MORE VARSITY MEDS and others

 A work friend at CAP recommended my long-beloved LA primary doctor.  You know, the doc who drove twice at night to check on me after fusion on the spine problem he diagnosed for me

The DO who convinced me the stereotactic biopsy was not just like an old puncture wound. In fact, the expert tech was pleasant, from home, and had done some work perfecting the equipment.

 And an NP who sat down with me and my lump and drew a map/list of which doctor to see first and which test to take next and then and so on in order til I calmed down and did it all.

Those dear and fun radiation techs who made most of radiation feel like a family visit.

That young woman at acute rehab who brought dental supplies from her home after the rehab place lost my stuff.

And that kind, fun surgeon  that I did mention before..who does "fancy."

Okay it's not good to praise some people more than others.

Pretend you're looking in my old diary.

SO varsity sports have rules; and I think really healing medics are the ones I liked...

If I put up a list of rules for medics, what would they be?  

It's good to have a sense of humor if the pt does,  

It's good to listen when the Pt says NO

It's good to avoid unnecessary consults. 

I's good to ask another doctor if it will save the pt from misery and bancruptcy.

I rest my case.

I wish you health.

HOW TO IMPRESS ME

 THE MEANING OF "GENTLEMAN"

Last night, in the hall, a man stepped back to the other wall and said "Scuse me,"

This is the first time that ever happened to me during the virus. 

 It changed my feeling of the whole week.

No roses, no bow, no smirk.

Think about it...I do.

I wish you health.

WHAT DID YOU HATE ABOUT SCHOOL? WHAT SHOULD KIDS BE SPARED TODAY?

I hated being the odd-one-out.  G wiuess that time down on the floor at home trying to read the Gary Post and the Trib while they were laid there to keep grownups from slipping on the newly scrubbed kitchen and hall.  Needs rewrite.

I hated that the first grade teacher made me be the one who held the flash cards for the class while she did whatever....Result: the beginnings of an 11 year life of misery and being hated.

I hated that the doctor (or my parents' forcing him) made me the one with the huge man's green metal lunch box full of stuff I coudn't finish at lunch, so had to eat at afternoon recess when everyone else could play on the metal playground stuff outside. 

And set the mood for the rest until will into high sch
Did you get homeowrk?

 Did you love or hate giving a report in front of class? 

Did they still teach penmanship when you were in gradeschool??

Let it hang out here.  Bet you'll get plenty of sympathy or at least a chance to smile

Did your science teacher need a lot of TUMS/[]]\\

STAY IN vs SEE THE DOCTOR

 My favorite history doc (Osler to be exact) said   "A physician who treats himself has a fool for a patient."  

He probably lived in a part of London where MDs were available.

When I was a kid, we lived too far to drive to the county seat often for the only doctor  (who did, however, come to the house when my father twice :threw his back out.  Most of the time we were do'it' yourself. or do without.  My mother did intervene when my father wanted to pour a bottle of Absorbine Jr. on an open wound of mine,,  Infection was probably more common than we knew.

 Then we got a close doctor; we had choices.

Maybe you did, too.

Fast forward to today.  I still live just as far from the doctors I choose.  But like most people in this area, I have a car.  No problem. Unless I'm too sick to drive.  In that case we pawn a piece of furniture and call a car or an ambulance.

Except Covid -d complicates all it touches.  We get no statistics on those who didn't have the virus until they went back to their own doctors for instance, for cancer treatments.

I'm an older person.  I stay in, like some other apartment dwellers.  Really IN.
I do not head to the doctor whose company STILL may not have the set-up for keeping pts from each other.  

I have resorted to the internet (esp a couple of big hospitals with advice columns, to keep me safe.

And to my memory of the doctors who saved me from pre-diabetes that I still need to watch out for.

What do you do?  Does your MD let you call?  

Any good staying in experience to share?

I wish you health.

TINY POST TO TORN SKIN.....

When I put the lotion on the forearms and calves of my legs,

I remember to put some on that skin over the knees (you know, the ones I fell on.)  The knees seem to appreciate it.

So I think I'll put some Eucerin on my neck.  I mean....why not?

I wish you health.

Handicap-oriented kitchens

Check tw now for handicap-adapted  kitchens or how they should be
I wish you health because of well-safe kitchens

Gone. *(a rant)

I had something to give here;
And I'm not calm about learning a new language to do it
I have a book to write before I die
I will miss my blog

TORN SKIN pt 2

Looking for a few more helps for my fragile forearm skin, I needed to remind you that the skin below my knees is also likely to become fragile.  A nice manicure place here offers a "bath" massage in a basin of warm water  for that skin; and women over 40 always order one.  And lest we forget, below the knees skin is also grateful for a massage at home with lotion. Guys who are bashful about that better get a shower soap that isn't too strong.

