I never thought I would get sick during my honeymoon.
No sane person would like to be sick on this momentous occasion (Momentous talaga!? Hahaha!), but the universe thought that maybe things would get a little more exciting if I fell sick, so fall sick I did. Hay!
When we got back from Tagaytay that Sunday, I felt fine. We even bought pineapples and mangoes on one of those roadside fruit stalls where I was magnificently ripped off by the manong tindero. (180 pesos sa kanya tapos sa kabilang stall 130 pesos lang! I felt soooo bad, I swear.)
We had a big lunch at home to officially welcome Eric in the family. Daddy cooked some really delicious gising-gising and home-style fried chicken with gravy. We then watched a few episodes of my new favorite show on NatGeo, "The Dog Whisperer", and then went to Sunday evening mass with the hubby, after which we had frappuccinos at Starbucks. I was my usual loud and crazy and gorgeous self. Cough, cough.
I woke up in the middle of the night with chills and I had to go downstairs to ask my mom for a blanket. I felt my forehead and discovered I was a bit warm, but I knew when I woke up the fever would be gone, so I just went back to sleep.
That morning, the fever was gone but I had this really nasty headache and my body felt sluggish. We had to go to the hubby's house that day because it's closer to the airport and we had an early flight the following day. By the time we got there, I was just so exhausted I just rolled into bed and slept.
Ta-dan! When I woke up from my nap, I was burning up big time. My sweet husband made sure I took my meds on time and ate food even if I threw up most of it. He ran back and forth to the pharmacy to buy meds, gave me sponge baths round the clock, and stayed up all night checking my temperature. I grew exhausted just watching him bustling about, but thank heavens I had him beside me that day. What would I do without you? Sniff, sniff. Love you, sweetie!
We thought I would have to miss my flight, but thankfully the fever was gone and I felt well the following morning. Well enough to head to the airport, check in and endure the 3-hour flight to Singapore in the freezer-like confines of the plane. The freezer-like temperatures extended even to Terminal 1 of Changi Airport, oh my goodness, and all I had was this tiny little jacket.
Surprisingly I felt hungry, so I grabbed a sub and a smoothie at Quizno's and just managed to eat half of it for fear of throwing up everything after a few minutes.
And then I thought about where I could find this kopitiam that the hubby and I decided we should meet up upon arrival. (He was on a later flight, so I had to wait around for 3-4 hours at the airport).
I couldn't find this kopitiam anywhere. I asked the airport guards but they seemed as clueless as me. I had this nagging feeling that the kopitiam did not exist anymore as Terminal 1 was undergoing renovations. But I had to make sure because I had no cellphone with me and there was no way I could contact the hubby. I felt tired and sleepy but I did another round of the airport. When I still could not find it, I decided to just go to the Budget Terminal and wait for his flight to arrive.
On the Skytrain and the shuttle bus ride, I felt feverish already, and I remember thinking "Oh no, when Babykoy finds out I have fever again, I'd be in so much trouble!" But when Babykoy arrived, he did not admonish me but just grew concerned, and right away we took the quickest way home.
I don't like being sick. I've never had a fever that lasted longer than 3 or 4 hours. But I was sick for two days already, which was odd, but we thought I just had a relapse from all the walking I did at the airport. Babykoy was texting non-stop with Edward, who happened to be a nurse, on what meds to give me. It was so very stressful.
The following day the fever was gone, thank goodness. I still felt lightheaded and nauseous, but we decided to go out on a movie date. Would be a shame to spend the sunny day inside the house. We had lunch at Burger King because I was craving for onion rings, and then we went to Plaza Singapura to watch a movie (The Last Airbender on 3D, this one really sucked!).
Right after the film, instead of having dinner out, I asked Babykoy if we could just go home because I was not feeling well again.
We spent the next two days holed up at home, me resting, the hubby at my beck and call. I knew I wasn't the most lovable person during this time. Always asleep, always with no appetite, always cranky, always quiet. But my hubby was so patient and sweet and gentle and reassuring the whole time. He's just the best.
We went to see Salt that Saturday, which was a lot better than The Last Airbender. Hehe. After the movie, we decided to go see a doctor already because the feeling of nausea was still there and rashes started to appear on both my arms and legs.
The first doctor we went to, after the routine interview and seeing the rashes, immediately recommended that we go to the hospital Accident and Emergency for a blood test.
"Because it most certainly looks like dengue," he had said.
