May 23, 2018 (Wednesday) It was E-coli / 0157

It was a gloomy rainy day, like my feeling.

I can’t take it anymore, I didn’t have the chance to sleep last night. So, I  messaged my boss around 7:00 am JST, to ask if he has medicine for loose bowel movement and vomit. He was so kind to go to my apartment at an early hour to give me medicine and other stuff to help me recover, but to my surprise, I almost vomited in front of him, it was a good thing that he brought goods in the plastic bag. He made me take a very foul odored medicine for cases like this. We waited for an hour but it didn’t seem to cool down, instead, I keep on vomiting. He thought that I was just like everybody adjusting to the new environment because my Indian and French colleagues felt also the same when they came to Japan years ago.

So, we went to the nearest clinic, he knows the doctor very well. It was good that I can still walk while resting on the way to the clinic (it was beside the daycare so it was near) but it took us a while to reach the clinic because I can’t seem to have the strength to go on and walk. But he was there for me to help me walk. And we reached the clinic. But I have to wait because there were many other patients. The staff was very nice that they let me wait while lying down in a room. But I have to use the toilet many times as I poop and vomit. I pooped so many times that my poop is like water and my butt hurts, my legs were like no strength to walk at all. The 2 doctors came to see me, and they can’t seem to understand what was wrong, they can’t diagnose it, so they said I will be taken to a big hospital and they called an ambulance.

As I wait, I was very lucky that my Indian colleague came to see me and stayed as I wait. I was so in tears but she was there and comforted me. She is very nice to me. And then the ambulance came. I was taken to the nearest big hospital so laboratory test could be performed immediately.

I was immediately taken into the emergency room and being prepared for laboratory test while the other doctor from the clinic explains to the staff, nurses, and doctor what happened. And so I am beginning to lose my consciousness.

May 22, 2018 (Tuesday) It all began here!

Tomorrow will be another great day!

As I said in my previous post. Indeed! It was!

Today I started the office works. I missed using the computer, I  missed using the excel! 

The day started with different explanations from my boss, and I got the chance to meet my other office working Japanese colleagues, and they are all receiving me with warm regards.

My Indian colleague is so kind enough to explain how to work with the predetermined format. We talked in Japanese. Sometimes I find it amusing to see foreigners in Japan speaking to each other in Japanese, like ourselves right now. Ahahaha! We tried our best but sometimes give up and talk in English.

In the afternoon, we fetch the children from their schools, some we fetch from their homes because their schools were near their homes. We went back to the daycare and spend the rest of the day there. By the way, in the daycare, there are a lot of things to do. There are 2 electronic drum sets (because my boss wanted to be a rock star, that he started his rock band in his younger years, he was so interesting), video playing materials, games, lot of games, Nintendo DS, PS4, (you know Japan!), learning materials (including English and other languages), building games name it and we have it! The fun never stops! Snacks and loads of snacks!

Another day spent with my colleagues and with the children.

As the routine: Cooked and ate dinner while talking to my family. I took a relaxing hot bath. I prayed and went to sleep.

As I thought! around 11:00 pm JST, it seems that I can’t get to stop using the toilet. I have loose bowel movement and I vomit. Sometimes, I vomit while I poop. It’s getting worst through the night. I thought I can take it by rest, but it never stopped. I couldn’t sleep. I have no energy left anymore. 

May 21, 2018 (Monday)

The second day of work!

Today I started early because the office works will be explained to me by my boss. We started with the background again, the system how the company operates, the funding and the likes. The fundamentals of the laws and other legal matters that are connected to the facility. It is amazing to think how the Japanese Government operates to do this support for the disabled and challenged.

 I learned a lot from what my boss explained to me. He is very patient explaining everything (in Japanese) and sometimes when he thinks I can’t get because of difficult terminologies, he is very patient in explaining it to me in easy Japanese. I was a good thing I can keep up with him. He is so kind and polite.

