Dra. Kristy M. Pinoy-Villamayor
3rd Floor of Bicol Cardiovascular Diagnostic Cooperative (BCDC)
Clinic Hours: Monday - Friday 2pm to 6pm
Adult & Pedia Allergy and Immunology Clinic
Contact No. 0923 845 0720 (Please take note that it is still first come first serve basis when you go to the clinic)
Sharing a very personal experience, I’m sacrificing a little of my privacy as I want to help those who are also experiencing the same condition as mine. Pardon the drama if others may see it that way.
Since last year I have been looking for a doctor specializing in Allergy and Immunology here in Naga City and there was none at that time. I realized that there is no such thing as “simple” illnesses, because illnesses when not prevented nor treated will always be deadly. Though for emergency cases, yes you can go to general practitioners but still, going to specialists tells a different story.
I was told then last year by my doctor that there’s only one Allergy / Immunology Clinic here in Bicol and it’s in Daraga, Albay. I let it pass and tried to just take the usual antihistamines just to alleviate the effects of the allergy. I had a pretty busy schedule and can’t drive to Albay for a check up. I admit, I was neglecting my health.
Around Feb of this year, I learned that Naga now has a doctor specializing in Allergology/Immunology. Then again it was just around March, on my birthday, with no plans, I had the strength to visit the clinic.
Fast forward, series of lab tests were conducted (and I even found another condition). For the past months I also had to do my own homework, taking note of allergens which triggers me, took pictures of the rashes, the frequency and time it usually appears. Hives/rashes, rhinitis and I even had dermatographia (skin writing). At first I thought it was all about food allergy, but sad to say it went further to everything around me so to speak. I looked for supplements or alternative medicines but I was again scared that it might trigger something else again. It was becoming worse and the experience itself was disturbing me emotionally speaking, trying be strong as if it was just a simple rash. The thought of having it was stressful, depressing and even gave me a lot of anxieties.
Last Sep 15, while covering the Highland Triathlon, something triggered my allergies, it was a different rash, it was worse at night and lasted until the Civic Parade day, my meds were surprisingly not working during that time. Thankfully, I was on duty for the Penafrancia Festival Coverage in the morning, so I contacted the clinic to set up for an appointment. I cannot anymore take the discomfort. I was wearing jacket or long sleeves even though it was too warm just to cover up my arms. I could literally let someone tie up my hands just to keep myself from scratching. I was afraid that I might end up in the emergency room in the middle of the Penafrancia festivities if will not have myself checked again.
The condition is called Chronic Urticaria, I’m not ashamed anymore that I have it, as will continue to fight and be in the disposition that with the right knowledge and self care plus prayer, everything will be fine eventually. Sometimes others might think that it's only "arte arte" lang when I see others so picky and doing away with too much high or low temperatures, pollen, dust or any other allergens. And gosh I love dogs, we have many dogs at home so how can I even live with that fact if one thing that I like will be taken away from me?
Stress. Stress is indeed one of the causes of many of our illnesses today. There are a lot of studies and researchers around this niche. There are times when I didn't have any food intake and if I'm emotionally upset, rashes come out, I can attest to that. I'm a mental health service provider by day, imagine the energy that you could get from talking to people. I'm just human enough to reach a certain point of saturation, we too get weak. Apart from that office task, I also teach part time after 5pm. If being workaholic means working after 5pm and even weekends, then, yes I was that person especially last year. When symptoms started to come out, I decided to lessen my teaching hours to focus on recovering on my health. And oh, I forgot, I still have a blog to maintain and it honestly gets to my nerves when I reply to inquiries that are out of this world or can even be searched on Google. Sorry guys, but sometimes a lot of people are asking the wrong questions on Facebook. Wrapping all these up, it's now almost a year that I have been off my personal Facebook account. I created an account just to maintain my blog and it was big relief. I just had to find out what was causing all these allergies and focused on my health.
So sometimes when I say that I want to disappear, those were days that I wanted to hide myself from everyone because of self-pity. It's when you look in the mirror and see yourself with all the manifestations and ask, why is this happening to me? I’m now living with it and this journey is just another story.
Doc Kristy, thank you. I hope you don’t mind me sharing this here, because I really wanted to help those who are also misdiagnosed and who do not know where to go. You saved my Peńafrancia 2019 coverage. Thank you Doc Ramon C as well for recommending Doc Kristy.
Dra. Kristy M. Pinoy-Villamayor
3rd Floor of Bicol Cardiovascular Diagnostic Cooperative (BCDC)
Clinic Hours: Monday - Friday 2pm to 6pm
Adult & Pedia Allergy and Immunology Clinic
Contact No. 0923 845 0720 (Please take note that it is still first come first serve basis when you go to the clinic)
