My Million Peso Check (Wish ko lang)
Spiderman Lego
Ben 10 Noah
In Costumes
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| Top L-R (Verone, Gerome, Angela, Trisha) Below L-R (MJ, Rohen, Joshua, Darren) |
Tanteo Tequila
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| No, we are not the owner. Kapareha lang ng apelyido namin. Saan kaya makakabili nito? |
Noon at Ngayon
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| My Cellphone noon (2004) at ngayon (2011). Parang parehong Noon lang . Actually I do not need a high end phone. Pang tawag at text lang naman. Mas simple Mas maganda |
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| Letter /Drawing from Trisha (2009) - Front Message |
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| Inside Message |
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| A Gift from Mommy to Daddy (2002). Now, it is where I put our wedding ring |
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| Our first photo Greeting Card Christmas 2010 |
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| 2010 Christmas Gift ni Trish sa akin. Hanggang ngayon di ko pa rin nasosolve. Bigay ko kay Noah baka siya makasolve |
Steven Johnson
I am a survivor of Steven Johnson Syndrome or in a more common description, an allergic reaction to a certain drugs or medication.
It started with just a simple red and itchy patches on my arms and thighs. I thought it was because of what I ate or because of the weather so I ignore it.
Before this happened, I was prescribed with a medicine which contains sulfa (which are highly linked to SJS). The doctor ask me if I have any allergy to any type of medication. I told him no because I do not have any history of any allergic reaction.
I believe the doctor should have tested first the medicine before prescribing it to me. Unfortunately, he did not so I ended up taking it as prescribed (3 times a day for about 7 days). If I am not mistaken, it was on the 5th day that I started having the itchy spell.
I started feeling weak to a point of not completing my usual 4km jog (after 500m I stopped and walked instead).
The next day I attended a seminar and I can barely concentrate because the itchiness was getting unbearable. My eyes started getting very red and I was having a hard time chewing and swallowing any kind of food.
I was not able to attend the 2nd day of the seminar because the next day my condition worsen and I was brought to the nearest hospital. The doctor (not the same doctor who gave me the sulfa drug), first diagnosis was it was chicken pox, prescribed another medicine and sent me back home.
The next day, my condition became worst and I was brought back to the hospital and after some test the doctor declared that I have Steven Johnson Syndrome. They asked me what medication I was taking before I went to their hospital. I showed them the meds prescribed to me by the doctor of the other hospital and they told me that it was that meds that caused my SJS.
I was admitted in the hospital. The first few days was really hard. The red patches came out all over my body (except my face). My eyes was swollen and my vision started to get blurry. My mouth and throat were also swollen inside and cannot eat.
I was hospitalized for almost a month (25 days to be exact). I actually feel better after a couple of days but the rashes all over my body were just starting to come out and it should be healed before I can go back home.
My main concern during those times was my eyes because the doctor told me that in most cases patients go blind and I do not want that to happen.
It was a struggle until now. My eyes gets dry and irritated easily causing itchiness and blurriness. The marks on my skin are still there, luckily not on my face and not very evident as before.
My only regret is that I did not have any pictures of me during my stay in the hospital :-)
Below are some important facts about Steven Johnson Syndrome.
What is SJS (Steven-Johnson Syndrome)?
A fatal allergic reaction to drugs and microorganisms. Drugs that are linked to SJS are: Dicloflex, fluconazole,[5] valdecoxib, penicillins,barbiturates, sulfas, phenytoin, lamotrigine, nevirapine, Ibuprofen,ethosuximide, carbamazepine (Wikipedia), and anticonvulsants.
We can never say though that only these drugs can cause SJS. Since this ailment solely depends on the immunologic reaction of the body to substances introduced which are foreign to it, any medicine could cause SJS.
SJS can be caused by infections, usually following viral infections such as herpes simplex virus, influenza, mumps, cat-scratch fever,histoplasmosis, Epstein-Barr virus, or similar (Wikipedia).
When can we say it is SJS?
When one person develops the following:
Early symptoms are deep red patches on the head area, which are hot to touch. IT could be on the face, on the neck, or back of the neck (so it is important to be aware of any unusual rash). Swollen eye bags, almost like a black eye, fever, weakness, malaise.
In advance stage, the whole body is covered with rash that looks like the patient bathe with a very hot water; this includes the scalp, palms and soles of the feet. The insides of the mouth, ears, for females, their genitals are as well covered with a rash. There is also blistering, and the skins sloughs off (characteristics of a burned skin).
What to do?
At the early sign of a rash, stop at once the medicine the patient is taking.
An immediate hospitalization is required because time is very crucial for this ailment. If possible, inform the admission personnel that it is a possible SJS since not all doctors and medical workers know about this condition.
To ease the discomfort of the patient, aloe vera could be used, (I used Forever Living products for my daughter before). Not only does it soothe the lesions, it also heals it that scarring is minimized. Intake is also helpful as it aides in the fast recovery of the patient. Make sure though that you are using Food and Drugs Authority approved products.
This is a fatal allergy condition. And it is not rare as many physicians claim. The sister of my friend died of SJS. The patient that was in the same room as that of my daughter months before she was hospitalized died of SJS too! Every one is at risk, and any medicine/drug can cause it. So we should be aware!