And in the afternoon, I went with my Japanese colleague to fetch the children from their school. We have a company car. The maximum number of children to service for a car is 3 since the car is up to 5 pax only. (3 children and 2 adults). 

Children with Down syndrome attend schools that are for children like them, but for the other children with disabilities (Autism, Anger Management, and other behavioral disorders) attends normal school. But for the others, it is a case to case basis.

Get back in the daycare, let them do their homework or let them play and relax. Serve and eat a snack with the children and around 6:30 pm JST, sending them home. Every day I learn new things about the behavior of the children and how they act and how to act if they act that way. I love this job! Even though this is not my field of study and specialty, I would like to give my best in this!

I went home very happy, can’t help to smile.

Cooked and ate dinner while talking to my family. I took a relaxing hot bath. I prayed and went to sleep.

Tomorrow will be another great day!

May 20, 2018 (Sunday) First day of work

Today I will be reporting for work! My boss gave me the company keys and bicycle. I’m lucky that the bicycle is a folding one colored white. (My preference). It is good that the daycare and the office are very near my house (yes, different building unit), I can go to the daycare by 4 minutes walk and to the office by 8 minutes walk.

So the company background:

It is a government-subsidized institution for physically challenged children. The company receives fund from the government for the operational needs of the facility. It has after-school day service for physically challenged children, wherein we buy time for the parent of the said children so that they can do other things or have time for themselves.  The facility allows the children to learn, relax, make friends, study and do meaningful activities that can help them overcome their inabilities. This company also has, caregiving services, movement support for handy capped, senior citizens and physically challenged persons and the like.

As the company’s saying: Sky’s the limit!

My work:

In the morning, I will be doing the office works for the management side. In the afternoon, I will be on the after-school day service side. The work is basically fetching kids, playing and being with them and then bringing them home to their respective houses.

As expected for 1^st days, I will be observing only. But I can’t help to take part. (can’t stay still!)

It is very relieving that the children are all very nice and receiving. They didn’t give negative something towards me, and they are all well mannered. If you can see them, they may look very normal. I am so lucky because we had a mutual connection. I also met the other main staff in the day service side, the Japanese woman, and another French lady (who comes on Sundays only).

The Japanese woman overheard that I can play the violin, and she said that there was a violin in the storeroom so; she and the kids took it out. And there it was, 2 full-size violins! I was so nostalgic. It is also a good thing that the part-timer French lady had the experience of learning the violin. So, I downloaded a violin tuner in my cell phone and tuned it. One, of the boys with autism, had the interest in playing it. I was so happy that I have him learned how to hold it, and he is so happy in return when he made a sound out of it!! Doing great kid!

It is Sunday and today’s event is table tennis! The 1^st prize will be 10 pcs seal! Where in these seals can be redeemed as an item you want in the day service redemption booth. We have toys, books, learning materials and other cute stuff. It was a round robin game, and the participants are short, so I represented the management side. And of course (pagbigyan, di ko ginalingan), I gave way! Ahaha! No, I lost; they are very good at this. (That is the spirit of the day service, to do what the children are inclined to do). The winner is the teenager with autism, he is so good at table tennis, inter-high school level.

After the awarding ceremony, the snacks are served. The children are taking part in serving the snacks; they are well mannered and serve each other. It is a very good environment. The staffs are also allowed to eat the snacks with the children. So, I also ate. But for today we also ate my gift (pasalubong) for them: Mango balls, Mango tamarind balls and peanut chocolates (hany). It is a good thing that they like it.

The time flies and we have to bring the children home.

At around 7:00 pm JST, the work is finished and I went home, cooked my meal and took a hot bath. The day was very happy. I learned a lot.

I talked to my family telling them what happened the whole day, they are also happy about the work.

I said my prayers and slept.

July 2, 2018 (Monday)

I woke up at 1:00 am JST, took sleepings pills number 3 and woke up at 3:00 am JST to go to the toilet. This is really the effect of the Furosemide 20mg., I have to go to the toilet regularly. So from 3:00 am JST, I am awake already! My face is so big because of the Edema.

