and Supplements

Following these nutritional tips may help reduce symptoms:

• Drink a lot of fluids, such as herbal teas and water. Avoid sweetened fruit juices and other sweetened drinks.
• Cranberries and blueberries contain substances that inhibit the binding of bacteria to bladder tissue. Drinking unsweetened cranberry juice regularly helps lower the risk of UTIs.
• Try to eliminate potential food allergens, including dairy, wheat (gluten), corn, preservatives, and food additives. Your health care provider may want to test for food sensitivities.If you are susceptible to UTIs, drinking cranberry juice or taking cranberry pills may help prevent recurrence.
• Eat antioxidant foods, including fruits (such as blueberries, cherries, and tomatoes), and vegetables (such as squash and bell peppers).
• Eat more high fiber foods, including beans, oats, root vegetables (such as potatoes and yams), and psyllium seed.
• Avoid refined foods such as white breads, pastas, and especially sugar.
• Eat fewer red meats and more lean meats, cold water fish, tofu (soy, if no allergy is present) or beans for protein.
• Use healthy cooking oils, such as olive oil or vegetable oil.
• Reduce or eliminate trans fatty acids, found in commercially baked goods, such as cookies, crackers, cakes, French fries, onion rings, donuts, processed foods, and margarine.
• Avoid coffee and other stimulants, alcohol, and tobacco.
• Drink 6 - 8 glasses of filtered water daily.
• Exercise at least 30 minutes daily, 5 days a week.

My wife was advice to undergo a urine culture examination, for Her to determine what type of bacteria it is

But of course, as her husband, I am also concern with this, 

Is it safe to have sex if you have a urinary tract infection?

And a health expert said this...

I don't recommend having sex while you have a urinary tract infection (UTI), because it could worsen your symptoms. This is particularly true if you haven't finished taking the full course of your antibiotics. In addition, intercourse might even feel uncomfortable if you are still suffering from the burning associated with UTIs.

That said, if you do decide to have sex, be sure to go to the bathroom and urinate before and after the act. And drink plenty of fluids. These simple steps may help you overcome your current infection, and they'll go a long way toward preventing infections in the future.

Now, we are both very cautious about it, I and my wife are now praying that after her medication everything will go back to normal again.

I know it will manifest. It will be.

References: 

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/urinary-tract-000169.htm

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/urinary-tract-000169.htm#ixzz27sOcQw67

http://www.everydayhealth.com

An inspiring story

Rain struck me today as I went home from work.

Although I have an umbrella, I still fear that I might get wet.

Aside from pouring rain, I am confronted with an almost knee high flood.

I really wanted to go home, the shoes and socks I’m wearing is almost wet.

When I was about to lose hope, upon uttering a little prayer,

A little while here comes an approaching pedicab driver.

It was handed by an old-man, whom I believed in his 60.

I asked him if he can bring me home, he replied where.

I thought he would resist me, but he was brave to face floods and

a hard rain.

While he was driving his pedicab on my way home, the old-man keeps on coughing.

Successfully after a five minute and more struggles from rain, I got home.

I gave an old-man a penny, and doubled it.

He looked at the paper bill I gave him, and showed a gesture of giving me back a change.

I said no, it’s okay.

Upon uttering that, the old-man in return said thank you.

Today, it gave me a very important lesson, that I am very lucky.

And I really thank God for it.

And I promise to myself that I will continue to do good to other people no matter what.

Little things that matter

Today, I didn’t go to work and that gave me a chance to go back to my normal daily routine at home.

I thought I was dreaming, for I heard a very familiar voice waking me up. Upon opening my eyes, I found out that it was my 3-year old daughter Althea, who’s at the time giving me a wake-up call. 

It was such a very long sleep. Normally if I have a work I can only rest for 4 to 5hours. Today, I think I had so much sleep.

I even had the chance to have breakfast with my wife, and we had coffee paired with a peanut butter sandwich.

I must say I missed times like this. During weekdays, I normally had my breakfast alone. It became extra-special for it was prepared by my wife, Mary Anne.

After that, it gave me a chance to look at my things. I specifically fix some kept documents and there I spotted important papers that made me went back to some important chapters of my life.

I was once again had the glimpse on the very first script I did way back 2001, in my very first job at ABS-CBN2. Also still existing some of the syllabus I kept during my masteral degree in UP Diliman. And important memories I had with Roosevelt College, at the time I was teaching.

