Conversations About LONG COVID

The pandemic really got the nation crippled. I'm sure you're absolutely glad it's over, but for a percentage of the population.. the nightmare of debilitating conditions continue. Over coffee and tea this morning at One World Deli in Timog Avenue, we got to talk amongst those involved with the case of people living with LONG COVID. 

According to Dr. Camilo Road.Jr "Long Covid happens after the actual Covid itself. It's liberation day compared a few years ago where almost everyone was afraid of it. It's effects at the time of illness can be seen not just in the respiratory system, but also the immune system, therefore damaging other parts of the body. It caused death for a lot of people, and normalizing the body takes a lot of time after the cure. The fight may have subsided, but we do see mortality in 1%. The scare is still there, even in other illnesses that have higher mortality rate, some of which still suffer from it. Whether by scarring, virus fragments, while no longer contagious, still suffer from it. Long COVID happens 10-20 percent of those who had it, much higher in females and those who had it multiple times including the unvaccinated. Manifestation includes Fatigue, Headache, Attention Disorder, Hair Loss, Dyspnea. If you got it after being Covid, then that is Long Covid. Patients are taught to breathe more actively, avoid triggers, identify new limits and follow accordingly."

Roel Balignasay who's had Long COVID for 4 years told us "The chronic pains and silent battles just changed a bit of me being a man of action. In April, I thought I had flu, but was coughing intensely and felt I ran a marathon. I spent a total of 30 days in the hospital and couldn't eat because my throat was in pain, I also had muscle atrophy so I couldn't walk, had widespread body pain, got so confused and had brain fog. I had palpitations, but it was a health crisis. I also had diabetes, kidney stones, 2 blockages in my heart and 42 percent calcified.  I couldn't sing during those times, but this year, I can but have a hard time sustaining it due to fatigue and a scar on my larynx caused by laryngitis and GERD. I understood that's where the difficulty in breathing was coming from. It was a case of Long Covid according to my pulmonologist. I was told to check my heart rate, it was high when I was just sitting. Before I could work 12 hours, but now even talking was hard. I resigned from work, resorted to health supplements and machine, you may want to ask me about that. Work was strenuous, I look healthy but it was that, stigma. In the end, I had to change homes. Recently I joined communities, and tell people about it. It's a public health issue, and research needs to be done for it. I hope people listen with intent, the challenges had happen to me and some of my friends would tell me there's no Covid anymore. I stopped talking to people because of it and had depression."

Author of My Long Covid Journey: The Saga Behind the Smile Ms. Becks Galvez Tan told us a bit about her life as she says "I am a diagnosed Long COVID patient, fighting for my life 4 years ago where lungs were damaged, had hair loss, difficulty swallowing, sensory overload and the symptoms came and went, like a rollercoaster. The COVID-19 damaged not the lungs, but other organs as well. I felt better when I read other patients had 147 symptoms, but now I am tied to a oxygen concentrator because of a paralysis in my right diaphragm. From being able to walk easily before, I can only do it 2 minutes now. Every 3 minutes I had to rest going up the stairs, I had to rest for 40 minutes here before I could talk. It's just hard to believe that now I couldn't lift a finger. The fatigue is real, and the pain is excruciating. Now I recover faster compared before, but it is like dying in so many ways. I don't see my old self, I am in disbelief but I have moved on and focus on what I can do. In between crashes, I wrote all of it in The Saga Behind the Smile. It is available on digital for free, you can read it, I am living testament that you can still live despite suffering in silence. I don't want to spend my life in misery, I now learned to pace myself, I rest and do something on other days. It's just hard for people to understand. It's different everyday so I can't tell if symptoms are going to happen or not."

It's an E-Book, which you can download via bit.ly/MyLongCovidJourney.

Right now they are creating support groups and want to reach other Long COVID patients to they can help in not just advocacy but find government help. Get in touch with them, it's not okay to suffer in silence, you CAN get help today. If you need more information about it, please refer to World Health Organization channels.and the Department of Health.

Team VICE GANDA Delivers Moving Performance in Annual MAGPASIKAT in "It's Showtime!"

It's so nice to see things getting back to normal and as a yearly tradition, "It's Showtime!" just recently presented their annual "MAGPASIKAT" portion wherein the hosts are pit against each other presenting different causes, in an entertainment form. Judging this year is award winning actor Joel Torre, Miss Universe Catriona Gray, Eheads drummer and composer Raymund Marasigan, and punong hurado Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano.

Amy Perez, Karylle and Kim Chiu presented dance and numbers with sports champions, gold medalists signifying WOMEN EMPOWERMENT. Kim did super good in her dance numbers and the time she did a bit with a drum set. They also had 4th IMPACT together with them, they did good with their theme WOMEN AND GOLD. It instigated goosebumps, almost made the judges cry, had really solid impact.

