Dengue Fever: A First-Hand Experience

Last September 13, I was diagnosed with Dengue Fever. It all started with high fever (from 39.5 - 41C) that wouldn't go away despite taking paracetamol plus extreme pain on the lower part of my body. Aside from those two, I had no other symptoms.

The day before that I had my check-up in one of the hospitals here in Bacolod. I had CBC and Urinalysis which all came out normal. They couldn't find what's wrong with me. They said it was not dengue (since platelet was normal) and not UTI. I was advised to visit my OB-Gyne and take some antibiotics. Personally, I find that unreasonable and certainly, it was a wrong advice from the OPD doctor.  

My mom advised me to continue to monitor my platelet and have another CBC test the next day (September 13.) So, the next day, we decided to go to another hospital and have the laboratory tests (Urinalysis and CBC) again. Since we wanted to rule out dengue, we also requested to have the Dengue NS1 test. The dengue test will cost you around Php1,200 - Php 1,700 depending on which hospital) 

After the lab results were out, I realized that you can be positive with dengue even if your platelet count is normal. The tests showed that platelet is still normal with a slight decrease compared to yesterday's results but Dengue NS1 test says positive. 

So, what is really Dengue Fever? 

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection. This means that you should have a strong immune system to fight it off. I know that my immune system was so weak at that time since I lacked sleep while taking care of the newborn puppies. 

The infection causes flu-like illness, and occasionally develops into a potentially lethal complication called severe dengue. This is the primary reason why we opt to rule out dengue immediately. You don't have to wait a couple days if you want to have yourself checked. Also, please don't wait for your platelet to drop before you consider that you're sick with dengue. If you have the funds available, have the Dengue NS1 test. It is always best to be safe than sorry. 

There is no specific treatment for dengue/ severe dengue, but early detection and access to proper medical care lowers fatality rates below 1%. As mentioned earlier, it's better to safe than sorry. Based on my experience, starting on the 5th day, I no longer had fever but that was where my platelet really start to drop. From 285 it went down to 79 and on the 6th day, it went down to 35. My doctor said that there is nothing to worry because based on the lab tests, my body is properly hydrated and it should help improve the platelet count. 

What should you do when you have dengue? 

1. Keep yourself hydrated. Drink Pocari Sweat, Gatorade and lots of water (preferably not distilled but Pure Drinking Water) 

2. Eat Vanilla Ice Cream. They say it helps in blood regeneration since it's rich in Vitamin K and Calcium.

3. Drink Tawa-Tawa. They say that you should drink tawa-tawa when you have dengue fever but this did not work for me. I had LBM after drinking so I had to stop drinking before I get dehydrated again. 

4. Eat Durian. (No scientific study to prove it but I love durian so, was just happy to eat and perhaps it really helped in my recovery) It was just a challenge to sneak it in the hospital since it was not really allowed. 

5. Be careful when brushing your teeth. Make sure that there is no bleeding. Thus, it is better if you just use your fingers with toothpaste to clean your teeth and gums plus mouthwash. 

After this dengue experience, I realized that dengue fever could happen to anyone. As for the hospital bills, it is very important that we have Philhealth. I am also very lucky to have the Pioneer Life Medicash for Dengue. The Pioneer Life Medicash Dengue provides you a cash benefit of Php 10,000 once you are diagnosed with dengue whether hospitalized or not. The fee is only Php 350 good for one year or until used.

Something worth nothing about the Pioneer's Medicash Dengue is the claim process. I only submitted 3 easy requirements: Valid ID, a claim form to be signed by your attending physician and my dengue NS1 lab result. I got a notification about its approval after 2 days and on the 6th day, my benefit was deposited to my preferred bank account. 

After this experience, I would like to take the opportunity to thank all family and friends who prayed for me, also to those who visited and made my hospital confinement bearable and to all my clients who had been very understanding. Thank you so much! 

So, just stay safe and don't forget to use mosquito repellants. Should you have any questions, feel free to send me a message in facebook.  

Affordable LED Light Tube Now Available from CD-R King

Disruption in technology has changed the way we live. As the cliché goes “Nothing is permanent except change”. What seemed to be a harmless household product, later on proved to be harmful in the long run. Years after fluorescent was discovered, it was found that fluorescent gives off a small amount of ultraviolet light and that 8 hours of exposure under a fluorescent light is already equivalent to an hour of sun exposure

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Further studies also associate conditions like migraine, stress, mood swings and eye strain to prolonged exposure to fluorescent light.