Anyway, it wasn’t a good sleep but I still had the opportunity to sleep so thank God. Today will be a busy day.

 I decided to try to apply for a personal number over the internet. There is a very cheap plan here. A personal number for me is a must. I need to have a direct contact. So the package of the plan is 1gig data for 1 month, free calls within 10 minutes, unlimited messages all for 1,480 yen per month. Then a variety of cellphone where you can choose from, but I will choose the cheapest one. But whatever way I choose on the internet, my credit card was not accepted. Even my nurse doesn’t know why. My nurse was so kind enough to help me, but it was to no avail. Busy busy!  Early in the morning.

Today’s weight to maintain is 54.60. By the way, this is near my original weight. 

For today is 100g RICE!, ham sautéed in tomato, bell peppers, onion, and eggplant, nori, orange, orange juice and tea. I had breakfast with Mrs. Higuchi, though she is still not feeling well, she ate all her food.

Today is Monday so another added medicine for the protection of the bones. Another added for the cholesterol, because of the steroid’s side effect. And, 3 capsules of Cellcept, Furosemide 20mg, and antibacterial medicine.

So time for my bath! I thought that my bruises will be gone with the help of hot baths, but it increased. The doctors say that it is because of the side effect of the steroids. Nagatsuji Sensei cleaned my neck for me again. And time for shots now: Shots: Steroid Pulse 20mg, medicine for the intestines. This always gets me. Let’s take a rest.

After that, I got hungry. In time for lunch my favorite soup. This is a secret again. Lunch: 100g rice, sautéed Chinese cabbage, carrots and onions, soy sauce and butter flavored grilled white fish, sweet potato salad, and tea. I ate it all, the fish was so delicious. But the fish served to Mrs. Higuchi is bigger.

2:00 pm JST rounds for Steroid Pulse 20mg and Furosemide 20mg. My sugar was fine, 124. Nagatsuji Sensei told me that it is good up to 200, so no worries. This is the office for today. That is the Japanese public pay phone. I have to call the mobile hotline to see if I can apply. And when I called the hotline, overseas credit cards are not accepted for this application. Oh my! I will be using this personal number to apply for a credit card!!!! I will be looking for other ways to apply for a mobile phone.

Based on the results of the blood test from this morning, my Hemoglobin is so low that I have to receive 200ml  blood. So at around 4:00 pm JST it’s blood time! Nut the blood is still cold, that when it enters my veins it hurts so I have to have it stopped many times for breaks. I discovered that if the blood is so cold, it will turn to something like a near glitters’ like state. It’s pretty but it hurts.

Because of that, I have to eat dinner here in my room. But it was the opportunity to have dinner together with my roommate, Mrs. Takabayashi. She said she ate better than usual because we ate together. Dinner: 100g rice, nori flavored fried chicken, steamed daikon-like something (I don’t know what is this), broccoli with sesame seeds, apples, jelly drink and tea. I ate it all. The chicken was very delicious. As the usual medicine, 3 capsules of Cellcept and it is Monday so additional Slow-k for potassium.

So the blood was finished at around 8:00 pm JST. So slow!

10:13 pm JST took sleeping pills 1 & 2. Hoping for a good night sleep now that I am recharged.

Praying for tomorrow’s blood transfusion to be fast and not that achy. Thank you for all your prayers.

*If you notice, I have taken down some pictures, because the manager of the ward knows that I am doing a blog and she talked to me saying the things that I cannot include in my blog. I said I had uploaded some, and I will edit it right away. She was so nice talking to me even though I have done something wrong. She said it was fine because I still don't know the hospital's policy.

Thank you for the Prayers - July 3, 2018 Blood Dialysis 1/4 2nd set

Thank you for the Prayers, I am now under blood Dialysis last 5 minutes out of 2 hours.

There was no pain, but I have to go to the toilet once to urinate only. There was only itching that they have to give me more anti-itch medicine and anti-itch steroids.

Thank God. Amen!

