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Today, I have two doctors’ appointments to learn how to deal with my new companion, Bell’s Palsy. I’ve learned that getting older means that every time I get sick or end up in a hospital, I learn something about me and the world around me.
One thing is that I need to make my own decisions, not simply let the system suck me in with endless tests. When you’re my age, every test we’re likely to come up with something, often nothing serious.
My first meeting is a big deal, it’s with Dr. Southerland, my primary care physician, about my decision to agree to any more medical tests for now, and perhaps for good. The medical system can do wonders, but it can also trap one into a never-ending wheel of tests that look for trouble.
At my age, there will be trouble, and for certain, I’d rather live my life than exemplify the ever-changing core of it. We’ll see how it goes. I have a doctor I trust completely, and he seems to understand me, poor man. Then to Saratoga to have the brace on my foot altered and enlarged, my flat foot is getting flatter.
It’s a gorgeous day, and I’m still figuring out the crazy and sometimes frightening day I had. Maria was there, and we have been talking about quite a bit. I trust here more than anything I have ever trusted.
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I just came from seeing my doctor, Dr. Southerland.
He’s terrific; he said my heart is great, my blood sugar is great, my blood pressure is perfect, and my blood rest was positive. My Bell’s Palsy will last for weeks, months, or even longer. 90 percent of people who have it recover soon. In the meantime, he liked the idea of my getting a patch on one eye.
He said I didn’t need to take any of the pills the hospital prescribed, and did not need any further tests of any kind. Bless him one thousand times, he said my decision to stop further testing was the right one. You may be seventy-eight, he said, but I was an “active” seventy-eight and a healthy one. He did say I might wish to rest more frequently for the next few weeks.
Thanks for all the wonderful messages. I’m afraid you’ll have to put up with me a while longer. “Good luck,” said Maria.
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We only need two more chords.
So happy you’re doing so well! Take care as you have been doing and keep up the wonderful photos.
Great report. I agree with you about getting sucked into the seemingly never ending cycle of tests. Good call and good doc. You’ll look dashing with an eye patch….aarrr or whatever pirates say!
Thanks Toney
the flowers on the porch photo reminds me of nostalgic summers of the past…love the distant trees and field also. thank you for being active and healthy at 78. viruses will have their way with us, but we can mitigate the damage! all good news, jon. you and maria are blessings to each other. it shows in how you live your lives.
Thanks Nancy