Yesterday, David and I went to Ventura to the graves of both of his parents, and his baby brother. We had stopped at Wapsie Pines Nursery on the way north, and got another pretty copper-colored bird bath to replace the one that broke. (Weird thing...I just tried to pick up the base, and it simply 'came apart' down near where the foot flared out...So, I called the nursery and told them what happened. Turned out they had another copper one, so they put it aside for me, and we picked it up!) David also picked out some geraniums and a little plant that had tiny purple flowers on it. We got one geranium for his parents' graves and one for the graves of some old family friends who lived next door to them when his dad was the minister for St. John's Lutheran Church north of Ventura (he was serving there when he died of acute leukemia in 1968 at the age of 48 - David was 14 years old.) The old friends were Alitza and Lawrence Boehnke. Our youngest daughter, Alitza, is named after this wonderful German lady.
After we put the flowers on the graves, we met with his old childhood buddy, Mike Hollatz, and his wife, Dee. We had lunch together at the Mexican restaurant near where I sometimes bought groceries when we lived in Kanawha. It was fun to touch bases with them again, and we urged them to stop at our place on their way to visit their daughter and family who live in Cedar Rapids.
We came home after visiting with them about 2 hours, and I spent some time last night looking on the Internet to see if I could find out more about my excess levels of calcium which are still present in my blood. I found a description of my condition that makes me think I may have a genetic condition called 'familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia. According to information on web sites put up by research universities, hospitals and medical facilities, this condition can be traced to the CASR gene. Treatment is typically considered unnecessary because it is a benign condition. In fact, persons with this condition are typically advised to avoid parathyroidectomy. (Too late...had that two summers ago...)
All of this irritates the heck out of me. I went to the top thyroid surgeon in the state for my surgery, and if he doesn't know about this, who does? I am upset because very little was asked me about my family health history, which would have definitely made some impact. One of my dad's sisters died at the age of 52 in 1951 of what I think I remember as extreme hypertension. The other sister died at the age of 79 of a heart attack, and she had a kidney removed at the approximate age of 65. My father suffered from high blood pressure, and died at the age of 79 as well, but by that time medications were available to help keep his blood pressure under control. There are other family members who have hypertension and kidney issues, as do I. So, why wasn't I fully quizzed about these facts?
In any case, at my next doctor appointment in early June, I will be taking a sheaf of print-outs showing information about the condition, and possible treatments (one of which is to avoid having parathyroid surgery!)
I also read a very interesting article entitled 'Overkill' in the May 11, 2015 New Yorker magazine (David subscribes...) that suggest our medical system is very broken. One illustration shows a line of doctors (human images in white coats with stethoscopes and clipboards, all lined up to examine one man sitting on a stool.) The caption beneath the illustration reads, "Millions of Americans get tests, drugs, and operations that won't make them better, may cause harm, and cost billions." I will be making photo copies of that article as well... and will be giving my doctor and endocrinologist a 'reading assignment.' Until they have assured me that they have read all the information I give them, I will tell them I won't be following any of their suggestions about treatment for my hypercalcium! I also want substantial proof that their recommendations will make me better!
I guess I should have done all of this years ago, when many of my doctors first began harassing me about taking bone medications. Of course I have osteopenia...I'm nearly 75 years old, I'm a Caucasian female, and I don't spend a lot of time in the sun any more (treating the damage caused by overdoing that practice from my teens years as we speak!)
But, I'm not going unarmed next time.... getting really tired of doctors who want to make me take a medication that could cause damage to my body when they have not yet done their 'homework!'
So...there's my 'spew' for the day. And, it's a good day for that...rainy, overcast and dark, dreary... Sort of matches my state of mind right now. But, I did make the reservations for a motel room and meals at the all-school reunion in July, so I am not going to crawl into a corner and suck my thumb!
Even David is bummed today...his ducks and geese are getting so big that their cardboard pen in the garage is becoming very dirty, and he is probably running out of bedding material. The past several days when it was sunny and nice, the birds spent most of the day outside. But, today...that is no go. Too wet and a bit too chilly. The ducks are getting feathers, but the two geese are not yet (they are two weeks younger than the ducks). He'd like to move them all to the movable chicken pen, but until they have feathers, it still could be too chilly for them.
So, folks, enjoy your holiday weekend. I still have a lot of video tapes to watch (old movies, tapes of dance recitals and acrobatic stunts, and even one of Doug and Gail's fabulous wedding in Chicago in 1986). So, I will keep myself occupied, and one of these days the sun will shine and we will be able to move the ducks and geese outside, and life will seem happier. Next weekend we will spend time with 3 of David's siblings (Mark can't be here...), and will entertain them at dinner on Saturday evening. We will be going through photos, slides and other mementos of David's family, deciding which ones we want badly enough to have copies made. We also may head up to Dave and Carol's house where I hear there will be rock music and a party to celebrate Carol's birthday. I sure hope for a nice, warm day for them!
Later, folks...
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