I remembered that I kept some previous lectures and materials on most subjects I was teaching before. And what excites and interests me are some of special greetings and notes my previous students wrote about me.  In a short bond paper printed there a note which says…”What do you think of me?” along with a cute clipart boy wearing a hut. And there I was excited to read once again messages of my students that really warmed my heart.

There was a special letter that one of my students gave me when I left the College, it was a letter written from the bottom of her heart, in behalf of her other classmates. At some point in my life, by reading her letter, it made me realized that as a former Lecturer I was able to touch lives, and became very effective in changing their behavior.

I even looked at pictures of my first out of the country trip when I left Manila and bound to Bangkok, Thailand. I remembered, only to make the trip possible my Mom borrowed money from an officemate. Again, it made me realized, it’s all worth it. It even gave us (my fellow MA’s classmates) a time to bond with each other.  And up to now, I am so thankful that my Professor, Ma’am Paz, included it in our class syllabus.

Some pictures also helped me go back in time, when I officially became a father.  I was able to turn pages of my daughter’s album at the time she was at my wife’s womb and pictures of her at the day she was born. Another important chapter of my life that I wouldn’t forget, and I believe it was all worth it.

I even watched today my favorite noon time show, “Eat Bulaga”. The year it all started was the exact year I was born, circa 1979.

And I was able to clean the kitchen, and wash the dishes.

And also I had the chance to watch over my little daughter while she was enjoying her day playing outside. Put her into sleep and had a nap beside her. I even carried her at the time she wakes up. It’s like going back at the time she was still a baby.

A little effort was exerted as well when I prepared a merienda for my wife.

And most importantly, I was able to write a blog again.

I couldn’t believe that today I was able to experience my daily house routine.

I thank God for a time shared, little things that really matters to me.

Metamorphosis

"Imagination is the highest kite one can fly", this is one cliché that best describes Rodolfo Garabot, also known by many as "Bong",
when he finally got His long before dream and that is to work in a media industry.

When he finishes his degree in Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) Major in Communication Arts at the University of the East, Caloocan in 2000, months after… He finally landed on a job as Researcher in ABS-CBN, Channel 2, which is known by many as 'Philippines largest and number one network'.

Bong is very proud to have worked first in a program named "Balitang K", which was then hosted and produced by today's ABS-CBN, Chief correspondent, Ms. Korina Sanchez.

After a while Bong has been transferred and experienced working with many programs such as TV Patrol and later on given the opportunity to explore works in The Filipino Channel, TFC shows such as Balitang Europe, Balitang Middle East, and Kuwentong Disyerto as Editing Supervisor and Segment Producer all of the same time.

In between Bong's career in Media, he also pursued Teaching at Roosevelt College System, in Cainta, Rizal. This gave Him a chance to finally share some of his learning's in the world of broadcasting to an up-coming media practitioner.

Bong's teaching profession lasted almost a year in a half, and eventually shifted to another job that made him as a Marketing Specialist.

But fate intervenes later on...Bong went back on his first love and job, media.

The next thing he would have known He’s now working at Kapamilya's number one rivals Kapuso Network, GMA7.

Bong recently worked as Segment Producer of a weekly magazine news program named, "GOOD NEWS, Kasama si Vicky Morales.

In Bong's quest for professional growth and career stability, he spotted a better career in media industry.

He is now currently working at Solar TV, whom he considered his "Shining Beacon of Hope", as an Associate Producer for Solar Headlines, and Solar News Day aired via TalkTV.

Change is Inevitable

Here comes my cellphone, beefing again. It was always set 4:30 in the morning during weekdays, I’d better be going up now…or else I wouldn’t make it for a 7:00am daily office call time.

After fixing the bed, sometimes I usually do some stretching. And since breakfast is the most important meal of the day (which is very true), a peanut butter sandwich and a glass of milk is just enough to start the day.

Every minute counts, the clock is now ticking at 5:30 in the morning…meaning I should be out the house.

On my first week, I was able to master a perfect time-in going at the office. But after a week, changes have been made by the MMDA banning buses, trucks, from entering flyovers, tunnels, and underpasses and that gave me a failure to be there on time.

Another option I have in mind…riding the MRT. I don’t really consider this before as better means of transportation, for I fear that if any commotion happens, I will be a victim of stampede. But my desire to always be there on time conquers my worry.

From a thrice a week work before, now it became daily and it has to be ten hours. I even experienced working during weekend.

I remember one movie that stresses a point “Great Power, Comes Great Responsibility”, this is one obvious change now that I am handling supervisorial position. A follower before became a leader and is now entitled for giving commands and thus, all the time supervises people in the production.

