Doctor, Heal Thyself

Two weeks ago I had an attack of excruciating pain in my right knee. The pain was crippling, literally, considering that there was no history of trauma. The arthritic attack was so acute that immediately I thought of an elevation in my serum uric acid level. After all, the risk factor was there – my insatiable craving for purine-rich food, ie, dinuguan, chicharon bituka, ginisang munggo, tokwa and taho. I had my complete chemistry profile a few days later. Here are the two significant results:

Tadaan! Aside from increased uric acid, my blood cholesterol was likewise elevated. What did I expect? Of course, I was also madly in-love with cholesterol-rich food. And chicharon bituka was like hitting two birds with one stone, in a negative way, increasing both uric acid and cholesterol.

Actually, I discovered these abnormalities in my serum chemistry profile almost two years ago. However, the increase at that time was so mild that I thought food control would suffice to bring the levels down to normal. Apparently, I kept on eating the bawal. Almost two years later, my body would feel the wrath of uric acid crystallizing in my right knee’s synovial space (I hope this has not occurred in my kidneys yet.). As for the cholesterol, the cumulative effects of endothelial damage and atheroma formation in my arteries were not yet evident clinically. But definitely, the clock had started ticking.

Today, just when my arteries had enough of their load of unwanted lipids, I decided to visit one of my favorite coffee shops in Makati, the Kopi Roti. My usual order – set B, ie, four pieces of roti kaya toast, a big glass of cold Milo choco drink, and… yes, two pieces of soft-boiled egg with soy sauce and white pepper. [Wait, one egg yolk is equivalent to 250 mg of cholesterol. Our body’s recommended daily allowance for cholesterol is 300 mg. Since I consumed two egg yolks, then… Oh well, you do the math and imagine where the extra cholesterol goes.]

Five hundred milligrams of cholesterol just for merienda. Take note, merienda! Dang! Doctors are indeed the most difficult among the “most difficult” patients.