Whaaaat? I can't have dengue! I can't have dengue here in Singapore! On my honeymoon!
We went straight to National University Hospital for the blood test. I was ushered in by the nurses (Pinays) to the fever facility while Babykoy waited outside.
I think I stayed for 4 to 5 hours there. The doctor, who was Singaporean, was very nice. I don't like syringes but she was very gentle and it only stung a tiny tiny bit. Then she got me on IV drip (3 bags!) because according to her I was dehydrated. The nurse gave me crackers and a hot chocolate drink that tasted like water. The doctor told me to eat up and drink all the time, and also to not shave my legs in case I cut myself.
The blood results came back and I got the clear for malaria, but I had a pretty low platelet count (79), so they asked us to come back the following day for another blood test. Which we did, and my platelet count rose up to 97.
Okay blood pressure, good vitals, no tummy aches, no bleeding anywhere, no fever. I asked what caused the rashes. They said it's from the dengue fever. Okay. I really had dengue. Up until that point I was in a state of denial.
They told us to come back on Tuesday for one last blood test before I left for Manila the following day. Just to be on the safe side.
The nauseous and vomiting feeling grew less and less and I felt better as each day passed. I was also getting my appetite back. My parents back home were sick with worry, but I told them I was not on that critical stage of dengue fever, and I was gonna be fine. My mom could not get over the fact that I did not tell her I was bitten by a mosquito. (Hello! I wasn't even sure myself!)
The last blood work told us that my platelet count was back to normal already and I could go home. They just told me to rest up for a whole week or so and see a doctor if there were any other untoward symptoms.
I really feel bad that I spent the week there sick instead of making the most of our days together as brand new husband and wife. I hate the fact that I had to put Babykoy through all that worry and physical exhaustion. And getting sick there was not exactly cheap, either! Good thing we had extra cash. So sorry baby, I promise I will make bawi major major! Thank you for taking care of me! Mwah!
I feel much better now. Still on medical leave though, but will be back to work tomorrow. Not very excited to be working again, haha. But the doctor has already given me a fit to work certificate, so I really have no choice.
I have a newfound phobia of mosquitoes now. I'm not sure where I got bitten by that evil mosquito. It doesn't matter. I guess I just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Just always be careful. Don't get sick! Dengue's a bitch!
No sane person would like to be sick on this momentous occasion (Momentous talaga!? Hahaha!), but the universe thought that maybe things would get a little more exciting if I fell sick, so fall sick I did. Hay!
When we got back from Tagaytay that Sunday, I felt fine. We even bought pineapples and mangoes on one of those roadside fruit stalls where I was magnificently ripped off by the manong tindero. (180 pesos sa kanya tapos sa kabilang stall 130 pesos lang! I felt soooo bad, I swear.)
We had a big lunch at home to officially welcome Eric in the family. Daddy cooked some really delicious gising-gising and home-style fried chicken with gravy. We then watched a few episodes of my new favorite show on NatGeo, "The Dog Whisperer", and then went to Sunday evening mass with the hubby, after which we had frappuccinos at Starbucks. I was my usual loud and crazy and gorgeous self. Cough, cough.
I woke up in the middle of the night with chills and I had to go downstairs to ask my mom for a blanket. I felt my forehead and discovered I was a bit warm, but I knew when I woke up the fever would be gone, so I just went back to sleep.
That morning, the fever was gone but I had this really nasty headache and my body felt sluggish. We had to go to the hubby's house that day because it's closer to the airport and we had an early flight the following day. By the time we got there, I was just so exhausted I just rolled into bed and slept.
Ta-dan! When I woke up from my nap, I was burning up big time. My sweet husband made sure I took my meds on time and ate food even if I threw up most of it. He ran back and forth to the pharmacy to buy meds, gave me sponge baths round the clock, and stayed up all night checking my temperature. I grew exhausted just watching him bustling about, but thank heavens I had him beside me that day. What would I do without you? Sniff, sniff. Love you, sweetie!
We thought I would have to miss my flight, but thankfully the fever was gone and I felt well the following morning. Well enough to head to the airport, check in and endure the 3-hour flight to Singapore in the freezer-like confines of the plane. The freezer-like temperatures extended even to Terminal 1 of Changi Airport, oh my goodness, and all I had was this tiny little jacket.
Surprisingly I felt hungry, so I grabbed a sub and a smoothie at Quizno's and just managed to eat half of it for fear of throwing up everything after a few minutes.