May 19, 2018 (Saturday)

My first day? Second day.  I didn’t sleep well, I was so worried that my parents will be worried. But it was a good thing that I had a contact with my sister the other night. I have to contact my parents. 

So I went to the Lawson near the house. It really such a good thing that It was just like 3 houses away from the apartment complex that I live in. it was still raining for a little. I bought bread and milk for breakfast so I can use the free wifi. At least my parents will be relieved that they know that I am safe. It was a waste buying the Philippine roaming sim card because I still need wifi to send messages?! 

What is this!!!  At times you need the service it did serve!

So today was just unpacking my clothes, and trying to settle in the house. But I still have to meet my boss. I messaged him that I don’t have wifi. And he immediately came handling me one. He is so nice. He let me rest for the day. Though the rest day is really Friday and Saturday. 

So finally I can talk to my family. Let them see the house. They are so happy to see that the place is good. But I still have to clean the place, do some shopping, and others. It was a very busy day.

May 18, 2018 (Friday) TO CUT THE STORY SHORT…

May 18, 2018: I arrived again in Japan (after 1 year and 1 month), but now in Osaka.

Under working visa for a year, with the help of my connection. I will work for an institution subsidized by the Japanese Government to take care of children with special needs. It is like a daycare / after school service for children with special needs. These include children until the age of 18 with Down Syndrome, Autism, Anger Management and other behavioral disorders.

So basically, in the morning I will work for the management side, office works and everything,  that is 10: 00 am to 12:00 pm JST. Then at 1:00 pm JST the preparation for the after school work. Around 3:00 pm JST, we will start fetching the children from their respective schools or homes, bring them to the facility, look after them and make them do their assignments or activities. Then at around 6:30 pm JST, we will start to send them to their respective homes. The work finishes at 7:00 pm JST. The number of the children are limited right now I think it is 16 maximum but they don’t come in all at once. It still depends on the schedule.

Even though I’m an accountant, really loved the idea of working for an institution like this. I was so happy that there was a job opening like this when I heard about it. I really wanted a job that deals with people.

Though this was not my first time to leave the Philippines, this time was a bit different because I will be leaving under the Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) state. So there will be additional process at the airport at the immigration, and also considering the traffic and everything in the Philippines, I think it was better to take the late flight.

And as expected from that carrier, it was a delayed flight! (you know which one was it). The flight was delayed, the immigration was lengthy, and too much, people who will get a residence card will be separated from the line. To such inconvenience, I was taken last to the lane where the immigration officer was a newbie, still under training. He failed for the first time; my data wasn’t printed on the card. He has to print my residence card twice. And it took time for him to do the 2^nd card. But let him be, he is still under training.  And thanks to that, I didn’t have the trouble picking up my baggage because it was left there at the belt for me. I was the last person to get my baggage.

And we finally met! My boss and my Indian (23 y/o, female) and French (26 y/o, female) colleague fetch me at Kansai Airport. My Indian colleague made a welcome banner for me, I was so happy! (I’m still keeping it now) But, they have to wait for 1 ½ hours. It was so embarrassing. You know Japanese time. It was a shock to know that my boss, male of 40 plus of age, doesn’t have a driver’s license. So my French colleague does the driving works. When I asked him why he said that he was just not interested in having one. So I will be needed to do the driving because only some of us have driver’s license. By the way, I brought an international driver’s license with me. Which will let me drive within Japan for about a year. Because it will take me a 3-month stay before I can apply for conversion to the Japanese driver’s license. 

It was a rainy day, it's a good thing that they fetch me. I can observe that they have a good relationship with the way they talk to each other. And they are really nice to me, especially my Indian colleague, she talks to me a lot and she didn’t let me have a dull moment. Then we first unload my baggage in my apartment. Then we walk to get dinner. But I was so tired to eat dinner, I only ate a little bread over olive oil with mushrooms and shrimp, French fries and tea. So we walk back home. I said goodnight to my boss. He left. And I forgot to ask if there is wifi in the apartment, and guess what! There was none! I was a little worried because I don’t know how to contact my family, I am sure that they are waiting. But I remembered that there is Lawson near the apartment. I will be needing to go there and connect to the wifi. It took me time to connect because it was a little bit different setting from a year ago but I still managed. So I succeeded.

