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.