Robi Domingo’s fiancée Maiqui Pineda ‘hopeful’ amid rare autoimmune disease
(From left) Robi Domingo, Maiqui Pineda. Image: Maiqui Pineda’s blog
Maiqui Pineda, fiancée of TV host Robi Domingo, is hopeful that she will emerge “stronger” after being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, which started with “skin rashes and dryness” on her hands and fingers last April.
Pineda detailed her ongoing battle with dermatomyositis, a rare autoimmune disease, in a blog post on Thursday, Aug. 3, where she revealed that she was diagnosed with her condition last July 14, “after almost three months of doing all kinds of medical tests, scans and even a heart, pulmonary and muscle exam.”
“I also have a high risk of developing Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), which causes scarring in the lungs,” she said, as she noted that her autoimmune disease also contains “anti-MDA5 antibodies.”
Domingo’s partner then shared that her condition started in April of this year, after she thought the “skin rashes and dryness on my fingers and hands” were just dry since she came from a trip to Japan.
“Aside from the rash, I started feeling something in my shoulder and wrist joints to the point that I was having a hard time slicing my own food, opening doors and bottles and lifting things. I was hoping it was just because of my back issue due to bad posture but deep down, I knew something was off,” she said.
After seeking advice from a dermatologist and rheumatologist, she was placed on “oral steroids” to manage her condition. She then “honestly thought” that she was better before traveling to London in June, but she started experiencing fatigue, fever, shortness of breath, and headaches in July.
“When I did the pulmonary function exam, my lungs already showed signs of being restrictive as I had difficulty inhaling,” she said. “And so I ended up in the hospital, with my three-day stay turning into one week instead.”
Despite being discharged from the hospital, Pineda said she’s “recovering” at home, but is still continuing with treatments, pulmonary rehab program, and observing a “gluten-free and dairy-free” diet.
“The journey to recovery will still be a while as this only takes full effect after a few months and there will still be many tests, check-ups and medicines to deal with… There are good days but there are still bad days especially knowing that I can’t just wake up in the morning and go out to do whatever I want,” she added.
Pineda nonetheless remained hopeful that her condition is “only temporary,” saying she will emerge “stronger and better than ever” after her battle with dermatomyositis.
“BUT, I am hopeful. I know this is only temporary. It will be one of the hardest things I will ever have to do but I will work on it one day at a time. I am at my most vulnerable now but I will come out of this stronger and better than ever,” she said.
The blog was posted a day Domingo got emotional about Pineda’s condition on Instagram, where the former spoke about “having a tug-of-war of feelings” during his contract signing with ABS-CBN.
Domingo and Pineda got engaged in Japan last November 2022, where the host popped the question in the middle of the Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo. Details about their wedding are yet to be disclosed, as of this writing. EDV