Ogie Alcasid and Vhong Navarro did a skit with their kids, played by them too. Their theme is S-kid Games. They did several traditional games via 5x5 squid games style, projected it on the floor while they danced. It was like bonding without the need for gadgets or internet. Ogie of course sang his heart out with several TNT singers and champs, Ebe Dancel, El Gamma Penumbra, and Asia's Songbird Ms. Regine Velasquez-Alcasid. Jhong Hilario made a cameo and also sent Ogie and Vhong flying. Their message was about the goodness of fun, games, camaraderie, enjoying life's freedoms.

Jhugs, Teddy and Ion had comedy skits with Joey Marquez. They had a couple madlang pipol choose how the story would start, how it ends. Dance numbers like Matrix ensued, Ion was on a Ducati. It was nice because it was interactive. They included their heads being wrapped around by a snake, so it really wasn't easy. It didn't show much, but it was really good entertainement. Maybe, it's about conquering fears. Also, it was Ion's birthday, and he wished for the pandemic to end and his relationship with Vice Ganda to become even stronger. (that was a super sweet moment for Ion to say that!)

Then comes Vice Ganda, Ryan Bang and Jackie. They call themselves TEAM MAGIINA. They started with a comedy skit and talked about their preparations. Then they swithced places with viral online sensations Pipay and Whamos. They also had YouTube star, and sexiest Ivana Alawi, wifebeater clad Darren Espanto. Theirs had a sad start because they implied Vice had passed. Vice was the one who told them to prepare, do all these things, and Jackie got really into character. She was emotionally distraught when she heard the news. The lyrics went "Who would be there to catch you if you fall?". They had Kyla in the number, with Ryan Bang actually playing the piano in the background (we didn't know he could do that!). Team Vice was super dramatic, and was a discovery of talents. It also talked about the pandemic, on how we couldn't have the chance to say goodbye to people, how it hurt us, how we move on from it and still have hope that one day soon, we will meet. And properly, say goodbye. Vice also sang a few songs in this number, but what was moving was the last one when she had a string quartet, a choir at the end. Vice sang "See You Again" which had pretty hurtful lyrics. What broke my heart even more was the actual people who lost people because of COVID writing their messages on white balloons and reliving their memories with them. It was so touching, timely and so sad. Vice brought her cause to front, and how thankful they are for the lives they (those who passed) shared. The ending was so nice as they released white doves and balloons on the rooftop of ABSCBN. It was an epic sight! They came prepared!

In the end, 3rd and 4th Runners won 50,000 pesos. It went to Team Jhugs Teddy and Ion and Team Vhong and Ogie. First Runner Up went to Team Vice, Ryan and Jackie and won Php 100,000 for it. The Grand Champion was Tyang Amy, Kim Chiu and Karylle.

Vice says "We dedicate our performance to our chosen charity The Ruth Foundation. The Ruth Foundation for Palliative and Hospice Care will be the recipient of our prizes. They cater to COVID and Non COVID cases and help them with medical care, pay for bills, death care which has crippled families during this pandemic." Vice adds "We just escape everyday, this pandemic, I lost 4 of my super closest friends. When they were telling me about what we planned to perform, I insisted to do something stronger, something personal. I questioned how I paid for their hospital bills, was it enough to make their burials nice, and how I wasn't able to go to their wake even if they extended their schedules for me because I was their best friend. I'm doing this for the people who weren't able to do that because of the pandemic. We need to understand that it's not our fault, let's face the hurt, understand it, let go and say "Don't worry about us, we are okay and we will see you soon!". Even if we want to hug them, we can't, but I'm here to tell you, you're not alone. God Bless everyone!"

Movie Producer Rina Navarro's Kids (3 and 8) Contracted COVI-19

The Producer of epic film Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo's and Unfiltered Skin Care CEO Rina Navarro just recently posted that her kids Rain (8 years old) and Theo (3 years old), has tested positive for COVID-19. 

Her kids are currently at their residence and showed no symptoms (asymptomatic). They are now doing tests while self isolating. They are on their way to recovery. Though the kids have not left their home, they have traced their driver who have gone home his family on a weekend, who then infected their kasambahay, who got the kids at risk. The family is wishing for everyone's recovery and hope others who have people who work from outside do extreme caution because getting this virus is no joke. She also would like to send prayers for kids who are undergoing the same fate as hers and follow protocols set by IATF and the government.

Ms. Rina adds “I'd like to ask people to PLEASE stay at home. Try as much to not allow visitors at home because we are all vulnerable. It's not just the old folks, but even kids and babies are affected. Remember, getting vaccinated doesn’t mean you are totally immune or won’t be able to carry the virus. Please wear your face masks and face shield especially if you have kids and elders at home.”

So if you're still hesitating to get vaccinated, please see this happens to kids too. They need to be safe, so do the right thing!