Rx FOR LOVE

I do not wish to counter Tina Turner's assertion when she belted the lines 'what's love got to do ..got to do with it... what's love...but a second-hand emotion', lyrics from the popular song "What's Love Got to Do with It". Clearly, the song speaks of a jaded view about love.

If you happen to watch Tina's life story in the 1986 movie "What's Love Got To Do With It" [performed by Angela Basett], and had seen what love did to her 3 decades ago, with her then notorious husband the late Ike Turner, then maybe you can sing with all the passion she has for this particular song along with her electrifying distinct trademark combo of head shaking and body gyrations. I also wouldn't blame you if oh-so-carefully, you now will be treading the path of love ,this time newly equipped with a tragic-developed eagle eyes and a keen sense of a bloodhound, careful not to fall prey to any man's(or woman's) blinding charisma. But hey, don't be that automatically dimmed as things have a way of turning out better. Look at her now - happy with another man ,living in France , richer,ha-ha and curvaceous at 68.

Given the traditionalist view that love sustains all , we are equally aware that sometimes, it doesn't. There are a number of considerable factors that are just as vital as love in considering a long-term relationship. My contention is that everybody knows that.

This must be the most dismal blog entry that will put you in the doldrums about Valentine's Day.

In this day and age ,every solution offered is meant to ease out each unwanted crease and obliterate the entire crooked twist in your life. Heed me. The world is such a big and diversified market that even divorce is now a product! Are you aware of this? That divorce has become a market-driven strategy geared towards seductively teasing the entire human populace? And in that light, do you care to know that there was a divorce trade show? Well, brace yourself. There was. Check this out. Actual news shown here : Divorce Fair - RADIO NETHERLANDS WORLDWIDE.

The first ever divorce fair tradeshow in NL(Holland) landed the sparkling visage of the central Dutch city in Utrecht, Netherlands last weekend, being the 2nd in Europe, with Austria where the first divorce tradeshow was held . Yes, a divorce fair - not a job fair. While in the Philippines, job fair/s teeming with job hunters is the usual scenario, in liberal Netherlands (NL) is a different story - a social experiment, I may say. Whew!

Can you imagine one strolling-shopping day with your significant other and family, when 'sales representatives' follow, run and shove frantically to your face a leaflet about divorce? DIVORCE : READY in 24 hours ! FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. Experience the fastest absolute worry free way to finally be out of the blue. LIVE LIFE ONCE AGAIN. Meet new hot individuals,lol (25 on an average) in a space of two hours! Have you ever wondered that a lot of professions would possibly be at the brink of extinction with law academes and law offices sprouting like mushrooms, bringing forth an insurgency of law graduates whose aim and poise is trained, fortified and primed to dismantle and instigate family disintegration, thriving in their craft and getting richer with your misery?

In Vienna, the capital of Austria alone , last quarter of 2007 , the huge turn out of divorce had an all time high of 50% . The whole business ensemble were there; lawyers [of course], mediators, private detectives, real estate and car agents and travel agencies. And if you are curious enough how the tradeshow fared, wondering how it tickled this Hitler-town if it did show an iota of interest among Europeans, well it had a good success rate according to reports. CLICK HERE to view report.

Geez. Our world is indeed getting crazier by the minute. Seemingly non -existent anymore is the ' the - road- less -traveled' character our society once had. My impression: The western world is going to hell in a hand basket.
(Photo credits: BBC NEWS WORLD)

It is a sad plight. I believe in marriage and the sanctity along with it. People fall in love, get married , raise kids, dream and only find themselves divorcing at the slightest provocation? People in the business world, law academe and even in the medical world have become overly educated that values have been relegated - down the drain, in fact. Why well, I am one among the many those who are continuously alarmed about stalwart moves for divorce. BARRICADE ASIA! PROTECT THE PHILIPPINES! Be careful, they.are.out.to.get.you. Insidiously flourishing, creeping and taking bold steps to make it happen, initiatives to implement such Draconian measures are well under way. Hopefully , it would not dominate the world, with our soul as it's commodity, it's prime market. Brr...chills run down my spine. I think I need a cup of coffee to briefly escape this, lol.

