Monday, August 03, 2009

I'm well...ish

I hereby declare myself well today. All of the doctors want me back for return visits (read: tuition and braces for their children), but I cancelled every future appointment during lunch and now intend to focus on rest and exercise to improve my health. My wounds are healed, my blood glucose is under control, my blood pressure is down (even though I quit taking the medication on the advice of my body) and I stopped gaining weight when I ditched their suggestion to replace my Asian foods with loads of bacon, eggs, and cheese. Personal note - when your doctor recommends you go on an Egg McMuffin binge diet, it's time to move on.

I'm still very weak and starting almost from the beginning on my exercise regimen (I can now walk 1.25 miles a day or do some light dumbell work, but not the two together), but I feel better than I did during my 39th year. I still have shart attacks, but they seem to be waning as long as I don't do anything reckless like spend hours rearranging the living room furniture or eat a potato.

Nurse Bunny!

Despite my experiences, I don't think the medical community is a complete drain on society, nor do I reject every bit of advice they have to sell. I just don't automatically believe every thing they say, especially when my diagnosis and treatment varies from week to week. Nurses and doctors are not selfless saints who chose the medical profession just because they want to minister to the sick anymore than mechanics are all trustworthy because they only want to keep your car running and wouldn't dare sell you a part / procedure you don't need. If you're lucky enough to find a doctor who is trustworthy, somewhat capable, and affordable, cling to him or her like grim death.

That's why I drive 2 hours round trip to see my dentist. Yes, she is a beautiful Asian-American bunny, but since I only get to see her upside down while she's wearing a mask, it's hardly a reason for the inconvenience (even though she does have the hottest forehead I've ever seen). I tried the old white guy at her previous office when she moved, and he a) examined my mouth in under 30 seconds, b) announced my head was full of cavities (after Dr. Bunny declared all cavities filled less than six months before), and c) said he wanted to tear down everything Dr. Bunny did and start over. Then his hygienist cleaned the shit out of my teeth and left bloody strips of meat hanging in the back. Finding a good doctor is not like getting gas for your car - you don't just go to the closest, cheapest place.

15 comments:

Captain Dumbass said...

Glad to hear you're wellish. There's no place in the world for masochistic hygenists.

Robin said...

glad you are wellish, i'm wellish too.

Unknown said...

Sadly, it is the well informed patient who will get the best treatment (or they will try to kill him in their sleep). Working in a Health Department has advantages cause I am exposed to every bit of hysteria and truth concerning diseases and illnesses that exist. It frightens my doctors into being good boys (like when they tried to pin a MRSA label on me).
I am glad you are wellish, it is good.

Vincent said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Vincent said...

Shart attacks? Stay well clear of the beach if you mean shark attacks.

Jay said...

I'm glad that you are getting better. Staying away from the doctors will probably allow you to continue to get better. Just don't start thinking your all better and then overdo it!

Unknown said...

and I am Welsh.

Kathy B! said...

Okay. No more descriptive dental stories. I've got a case of the heebie-jeebies to last me 'til the fall.

I'm glad you are faring better. Keep taking things slowly and don't push to hard! It sounds ike you know your own body and are taking good care...

And stay away from those potatoes! Sharts = BAD

April said...

Think of how much better it's going to be when we get socialized medicine! (sarcasm)

However, I'm really happy that you're doing better and feeling well.

Grant said...

Captain Dumbass - does the dental field draw anyone who is not a sadist?

Robin - I'm gladdish to hear that.

Whitemist - I need to hire my own personal (bunny) nurse to go to the doctor with me so I don't have to rely on their honesty / expertise.

Vincent - no, I mean explosive diarrhea with gas. I would prefer the sharks.

Jay - I've learned my lesson (several times) about overdoing it.

SJ - a kind of British Indian? Brindian?

Kathy B! - but I'm free to continue with the descriptive shart tales, right?

April - I hope we get socialized medicine just because I want to see your head explode. :p

Hit 40 said...

Good for you canceling your appts!!! I want to cancel mine too but I need a 12 month refill on my drugs. The ass is always trying to get me to do another mri. Screw that. I am 95% sure that he owns the damn mri equipment. I play a cat and mouse game with him. He prescribes my drugs and an mri. I grab the prescription and cancel the mri the next day. We have done this for the last 2 years.

Kerry said...

you're so graphic!

speaking of shitiness in Dentists... I think i'm experiencing one. Well, I think he is ok but the office staff is a group of dumbass airhead nitwits.

Grant said...

Hit 40 - I'll need drug refills soon, so we'll see if my regular doctor tries to blackmail me into making an appointment for them. If he does, I'll counter with offering to quit taking my insulin to see if he balks.

Kerry - my dentist's office is the same way - great dentist, hit or miss with the hygienists, useless morons manning the front desk.

Anonymous said...

I'm still having an urge to make a nondairy sundae with percocet and imodium sprinkles, maybe some pepto bismal syrup.

Unknown said...

There are so many stories of people getting the wrong diagnosis that It pays to be safe. Like Whitemist says, well informed patients do fair better because it keeps them honest. not that they are trying to be dishonest but you keep them on their toes and not get lazy with you.