SUN Remembered I used to be so careful to put sunscreen especially on my "driver's arm."  More recently met owners who swore their popular price cars had all sun prevention glass.  But I can't find an expert who agrees.  So put the cream on,  and be grateful that glass and plastic in windshields help on sunny days.

Genetics also popped up, but vaguely.  I never saw Granma with a bandage like some of mine after hanging a mountain of wet clothes outside.  But she wore Dad's immense sun hat to keep the blue jays off... OR..maybe she just had tougher skin than mine.
Fact is, she was younger in those days than I am now.

Chemistry  What doctors know about creams for delicate skin can change.  We may not know of some harms for arms getting delicate. The scary part of what I found  was that creams and lotion that have been used on delicate skin in the past, even by doctors, are not always safe for everyone.  I'll stick with my giant pump bottle of Eucerin.

I wish you health.

Over 39? Got lotion? TORN SKIN

The lotion I promised to use for those peeling nails should also be protecting me in another place: arms, or at least the skin on my forearms. The first row of scratches was caused by dozens of tiny brass nails,installed crooked in all my closets. Later, on the top of my left forearm...an L-shaped cut, seemed deep. Doctors like to put a thick dressing over such cuts, to prevent infection. The catch is that removing such dressings from cuts on delicate skin has CAUSED more cuts: wheel chairs are named as another big cause. You would think home or apartment designers would measure a wheel chair before drawing a small space...they don't. You can be sure they know how many inches they need to get a nice car into the garage. But back to bandages... the dressings. I like I like the old style. Adhesive on the back. Big ones but not too much adhesive close to the wound. For one thing a shower beating down on a cloth bandage HURTs . To sit around in the evening, you many not need any bandage., The cat, dog, or child will help you decide. You can put a huge sport bandage on just long enough for the shower, then take it off to dry and let arm dry. Shop around till you find the size that make sense for you. If you' toss and turn at night, maybe a bandage for that arm at night. It is okay to cut these things up, use the left half of one if it helps. One of my cuts seemed deep, needed a little more impact protection. So the donut bandage was born. From halves of a round bandage or two, I cut some half circles and stuck them on top of each other, leaving a thin a space like halves of a donut. They guard against bumps, the bottom ones stick to the arm without touching the wound. The rest hold each other. I could gently take the thing off before I went to bed or leave it if it seemed to stay in place. Air and sun but no dirt blowing in. My very young doctor didn't even want to hear about it. Hmmm. So you won't need another bandage soon, I suggest plenty of lotion (which I still sometimes forget.) NOW I HAVE TO SAY SADLY: The new Blogger is so far over my computer skill level, this may be the last post. I will I WISH YOU HEALTH.

WHILE YOU'RE IN THERE, Keep it safe to breathe

There's a new thing on the web this morning from some realtors that has some sense:

"SCIENTISTS RECOMMEND THESE TEN METHODS TO DISINFECT YOUR HOME"

It was under HOME OWNERSHIP  from some realtors....


A lot of things to think about:

And a few easy  to remember:

"If there's an odor:",....there are germs - or words. to that effect.
and
" look for labels that the EPA has tested and approved with words “disinfect” and “sanitize.”  Yes, I'm swiping their quotes.

They insist sponges must be replaced often, and some cleaning rags must just be thrown away.  It does make sense if you can afford to do it.  They didn't use the word icky, but you know when the time has come.

My Clorox empty does not say epa or not in letters big enough to read.  But I'll probably get another one. I keep a dilute Clorox water sprayer.  And even use it to get slippery soap traces off the tub. I keep a Clorox rag near the front door, but it's too thick,and could collect dust - I'll replace it. 

For certain fabric surfaces and odors, even carpet or my shoes, whatever, I have a vinegar water sprayer.   (The smell goes away when it dries.)

Now some important  advice for you who are tough enough to stand up to the challenge.  

Food that falls on the floor must be thrown away. 

 No sneaking a bite. They don't tell where to buy ear plugs if your toddler was the owner of that cookie.


I wish you health.

VIRUS HANDWASHING...And Its New Problem

I was busy getting out of the car.  For a second, a finger nail seemed to catch on my jacket.  Next day, it happened again.  I finally examined it under the bathroom vanity light and ...
 