It is not that stunningly mouth-gaping anymore to hear about divorce, the cruelties of the stigma attached to it, with the kids of the parents most vulnerable to a throng of social ills - drug and alcohol addiction, juvenile delinquency and shattered spirits that proved more often than not irreparable,
thereby themselves, being contributors to the same vicious cycle once more. But for Christ's sake, to make it seem that this is a usual eventuality, hence making it this available, this ready? Are you kidding me? To make it sound like it is exhibiting to the crowd specialty European cuisines with delicacies to try, taste and buy? Caveat emptor! Some food can actually poison you. Openly, this is an 'agenda' that most of the western world has embraced, which makes it logical to target NL as its' next victim- yeah, the openly liberal NL.

Perhaps a derivative of Europe's long history and idiosyncrasies about Christendom, it still is palpable up to this time, manifested in the misbelief of 'societal reforms', which purely touch base to serious moral issues at hand. Call it the extension of the Reformation period when the peasants were slaughtered by the reformists at the height of their cry for reforms.

Here in the Philippines, the divorce bill [House Bill 4016] will totter a stir and cause the stern arbiters of morality to uprise once the solons in congress pass it . Emanating from a feminist move or an enlightenment to relive life , this bill when passed is going to be sheer business alright. Business at the expense of other's misery and 'assistance/help' in the context that there is a better choice than staying. Thanks to the outspoken opposition of the Catholic church in it's quest for moral redemption in this country, and even with all its errors in history, is still, by and large, staunchly safeguarding the Filipino people against the erosion of the very core of our society- the family. I applaud them for that.

Divorce is indeed a highly taxing process --not only in the pocket, but, moreover, to the whole chain of stress levels and high emotional upswings, the trauma and the stigma attached et al that one goes through with it . Seen as practically logical and 'realistic', it is mistaken as the answer to experience quality of life, even at the cost of loosing our sanctity of life. Nowadays, practicality is so perceived as logical. As far as I know, logic is only rational when it follows the Divine law.

What about the battered women? That is why you have counseling ,the local police, the psychiatrists , the church and the social sectors to comfort these poor women [and in rare cases, men]. And what about those who batter these women/men? Send them to therapy and if it happens again, put them behind bars. That's why we have the law. Hurray for the still single individual status, you now have an ample time to meticulously collect and select.

So where is this headed now that the year 2008 is fully booked and planned for Europe's scheme of division? I have learned there were already fights about DIVORCE REFORM LAWS. Huh? What is this? Does that mean that this is how the world perceive humanity? That divorce has become a real alternative?

"Let's get them to fall in love via dating online[the easiest, the trickiest] and offer a deluge of handy escapes. Ha-ha. Divorce is the best alternative... we will succeed... people like it easy." So where is ' to love, to cherish and to hold'?
Just where has it gone by now? Divorce is NOW an accepted option? Is that it? That when things don't work as planned, there is always the refuge to seek one that is easy? Choices, choices, choices. We say we are glad we have a choice. But are we sure we do the right choice?

The daily grind of activities we have set forth have, and will really eat us up if we ALLOW it. We have become so permissible for the sake of all things easy- Presto! I am not against the ease of use that technology enjoys today though for it has surely brought us somewhere. I just cannot shake it off that even with the good major sphere of our personal lives, the concept of 'ease' manages to take hold on us. Chilling indeed.

Getting married is not commercialism, nor should be regarded as a piece of paper alone . It is a vow, a sacred sanctity. When you marry, you are tying the knot with your partner and God as well - the same God who binded you and your partner together and Who must be in the middle of it all. With the advent of divorce fairs, it is not impossible if it develops gradually before finally becoming apparent that it has already swept the world as a market. The devil really makes things easier. He knows no sacrifice as pleasuring himself on unworthy causes and flimsy pursuits are top on his portfolio. He makes everything ready - an intelligent and selfish creature he is. In this modern day, his minions are just around, spuriously advocating it's worry free solutions to marriage-related pressing issues, with some of them who have sold their souls to achieve a zooming bliss and still some, blinded with what they advocate for. What then will become of us - a new dark age?

Lawyers, health care workers, each one of us - Let us know our mission. It's cool, vogue, hip -- a concept seductively numbing our moral sense with the popular clamor for what else but practicality. You can have all the quality of life you want as quality is also subjective. Sanctity is never subjective. The body is clothed, the soul is naked.

