Live in the Philippines

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Confined

Health / by

Here in the Philippines, if you are in the hospital, they call it being “confined” to the hospital. Kind of sounds like you are in prison or something.

Well, I have done nothing illegal, but I have been confined. Yep, I am in the hospital.

If you recall, a couple weeks ago I told you that I was very sick, and it all started from a bug bite.  The bug bite caused me to get a very nasty infection called “cellulitis.” The infection, in turn, caused my arthritis and diabetes to go septic, which nearly killed me a few weeks back.

Since that time, I have been taking 3 different types of antibiotics, and in major quantities. On Sunday, I decided that 4 weeks was long enough to suffer with little relief, so I decided it was time to ask my doctor what we could do to step up the recovery. After discussing my situation, we both came to the conclusion that it was best for me to be admitted to the hospital.

In the hospital, I could take intravenous antibiotics, which are much more powerful and should help me a lot. So, as I write this, I am sitting on my hospital bed on the end of first day of confinement. If everything goes as planned I will be here for 4 days or so.

I feel really good about the care I am getting here. Every member of the medical staff that I have had contact with has been not only competent but also friendly and professional. I feel that the medical treatment that I am getting is second to none.

I will tell you this, it was not easy to get a hospital room in Davao, several that we checked were already full! I guess that is why almost every hospital in town is being expanded right now.

To tell you the truth, I am actually feeling pretty good with the exception of both of my arms and hands… gotta kick this nasty infection once and for all. I will keep you posted.

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Comments

  2. Praying for you Bob, in many ways you are an extension of myself. Many of my decisions have been a result of your experiences. Stay strong , I am the fly on your wall who listens and says little.

    • Hi there. Doesn’t take much to get an infection in the Philippines. With the hot moist climate, and abundance of biting insects, such as those biting red ants! Or otherwise. Combined with a history of diabetes, and your more susceptible to infection as well. Cellulites is a nasty and painful infection. Good luck, and glad to hear that the hospital and staff are good!

      • I guess!

        I have been to Iloilo a bunch of times and found it to be nearly identical to where I grew up in the U.S., i.e. Miami, Florida.

        I suppose with a compromised immune system an insect bite could cause some serious problems.

        I am currently living in northern Arizona, and we have plenty of “bugs” to watch out for here as well (scorpions, black widows, brown recluse, centipedes, etc.).

        I am seriously considering moving to somewhere on Panay, but, I too have complications from diabetes and a few other things, so I am weighing the factors very cafrefully.

        Bob, I hope you recover fully, and I sure would like to know what bit you, if you know.

          • Wow! I’d be willing to bet that you got hit by a “redback spider,” which, from what I have read, is found on Mindanao. The redback is a first cousin to the North American black widow and the bite, in some cases can cause all the symptoms you described.

    • Not officially, Hector. I am using my cellular data plan. I did notice, though, that the hospital admin office has a wifi network and it is not secured. 😉

  9. Good Morning Bob,

    I hope you are feeling better. I was laughing when you made the confinement comment because here if you cannot pay the bill then you can not leave the hospital. Kind of like a ransom demand.

  11. Hope ya get well soon Bob.

    I just returned to the states last Friday and unknown to me, I too had a hitch hiker of sorts. I have been on Cipro for the last 5 days due to a what looked to be SMALL but expanding infection on my ankle that started out as ANT BITES. Yup, I was taking some photos down around Caramoan and stepped in it…literally. First Aid was Alcohol, which did work to stop the itch. Seemed to be going away, but upon my return to the US, a rapid fever and low grade swelling in the same area confrmed infection.

    Bugs. This is not the first time this has happened to me over the years. So to hear that yours started as a bug bite is not a surprise.

    What is of concern is that folks get attention ASAP, especially if they have exsisting medical conditions. I am healthy as can be and I still got BIT.

    Take care boss, and stay healthy. The world needs more folks like you to stick around for awhile!

  15. It is nice to know the level of medical care is good. Hope you get well soon Bob. Maybe I will get to meet you in the near future after I get settled in there in Gensan.

  18. Thanks for the updated picture Bob I think myself and others were quite worried and I still am but seeing you sitting up dressed with good colour is a relief to know it isn’t as serious maybe as I thought. Take care. David.

  20. Hi Bob – sickness can be harsh, glad you have improved. Even Dumaguete hospitals which are several get overfull. When I had a hernia operation they were out of single rooms and when my wife had an appendix operation it was hallway stay. All the other hospitals were reported full as well at that time. I am not sure if they don’t have enough hospitals or doctors are admission happy, but there are 3 or more really large hospitals which I thought would be more than enough. Hope you recover to 100% fast.

      • I do know from a senior doctor that the doctors get nice kickbacks and rewards from drug companies so they are quite drug subscription happy. Figure there is maybe a benefit to keeping hospitals full as well. LOL. Even the other week my wife had tonsillitis which lead to a neck infection in the glands. The doctor said she had to be admitted. My reply was “Is there any chance she will die if no admitted”. The doctor said “no”. We just asked for antibiotics and went home. Besides billing for drugs and care the standard room rate is 2500php a night. Similar to keeping a hotel full. LOL.

          • Cheaper in Davao than here it sounds! Hallway was still billed at 500 for bed. We weren’t the only ones in the hallway. It was packed and people were everywhere. This was at Silliman the best hospital in this region.

