On the evening of the second day of 2016, I was rushed to a doctor's clinic. What a way to start the year.
During the holidays, my upper right abdomen was feeling a searing pain every now and then. Then it became too frequent that I can't handle it anymore. I'm supposed to schedule a hospital appointment after New Year's is over, but unfortunately my tummy wasn't able to wait.
After having our dinner and before going to bed on that unlucky night, I told my dad that I have to be sent to the doctor ASAP.
The good thing was, after the checkup, the doctor said it wasn't that serious. What I'm experiencing was pain caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD because of indigestion.
Gastric problem. Reflux. It wasn't a surprise. But because I'm a hypochondriac, I thought of much worse. Thank God, no surgeries or whatever.
I was given a list of medicines that I should take before meals for a week and she advised that I should monitor whatever I'm about to eat.
There were restrictions--and boy, there were a lot.
No fatty foods.
No anything oily.
Not even spicy.
Not even with gata (coconut milk).
No sour foods, including lemon or lemon water (which I was drinking for the whole week prior).
No coffee.
No tea.
Not even iced tea.
Not even any type of juice.
Only water.
"Water lang."
And no skipping of meals.
The upside of this is that I'd be forced to eat healthy at the beginning of the year. I'd also learn how to control myself in eating whatever's there. (We're not friends for the meantime, sisig and bagnet.)
I've already been in the same situation in 2014. Two years ago, I did follow the doctor's advice, but that was just for a while. After that I turned back my coffee and tea and brunches-instead-of-actual-breakfast-and-lunch routine.
Realizing how it greatly affected my normal lifestyle and how medicines are too costly, I promised to myself (and to my doctor) that I should do better this time. Enough of being a stubborn girl.
Take care of your health, kids. As a TV ad would put it, "Eat well, live well."
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