The whole top layer of a nail on my right hand was tearing off, and stiff enough to  crack and tear at the edge. Quick! A little bandage before it gets worse.

Wanting royal finger nail perfection is one thing...but who expects anything like stiff  and torn enough to catch on a coat, yet fragile enough to peel away?

Went straight to  the laptop, of course.  Mayo clinic  had fingernail news  as I dug past the virus news And...
...Surprise!  Peeling can be caused by things like vitamin needs or..excessive  hand washing!

I had no noticeable vitamin problems to cause peeling, so..


Start with the prescribed minutes scrubbing.   Then I just push the bottle top on the Essential Lemon lotion, rub lotion on, and go.

I couldn't picture a man doing that...certainly not if anyone's looking.

Was I ever behind the times. Back to the laptop...and you probably knew: there are hand creams for guys whether you dig ditches, dig around in files, or dig for the prescription pad.  And they don't all pretend to be for work.  Some are luxury - to fit about any budget. You can probably order them by mail...So whether you don't  want to scratch your girl, the new baby, the new client, or your own skin-- the stuff you need is probably ready to buy.

(It wouldn't hurt to give a thought to your vitamins, though, but that of course is not  medical advice.)

I wish you health.

DO THIS. REALLY. DO IT

 THE RISKS  -   KNOW THEM  AVOID THEM

BY ERIN BROMAGE


READ IT, READ PART OF IT, 

FIND IT 

IT'S ALL IN THERE IN PLAIN TALK finally

about our dangers  

I found it somehow on Twitter

DON'T COME TO GRANDMA, SWEETIE! SHE'S ISOLATING.

"Have you been around any kids?

Wow!
One day some years ago in L.A.  I  went to my beloved doctor with something that was probably NOT my endless fight with  the  "air".

His asking about kids left me speechless.

My "kids" by then were "my grownups" and did not live with me.  I have never pinched nor tried to kiss other people's babies.  And flinch when other people do, subjecting the babies to who knows what.

He gave me a short course on what babies can get...AND GIVE.

Now comes our killer virus.  And we are cautioned to keep everyone apart.  But with schools closed, I went hunting for what to do if there is no one to kid-watch.  And some toddlers already know the route and know when we are going to Granpa's or Grandma's.

A group, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta 
spot lights on line some places even  really tiny kids can get serious stuff to pass along;
It includes some tough-as-a-Marine cleaning recipes for germy stuff; like a spray of rubbing alcohol and distilled water on a cloth to clean my phone and maybe my keyboard.  And cleaning of pet toys that many little kids love. And sporting goods.

Since I'm an older person, I have worried at times when really tiny toddlers rush to the elevator to see Grandma or Grandpa.  I want them safe, and face it: I want to be safe, too.

As that group CHoa says, none of this is medical advice!

I wish you health.

STUFF I've LEARNED WHILE SICK (and after)

I do not get along well with some women doctors

Other women may get along happily with some doctor I can't

NO one I don't like gets to cut me

Ideas from the past, like what is a really clean "room" are important to me

It is  never  good to be trading good jokes with other Docs when you have to announce cancer to pt  over the phone

THE VARSITY

 

First:  a Postscript: His changing my Tamoxifen dose to half-strength did bring me back to my usual self ..capable of arithmetic and all.

===

THE VARSITY

 One day, years ago, I went in for a colonoscopy.  The doctor did not arrive. The nurses had some theories, but I was just lying there.  Then someone said, Dr. G can do it, and started to wheel me into the room.   NO!  I insisted no one was coming near me with anything sharp until I at least met him.  They agreed and pushed me into the procedure room. A young man appeared near my feet, looked at me, and said:  Thirsty?  For some reason, I  had to laugh.

Weeks later, he was to get some samples for the surgeon.  I was lying in the hall; a young nurse came by, looked at the tag on the gurney, and said:  "You got Dr. G!  He does fancy!"

And he did.  

He was friendly, helpful, and easy to talk with about anything.  Even cheered me along on the phone once when prep just about knocked me down.  

I believe he has his own practice now, and it's their good fortune.

THE VARSITY

I came to my oncology doctor by accident--a scribbled list from the surgeon. At my first appointment, another patient sat down beside me, looked at my papers, and exclaimed:  You got the GOOD doctor.  She was right.

