Dr. Doris Louise Cellona-Obra

20/09/2021

Sometimes, you may find yourself at the end of your tether, with nowhere to turn to, no place to hide. Except that somewhere just beyond your vision is actually a door, an escape hatch, maybe an open hand extended.

Sometimes, all that is needed if for you to understand why this is happening, how this happened, and how you can bring yourself back from that point of no return.

Maybe understanding will be your new beginning.

This webinar is for everybody who is searching

September 30, 2021 at 6 p.m
Zoom ID and password are in the invite below

23/06/2020

A MINUTE TO READ IT #4: Not rumor mongering

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The rumors are true.

Yes, the emergency rooms of hospitals in the city are full. Yes, the doctors, nurses, medical technologists, and other paramedical personnel in these hospitals are overstretched, overworked, and uber tired. These are people who have stared at death in the past several times over, and yet they are running scared. Very, very scared. For their patients. For their families. For themselves.

They stay inside their bunny suits wearing their face shields and face masks for hours on end, forgoing meals and other personal comfort. Yet, they have been bashed, maligned, maltreated, accused of trying to sabotage a sagging economy, waiting for monetary compensations up front, and being uncaring sods.

No one believes that when a team of doctors and nurses is on a cardio-pulmonary code on one patient, they cannot attend to the code of another patient. Not unless they sprout an extra head and 2 extra pairs of hands. These days, it is not uncommon to have 2-3 codes running in an hours’ time.

No, we are not in some medical thriller or apocalyptic movie at Universal Studio. This, unfortunately, is our reality.

Doctors are known to discuss medical cases excitedly, eyes alight with the wonders of a case coming together no matter how gruesome the case is, with much flinging of the arms and extravagant gestures. But now, they talk in hushed tones, with shoulders hunched, eyes darting everywhere listlessly. When doctors are scared, then you better be scared too.

But be scared calmly when you are with your little ones. Your anxiety and fear can cling to them like an unwanted limpet. Answer their questions about this bad virus that has spikes all around it. The little ones will probably be more concerned about not visiting Lolo and Lola and not getting their favorite toy with their meals at some fast food place. The older ones will need more details on the pandemic explained to them.

But let the kids know the enemy so they will not take it lightly. Talk to them about how to help win the war against the funny looking virus. Follow the rules so they too will follow the rules.

The rules are simple. Even a 3 year old can follow them. Wear a mask. Properly. Wash your hands. Properly. If singing “Happy birthday” with handwashing is beginning to wear thinly, surely you can use “The eentsy weentsy spider” or sing about the singkamas and talong growing around the bahay kubo. Stay at home as much as possible. Finally, explain about social distancing with people outside the household.

This is a reaaaally bad virus we are dealing with. Only an uncaring sod will take this lightly.

13/06/2020

A MINUTE TO READ IT #3: So your toddler refuses to take her medicine? (an answer to Lexie G’s mom)
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I know, I know! Giving medicine to a child less than 5 years old could quickly turn into a stand off, a minor skirmish, or an all out war.

It would help if the offending medicine comes in a flavor that the child likes and needs to be taken only once a day. But that’s just wishful thinking. To most little tykes, all medicines are yucky, the equivalent of Harry Potter’s Bertie Bott’s Jelly Beans with flavors of rotten egg and vomit combined. Yes, even those vitamins that come in raspberry, strawberry, orange or lemon flavors.

What is a parent to do?

Remember, most taste buds are at the back of the tongue. Try to give the medicine to the side of the tongue near the child’s inner cheek. Licking on ice or ice cream before taking the medicine can also help deaden said taste buds.

One could try role playing. Give the medicine to the favorite doll, teddy bear, or Iron Man (or the favorite action figure of the moment) first. Expound on how much Teddy likes the medicine and how big and strong he is now. Then quickly slip the medicine into the child’s mouth while she is ooh-ing and aah-ing over Teddy’s health.

But then, ooh-ing and aah-ing over Teddy’s health can only do so much. Time to do “ fooling the tongue” technique. Put the medicine on a teaspoon and cover it liberally with a dollop of ice cream, yoghurt, or chocolate syrup. Hopefully, the child will remember the yummy treat and not the yucky after taste. Sometimes, the “chaser effect” will work. Give the medicine first and quickly chase it up with ice cream, yoghurt, or chocolate syrup. Kisses chocolate is a favorite of mine. It is small enough not to be considered decadent, and will be remembered as a special treat every time medicine is indicated. A word of caution though. Talk to your child’s pediatrician first about this. Some medicines are not to be taken with a specific type of food or not to be taken with food at all.

If cajoling, bribery, and psychology fail, it’s time to call in the cavalry. Let someone hug Lexie tightly from behind pinning her arms, and masquerade this as an endearing hug. Pinch her cheeks gently but firmly so her mouth opens. Use a syringe or a dropper with the medicine in it and slide it gently towards the side of the tongue near the back of the inside of her lower cheek. After giving the dose, stroke outside her throat to make her swallow. Alternatively, you can give a quick forceful blow into her face. This should do the trick. But then give only enough of the medicine that the child or baby can swallow or she might choke. Repeat the procedure as needed.

When the time comes for her next dose of medicine, square your shoulders, put a sincere smile on your face ( children detect fake, insincere smiles a mile away), and say matter of factly: “ Time for your medicine.”

Then after all has been said and done, give yourself and your child a big hug and a pat on the shoulder, and say : Good job for another successful foray on making the medicine go down!

04/06/2020

A MINUTE TO READ IT #2: Do germs go on vacation?
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You wish—but no , they don’t.

