MANILA, Philippines – Doctors of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has advised her to avoid unnecessary stress, after an infection was discovered during the congresswoman’s 2nd cervical spine operation on Wednesday.

Doctors added that the former president has lost her appetite in the past few weeks, thus affecting her immune system.

Arroyo’s current condition has prompted the doctors to limit her visitors to immediate family members only.

"We have instructed everyone na dapat lahat nakangiti at cheerful," said Arroyo’s attending physician Dr. Juliet Gopez-Cervantes.

Arroyo is back at the intensive care unit of the St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig.

She will have to wear a neck brace attached to her skull and her torso to support her back.

The doctors are trying to determine the cause of the infection, which was considered rare.

According to Cervantes, there is only a .57% chance of a patient who underwent the procedure incurring an infection. Report from Niko Baua, ABS-CBN News