And then I thought about where I could find this kopitiam that the hubby and I decided we should meet up upon arrival. (He was on a later flight, so I had to wait around for 3-4 hours at the airport).
I couldn't find this kopitiam anywhere. I asked the airport guards but they seemed as clueless as me. I had this nagging feeling that the kopitiam did not exist anymore as Terminal 1 was undergoing renovations. But I had to make sure because I had no cellphone with me and there was no way I could contact the hubby. I felt tired and sleepy but I did another round of the airport. When I still could not find it, I decided to just go to the Budget Terminal and wait for his flight to arrive.
On the Skytrain and the shuttle bus ride, I felt feverish already, and I remember thinking "Oh no, when Babykoy finds out I have fever again, I'd be in so much trouble!" But when Babykoy arrived, he did not admonish me but just grew concerned, and right away we took the quickest way home.
I don't like being sick. I've never had a fever that lasted longer than 3 or 4 hours. But I was sick for two days already, which was odd, but we thought I just had a relapse from all the walking I did at the airport. Babykoy was texting non-stop with Edward, who happened to be a nurse, on what meds to give me. It was so very stressful.
The following day the fever was gone, thank goodness. I still felt lightheaded and nauseous, but we decided to go out on a movie date. Would be a shame to spend the sunny day inside the house. We had lunch at Burger King because I was craving for onion rings, and then we went to Plaza Singapura to watch a movie (The Last Airbender on 3D, this one really sucked!).
Right after the film, instead of having dinner out, I asked Babykoy if we could just go home because I was not feeling well again.
We spent the next two days holed up at home, me resting, the hubby at my beck and call. I knew I wasn't the most lovable person during this time. Always asleep, always with no appetite, always cranky, always quiet. But my hubby was so patient and sweet and gentle and reassuring the whole time. He's just the best.
We went to see Salt that Saturday, which was a lot better than The Last Airbender. Hehe. After the movie, we decided to go see a doctor already because the feeling of nausea was still there and rashes started to appear on both my arms and legs.
The first doctor we went to, after the routine interview and seeing the rashes, immediately recommended that we go to the hospital Accident and Emergency for a blood test.
"Because it most certainly looks like dengue," he had said.
Whaaaat? I can't have dengue! I can't have dengue here in Singapore! On my honeymoon!
We went straight to National University Hospital for the blood test. I was ushered in by the nurses (Pinays) to the fever facility while Babykoy waited outside.
I think I stayed for 4 to 5 hours there. The doctor, who was Singaporean, was very nice. I don't like syringes but she was very gentle and it only stung a tiny tiny bit. Then she got me on IV drip (3 bags!) because according to her I was dehydrated. The nurse gave me crackers and a hot chocolate drink that tasted like water. The doctor told me to eat up and drink all the time, and also to not shave my legs in case I cut myself.
The blood results came back and I got the clear for malaria, but I had a pretty low platelet count (79), so they asked us to come back the following day for another blood test. Which we did, and my platelet count rose up to 97.
Okay blood pressure, good vitals, no tummy aches, no bleeding anywhere, no fever. I asked what caused the rashes. They said it's from the dengue fever. Okay. I really had dengue. Up until that point I was in a state of denial.
They told us to come back on Tuesday for one last blood test before I left for Manila the following day. Just to be on the safe side.
The nauseous and vomiting feeling grew less and less and I felt better as each day passed. I was also getting my appetite back. My parents back home were sick with worry, but I told them I was not on that critical stage of dengue fever, and I was gonna be fine. My mom could not get over the fact that I did not tell her I was bitten by a mosquito. (Hello! I wasn't even sure myself!)
The last blood work told us that my platelet count was back to normal already and I could go home. They just told me to rest up for a whole week or so and see a doctor if there were any other untoward symptoms.
I really feel bad that I spent the week there sick instead of making the most of our days together as brand new husband and wife. I hate the fact that I had to put Babykoy through all that worry and physical exhaustion. And getting sick there was not exactly cheap, either! Good thing we had extra cash. So sorry baby, I promise I will make bawi major major! Thank you for taking care of me! Mwah!
I feel much better now. Still on medical leave though, but will be back to work tomorrow. Not very excited to be working again, haha. But the doctor has already given me a fit to work certificate, so I really have no choice.
I have a newfound phobia of mosquitoes now. I'm not sure where I got bitten by that evil mosquito. It doesn't matter. I guess I just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Just always be careful. Don't get sick! Dengue's a bitch!
