Cautionary tale

April 9, 2025 the nation commemorates the Day of Valor or Araw ng Kagitingan so it is a public holiday.

Takeout lunch from Amber’s na pancit malabon, fried lumpiang shanghai, cheese pichi pichi and buchi got me so full and satisfied my cravings.

5:30 PM I decided to go for an hour walk around the neighborhood. Streets are well paved, wide pavements, certain sections are breezy, over all it is a pleasant workout session. 

After dinner, around 8:45 PM I was putting away grocery items. As I reached for a paper bag containing Baygon insecticide canister and Colgate mouthwash, the paper bag broke loose and the canister fell full force on my right foot big toe! The nail instantly blackened, and a sharp shooting pain ensued, I was not able to walk, put an ice pack on my throbbing toe and took biogesic (paracetamol) for the pain. But I couldn’t sleep the entire night.

The next day I decided to go to the ER because the pain was really intense.

They administered two anti tetanus injection shots on both shoulders, an IV pain reliever. They also x-rayed my foot. No fracture nor dislocation was found. 3 Ortho residents said their course of action involves a procedure where they will surgically remove my toe nail, drain the fluid/ blood to reduce the swelling, suture the flesh then return the nail so it can grow back in its natural state. All to be performed at the ER, with anesthesia, no need to be admitted. 

I almost fainted at the thought but agreed since they are the experts, not me. 

Yet after waiting in agony at the prospect of being cut open inside a curtained ER bed, the residents came back and told me they won’t proceed with the ‘surgery’ and discharged me with proper instructions on how to deal with my subungual hematoma right foot big toe.

I was given antibiotics for a week, told to consult an orthopedic surgeon within 48 hours, use an ice pack for 20 minutes three times a day and 24 hours bed rest. 

Such is life, I will charge it to experience, stubbornness and whatever else is causing my streak of negative energy, since this year 2025 started.