THERAPY
[Photo is loading...
Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo underwent surgery
to replace four of her cervical vertebrae with titanium implants to relieve
pressure on a pinched nerve, a condition known as severe chronic cervical
spondylosis. ST. LUKE'S PHOTO]
MANILA, AUGUST 6, 2011 (STAR) GMA checks out of hospital By Paolo Romero - Former
President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was discharged yesterday
from St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig City a week after undergoing cervical
spine surgery.
But her doctors said she would continue to be under close medical watch.
Arroyo left the SLMC in the morning but did not face reporters staking out in
the hospital hallway. SLMC management, however, provided media with photos
showing the former chief executive wearing a neck brace and a red dress while
being escorted by doctors.
Her doctor, Juliet Gopez-Cervantes, told reporters that Arroyo would be
returning on Tuesday for post-surgery checkup. Doctors advised her to rest for a
month.
She said the lawmaker suffered swollen vocal chords as she immediately
received visitors and took numerous phone calls shortly after her operation last
July 29.
"The operation was successful. But right now, she has a hoarse voice. Her
voice was intact until we allowed her to talk, her voice became worse. Her vocal
chords are swollen not because of complications of surgery but because of
frequent use of cellular phone," Cervantes said.
Arroyo's spokesman lawyer Raul Lambino said the former president went
straight to her home in La Vista, Quezon City.
Lambino said she would face allegations of poll fraud in the 2007 elections
in the proper forum.
"I think in the right forum the Arroyos will give their side on the
accusations being hurled against them," he said, commenting on the call of
resigned Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri.
GMA MAY LEAVE HOSPITAL THIS WEEK
[PHOTO COURTESY OF NOYPI.PH - Representative Gloria Arroyo was
rushed to the hospital, Monday, July 25, 2011. It's not her first time to be
admitted at St. Lukes Medical Center this year due to cervical radiculopathy, a
neck ailment.]
MANILA, (STAR) By Aie
Balagtas See - An ally of Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday
disclosed that the former president may be discharged from the hospital within
the week after her blood pressure has "stabilized."
"What I know is she's being prepared for discharge either Thursday or
Friday," Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo told reporters after he visited Arroyo at
the St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig City.
Arroyo underwent surgery for a pinched nerve in her spine last July 29.
Doctors had to replace four of her cervical vertebrae that have been causing her
intense pain.
Pelayo hinted that once the former president leaves the hospital, she will
proceed to her home province and work.
The Candaba mayor added that Arroyo seems to be having difficulty speaking.
"I talked to her physician (Dr. Mario Ver) and was told that she really needs
full rest for at least three more weeks. But maybe she is really longing to
work," Pelayo said.
Pelayo said Arroyo, who had to put on a neck brace, is always accompanied by
her daughter Luli Arroyo-Bernas.
The former chief executive was rushed to the hospital after visiting her
congressional district on July 24, a day before President Aquino delivered his
second State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Last month, Arroyo was confined briefly in the same hospital for treatment of
a pinched nerve in her spine.
Members of the Arroyo clan in the House of Representatives snubbed the SONA
of Aquino.
Arroyo sought comfort in the company of her constituents in her district.
FROM THE DAILY INQUIRER
Arroyo loses her voice, undergoes therapy By Tina
G. Santos Philippine Daily Inquirer 10:35 pm | Thursday, August 4th, 2011
MANILA, Philippines—Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's blood pressure
has already stabilized but is now undergoing therapy for loss of voice,
according to her ally, Mayor Jerry Pelayo of Candaba, Pampanga.
"She has been advised by her doctors against talking to visitors or on the
phone. But apparently, she still has her cellphone with her," Pelayo told
reporters in an interview at St. Luke's Medical Center at Global City in Taguig
City.
"Maybe there were times that she still make or take calls on her cellphone
despite her doctors' advise not to talk too much," he said. "What I know was
that she was being prepared for discharge either today or tomorrow (Friday).
Except for the loss of voice, she's okay; she's recovering well."
He said Arroyo, who was wearing a neck brace, has always been accompanied in
the hospital by her daughter Luli Arroyo-Bernas.
Pelayo said the only thing that worries him when the former president goes
out of the hospital was the possibility that she would return to work sooner
than her doctors would want her to.
"I was able to talk to her surgeon, Dr. (Mario) Ver and he said she needs a
complete rest at least for three weeks. But the problem is, she might return to
work sooner, knowing how workaholic she is. Siguro hinahanap din ng katawan nya
yon (work)," Pelayo added.
The hospital has not issued any medical bulletin for the last three days.
Apart from preventing her from using her cellphone, doctors earlier said that
their VIP patient had also been advised against watching TV and reading the
papers, saying hearing "the news around her" could hamper her recovery.
The antistress prescription came as Arroyo faced a string of plunder
complaints and revived allegations of election fraud during her presidency.
"No TV and newspapers. We are asking her to stop texting," Arroyo's main
attending physician, Dr. Juliet Gopez-Cervantes, told reporters Monday.
"I think occasionally (she uses her phone), maybe when we (doctors) have our
backs turned. If only we can shut her off completely from all the news around
her, then by all means," Cervantes said.
Cervantes on Monday reported that despite antihypertensive medication, the
former President's blood pressure "persistently" rose in the range of 140/80 to
170/90.
She said Arroyo had also lost her appetite but that this was normal
"especially for somebody who had received steroids to lower swelling and the
risk of rejection of the implant."
Doctors were also giving Arroyo antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection,
Cervantes said.
Surgeons corrected a portion of Arroyo's spine in the neck that had become
misaligned, a condition that doctors said could lead to paralysis if not
treated.
Doctors attached a titanium plate to four levels of her spine to treat a
condition called cervical spondylosis, an otherwise common age-related
deterioration of the bones.
"Medically, she is not in a serious [condition]," Cervantes said. "However,
we are closely monitoring her. As doctors, we can manage only mostly the medical
part. But the external factors, it's really hard to control… That's why we are
asking her to lower the risk of probable complications (and) help herself
relax."
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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