Medical concerns: My Bell's Palsy and Dwyn's Acute Gastroenteritis

Three weeks ago, I got really sick. After coming back from the mall, where I had Dwyn photographed in a studio, my ear and head ached. I had a low-grade fever. I didn't go to a doctor immediately. Actually, even if I was told to visit a doctor, I didn't oblige. I just took the pain reliever that my OB prescribed after I gave birth to ease the pain on my ear and then took some Biogesic for the headache. It was tough getting sick because we had no househelp then. I had a lot of household chores to do but I was really not feeling well. Somehow, the pain subsided but there was still ringing in my ear. And my left ear got swollen and I somehow became a little deaf. I didn't go to the doctor yet again. The following week, I thought I was feeling better. But then, things got worse. Tuesday night, my cousin noticed that only my right eye closes. The next morning, I was shocked when I saw myself on the mirror na nakatabingi ang mukha ko. Nakangiwi ako! I tried opening my mouth pero di na sya pantay. I thought it was because of my contact lens kasi luma na. I removed my contact lens and tried to hide my condition from other people. Thursday, I was getting more scared. I thought I was having a stroke. I was having a hard time eating coz I couldn't get the food off properly from the spoon. Even drinking from the straw was hard. My left eye would cry, while the other eye would remain dry. Come Friday, I was vomitting already. That's when I decided to see a doctor. Honestly, I felt I was already dying. I was then worried for Dwyn if something happens to me. I visited a neurologist and a physical medicine doctor. They confirmed I have Bell's Palsy. Fortunately, it's still mild. I was given steroids and I need therapy. My concern this time: Dwyn is still breastfeeding. We tried to stop the breastfeeding but Dwyn obliged for only one night. The following day, he wanted to breastfeed again. I consulted a pediatrician friend and she said my medicine has no effect on breastfeeding and I continue breastfeeding him.

Sunday lunch time, it was just Dwyn and me at home. He pooped. I changed his diaper then he took his nap, without eating lunch. When he woke up, he started vomitting. From 1:30-4pm, he vomitted 6 times and pooped twice. I was panicking! I didn't know what to do first. I decided to rush him to the ER. Sobrang tamlay ni Dwyn dahil humihiga na sya talaga sa sahig. On the way to the hospital, he vomitted again inside the taxi. When we reached the ER, he was given hydrite. He became active. So, he was discharged. Then, he pooped twice after being discharged. His poop was watery. I was advised to observe him for 48 hours. His poop afterwards had intervals of 4 hours each.

Monday, I went to an ENT to have my ear checked. I had herpesoster, which caused my Bell's Palsy. I declined to take any antibiotic coz I am still breastfeeding Dwyn. Without my breastmilk, Dwyn would have no source of milk at all. So, the doctor just gave me ointment for my ear.

Tuesday, we brought Dwyn to his pedia because he's still not ok. His pedia decided to admit him to the hospital because for 2 days he's not been taking any solid food and his poop was not just watery, but it was really water. They put a dextrose on him. Somehow, he regained his strength but no improvement with his poop and appetite. We had to stay in the hospital for 4 days until Dwyn stopped to poop and he started eating solid food. He really lost a lot of weight.

Dwyn is now ok, although he's only eating rice and lots and banana. I have stories to tell about our hospital experience but I'll try to do that some other time coz Dwyn is now irritated that I've been on the computer long enough.