Isn't it chilling to just rely on yourself for everything? Acknowledge God in your life. HE is the only solution. The best there is. No more, no less. Know Him, embrace Him. Celebrate love and life! HE is our medicine.

DON'T TOUCH IT!

Have you ever been grimacing over a pain that should have not been there in the first place? Have you, in the whole stretch of 2 weeks + some days experienced that nagging pain, not once, but mockingly twice in a year, making it an unwanted annual twin commemoration of a painful event? Do you, in your idle time, find things to clean (and re clean) thoroughly – scouring the toilet spotless; sanitizing , deodorizing, until it is dustless and stainless you can almost lick it’s bath tiles?

Well, I have. I have equally done a similar clean up act that caused me to guard my right ear for dear life, careful not to pull or tug it by accident that will cause undue harm. Yes, I am talking about an ear ache that left me annoyed, irritable and somehow sleepless. Sometimes, and more often than not, health practitioners can ironically be stubborn than they are expected to be. :D

My ears are in a constant itchy state, or maybe that was just how I perceived it as dirty. I would clean (abuse) it every so often daily, using those beloved pliable cotton tips . Ahh, what ecstasy . I would probe and probe , rotating relentlessly that tiny tool cohort in my quest to win a non -existent cleanest ear contest. EVERY INCH OF MY EAR. No stopping until I don't see any smudge of dirt, making sure that the cotton bud is immaculately white - a signal to stop the wicked act.

How much do I really use /day? About 10-12 double-ended cotton tips and a little over than that sometimes when swept with the hygienic wave. I just need to satisfy that ultimate dose of that ear-clean fix. Beat that.

I really don't know why but I have quite an unusual desire to make everything spic –and- span, shiny and glittery, dry yet not scaly- but matte, fresh and moisturized, clean and cleaner, am I obsessive- compulsive or what, lol. Nah, I am mentally stable. Perhaps this is also an offshoot from mom's consistent prodding to make everything tidy. But well, just like everybody else, we all have our own quirks and this is mine.

Well today, the ENT (Ear Nose Throat) specialist saw me. After the usual greetings, I readily supplied the ENT with pertinent info about my ear problems- the pain involved, the frequency ,duration of clean time, the ringing of the ears and the congestion I feel as well as the remedies I sought for myself like using Paracetamol for the pain in my right ear. He sounded like he could not believe what he saw when he peered into my ears through his otoscope. He said to me sardonically, " Why do you have to do this so bad?". The replies crowding in my head were " So you can squeeze money from me" and " Well, you should be thankful you have me as an additional patient to mighty practice your specialty." Nah, of course I did not say those. "It is good you can still hear me at this distance quite well.", he added. Hearing that eased me up a bit. " Is my eardrums still intact?", I quipped.

Luckily, the doctor said it seems like it is as he does not observe signs of perforation yet, no liquid exudates like blood and pouring waxy substances. But he told me that my severely swollen ear canal covers the entire circumference of my eardrum. So that was why he just cannot see it yet! I knew that there was swelling alright, but never thought that it's presence would last even until now when the pain is over for 4 days already. I was hell -bent to succeed recuperating by myself since this is not the first time it happened to me.

Last year's 2nd (and last) infection was a milder form, only taking me 2-3 days to be relieved. I thought I could buy and employ the same otic medication that the ENT I saw last year gave me. But , congratulate me for not self -medicating that antibiotic. =) That time of great pain felt and the uneasiness I still feel up to now would, in my honest opinion, excuse anybody suffering from that "malady" to just grab ANYTHING for relief!

Now this is what you should know.

Here is an image representation of the ear's anatomy showing a separate view of the eardrum just a little below the entire ear parts.

Sound waves collected by the pinna [auricle] travel through the ear /auditory canal and upon reaching the tympanic membrane [eardrum] vibrate. The 3 small bones vibrate as well, sending this same vibration to the inner ear - the snail like shaped cochlea. Inside it, the sounds are transformed as electrical signals. The auditory nerve carries or transmits this signal to the brain which the brain now interprets as sound.

See the short video below.