THEY’RE STILL HEEEERRREEE, even in the middle of this Covid pandemic . Those nasty flu virus, worrisome measles virus, debilitating tetanus bacteria, deadly meningitis causing germs and many more are still out there, lurking , skulking, prowling , ready to pounce on their next unsuspecting victim.

Sure, the ECQ has put some of these scourges of humanity at bay as we all stayed home. The lifting of the ECQ means more and more people will be going out to go back to work, bringing home not only the proverbial bacon but also a hefty dose of these other germs. Your child, who has gone unimmunized all these months of ECQ, might become the next statistics.

A person can get a double whammy --- a symptomatic COVID 19 and a deadly secondary Streptococcal pneumonia that might just run amok and push him over the edge. There are no vaccines and no scientifically proven cure for COVID 19 yet, but there is a safe, effective vaccine against Streptococcal pneumonia.

Even prior to COVID 19, pneumonia has run neck-to-neck with gastroenteritis as the number one killer of children in the Philippines. And yes, there is also an effective vaccine against rotavirus gastroenteritis.

Let’s get the lowdown on immunizations:

1. Yes, it is safe to immunize your child even when Covid 19 is raging.

2. Yes, you can bring your child to his doctor’s clinic. Pediatricians have already rearranged their practices to separate sick babies from well babies who are just coming in for their routine shots.

3. Yes, social distancing and hand washing, together with hepafilters and provisions for disinfecting the clinic after every patient, are in place.

4. Yes, pediatricians’ clinics are now strictly by appointment to minimize your child coming in contact with other people.

5. And yes, vaccines are still the safest, most effective, most cost efficient way of preventing what are called vaccine preventable diseases. The Philippine Pediatric Society, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Center for Disease Control, and World Health Organization have your back on this one.

Make your fantasy a reality ---let those germs go on vacation for good. Get your child immunized now.

30/05/2020

A MINUTE TO READ IT : Face Shields et al

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It is the best of times (we are on vacation). It is the worst of times (too long a vacation).

We see people scrambling for gallons of alcohol, UV ray sanitizers, foot baths, PPEs, toilet papers (this one I still can’t fathom), grocery items, face masks, and face shields. We see stolid, no-nonsense face masks of the N95 variety rising in stock, their prices worth more than their weight in gold. We see fun masks in giddy colors and decors, some emblazoned with favorite anime characters and quotable quotes.

Moms have also been busy procuring protection items for their little ones--face shields and face masks tailor fitted depending on the ages of said little ones.

But sometimes, mommies can get too zealous. A mother entered my clinic just before ECQ with her newborn in a face mask that covered the whole baby’s face. I sat petrified in my seat before I catapulted out of it to whisk the mask away. STAT. I still have tachycardia thinking about it.

Masks and face shields should only be worn by people who can remove them at will when the masks get too uncomfortable for them. A child less than 2 years old cannot do that. A baby can even be entangled in it and suffocate. What can moms do when going out with their babies and toddlers that will still give the little ones a modicum of protection from viruses flying about?

Firstly, refrain from going anywhere with your babies and toddlers unless the trip is a need, and not a want.

Secondly, remember how our grandmothers used to take babies outside? They carry the baby close to their heart, literally, and put a piece of cloth tent- like over the whole baby, using the shoulders, arms, and neck of the one holding the baby as tripod for the tent.

Thirdly, when using a baby carrier, put the covering over the whole top of the carrier, not over the baby.

There you have it, hopefully some nuggets of wisdom have been thrown out for moms and children’s caregivers out there.

After all, it is the best of times (new hobbies discovered). It is the worst of times ( bored! bored! bored!)

27/05/2020

I know! I know! These make one look like either a serious welder or some alien from outer space. I am neither but, whether we like it or not, this is the fashion of the day, carved out by the need to protect both you and me and to stump the viruses' path. But behind the covering shield and mask is still your friendly neighborhood pediatrician -- bane of disease causing bacteria, enemy of viruses in general, promoter of preventive measures such as vaccines, healthy habits, and controllers for asthma (pulmonologist gud ko) .

25/05/2020

My medical clinics have re-opened!

But now, we are all behind face masks. We wash our hands repeatedly, mostly obsessively so. Social distancing is the new mantra. And because of this COVID 19, there are new guidelines for the clinic:

1.We go strictly by appointment, American Time and not Filipino Time. Do call the clinics beforehand to set your appointments with my secretaries (Mimi at CHH and Melon at CDUH).
2.Unfortunately, for the moment, children with cough, fever, sore throat, diarrhea and vomiting, and those with influenza like illness are best treated at the Out Patient Department of the hospitals, not in the clinic.
3.For emergencies, please proceed to the emergency rooms of the hospitals too. If I am affiliated with that hospital, the residents will usually call me to inform me about your child’s case.
4.For non-emergencies, we can actually do teleconsult where we can still see each other face to face. I can also see your child and assess him virtually. Less hassle, less expense because you can stay within the confines of your home, and less risk of exposure for you and your child to this notorious virus.
5.If you prefer to go to the Chong Hua Clinic, please be there at least an hour before your appointment time because you will have to pass by the triage which is located at the gym right next to the Chinese Fire Brigade, just a few steps away from the Medical Arts Building. Show the triage officer the confirmatory text of your appointment so he can process you.

Meanwhile, sit back, relax, eat healthy, stay healthy, and most importantly, STAY SAFE!

24/05/2020

24/05/2020

Clinic: By appointment
CHH: 032-2530426 / 0967650622

24/05/2020

Clinic: By appointment
CDUH: 032-2539830