…is my life. And I’m working on it!
“I’ve gotten so used to being unfulfilled here that sometimes I forget there’s a whole wide world out there where I could be equally depressed and joyless.”
Finally got in to see Dr. Lee at the base medical clinic for a follow-up appointment. I’ve got to give credit to MEDCOM docs, everyone I’ve seen has been outstanding, willing to spend time with you and taking a sincere interest in your health and well-being. Hell, she has called me twice since my appointment on Wednesday with additional information and guidance. Complete opposite of what I’ve experienced with Korean doctors which is five minutes, a prescription, then out the door.
Anyway, the good news is the aneurysm is described by Dr. Lee as small. She suggests an annual ultrasound to make sure it isn’t growing. The lung nodule has not changed since last year, so I was happy to hear that. It was funny though, she left the room for about ten minutes during my visit and came back to tell me she had consulted the cardiologist about the stint in my heart. I told her I don’t have a stint. She insisted my records indicated a stint. I responded, no I reported being STABBED in the heart. Repeatedly. Eh, my sense of humor goes completely over her pretty little Korean head.
Bottom line, I’ve added more prescription drugs to my daily regimen: something to lower cholesterol, something to reduce my heart rate, and aspirin to reduce the chance of a heart attack.
Pills in the morning, pills after dinner, and pills before bed. It sucks to be old, but it still beats the alternative!
I have a bad heart!
Oh, I almost forgot to mention my painkillers:
Ah, but you knew that already, didn’t you?
As long as I keep breathing, there will be hope.
Where are you hiding my love?
Each day without you will never come again.
Even today you missed a sunset on the ocean,
A silver shadow on yellow rocks I saved for you,
A squirrel that ran across the road,
A duck diving for dinner.
My God! There may be nothing left to show you
Save wounds and weariness
And hopes grown dead,
And wilted flowers I picked for you a lifetime ago,
Or feeble steps that cannot run to hold you,
Arms too tired to offer you to a roaring wind,
A face too wrinkled to feel the ocean’s spray.
–James Kavanaugh
“Bottom line, I’ve added more prescription drugs to my daily regimen: something to lower cholesterol, something to reduce my heart rate, and aspirin to reduce the chance of a heart attack.”
With all the exercise you do, how on earth are you being given yet more meds to take? I really don’t understand.
Did the doc ever acknowledge that you don’t have a stent in your heart?
Well. My blood pressure is all over the map. No idea why, because I’m doing the exercise and diet stuff. I wondered if the prostate meds were counteracting the bp meds. She didn’t think so. And yes, she finally accepted that I don’t have a stent. Anyway, my goal is to get my bp back under 130. We’ll see.
Good news John. Great news actually. A recent study of people who live 90 or older found that people who drank about two glasses of beer or wine a day were 18% less likely to experience a premature death. (Study conducted by University of California, Irvine) On the other hand, those who exercised 15 to 45 minutes a day cut the risk by just 11%. Looks like you’re going to live forever. Cheers and Peace Out!
John, as you alluded to, it may be that some of the meds are seemingly causing you to take other meds. It can be a slippery slope. I am not saying to completely stop taking medications, but maybe you can talk with the docs before you leave about doing a controlled elimination of some of the medications.
You may find that getting rid of one may allow you to get rid of a couple more.
I am always a bit skeptical about high blood pressure meds. I know a couple of people who were on them – stopped taking them and their blood pressure was okay (or maybe was never high to begin with, but testing technique, nerves, etc.) gave false readings.
Just some thoughts.
Brian, yeah I wasn’t doing regular BP checks before starting the prostate meds, but I still wonder if they might be the culprit. Taking all these pills is a bit of a pain in the ass as well, so I’d been down with reducing by stopping any that aren’t absolutely necessary. Will talk to the doc again next visit.
Soju, those beer studies are definitely encouraging. Beer and exercise sounds like the perfect plan!