Lessons Learned During My Dad’s Confinement

This post is all about my dad’s confinement and memberships we all should have in case we are hospitalized.

It all started with a cough last February. He took over-the-counter cough medicines but they didn’t work. When we had a family outing in Pansol, Laguna, he swam and might have caused more cough because of swimming in a hot spring then going out of the pool with a cool breeze of air. Then, he was busy at work and traveled to Jakarta and Bicol while still coughing. Friday last week when he had high blood pressure, I accompanied him for an annual check-up. That included urinalysis, fecalysis, blood chemistry, X-Ray and ECG. He was given a medicine to lower his blood pressure and antihisthamine for his cough so he can sleep at night. He was scheduled to be back last Monday for a follow-up check-up and for the results of the exam.

On Monday morning, I got a call from my aunt Ate Rica informing me that my dad vomited and experiencing severe pain and told me to call my mom at once. When I called my mom, she told me that my dad’s lower back hurt so much and wanted to go to the hospital. He was also pale and a little dizzy. My dad has a high tolerance in pain so I know he really can’t take it anymore. Good thing Mark has not yet gone to the office so I told my mom we’ll be coming over but if my dad insists to be brought to the hospital at once, ask help from our neighbors who are their kumares and kumpares.

We were asked to head straight to Alabang Medical Center’s Emergency Room and meet them there. I texted my sister at once to inform her our dad’s condition. She’s was in Nursing school and immediately excused herself from the class and went to the hospital as well. When we arrived, my dad was still pale and hurting but the pain lessened maybe because he was already relieved he’s already in the hospital. He took his blood pressure (150/110) and gave him oxygen. His ECG results from Friday’s test and on that same day in the ER showed irregular heart rate. His blood was also tested if he had a heart attack. (Note: I heard from the ER doctor that any sudden pain from the chest, abdomen, back or even to other parts of the body with high blood pressure might lead to an heart attack.). Thank God he didn’t have an attack! When his Cardiologist checked him and the results of his annual physical exam, he was diagnosed with Pneumonia.

He must be confined for the Pneumonia to be treated for 3 to 4 days and need to make his blood pressure stable. His blood pressure even shoot up the highest at 180/110 during our stay in the hospital. Thank God we were discharged yesterday. So for three nights, this was my bed….

Hospital couch

I was the watcher since my mom can’t stay overnight because of high blood while my sis was studying for her final exams. It’s my turn to give back to my dad for all his hard work for our family. Since I also took the responsibility of taking care of the hospital papers, I came to realize the most important things we must have or possess and be thankful for.
1. For times like these, family and close friends are really there to help and support.


My aunt was the informant to relay dad’s condition to me at once since my mom may be panicking deep inside. With my nephew Charles, my Mom never left my dad’s side when going to the hospital. As I said above, it was our neighbor Tito Jo who brought my dad to the ER. My family and my sister Mabel were also with my dad.

2. Prayers are very powerful.

Aside from family, relatives and friend’s prayers, my parent’s brothers and sisters from the Ligaya ng Panginoon Community were always there to support and pray for him. Thanks for visiting and praying over my dad for a fast healing. Tita Brenda also gave my dad a Healing Presence book from St Paul’s. Sometimes we are loss at words when praying over someone or praying by ourselves. This book will help you say the right words thru the prayers for a specific reason. I loved the book and even bought one for us at home and another one I gave to my relatives.

3. Make sure to have these three (3) membership IDs for a lesser expense in hospital bills.

• PhilHealth 

 At 65 years old, my dad is considered a retiree or pensioner and categorized as a non-paying individual who needs to apply for a lifetime membership. So last Tuesday, when I went to PhilHealth Las Pinas (in a building just a little across SM Southmall), I was given a PhilHealth Membership Registration Form (PMRF) to be filled-up. In order to process the application, required are 2pcs 1×1 ID and SSS Contribution Print-Out for retirees/pensioners.

So I went to SSS Las Pinas (near Starmall and Philam Village) to request for the print-out. Be sure to know the SSS number so they can process it. It only took around 10-15 minutes before they handed me the print-out. No fee for this.

Then I need to produce my dad’s 1×1 IDs. Now where would I get that? My mom told me to check at Great Image in SM Southmall and see if they still have my dad’s pic in their database. And it’s still there! I paid Php199.00 for the reprinting of his good quality pictures.

Next stop is to go back again to the hospital to let my dad sign the Philhealth forms.

Then back again to the Philhealth office to apply for the Lifetime Membership ID and Member Data Record (MDR). It took only about 30 minutes of waiting time (thanks to the girl who handed me her number so I can finish earlier) when they handed me the ID and MDR. No fee to be paid. I was reminded by the Philhealth personnel to photocopy the ID and MDR so I don’t have to request for it again. The MDR shows the member’s info and his beneficiaries. Beneficiaries can be your spouse, children below 21yo who are not working or with disability and parents who are 60 yrs old and above.

I’m glad I was able to do this all in one day. Whew! My Wednesday was already scheduled for Mark’s check-up and Kelsea’s exam in Seton South so I have to finish the documents before my dad will be discharged.

PhilHealth’s coverage for Pneumonia is Php15,000. What a big help!

• Health Card / Health Insurance

My dad has Caritas Health Shield for a health card. Even though he’s already above 60 years old (which is not covered by most HMOs), he is still covered. They applied for the card (mom was an agent and I am now too) last 2005 when my dad was still 59 years old. He only had to pay for 5 years but he’ll be covered for 10 years so that’s until 2015 when he’s already 69 years old. That’s health insurance with life insurance. And after that 10 years, he can already use his medical benefit (worth 100,000) for any medical expense (except no more life insurance) as long as he lets it stay with Caritas Health Shield and let it earn 5% or 8% annually.

But there was a time during their paying period when his account lapsed. So when they applied for reinstatement, his account was considered a new application and his pre-existing illness (Hypertension) and it’s complications will not be covered anymore.

So with his condition, his Pneumonia was covered by his health card but those medicines and procedures done for his Hypertension were already shouldered by us. Well, this is better than nothing.

• Senior Citizen ID

This is a must-have for Senior Citizens to avail of the 20% discount on medicines and hospital procedures.

So with the mentioned membership IDs above, we only shouldered a minimal amount for his Hypertension.

4. For watchers, here are helpful things needed in the hospital room.

• 2 Extra blankets (one for the patient and you)
• Microwavable containers
• Food and drinks, cups and utensils
• Toiletries kit (one for the patient and you)
• Extra clothes (for the patient and you)
• Socks (for the patient)
• Towel (for the patient and you)
• Slip-on slippers just in case the patient is wearing socks
• Dishwashing soap

5. For watchers, bring something to entertain you and the patient.

To keep my dad entertained when he’s not sleeping, I let him watch TV but only those light or happy shows. But he kept on insisting he wanted to watch the impeachment trial hehe.

As for myself, I brought magazines and a laptop (with prepaid stick) so I can work.

6. Health is Wealth.

If we have any illness that persists for a week or more, better consult a doctor to be given proper medication and tests to prevent more severe conditions. Don’t take our body for granted. Let us rest for a while to be recharged for work. Learn to say no to some responsibilities when our body is already telling us so. Eat healthy and live a healthy lifestyle.

7. Trials like these make us stronger and gives us a more close knit family ties.

Still, thank you Lord for all your blessings!