Tomorrow I’m planning to go there just to connect to the free wifi. Let’s sleep for now.

July 1, 2018 (Sunday)

So I took sleeping pill #3 around 1:00 am JST and slept until 5:00 am JST. 6 ½ hours sleep is a luxury!

Morning, a hot day of 32 degrees Celsius. The view from my window!

Today is the discharge of Mrs. Morimoto, so helped her packed her things and readied her clothes. She said she is very sad that we will part today, but she will be waiting for me at her house. I promised her that I will go and visit her once I got out. She gave these in return.

For breakfast, I had 100g, sautéed string beans and minced pork, nori, apple juice, canned apples and tea. I ate it all and the juice is for later.

Today is Sunday, my doctors are on their offs. Another doctor cleaned my neck for me just in time before I took my bath at 9:00 am JST. Medicine time:  I took 3 capsules of Cellcept, Furosemide 20mg, and antibacterial medicine. Shots: Steroid Pulse 20mg, medicine for the intestines. This routine is good. Bath first then medicine, let’s keep this.

I think soaking in hot baths every day helps my internal hemorrhages to fade.

Today is Sunday; therefore, there is no laboratory test or anything. So, after my bath, I tossed my laundry. It will take about 2 hours for it to be fully dried. Laundry for 5 days: 400 yen. If it will be more than five days, my pajamas and jacket will not be completely dried I have to dry it twice it will cause another 200 yen, so let’s just keep it laundry for 5 days.

Lunch for today: Egg with leek, steamed potatoes and carrots, 100g rice, radish and tuna salad, and tea. Mrs. Higuchi’s food volume is always greater than mine.  

2:00 pm JST rounds for Steroid Pulse 20mg and Furosemide 20mg. The only male nurse was my nurse for today, he was worried because it seems like I’m not feeling well, my mind is floating I can’t seem to breathe and it’s like the gravity is pulling me so hard. I’m like a net; every time I eat or drink it comes out. But I like to eat and drink. But still, the nurses tell me it’s ok because my body weight is still the same. I’m just in a bed arrest state; I can’t go to my office ahahha canteen. It’s a good thing I already got my clothes washed. I’m going to fold them now.

I haven’t realized that I had received so many papers, like laboratory/treatment procedures explanation sheet, laboratory results, and the others.

Time for snacks, while talking with my talkative ward mate Mrs. Takabayashi. This is an energy enriched jelly snack fruits flavor. The one from Mrs. Morimoto.

For dinner, its 100g rice, string beans with tofu soy sauce flavor, steamed fish, cucumber salad, melon, 2 pcs biscuit and tea. It seems that this is a full course, so many! (ang dami!) but I ate it all. The night is still young and there are many things to do! By the way, this melon is expensive here, Lucky! As the usual medicine, 3 capsules of Cellcept.

See! Again, I got hungry, I will be eating this castella cake given to me by Mrs. Morimoto. For those who are wondering, why am I always hungry, it's because of the steroids, it’s the side effect.

I got my IV taken out because it hurt and its almost 5 days. IV like this here is only good for 1 week, or until the vein burst, whichever comes first. But in this case, the vein burst first so, bye bye IV! Tomorrow I can have the hot bath freely! YEY! But due to the blood transfusion, when my IV got taken, the blood came out like in the anime, it spurted. When you have blood transfusion, the blood will be thin in consistency (in Filipino, Malabnaw).

Let’s pray in peace.

9:38 pm JST took sleeping pills 1 & 2. Let’s go!

PS: I am writing this blog July 2, 2018, evening,  I am scheduled for blood transfusion, tomorrow, July 3 at 10:00 am JST, after that I don’t know how long will be the kick back, I might not have the chance to update the blog. Sorry friends.