When I applied for the position, I think of growing, I even think of learning new things, and always reminded of the word “responsibility”. But the word we are talking about here, requires action taken, and stresses consistency all the time.

Yes, it is true that the only permanent thing in this world is change, and it will always happen. But i'd like to end this by telling everyone that in able for you to survive whatever changes that comes your way...you'll have to be adoptive of it.  After all it's for your own good.

When God closes a door he opens a window

It was April of 2012, when I left my previous post for GMA7, and I have to confess that during that time I don't have any concrete plans where to go after.

I can still recall, I even seek for a friend's help. I have undergone two weeks training in another TV station popularly known TV5. I don't know, at that time I would consider it as a lousy decision because I accepted the offer without Me knowing the salary and how long the training would be. Within that week, my wife's dad demise, after days of mourning, I came up with a concrete decision, and that is to leave the company and seek for a new and better job offer.

I wouldn't forget two of my other bestfriend's Lala and Iaree for the enlightenment.

In my desire to get back to my daily work routine, I even found myself in a very familiar TV station, ABS-CBN 2, attending an interview. But since I am not happy with the offer, considering the experiences I had in the same field, I had to decline it.

I also attempted to go back from GMA7 but at the time I was looking, my desire didn’t manifest. I stayed home for more than a month, I was then beginning to lose hope until one of the application I’ve sent via e-mail… responded by sending me a text message.

It was I believe June 12, 2012, Tuesday, the following day… I was scheduled for exams and interviews. I completely don’t have any idea where it is in Mandaluyong, at the time Metro Manila was experiencing a bad weather, and when I came in, I was late for 15minutes. I was then bothered that I am creating a bad impression at the time, but I was so lucky that I was just in time before I was called for my examination.

It was a whole day exam together with two tough interviews. After that, I was told they’ll be sending me a text message or gave me a call, if I will be a part of their shortlist.

I started to feel bother again and I must admit after days they haven’t called for me, I came to think that there are more deserving people to fill-up the position.

It was June 22, 2012, after almost a week, when I was inform through text that I was scheduled for final interview. The interview only lasted for 10 minutes or maybe less, after that I was told to wait for their call again.

At some point, It was a mixed feeling of…I was thinking I wasn’t able to impress them and also there’s a part of me confident enough that I was truly deserving for the position I applied for.

At home, I receive a call from an unfamiliar number, not knowing that it was someone from HR and the next thing was…I was told that I am eligible for it!

I was really jumping and shouting for joy! My wife and my daughter are both happy and proud for it. I even extended the good news to my parents and family members.

It was a gift I’ve been praying and longing to have. God have answered my prayers and I feel that I am the luckiest being in the whole world! I remember there was a time in my life, I’ve been talking to God, and in my prayers I was asking Him if what was really He’s plan towards me. But now I know that God is just preparing me for a bigger and better opportunity. Now I’ve been seeing a clearer vision towards my goal and that is to achieve professional growth and career stability.

MMDA IS GETTING WORST!

I was one of the many commuters who started to experience having trouble accessing EDSA this Monday. At first I don’t know why. But while on a trip I noticed that most buses were not allowed from entering flyovers. And normally based on my daily routines going to work, one hour is just enough for my trip. The result…I was late!

I have to report at the office by 7 in the morning, but then I arrived almost 9. But because I was working in the media, I was able to confirm that the traffic turmoil I dealt with was brought about by Metro Manila Development Authority, MMDA.

This was because traffic officers under the new directive, bans buses and trucks from entering tunnels, flyovers, and underpasses following a string of accidents involving heavy  vehicles.

This might be a valid reason because MMDA has recorded 25 thousand plus related vehicular accidents and 133 of them were fatal. And the numbers of incidents was only for the month of January to April this year. 

To some Filipinos who own a car do not bother at all about this, but for many including Me, it was a total inconvenience.

MMDA Chairman Tolentino, the following day, reportedly seen looking at the traffic situation brought about by this new scheme. And news said according to Tolentino, that traffic was light compare to yesterday.

Okay, now here’s my challenge to MMDA Chairman Tolentino, instead of looking at how the traffic goes during the implementation, why not try to become one of the commuters who wish to go to their office on time for work?

This time Tolentino, would be using bus for transportation, and see for himself, if He would reach actual time before a duty for work.

For I have never seen Him bothered about people like Me who’s been spending so much time dealing with the traffic turmoil. It was so horrible and frustrating at the same time!