I had an appointment with my endocrinologist today, so I got on my purple 'boyfriend' jacket and gathered my shopping list, and off I went! The sun was shining and all seemed good...but things are not always the way they seem...
First, I stopped at Home Depot (David told me to go there because their employees actually seem to know something about the department they work in...) I went to the paint department, and asked about some porch and deck paint. I want to get something with a bit of texture since our front porch (made of wood) can be a bit slick when it rains. The guy there did know a lot about paint, and he told me that we would have to strip the old stain completely off, then wash the wood with a special cleaner, and then we would have success in applying a paint with a textured finish. (Sounds like a bit of a job, but the front porch is not large, so I guess we can get it done...) I took some of his folders that show the colors available, and went on my way.
Then, I did a bit of shopping at Target. I'm going through old VCR movie tapes and watching them to see if I want to replace them with DVDs, so when I saw 'Bridget Jones' Diary' for $5, I thought, I'll just snap that one up! Then, I found 'Robin Hood' with Kevin Costner, and since I really liked that version, I decided to get that one as well.
By that time, it was close to noon, and I decided to grab a sandwich at Panera Bread and eat it in the parking lot at the doctor's clinic so I could get to my appointment 15 minutes before time, as requested in the literature they gave me at the last appointment. So, I was there in plenty of time, and checked in. I sat in the waiting room for 20 minutes or so, and then was called. The gal weighed me, and measured my height, and then directed me to an empty patient room. She took my blood pressure, my temperature and my heart rate. All of that was good. She left the room and I began to look around for something to occupy myself. Should have brought my Nook because the magazines were sparse, very dated, and leaned toward celebrity gossip types. Time slowly moved, and after about a half hour, a gal opened the door and said the doctor would be in soon, as she was delayed by a couple of patients...
Finally, after waiting for an hour, the doctor came in. Usually, I like this gal. She is from India, and is obviously quite intelligent and is also nice. But, the appointment was only so-so. She wants me to take a medication for my bone loss, and I am against doing that. The one she first mentioned I have taken previously, and ended up with acid reflux (had an endoscope, and my esophagus was inflamed...not a good sign). So, I quit taking the stuff. Also, my dentist was concerned because apparently many of those medicines can create havoc with your jaw bones, causing you to lose teeth, and even have a broken jaw. Hmmm...supposed to strengthen your bones, but causes potentially serious issues with teeth and jaws. Guess the choice is between having a broken hip, or losing your teeth. I sort of like to keep on eating...so was happy to quit taking that medication!
In the meantime, I've had surgery to remove a large part of my parathyroid gland which is the culprit that is causing me to have excessive calcium in my blood. This gland, when it gets overactive, 'sucks' calcium from a person's bones, and dumps it into their blood, thus they have consistently high blood-calcium readings, and their bones keep getting thinner and thinner. After my surgery nearly two years ago, the levels of calcium in my blood went down, but not as much as this endocrinologist gal would like. So, I was told to ingest a lot less milk, ice cream, yogurt, cheese, and to quit taking the calcium tablets I had taken for years to help keep my bones strong! Well, I did all of that, and eventually the blood-calcium readings came down.....but not enough to keep her happy.
So...no more morning cereal with milk on it...and you do know that plain cereal is just awful. I now only drink about 1 glass of milk a week, and eat a tiny bit of cheese now and then. No ice cream to speak of...and not much yogurt, although I do eat a couple spoonfuls of Greek yogurt with my strawberries or blueberries... probably one time a week.
Anyway, this visit, the doctor once again suggested I take a medication to help my bones (I do wish they would read your charts more closely before they come in to see you!) I said I didn't want to do that, and she said 'Well, you could take the shot...' (She is referring to Reclast, a medication that is given by infusion. You get it only once a year.) Apparently, insurance will not cover that unless you have full-blown osteoporosis, which I don't yet have. I have the precursor...osteopenia. I think I've heard that the infusion costs about $3,000.00. If insurance won't cover it for me, I am not interested at this point. So, we are back to 'step one'.....try to avoid ingesting a lot of calcium, do exercises that help to strengthen bones (wish I actually enjoyed exercising...) and come back in 4 months with new blood work completed a few days before the visit. As my only sister still living has said more than once, 'Getting old is not for sissies!'
After seeing my lady doctor, I got the car washed. Then, I went to get groceries. I started to feel a bit happier buying my groceries...but I was still a bit down over the doctor visit, so I bought myself a package of red licorice...not at all on my diet, but sometimes you have to spoil yourself when you need a pick-me-up!
After walking all over the huge grocery store... searching for some items that were hard to find...so I had to do quite a lot of extra walking... my ankles were screaming, and I knew it was time to call it quits for the day.
I headed home. David was gone when I got there (donating blood at a nearby blood drive...), so I went into the house with a few of the bags. David got home just about then, and with his 'good' arm, he carried in the rest of the bags, and I put the food away.
I told him about my day, and then I looked out the front window and noticed that the bowl of my new ceramic birdbath was on the ground. I went out to put it back on the base, and thought I would move the base a bit so it would be more level. Well, I picked the base up by the top and it came completely apart down near where the 'foot' of it flared out from the column. Clean break...not chips....just a very clean, albeit not straight, break. Dang! That was an expensive bird bath, and it is only about 2 weeks old. That was just about enough to make me really mad! I went in to tell David about it, and he suggested that I have a drink...as I seemed to 'need' one... So, I did! I got a little glass and poured myself a brandy, and sat down to mull over life.
I will tell you that I really didn't feel much like writing in this blog tonight, but now that I've spilled it all out here, it doesn't seem quite so depressing anymore. So, thank you, Blogspot. I'm sure you did not start out to be a 'counselor,' but you have become one!
I think I'll go now and watch one of the old VCR tapes so it can be sent to Goodwill, and at least feel that I have accomplished a small task today that was sort of enjoyable...
Later, peeps...
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