Duterte reveals list of his medical ‘issues’
AFTER HIS spokesmen belied reports in November claiming that the President once passed out in Malacañang, the 71-year-old Philippine leader on Monday admitted that he is suffering from “a lot of issues” with his spine and other more serious ailments such as Barrett’s Esophagus and Buerger’s disease.
“I have a lot of issues with my spinal (column). My doctor would want to operate but you know my wife was a nurse and she used to work in the States, United States, and she said, since a lot of operations for the spinal that went awry, that [my operation could] go wrong,” President Rodrigo R. Duterte said in his speech before business leaders at the Palace on Dec. 13.
Mr. Duterte said he is taking “a fourth” of fentanyl patch — a medicine used to ease excruciating pain.
However, he admitted that his doctor has instructed him to stop taking fentanyl after learning that he was using the whole patch.
“When he knew it, he made me stop and he said, stop it. The first thing that you would lose is your cognitive ability,” Mr. Duterte said.
“There was a time that if I took two… But not no more because… Of course, my doctor learned that I was using the whole patch because I felt better.”
Mr. Duterte then disclosed that he has Barrett’s Esophagus — a serious form of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) that can possibly turn into cancer, wherein the lining of the esophagus is replaced by intestinal tissue.
The leader also revealed that he is suffering from Buerger’s Disease — a debilitating ailment that, as it progresses, causes extreme pain from spasms in veins clogged as a result of either smoking or high cholesterol levels, or both.
“I have a pain also with the… I have a Barrett, the GERD, they call it. And I have, might as well tell you about my medical history. Don’t believe in cancer. What I have is really Buerger’s disease. It’s an acquired thing that you get from smoking because of nicotine. Nicotine constricts the vessel. Alcohol dilates the vessel.”
For his part, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto C. Abella yesterday said “regarding the president’s health, there’s really absolutely nothing to worry about.”
“Whatever he mentioned [on Monday] is just part of wear and tear. But he is OK, in fact, if I may be allowed to say is he is looking more guapo ( handsome) these days —