hematoma granuloma vol 2

It was NINE months ago that the ENT DR at mighty Hopkins decided that I had a granuloma on the vocal chords and set on a course to address the issue. Over the summer and into the fall, very little changed except to learn that I had allergies that I never knew I had. Today I went to the Philadelphia Voice Institute after mighty Hopkins gave up trying to figure out what was wrong, and what to my wondering eyes was discovered? Well, the granuloma is back. These things sometimes go away and come back. Dr. almighty Hopkins was leaving to go somewhere else to practice and he couldn't decide after 5 look-sees down my throat, so he gave up. Well, apparently the reason he couldn't decide was because the granuloma disappeared and reappeared as they sometime do. Dr almighty Hopkins just couldn't be bothered to perservere on the case because he knew he was leaving. Now talk about being pissed!! So, on this lovely sunny day Dr. Beausoleil (I hope you read French) tells me I definitely have a granuloma and she says it requires aggressive treatment for acid reflux which is probably the root cause. I protested that I had been that route before at mighty Hopkins and it did not change anything much. She explained that I did not understand what aggressive means. So now I have prescription Nexium and another prescription AND she gave me a shot of somethign steroidal that is supposed to immediately shrink the granuloma. If this aggressive treatment does not do the trick the next thing is something to do with botox and after that then there could be surgery after which I could not sing for three months. I DON'T want to go there! Right now I am relieved to know that indeed it is something physical, but I am certainly angry at Hopkins!! AND as I write this, my throat is really sore from all the stuff that went down my throat and the extra numbing medicine I require because I have a gag reflex that beats the band! Unfortunately, I am well-experienced at numbing medicine and tubes going down my throat. Believe me, it never gets any better. But, AH, how soon will my song return?

Are we having fun yet?

This month has been just a blur starting out with a snow storm and a trip to Philadelphia and then working last week in Salisbury and next week I'm off to San Antonio. And yesterday I did the spring chores and wore myself out climbing up and down the ladder, running up and down stairs to keep the laundry going which forced me to go to the store today because I used up the last bit of bleach. It aggravates me to have to spend money on things like bleach that I so seldom use! Since I don't buy it regularly, I don't know what a good price is. It just keeps going up in price like everything else! I bet on Shoppers to keep the household expenses down because they usually beat evryone else in the price department. Oh, Friday is the foray to the Philadelphia Voice Institute to figure out why my voice is not reliable. THIS will be MOST interesting! My youngest brother follows in my footsteps tomorrow and has his prostate removed. Dang genes! What a mess to inherit! I have always said I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy! My introvert self needs some hibernation time! Alas, seems there is little on the horizon. I just need to try to assure that each day is as rich as it can be. Trouble is, I probably won't recognize it! This is why we do so many crazy things when we are young. Old age just can't handle it all!!

IT might as well be spring

Take down the curtains, la, la ,la
Put up the curtains, la, la, la
Clean up the windows, la, la, la
Hi-ho the homeowner's life!
So if the first day of spring has arrived it means it is time to do the seasonal changes. And we know how much I love household chores. And how many loads of laundry can YOU do in one day? Take down the curtains and wash them. Change the sheets AND the quilt and wash them. Pick up the scatter rugs and wash them. Change the direction on the ceiling fans and wipe the blades while they're stopped. And naturally there is the normal laundry. Keep going because if you stop you might feel tired and leave the chores for another day. As long as you keep moving life is good and things get accomplished. Surely no other season brings the expectation. So, why is spring different from the other seasons? Maybe it's the extra daylight that will show the neglect for more hours. La, la, la, Hi-ho!!

"Tis A Pity She's a Whore

One of my first memories of college and the surety that I was receiving a liberal education was having been assigned in English class to read the above titled play by John Ford, a "Restoration revenge play", as it is called. Last night I saw it at Center Stage. What a tangled web of relationships and what a gory mess!! I remembered it being comical, which it is in spots, as are most tragedies, but I didn't remember its complexity. It is said to parallel Romeo and Juliet, which may be the reason it was assigned, lo these many years ago. But what struck me is that our basest tastes do not change. Today we have soap operas with all kinds of messy situations and messy relationships. The theater of Carolinian Restoration England was every bit as messy. And just like our soap opera characters these days, we wonder how people can get themselves into such predicaments and manage to continue their lives as if they are normal, though sometimes, as in both types of drama, there are tragic consequences. And the theater has a penchant for presenting us with hyper characters and situations. The hyper nature is what makes it interesting, and simultaneously makes us glad to live our own lives on a more average keel.

Just a spoonful of sugar...

I am always struck about the joys of aging. Well, on Monday, I was struck with having to pick up three prescriptions at once... and I hadn't had surgery or a tooth removed or anything major. This is only maintenance! You know, as the engine gets older it needs more attention to keep it going so you don't notice the age. And have I complained about how difficult it is to find sugarless Robitussin? When I see it now, I buy all that is on the shelf. Another problem, it only comes in small bottles! Oh, and the blood sugar thing is the reason for one of the prescriptions. The nasal spray the allergist gave me turned out to be steroids which raise my blood sugar, so I had to have that changed. Also, when I picked up the prescription there was a new warning - you should have a medic alert bracelet. Why didn't anyone tell me that before? If steroids raise my blood sugar, of course I need a medic alert bracelet or necklace. Another expense and I still don't rack up enough to deduct anything from income taxes. I suppose I should rejoice. I've never picked up three prescriptions in my life. I guess this might occur more often. Oh joy! And jewelry for medical reasons. There is just too much joy these days!

Modernizing vs. remaining cheap

These two options are mutually exclusive. Due to aging grey cells I lost my paper address book with all my addresses and phone numbers. Due to aging plastic and technology, my antique pda which was really just a cheap electronic calendar and address book (and was a gift!) went kerplouie before I lost the paper address book. So now I have the option of getting a new electronic pda/cell phone/internet access or just using an old fashioned paper address book. The problem is, because of my aging grey cells, I need to carry my electronic calendar - actually, my combined electronic calendar from office and home, along with my address book and perhaps have e-mail access to home while I am out. The problem is, of course this costs more money than I ever wanted to spend. Furthermore, the problem is I just got a new cell phone at work, so I can't ask for a new cell phone with pda etc. I don't want to pay for a plan for my OWN cell phone. So I have a conundrum. What shall I do? Will I give in to the modernizing pressure or remain cheap while my salary is lowered in this dreadful economy. Stay tuned is all I can say.