            • Davao Doctors is probably the best hospital in all of Mindanao. I elected not to go there, because my needs at this time are very simple, just an IV to deliver antibiotics. The hospital where I am can handle that. It is also much more peaceful and quiet here, which I like.

  21. Hi Bob,i have something to ask ,for about what are the requirements for my american husband to live in the Philippines?for my understanding it will be less than 100.00usd for 2 years just keep renewing visa local,then leave country Philippines for short time then comeback to Philippines?hope I heard your answer ,thank you Bob

    • About the Visa: If you are here (Philippines) for 1 year or less, you can have a Balikbayn stamp at the airport, if you both arrive together. It is free and will last for 1 year. After that year you have to go out, it could be a short trip to a neighbour country, and when arriving again – a new BB Visa. We have done this for years and for us it works fine. we have never needed to show marriage certificate or anything, but bring it, just in case they want to see it.
      And Bob…All the best wishes for a fast recovery, i am sure you will be back at full speed soon. But… let it take the time needed, no stress, no worries.

  28. My Friend!!!
    Get well as soon as, get back home and put up thicker screens on you windows. I’m sorry to hear of you discomfort and we know hospitals are no fun but are sometimes required. You do look good in the picture, but get some rest and let the medicine do it’s job. We are all rooting for your quick recovery!.
    Paul

  29. Hope you get well soon…… This has been a bad year for many health problems on my front but not as bad as you are describing. Every time I have been there some bug or other bites me or someone in the family My family is getting back to normal after the storm back in Nov. They took a quite a hit in Leyte…but all alive. just paid for a new roof for the in-laws.. rest well my friend and take good care….

  31. I hope you will now recover quickly Bob. It may seem like a nightmare being in the hospital but from your description so far, you are probably in one of the best possible places. If you were in a hospital here in the USA it would probably drive you up a wall. Quality medical care at a very affordable cost is something hard to beat. You have a private room at a cost for less than a motel room would cost you here. Most likely the staff there really do care and are not there just for the paycheck. More than likely the place is being run by Doctors, medical people and an administrative group and NOT by an insurance company as most hospitals are here. You have internet with you and I am quite sure your room has air con. When I was in the hospital there with Pneumonia, despite the inconvienience and not feeling too well I kept thinking of the stuff I had to be thankful for. At least now it looks like you will kick this problem once and for all. Best of luck to you Bob and get well soon. Thanks for keeping us informed.

  36. I know about that. My son was confined when he had dengue. He was hed prisoner against our wi until his bill was paid in full.

  40. You almost died???….Hope your getting 2nd opinions Robert..Just to make sure because this has been going on or a while now. and your still not over it……Had a buddy here who got bit by something also ended up with a hole in his leg size of a nickel before he went to see a doctor good thing he did… I know your a smart man but I certainly would get 2 -3 opinions… (maybe you have all ready) .Take care God Bless………………

    • Hi Lenny, I am in good hands. I have been working with 2 different doctors and the are in full agreement with each other. This type of infection can take many months to eradicate, especially for a diabetic like me.

  41. Bob – great to hear from you! Thanks for the updates. Praying for a speedy recovery! God Bless my friend!

  42. I believe I read somewhere a while back that PH hospitals can no longer hold patients captive until their bill is paid. The only exception to this is patients that have a private room.

  43. Hi Bob,

    Take care and here’s hoping that you have a speedy recovery from that illness/infection and out of that hospital! God bless!

  44. Hi Bob

    Long time sisnce I was able to visit LIP, sorry to hear of your condition and hope and pray you get well soon. Take care and treat the hospital time as a rest. Best of luck and a speedy recovery.
    Jack

  46. Hi Bob,

    I pray that you recovery fully from this scary episode. Please, if you need anything medical, let us know.

    JonB

  47. Hi Bob
    this really is dramatic news. I hope the hospital is taking really good care of you and that you are in a nice room surrounded by pretty nurses!

    Hope you get well soon

    best wishes

    Brian

  50. Bob,
    Take care, We’ll be thinking about you. Nice to get care here where the Insurance companies don’t control the doctors.

  51. Hi Bob – Like everyone else here, I wish you a speedy/full recovery !
    Take care !

  53. Sorry to hear you’re still feeling poorly, but I’m glad you’re getting the care you need. Feel better soon, brother!

  54. Hi Bob,

    Sorry to hear of your condition, and hope you recover soon.

    Like you, a doctor (in Leyte ) diagnosed me with the same condition on my leg close to the ankle, but could not get treated there as I had a flight back to Japan the following day. Once in Japan, I had problem with Japanese doctor’s diagnosis claiming it to be an allergy, and offering to prescribe me creams. I pleaded with her to give me antibiotics based on the Filipino doctor’s diagnostics, and luckily she did. Not satisfied with that doctor, I went to another hospital where the doctor there agreed with the Filipino doctor that it was indeed life threatening cellulitis. A course of strong antibiotics over a period of two weeks finally cured it, but I still have large purple scaring on the leg, and this happened almost a year ago. I do not really know what caused it, but I have a strong feeling it was a bite!

  55. Bob,
    Wow get well man. What a hassle to deal with. Confined is what happens when it’s time to be released and you can’t pay. At that point the hospital turns from heath assisting recovery haven to prison.