Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Arroyo's health has no actual significant clinical improvement as she continues to lose weight due to the difficulties in swallowing solid food, doctors at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) said. Releasing the latest medical bulletin to the Sandiganbayan, VMMC doctors assigned to Arroyo said the detained former chief executive suffers from recurrent dysphagia or difficulty in swallowing solid food due to esophageal stenosis or the narrowing of aesophagus. This condition the doctors disclosed in the medical update issued March 5 has triggered her poor appetite. According to Nucum, Arroyo's latest MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) study shows she has multilevel spine compression and bone degeneration (osteoarthritis) for which she has been getting regular twice weekly physiotherapy and non-sterodial anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). The doctor explained that these procedures show Arroyo is relieved temporarily although she noted that there has been no actual significant clinical improvement in her condition. Nocum said aside from medical procedures, other factors like being allowed to walk outside her detention room and regular interaction with members of her family could help the former president's condition.