June 30, 2018 (Saturday)

Bleh! I haven’t slept well. I have to go to the toilet at around 3:00 am JST and then took my 2^nd sleeping pills. Woke up at 4:30 am JST took my 3^rd and last pill, slept until 6:00 am JST. My face got bigger. I have Edema, I guess water is accumulating in my body again. (Filipino, manas)

By the way, this is my place! Nice. This is a 4 pax ward, I got mine near the window, it’s bigger than the ones near the door. LUCKY!

Breakfast for today, 2 pieces bread, tomato omelet, steamed cauliflower and carrots, marmalade and margarine, orange juice, and tea.  I think I will have the juice and the other bread for later. Mrs. Higuchi was not feeling well today, but she still ate with me. She a sudden treatment yesterday and still feeling the kick back of it.

Medicine time:  I took 3 capsules of Cellcept, Furosemide 20mg, and anti bacterial medicine. Today is Saturday, so there is no additional medicine.

9:30 am JST, I got my shots Steriod Pulse 20mg, medicine for the intestines. Nagatsuji Sensei, cleaned my neck for me, he is getting better with the gauze. He still has colds due to the weather yesterday. Then, Yamaguchi Sensei came she is so cute today with her black eyeglasses on.

I have to lay back and take a while, Pulse just kicked me. But I have to take a bath at 11:00 am JST. I forgot to change it to 9:00 am JST. Argh!

I’m so blessed today that I got a gift from Mrs. Higuchi. Her sister visited her yesterday, and had her sister bought her gift for me. This is Japanese inspirational quotations compilation with cute drawings. I’m so happy.

Lunch time: Mapo tofu, rice noodles, 100g rice, macaroni salad, and water melon. It was a great meal with Mrs. Higuchi, she is teaching me how to cook Japanese food.

My nurse told me that I have a package delivered. It’s the WIFI, rented for 1 month. But I have to go to the Guard’s office in the 1^st floor to get it.

2:00 pm JST rounds for Steroid Pulse 20mg and Furosemide 20mg. Since my sugar was fine, 144, I took the liberty and went to the Family mart to buy dessert. Its sweet glutinous rice over red bean paste with whipped cream. Japanese desserts are delicious! I went to garden #2. Like a monster, I ate this within 2 minutes. I talked to my parents via messenger, but it suddenly got cloudy so I have to go back to my room.

I went to my office, Joke! It’s just the canteen. To do work over my laptop. And there was this patient; he is a male 84 years old. He was taking his walk because he has problems with his urine excretion; it seems he can’t excrete urine if he doesn’t walk. He saw me studying the Essential Japanese Labor Laws, and he got so excited because he just remembered his days as a salary man for a chemical company. He asked me questions and I passed it all. We clicked together because he has sense of humor. He wanted to talk more but, he said he was taking my time. He was so nice.

Dinner: today is little too much for me. I didn’t eat the vegetables, the taro (the one that looked like a ball). But I was lucky enough that it was Salmon, because it is my favorite. 100g rice, spinach salad apples and tea.

But we got the good news that tomorrow, Mrs. Morimoto can be discharged! So she ate her dinner with us at the canteen. We are so happy to hear the news. After dinner, I and Mrs. Morimoto had a talked; she said she will be missing me. Awwww… so sweet. I can see my late grandmother to her, very same the looks the age, NANAY, grandmother, thank you for being with me, in the presence of others, I miss you. Now I think that the other grandfather this afternoon was my lolo, because they tend to ask me shotgun questions while I was young, DADDY, salamat po, you are always by my side.

And suddenly again, at the stroke of God’s hands, I got a message from a very long time high school friend. Though we lost contact for a long time, she is very concerned about me. And we catch up, and the great thing was we helped each other by exchanging info! I was so happy to have a conversation with her. Indeed a true friend. I love you. The Power of God, Amen!

Today is a really blessed day let’s thank the Lord in my prayer’s time.

I took my sleeping pills 1&2 at 22:28 pm JST. Hope to sleep well.