Otitis Media is inflammation and infection of the middle ear. Otitis means infection and media means middle. While it mostly affects 75% of infants and children, it can definitely affect adults alike [like moi]. Usually, Otitis Media starts with sore throats, colds and other respiratory problems. This is so because the Eustachian tube is connected to the back of the nose to the middle ear. When liquid pools there for long, bacteria and virus settles. This also affects hearing as the Eustachian tubes equalizes the pressure between the middle ear cavity and the atmosphere outside by allowing fluid and mucus to drain outside of the middle ear cavity. Infection from extreme manipulation (via cleaning) of the ears will surely cause just the same.

Note: If you have children and infants, be aware of the usual signs of an ear infection : constant crying, persistent tugging and pulling of the ear ,irritability, difficulty sleeping, fever and a loss of balance. Keep in mind that the they are more prone to ear infections as their immune system are just developing and their Eustachian tubes are shorter, narrower and more horizontal. Bottle feed your child upright, limit exposure to respiratory infections, avoidance of pacifier use beyond 10 months of age, avoidance of exposure to passive smoking as it is found out to be an allergen contributing to ear infections and ensure that your child's immunizations [including influenza] is up-to-date. Cold medications , anti histamines and decongestants do not relieve Otitis Media.

DISCLAIMER: In no way are the suggested preventive measures meant to replace seeking your doctor. Consulting your doctor when symptoms arise is still the best option.

The absence of the terrible right ear pain is not a consolation for the fullness I feel in my head. The congestion in my right ear feels like there is a vacuum nestled inside my ear, sucking all the sound away. Overbearingly annoying. Voices and other forms of sound are muffled and I have to strain and move closer most of the time to pick up where the source of a particular sound comes from. Noooo, no way will I get a hearing loss. Am I on the verge of it? I hope not. There were even times it precedented an unwanted headache. I also hear a continuous ringing of my ears (tinnitus) which is bad. Blame me. I know. It's my fault


This is the prescription handed to me by the ENT specialist and my new found bestfriends ; the anti- infective ear drops and oral antibiotics, lol.

I was prescribed an anti-infective and anti-inflammatory otic [ear] drops and a week of the 4x-in -a day-of-500 mg oral antibiotic intoxication!! 500 mg - 4x in a day! God, I need to be drugged this much?! He said he cannot rely on the otic drops alone as my ear canal is severely mammothing over my tympanic membrane[eardrum], that thin sheath of tissue protecting the inner ear from middle ear infections. Arrgh! I hate antibiotics. Once, I suffered from a gastrointestinal distress after 2 doses, and that, let me tell you, was taken in after meals, as per that doctor's advice! Anyway, antibiotics either inhibits or eliminates, or do both, the growth of bacteria in the body. It has a broad use against infections and similarly, adverse effects vary.

What I am worried about right now is the 4 doses prescribed by the specialist to me. I asked for a lower dose but the informidable doctor smiled sweetly and said," Believe me, this is what you need" . I acquiesced to my doctor's order for the following reasons ; being able to enjoy reading (as I love to read a lot) without the annoying humming sound and thus more concentration, saying goodbye to my highly irritable periods , and saving my face from answering phone no 2 when phone no 1 was the one ringing which happened to me days ago, lol!

After I thought everything was discussed, I thanked the doctor and prepared to leave. I think that the doctor read my mind very well that I can be a bit stubborn with the urge to just stick, rotate and collect some real and imaginary dirt from my ears. I was about to leave the doctor's office when he said " And oh - please, don't clean your ears yet" . Of course, being an advocate of the clean brigade movement, lol, I haggled with the specialist for me to at least clean my ears one time daily, even ONLY after a bath. I promised that I would be oh-so-gentle, pleading like it is a part of the grand scheme of my life for him to take that privilege away from me. But he was immovable. Goodness! This is the penance for that sinful act, lol.

"Not just yet", he told me rather sternly. "Until I say so please. AND - try not to have that right ear wet from your taking a bath. No swimming too. I repeat -- he said, as if his instructions were vague, NO CLEANING OF EARS YET, MS. --- . Please be back on your next appointment"

Arrgh. Geez, how long must I wait when I can already do the delicious act? I have to see the ENT after 10 days so he can check the progress of my ailing right ear. I hope the condition is better by then and that I be allowed to resume cleaning my ears again-- this time , within the norm. =)

Lesson learned: Being an RN doesn't give you the liberty to clean to your heart's content.