Environment issues on fluorescent is also a great concern. Fluorescent contains a small amount of mercury. Careless disposal can affect the ecological system.

These studies has prompted most household to switching into CFL during the last few decades which was considered less harmful but still contains fluorescent, thus mercury is still present.

The invention of LED has saved us from the long term use of fluorescent. However, LED light tubes are still very expensive. LED bulbs are cheaper but the light tubes surely hurt our pockets. I admit we still have a few flourscent lamps at home (which I really hope to replace in the future once the budget permits) 

The good news is they are now available in CD-R King which means that we can now replace our old fluorescent with these affordable yet good quality LED light tubes from CD-R King. 

There are also other reasons why we should consider the switch: 

Luminosity factor

If household were very susceptible to changing from fluorescent to LED light, commercial offices proved to be less flexible since they question the luminosity of the proposed light.

Larger commercial space requires high luminosity that gives a higher light output. If broken down to lumens versus floor space, fluorescent will boil down to be a cheaper source. And that would simply mean savings for electric consumers. 

LED light tube

Recent innovation has given a solution to the luminosity factor as it introduces the LED Light Tube, giving commercial offices the lumens they require minus the toxins.

LED light tube gives the same high light output of fluorescent with the benefits of LED technology.

CD-R King, your one-stop media provider with its effort to help protect the environment brings this innovation closer to the general public as they offer the technology at a very affordable price.

CD-R King LED light tubes are available in T-8 10watts (php120), T-5 18watts (Php150) and T-5 20watts (Php200), all of which can last up to 50,000 hours. LED light tubes can be purchase with casing or as a replacement tube.

Available in all CD-R King branches nationwide. For more updates, Like/follow them on facebook. https://www.facebook.com/cdkingph

Hassle-Free Bills Payment with Bayad Center

As technology and innovations continue to make our lives easier, we become more aware of different life-hacks – things that help make our daily activities less complicated, giving us time to do more important things like pursuing our passion, starting a hobby or even just have more time to spend with family and friends. 

Paying multiple bills, as you will agree, continues to be a daunting task for us adults as we have to transfer from one place to another, switch from one website to another, just to beat the clock so to speak. Do you know that Bayad Center has transformed itself to a multi-channel facility to help us in whichever situation we’re in? Talk about ultimate convenience.

Over-The-Counter

We know this -- BAYAD CENTER has over 5,000 payment locations nationwide, accepting more than 200 types of bills in its roster.

Take for instance our area here in Bacolod, we see a lot of Bayad Center branches carrying that “bahay-kubo” icon and the Meralco seal on their signages. These branches are strategically located in commercial centers and other convergence areas to cater to your payment needs, as well as other services like Prepaid Loading, Airline Ticketing, and Remittance Payout.

If you’re the one who prefers paying their bills while doing shopping or groceries, Bayad Center powers the bills payment facility of Robinsons Malls & Supermarkets, Savemore, Waltermart, Alfamart, Isetann, Landmark, Sta. Lucia Mall, San Roque Supermarkets, and the Gaisano Malls, so you get the same seal of service and integrity in your payments.

Aside from these establishments, Bayad Center also runs the payment system of LBC, Philpost, 2Go, Cebuana Lhuillier, M. Lhuillier, Tambunting, Villarica, BHF Pawnshop, CVM Pawnshop, Raquel Pawnshop, Palawan Pawnshop, as well as major Western union agents like USSC, eBiz, Pera Hub, and DA5. There’s Luzon Development Bank and Citystate Savings Bank as well.

Overseas Over-The-Counter, Mobile Application & Web-based Facility

Understanding the needs of our Kababayans overseas, Bayad Center has partnered with Saudi Call, for those who are in Saudi Arabia & Ventaja which branches are present worldwide. With these partnerships OFW’s process of sending money to pay for the family’s bills are easily shortened. If you are an OFW who prefers a mobile application, there is - miLine which caters if you are in the countries of Singapore, Japan, Honkong & UAE. You can simply download the app for an easy way of paying bills back home.  miLine’s bills payment system is powered by Bayad Center. On the other hand, Partnership with PLDT Global allows overseas Filipinos to conveniently manage their payables back home through an easy to use web- based payment facility - simply log on to www.smartpinoystore.com. Through the Bayad Center International Bills Pay, overseas workers can already settle their household bills over-the-counter through these accredited partners of Bayad Center in the different countries abroad.

