....and I Don't Mean I'm Bad-Ass
Hello, Hivers and Ecencians. I'm back again to share something here since my last post two months ago. I can't believe that we're already halfway through 2026, and the last three months have been a very hectic one for me, full of its share of ups and downs, heartaches and heartbreaks, most especially what this new post will be all about.
Summertime here in the Philippines is not just known for being a time to go to any of the nice beaches we have here, but also the oppressive tropical heat, and fires that occur throughout the metro. This summer also meant my uncle and his family's final days in this village.
Speaking of fires, there are several low-income communities nearby and they're always the ones that get affected by this annual occurrence. This time, it hit a certain neighborhood less than half a mile away from us, lasted for two days and left about 800 families homeless!
My uncle and his family, who were renting a bungalow two blocks away from us, were preparing to move into their own newly-built house in another city about 15 miles away. And that particular fire in the video above, plus another one (in the video below) in the same area a few days later, made their moving preparations a very stressful time for us.
My uncle and his wife are in their 70s and I was the only available male relative who could help them out. So, after work I'd head there to lend a hand. Another aunt would join us too when she was free.
I have many empty boxes here which I brought to them for use. And when moving day came, I also helped out with the hauling of their stuff into the rental truck that they hired for the move.
Uncle Joey is a retired electronics engineer and an expert in repairing all kinds of appliances. So, their departure from this village meant that there would be no more handyman to run to for emergency repairs of our things.
An even sadder thing is that the house they rented here was also one of two venues for our big family parties, the other one is my apartment.
Now, all that heavy lifting left me with a sore body and arms that ached for days. Being 56-years-old I just attributed it to being middle-aged and all that comes with it. Little did I know that what I was feeling would be a clue to something going on in me that I would discover soon.
We've been living in this middle-class, gated, village since 1986. We first stayed at our maternal grandparents' house until 1994, occupying it for them in their absence as they toured all over Europe and USA.
When they got back in 1994 and decided they'd had enough of touring, it was time for us to move out. We moved from one rented house to another in this village throughout the years. And being a resident of this village comes with certain perks.
Twice or thrice a year our homeowner's association sponsors a free medical checkup for residents, and since it's free, we all like to take advantage of it.
However, the most recent one that took place four weeks ago (June 28) offered some things that I have not had yet. So, aside from the usual BP, blood sugar and cholesterol checks, we also had ABI tests, and a bone density scan.
I got up early that Sunday morning knowing that there would be a lot of people going there to avail of this nice freebie.
I thought it was going to be like the previous check-ups and I was going home with a clean bill of health, relieved that nothing bad had been discovered yet.
That presumption would be shattered some forty minutes later, when after the bone scan, the man operating the scanner checked the "Osteoporosis" box and wrote "-2.9" next to it. One of my aunts who was three persons ahead of me in the queue had her result, and hers was "Osteopenia -2.5". I just looked at my result nonchalantly, as the gravity of my situation had not sunk in yet.
After that bone scan I was then directed to a doctor who looked at my medical sheet and advised me on my condition. Then she wrote me a prescription for 30 tablets of Risedronate Sodium, which is good for seven months, plus also the vitamins that I should take along with it. Next stop was the medicine section where doctors and nurses were giving out free samples of our prescribed medicines.
Samples of the two types of vitamins that I was prescribed to take along with my medicine. I guess I'll just buy one or two bottles of these same vitamin combos from popular brands like Kirkland or Now, instead of these two.
One thing that I have to my advantage is that my mother is a chemist who works as a freelance editor in the scientific and medical publishing world, and is well-informed about the subject. Aside from that, she and one of my aunts (her sister) have osteopenia too. Having a highly knowledgeable parent to ask about such things is truly an indispensable blessing for me at this point in time of my life.
Probable Causes
Before I left the doctor to get my free medicines I quizzed her about what could have caused my condition, knowing that this disease, while more common with women, also affects men.
She informed me that with males the causes have more to do with poor health, poor nutrition, hormonal imbalances, the effects of heavy drinking and smoking, and the lack or cessation of physical activities like exercising, weight-lifting, etc..
That's why in males it is known as secondary osteoporosis, due to the fact that its causes are external, like those mentioned above, rather than the natural aging process that characterizes "primary" osteoporosis.
Not A Death Sentence
The first thing I did when I got home was to do my research on it. And like the doctor who wrote my prescription said, it's not a death sentence like other diseases are. This is something I can beat easily, especially with a proper bone-building and strengthening diet, medication and supplements, and LOTS of exercise, she added, knowing that I used to have an active, athletic lifestyle.
It also helps a lot that I work from home and only have to go to the office once a week. That would minimize my chances of slipping and falling (and then breaking a bone or two) while walking on a slippery sidewalk or street, especially during a rainy day when the roads are wet.
There is no cure for this condition yet, and the only way to keep it from progressing is to get off my butt and get busy with the work that I would have to do to beat this thing. One thing is for sure, though. This calls for a big lifestyle change, and I must accept that there are things I cannot do anymore.
What Now, Dear Self?
Now that I know that I am sick, what now? This isn't the first time I've come down with something serious, and the first one was back in 1995, when I was stricken with lymph node tuberculosis.
It's a type of TB that infects one's lymph system instead of their lungs. And, unlike the pulmonary type, lymph TB is not contagious and easily cured, just take your prescribed medicines for six months.
But unlike TB, osteoporosis is incurable. And until a cure comes out this thing will be with me for the rest of my life. I am already strained financially and this added expense could break my back, pun intended.
I've been told it is going to cost me 40 to 50 USD per month. That's not too costly, but still an unwelcome addition to my expenses. But I could earn at least half of that amount through my passive income streams.
So, no worries for me about this, for now. I shouldn't even think too much about it and let it bother me, considering that my job as a trainer and supervisor of our junior 3D artists is already too stressful. Dwelling on it is only going to raise my cortisol levels, and that is bad for this condition.
So, instead of thinking "osteoporo-shit" or "osteoporo-sucks", I'll change it to "osteo-ferocious". Turn "beast mode" on and keep the effects of the disease at bay through an aggressive regimen of medication, nutrition, and exercise.
That kind of mindset is exactly what I need to keep this thing from progressing and spoiling my later years of life. I have to take care of my mother too, who lives here with me for half of the year.
She has her share of medical/health problems too, namely: hypertension, diabetes, thalassemia, osteopenia, and is deaf in her right ear too. So, I need to be strong for both our sakes. God Help us.
And that's a wrap, folks. This is all I am going to share about this new condition for now, but this surely won't be the last one about it, as I come to grips with this new-found reality.
This illness has given me a lot to process, and I also have a lot of unfinished blogs to post here. My next posts will see me returning to my usual favorite subjects.
Until then, stay healthy and take good care of your bones.
All images are mine unless otherwise indicated.