He started to tell me all the possible medicines for my DCIS.  I admit I interruped to say I was interested in Tamoxifen (after a lot of reading and a friend's bad time with the regular regime.) 

We got along (he used a real stethoscope).   Away I went with my prescription.

Things were fine.  Or at first they seemed fine.  I sometimes felt confused or forgot something.  I missed several visits to the physical therapist (I had moved here after spine surgery.) I didn't always know what to do next.  Programs I had used at work seemed harder.

I was afraid to tell anyone, because at my age, they might drag me off to one of the "dementia doctors" who were all over the place.

At my next appointment (which I managed to get to on the right day)  I told him my troubles.  He picked up a pen and cut my prescription in half.  Told me it used to be the standard amount.  Then they doubled it. 
"Nobody complained."

I assured him they never complained because they couldn't even find his office on the bigger dose.  He laughed. 

He feels like a friend, and for me, that counts.  Counts BiG.

Note from yesterday

You can follow Dr. Krumholz on TW

ARE YOU REALLY NOT INFECTED?

Are you disgusted as I am with scientists contradicting each other like politicians?

I seriously urge you to read the NYT April 1 article by Dr. Harlan M Krumholz, MD,  on false negatives.  "If You Have Coronavirus Symptoms....Assume ..."

 Dr. Krumholz is easy to understand, straight to the point, accurate, and complete, always treats the reader like a grownup.  He doesn't pull his punches.

 He gives us a real answer so we can stop a minute and make plans.

 The bonus, I just enjoy his writing.

"YOUR LABS ARE ALWAYS GOOD" But now?

My family doctor tests for several things.  When I see him, he pinches his finger and thumb together  to tell me how close he thinks I am to high blood sugar, which had been a problem before I met him.   I have kept those labs good for years, with one Lara Bar per day. I count grains of sugar in my oatmeal and grains of salt also.

Now comes the virus:  I don't know if my doctor has been pressed into service for virus victims.  I wish him the best,  but I'm not going over to his building.

 My daughter has been bringing me my groceries and leaving them in my car.  I don't want her to get any diseases from my crowded building.   Sometimes, she puts in  a treat.  Last night after three trips  bringing up a few heavy groceries at a time, I ate four sugary little "newtons."   That has to stop.

After trying for months, I have lost weight recently, though I need to work, besides climbing all those stairs with my cane, and food. I miss my evening walk, but even at the start, I encounter people who won't observe safe 6 ft distance.

Staying on my 1 Lara bar diet (that also has gobs of frozen veggies, other details later) may still save the blood sugar level.

Our market has a good selection even now, of frozen food like my veggies, and even frozen florets of green veggies that I can put salad dressing on, and microwave.  (I don't buy fresh greens now, because we never know who, handling things, may have the virus but not know it.

And also they bake pretty good bread for toast.

If someone puts your food into the car for you, make sure his or her boss supplies them with good protection..masks or whatever. They risk a lot coming to each customer.


PS:  My secret worry is not the food, or even my labs.  It's how fast I'm running out of really good books.


I wish you health.

ISOLATING AT HOME-- EVEN WITH KIDS is not for wimps

Walking around our apartment complex has been a salvation for me for years.    It does rain, however, and to get outside, even after dark, I have to be around people.   My friend, Miss E, from L.A., however, called me with her view.

Miss E, who used to walk miles all over her part of the foothills, has this isolating handled.  She simply walks in place, counting the steps.  I have a sign on my wall from months ago when I  had a time of retaining water.  It says:

When muscles are inactive, they can't pump body fluids back to the heart.  

So in isolating or not, while the oatmeal cooks, a morning walk in place is important for me.

(But of course, there's a catch:  after I fell, a big hospital on their website convinced me not to stay too long on a flat surface, to save my knees.) I do have carpet, tho, and my old clogs have plenty of padding to help during kitchen chores.

A real favorite (even outdoors in other days) is walking sideways one way and then the other.  I think it helps my gluts a lot since the fall.  And I suspect if you have kids isolating with you, they might like it, too.  (Put the vases away when kids get into it.)

For me, anything that is a break from reading and keyboarding is indoor healthy.

I wish you health.

Error in Sunday's VARSITY

It was bound to happen sooner or later:  Last para of Sunday's VARSITY  should begin:  

  Another, more complex problem and again I picked a surgeon.

The surgeon was a quiet man.  At the end of many follow- up checkups, I was okay.  I sat up. He was standing at the bottom of the table, looking incredibly happy that I was well.  Even my family did not look so overjoyed.

