Dolphy mouths: 'Uwi na tayo'

MANILA, Philippines - The Comedy King's health condition has improved considerably, three weeks after he was rushed to the Makati Medical Center's intensive care unit due to complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to Dolphy's son, Eric Quizon.

In fact, Quizon said on Friday, his 83-year-old father already wants to go home. "Uwi, uwi na tayo [Let's go home]," the already lucid Dolphy mouthed to his family.

The veteran actor even asked for orange juice, Quizon said.

Dolphy continues to undergo dialysis, but the said process to cleanse the blood might no longer be continued this weekend as the actor's kidneys appear to be functioning well, according to Quizon.

The actor-director added that Dolphy would no longer need to undergo blood transfusion.

Five years ago, Dolphy was diagnosed with COPD, an illness that results in breathing difficulty and worsens over time.

Most people suffering from COPD are smokers or used to smoke. About 600 million people worldwide suffer from COPD, according to the World Health Organization. COPD is the third leading cause of death in the United States, which has more than 12 million people diagnosed with the disease.

source: interaksyon.com

US teens may have trouble getting morning-after pill

NEW YORK - Many US pharmacies may give teen girls incorrect information over the phone about whether they can get the morning-after pill - taken to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex - without a prescription, a new study suggests.

In most states, anyone age 17 and over can get the pill without a prescription, as a result of a 2009 decision by the US Food and Drug Administration.

But the new research suggests some pharmacies may not always stock the medication, also known as Plan B, or workers may think only older patients can get it over the counter - and teens may have trouble accessing emergency contraception as a result.

"This is a delicate topic, and it could be something that's very sensitive for the teenager calling," said Dr. Tracey Wilkinson, a pediatrician at Boston Medical Center and the lead author of the study published in the journal Pediatrics.

"If you don't give the right information or you're not willing to have a discussion about how to help get the medication, the adolescent might just give up," she told Reuters Health.

Research assistants working with Wilkinson called every pharmacy in five different cities, pretending to be either a 17-year-old girl or the doctor of one, looking to get the morning-after pill.

Altogether, the researchers made calls to 943 chain and independent pharmacies in Nashville, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Austin and Portland, Oregon.

Most of the pharmacies - about 80 percent - told both girls and doctors that they had emergency contraception in stock. But even in those cases, one in five of the teen callers was told there was no way she could get the medication when she gave her age.

When the morning-after pill was not available, more than one-third of pharmacies did not suggest any other options for how girls could get it.

"I had heard anecdotal stories from my patients and also from other practitioners about adolescents really having difficulty obtaining emergency contraception," Wilkinson said.

But when one in five girls couldn't get the medication that was in stock, "I was shocked," she said.

"They were basically being told, ‘You can't get it at all,' which is not true but also scary, because you would think maybe a teenager wouldn't call another pharmacy."

Getting the pill quickly is important because it becomes less effective for every day that passes after unprotected sex.

Study callers who were told they could get the pill also asked pharmacy workers what the minimum age was for over-the-counter access. And in that case, only about 60 percent gave the correct answer to girls or doctors -- the rest typically thought only older women did not need a prescription.

The results suggest little has changed over the years when it comes to education about and access to emergency contraception, said one reproductive health researcher not involved in the new study.

James Trussell from Princeton University in New Jersey said he and his colleagues did a similar study over a decade ago, and found that even providers who said they stocked emergency contraception were not always able to help women get the pills.

Now, he told Reuters Health, "You're getting results that are not at all dissimilar, although this time it appears to be over not having it in stock or being completely uninformed about what the rules are regarding age."

Researchers recently suggested that girls younger than 17 could safely use the morning-after pill without a prescription -- an idea that has been shot down by the Department of Health and Human Services.

source: interaksyon.com

Zsa Zsa Padilla turns emotional over Dolphy's health condition

MANILA, Philippines - Singer Zsa Zsa Padilla shed tears when asked about her partner Dolphy’s health condition.

“Sa gitna ng saya sa sa tagumpay ng ‘Budoy’ [ay] ‘di mapigilang maluha ng gumaganap na ina ni Gerald (Anderson) sa serye na si Zsa Zsa Padilla. Apektado si Zsa Zsa sa kondisyon ni Comedy King Dolphy,” the report said on “TV Patrol,” Feb. 28.

“Hindi n’yo lang alam, on a personal level I’m not strong,” Zsa Zsa quipped, on the verge of tears.

“Ayaw na niyang idetalye pa ang kondisyong medical ng partner. Pero kailangan niyang magpakatatag at maging lakas ni Pidol,” the report added.

“I never show fear ‘coz in my home nobody can panic. Parang, ‘O sige mag-panic kayong lahat puwera lang ako.’ ‘Yun ang rule namin, eh, ‘coz I have to think straight.”

“Higit sa lahat kailangan niya ng tibay ng loob para sa mga anak nila ni Pidol,” the report noted.

In a report posted on the same day on abs-cbnnews.com, Zsa Zsa admitted that the ace comedian is far from healthy.

“Siguro kahit paano you'd been hearing rumors, the past years have been very difficult with my family. Alam naman nila na si Dolphy, aside from being 83-years-old, he's not in the pink of health," Zsa Zsa was quoted to have said.

The singer was grateful for the considerations afforded to her by her “Budoy” co-stars.

"And a lot of times ay naging very considerate ‘di lang ang mga co-stars ko kung hindi pati ang mga director at staff namin. Manggagaling ako sa ospital [and then] diretso ako sa set. Ganoon ang buhay ko. So, naramdaman ko ang alaga at pag-aalaga,” the singer shared.

While the comedian is already home, “he's hanging in there.”

“He's in good spirit and we do our best to take care of him," Zsa Zsa related.

She was made to comment on reports that her partner for more than two decades has been in and out of the hospital lately.

The singer said that this could not be avoided as “83 na siya.”

“Kumbaga, kung dumating man ang panahon ay idi-discuss natin 'yon.”

Zsa Zsa refused to dwell more about Dolphy’s medical condition, as “I don’t think I’m in the position to discuss that right now,” she said.

“Maybe in another time if the whole family is ready. Kasi I don’t want to be the only one to be saying things regarding his health.”

Aware that there are people who think she’s just after the comedian’s money, Zsa Zsa felt the need to explain her side on this matter.

“Ang daming nagsabi na, ‘O, tuloy na ang pangarap niya, talagang pera lang 'yan, blah blah,’” she said, admitting it was “masakit sa akin.”

She explained that this was not the case really “because all my life I’ve been working and the few instances na hindi ako nagtrabaho, siguro nagbuntis lang ako tapos I went back to work.”

This continuing mindset of some people hurt the singer.

“Kahit paano affected ako, aaminin ko, na iniisip sa akin ng tao 'yung ganoon. Sa tagal ng pagsasama namin ay nabibigyan pa rin ng malisya at sasabihing ‘pera lang yan.’ So I just wanted to prove that (it’s wrong).”

To avoid further complications in their relationship, “we found it best na huwag na lang [magpasakal].”

The couple believed that there is no need for them to tie the knot as “kumbaga tayo pa din naman. Nothing has changed and I’m still here, I’m still supporting you 100% at ganoon pa din siya. Emotionally binibigay niya ang best niya [at] wala na akong mahihiling pa.”

source: mb.com.ph