Automated Payment Machine

ATM’s? Well Bayad Center now has APM’s or Automated Payment Machines (APM). Bayad Center’s Touchpay Machines are self-service kiosks whose primary use is to help reduce payors’ waiting time in different payment convergence zones. These APM’s are strategically installed in buildings such as the biller’s business offices, government offices, BPOs, factories, malls, and convenience stores nationwide.

Aside from Bills Payment, the TOUCHPAY MACHINE also offers other services namely, Prepaid Loading, Top-up, E-money, and many more. It’s an easy-to-use machine operating 24/7 so you can pay bills whenever your schedule permits.

Retail Machine

Want to pay your bills but don’t have enough time to go to commercial areas? Bayad Center’s Retail Machine is the answer to your problem. The Retail Machines can be installed in Small & Medium Enterprises such as your ever reliable sari-sari stores, neighborhood pet shops & carwash centers, cooperative offices and even PUV terminals, offering services such as bills payment, remittance & E-Loading.

Soon customers can even pay through their credit card, debit card, or Beep card.

Bayad Center Online

If you’re one of those who prefer doing everything online, Bayad Center Online can cater your payment needs thru http://www.bayadcenteronline.com Paying bills is now made easier at the comfort of your home. And since this is a web-based facility, you can also view and do the transactions on your mobile phone wherever, whenever.

Bills payment for Davao Light and VECO (for Cebu based) are now available. I just hope they include CENECO and BACIWA soon for Negros and Bacolod based customers. 

With Bayad Center, every Filipino, wherever they may be, can always be assured of #TatakSigurado! This is a testament of millions of Filipinos using the service. Now with a multi-channel facility, paying bills has never been easier with Bayad Center.

For more information about Bayad Center, visit http://www.bayadcenter.com. Follow them on Facebook: @BayadCenterOfficial

Novuhair Supports Alopecia Areata Awareness in Celebrating Inner Strength

September marks the month-long commemoration of Alopecia Areata awareness worldwide. Alopecia areata is a condition when hair loss occur due to faults in the immune system attacking the hair follicles which results in partial or total loss of hair on the head and other parts of the body.

Leading this year’s celebration in the country is Alopecia Philippines, a group founded by singer and songwriter Abby Asistio in 2012. She has been championing the cause of empowering citizens with this condition.

Abby is no stranger to alopecia, having been diagnosed with alopecia areata since she was four years old. Abby’s decision to come out in public with her condition was a major turning point in her life.

On September 2012, Abby decided to start an online campaign in time with Alopecia Awareness Month by inviting family and friends to pose with the double “A” (inverted “V”) sign using their fingers on the photo sharing site, Instagram. It quickly caught on and Abby was overwhelmed by the response from netizens, with over a thousand photo contributions to date.

This paved the way for the beginnings of Alopecia Philippines. It aims to raise awareness about alopecia and correct common misconceptions and perceptions about it, provide encouragement to people afflicted with it, and create an online support community for them.

Inspired by Abby’s honesty and courage, men and women, kids and teens from different walks of life began sharing their own stories and struggles living with alopecia. What started out as a group of ten is now more than 300 members strong and its Facebook page – Alopecia Areata Awareness, draws followers from all over the world.

Novuhair has been supporting the cause for Alopecia Philippines through Abby Asistio. Abby have been using the brand continuously since March 2013 and she has only praises to share using the product.

Nature has provided a safe and effective answer to hair loss and scalp disorders. Novuhair is the only topical scalp lotion in the market that has the highest concentration of natural ingredients, FDA-certified and ACD-compliant. Novuhair is a homegrown, proudly Philippine-made product that is globally competitive.

Novuhair Topical Scalp Lotion, Shampoo and Conditioner are available in all Mercury Drug Stores and other leading drug stores nationwide. For more information visit www.novuhair.com. Like the brand’s official Facebook Page at Novuhair Official, Instagram: @NovuhairOfficial and follow it on Twitter at @NovuhairNatural. You may also call the Novuhair hotlines at 4136570 and 09228830575 and order online at Lazada and regaloservice.com.