THE VARSITY

THE VARSITY

It was bound to happen- names, soon more, of medical people who gave their all under unfair stress, hoping to save more from the plague.  As I salute them, I think of some special, fine doctors in my life.  They also deserve my salute.

When I was expecting my first daughter, the flu kept me lying on the sofa. Then one  day, though I hadn’t called him, the obstetrician drove to our house!

 He took some vitals and gave me advice I still follow:  “Coca cola will keep food down when nothing else will.”  It does. He was the first of many angels.

Years later, working for Dr.s in CA, someone recommended Dr. K, to save me from managed care.  He became my doctor for 20 years, and felt like a friend, sitting by me, taking notes that he saved.  He diagnosed my leg pain as a spine problem in 30 seconds, let me choose my surgeon.

And drove from Burbank to the hospital two nights at midnight! to be sure I was okay

 The surgeon was a quiet man.  At the end of many follow- up checkups, I was okay.  I sat up. He was standing at the bottom of the table, looking incredibly happy that I was well.  Even my family did not look so overjoyed.

There were others in CA, but I won't mention them all.  When I had to leave for TX, I was terribly sad. Dr. K had saved all his notes, and gave them to me for my records.

PLEASE

Please be the one who stays away 6 feet, even if you think this disease is No big deal

Please be the one who covers your nose and mouth with your elbow when you sneeze or cough - the people I love might me nearby.  And it's elegant manners.

 

Please make a list of people over 60 who may save someone you love this year.

Please admit you should have taken care of your physical questions long ago, and do not rush to hospital now.

Please keep yourself  safe - I want to hear your comments next year, too. And years to come.

I wish you health

AGAINST THE ODDS- a RANT or at least a Whine

I live in a big apartment building, with people of various ages.  As in most such placesrldo, the owner does not live here.

We are mostly aware of the dangers in the world now, but I have more questions than answers.

When the virus was just beginning to worry us, we had a little fire here. When the firemen let us back in, the crush into the elevators was just as I remember from the dorm after spring break; I took the stairs easily, cane and all.  

I still take them, though it means a few trips from the car with groceries.  I seldom saw anyone on them so I felt safe until noon today. Now the people on lower floors are encouraged to used the stairs.  There goes my sanctuary. 

Do I need a rag in my pocket soaked in spray bleach?  Or a big rubber glove to wear on stairs.

What's your take on saving each other?

TO CANE OR NOT TO CANE?

First:  I can kneel to say my prayers and then get up with almost no help.  In other words, almost as well as when I had the physio therapist here.

When I go somewhere with my daughter, I don't use the cane (even forgot it once or twice.)  I know she could pick me up or at least call the fire dpt or someone if the fall caused damage or pain.

But lately...Well, we had a fire drill yesterday.  I knew I could just carry the cane going down, but for some reason I was uneasy about the possibility of climbing back up.

And a day or two ago, stepping off a curb by my car, the sole of my clog scraped on top of the curb.

Looking back to the week before the knee buckled, I know my balance now is not as good as it was then.  I sort of test myself taking the garbage to the drop at the end of the hall.  I'm 90 per cent sure the phys therapist would want the cane put away.

When is enough enough?

KNEE PROBLEMS and GOOD NEWS

 My knee problems are getting better!  I can kneel on the bedroom carpet to say my prayers, although getting up as I used to will need more practice.
Also, the skin on the knee joints seems to be adapting somehow.

I am so glad I didn't have "the shot."


What did work:

Lost a few pounds
Bed-cersizes
Stopped carrying heavy water bottles
Wear my clogs a lot...they have plenty of padding in the soles

The toughest care:  my grocery store is gigantic, so too much walking on a hard surface.  (But I do walk on the sidewalk in my neighborhood for exercise.  Just not an hour at a time.

Those two big hospital web sites I mentioned did help keep me calm and avoid over-testing.

I wish you health.

AFTER TAMOXIFEN quickie

Saw my oncologist this week.  We didn't talk about cancer med, but about the cane, the knee,my response to falling at my age... (more about that later).

And of course appointments like the old favorite mammogram His order as usual says with ultra sound "if required." It's typed a little funny.  I need to insist when I get there that he means :if required.  Or am I more nervous this year?  It's dangerous when they say before next appointment.  So many reasons to delay.

With all that, I completely forgot to mention that I haven't had any of those bloody marks under my skin for some time!  If they were responding to Tamox all those years, that part may be over.   

For now, I'm content not to worry about after effects.

I wish you health.