Gigi Reyes rushed to hospital for 'seizures'

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) - Lawyer Jessica Lucila "Gigi" Reyes was rushed to the Taguig-Pateros District Hospital early Thursday, shortly after being booked and transferred at the nearby Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Female Dormitory at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

Hospital director Dr. Prudencio Sta. Lucia said Reyes was rushed to the emergency room at about 1:05 a.m. by jail guards from the BJMP. She was accompanied by a BJMP doctor and at least two relatives.

Sta. Lucia said initial examination on Reyes showed that she suffered from hypertension and an attack of neurocirculatory asthenia (NCA).

Neurocirculatory asthenia is defined as a syndrome of breathlessness, fear of effort, a sense of fatigue, precordial pain and palpitation. It is generally considered to be a particular presentation of an anxiety disorder.

“OK naman siya. Naka-confine na siya sa aming ward. We will closely monitor her just to make sure na walang ibang problems na mas malala. Tomorrow, probably we could come up with another medical bulletin on her condition,” Sta. Lucia told reporters.

Sta. Lucia said Reyes had a blood pressure of 170/110 when she arrived at the hospital’s emergency room. At about 10 a.m., this was brought down to 130/90.

“Right now we are monitoring her condition. Naka-dextrose sya. We are monitoring her blood pressure. Bumaba naman po. Sa ngayon ay 130/90. Initially po kasi ay 170/110 nung dumating sya,” he said.

Sta. Lucia said Reyes was complaining of anxiety and stiffening of her hands and feet. Two relatives who accompanied her also told doctors that Reyes had a seizure. Sta. Lucia told reporters that Reyes has a history of Bell’s Palsy, a form of facial paralysis caused by a dysfunction of the cranial nerve.

“Nag-complain sya na parang kinakabahan at naninigas ang mga extremities, ang kamay at paa at saka may suspetsa ang mga relatives na parang nag-seizure s'ya. Plus hysterical din si Atty. Reyes during that time nung dinala sa emergency room which according to our attending physician ay mukhang ang aming diagnosis ay more on anxiety disorder and hypertensive siya,” he said.

24 hours at the hospital

Sta. Lucia said they need to monitor Reyes’ condition for at least 24 hours as she has a history of coronary heart problems. If not checked, Sta Lucia said Reyes could either have a heart attack or a stroke.

“Ang alam ko lang po ay may history sya ng coronary heart problem. Puwede po kasi na 'pag masyadong mataas ang blood pressure ay mag-trigger ng any cardiovascular attack sa puso, heart attack or stroke or anything na mas grabe ang condition,” he said.

On arrival at the hospital, Sta. Lucia said Reyes was given anti-hypertensive medications and a mild analgesic as she was complaining of back pains.

“Anti-hypertensive medications po yung pinainom sa kanya then analgesic kasi nagcomplain siya ng muscle pain, back pain. Nagbigay kami ng mild analgesic,” he said.

Hysterical

Sta. Lucia said that Reyes was also hysterical and was crying when she arrived at the hospital. She later calmed down when she was given anti-anxiety medications. Sta. Lucia added that Reyes, even when given anti-anxiety medications, would have crying episodes at the hospital.

“As per record sa chart namin at nakita po ng mga doctors namin, medyo hysterical pa rin po siya. But after giving anti-anxiety na gamot, medyo nag relax na siya. Pero meron pa ring mga episodes an umiiyak siya,” he said.

After she was treated at the emergency room, Reyes was brought to an airconditioned six-bed private ward at the hospital’s third floor.

Sta. Lucia, however, said the hospital needs the ward for other patients and has decided to transfer Reyes to a smaller airconditioned private room on the second floor. Sta. Lucia said Reyes will be the only patient in the room which has no amenities except for the airconditioning.

“Sa third floor po siya. But we are transferring her sa single room sa second floor.  It is a private room. Wala siyang kasama sa room. Mas maliit yung room sa second floor. Para magamit yung room (sa third floor) for other patients,” he said.

Sta. Lucia said that Reyes made no request to be transferred to another hospital. He added that the Taguig-Pateros District Hospital is equipped to handle her hypertension and NCA.

However, other procedures that may be needed, such as laboratory works and other work-ups could not be performed by the hospital. Sta. Lucia said that should further laboratory works be needed to be done on Reyes, she should be moved to a better-equipped tertiary hospital.

“Wala po kaming laboratory at work-ups. It would be better na madala siya sa isang tertiary hospital. Kasi based on history, may Bell’s Palsy sya. At yung kanyang coronary artery disease could also be a problem later pag nag derecho ang hypertension nya.Yung mga mas higher na work-ups sa other medical centers na yun,” he said.

Highly secured

Sta. Lucia said Reyes’s visitors are carefully being screened by at least 10 BJMP security men posted outside her room.

Sta. Lucia said the hospital would decide if Reyes is stable enough to be moved out of the hospital by Friday.

“We would rather observe her muna dito sa hospital namin, we will come out with a medical bulletin after 24 hours. Her vital signs are stable except symptoms related to NCA. We need to monitor these symptoms, including attacks of hysteria,” he said.

Sta. Lucia said they would also observe Reyes for any symptoms of seizure disorders.

“We will also have to rule out seizure disorders, seizure attacks or convulsions,” he said.

Reyes, who is facing a plunder charge was brought to Camp Bagong Diwa at about 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday after the Sandiganbayan Third division ordered her transfer from the basement jail of the anti-graft court, which served as her temporary jail after her surrender- pending the issuance of the commitment order.

Reyes and her former boss, Senate Minority Floor Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, are co-accused in the plunder and graft charges related to the alleged misuse of Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

At Camp Bagong Diwa, Reyes was taken to an isolation room that is about 1.5 x 6 meters. It has a double-decker bunk bed and an electric fan. Reyes shares the room with a pregnant inmate.

According to the BJMP, Reyes would be spending a week in the isolation room before she is moved to an ordinary cell which she will be sharing with other inmates. The BJMP said Reyes would not be enjoying special privileges and would be required to wear an inmate’s yellow shirt. with Camille Diola