Accounting for acupuncture

I had my first meeting with my acupuncturist today. She is Chinese and a liccensed physician's assistant. No needles today, but wonderful massaage. She says my neck and shoulders are tight. People who are trained in massage have said that about me for years and I never paid it any mind. There are different types of acupuncture. She did extra study of Japanese techniques, so she has an above average arsenal. Who knew you had to know all these things to find an acupuncturist? She also gave me diet advice about foods that aggravate inflammation and foods that help. This is no problem because many of the foods are in my regular diet anyway. It will be interesting to see if following her diet suggestions strictly will assist the problem. She did an exam and showed me where she found cold spots on my body. She says these represent a lack of energy that is out of balance with other places in the body and causes pain. The cold spots help determine where needles go next itme. She also explained that western medical doctors have discovered a correlation between nerve endings and acupuncture spots, which is why the procedure works to alleviate pain especially. This is encouraging! And to top it all off, the acupunturist is a pianist. She has the same brand of baby grand piano I do, and like me plays classics for herself. She says I need to drink less green tea and more water. The bad part is I have to do weekly treatments. Just what I need = something else to schedule every week. And she is only in my preferred location on Wednesday and Thursday. Another thing I need - fewer choices in scheduling. I think I am going to enjoy this adventure in aging. Well, it's soething new and different, definitely!!!

Magic Miralax

Hallelujah. It has been 9 years since my first colonoscopy. My doctor says the recommended protocol says to repeat every 7 or 8 years. Therefore, I am overdue. So Monday is colonoscopy #2. And indeed there have been advances in medicine. First, mighty Hopkins sends me five pages of information by e-mail. One of these contains directions for prerparations. Last time I had to drink a gallon of gelatinous liquid that I had to struggle to finish. This time, I am to buy 32 oz of Miralax over the counter and a 32 oz bottle of my favorite Gatorade. This is problematic right off the bat because I don't have a favorite Gatorade. Also, diet Garoade choices are much more limited than regular. I am supposed to mix the Miralax into a clear liquid - a sport drink that supports electrolytes. I drink green tea, which does not qualify as a sport drink that supports electrolytes. I don't know what the array of sport drinks on the grocery store shelves achieve and I certainly have no idea how they taste. There is an additional problem that my diet on Sunday must be all liquid. I can only have clear liquids, nothing creamy or containing fruit or vegetable pulp. Isn't it ironic that after spending the last three years learning how to eat high fiber, I now have to avoid ALL fiber. I buy some of my favorite juices - bluberry pomegranate, cran-rasberry - and I spy a newcomer: cranberry mango - all diet versions - all clear - supposedly all natural without added sugar. Next read the labels on sport drinks to rule out the ones with sugar or corn syrup. I have no idea which flavor is going to be palatable. BUT the biggest problem? I am supposed to pour the 32 oz bottle of Miralax powder into a 32 oz. bottle of Gatorade. I have no idea how this will work. I can't imagine that it will. What happens if I get the mixture wrong? The doctor complained that my colon was not properly prepared the last time. I have a feeling there will be a repeat performace! Doesn't 32 oz & 32 oz make 64 oz? Must be some magic stuff if you can pour 32 oz into 32 oz and still have 32 oz, NO? Oh, and my grumpiness kicked in at the check-out counter. gatorade $1, Miralax $12 - no wonder mighty Hopkins doesn't give you a prescription any more. They want to help the drug company get their "fair share!" Talk about a crock! If I got a prescription it would only cost me $5. But NOooooo. Mighty Hopkins needs to support their drug company buddies who support their research! What a racket!!!

Nothing's ever solved in foul ,fetid, fuming, foggy, filthy...

PHiladelphia. I went to have a neorological exam of my nerves that control my vocal chords. My right laryngeal nerve that controls the right vocal fold where the granuloma is is only working at 70%. This could be temporary or it could be permanent, difficult to tell. However, the vocal folds are working at 100%. This is why I can still sing somewhat. I go a week from today for yet another evalutation, putting together blood work, MRI & nuerological finding. Then, The doc will prescribe the next step. The trip today took nearly three hours. I gave myself extra time because I know they've been working on roads. There were three back-ups.
Cities fascinate me. Philadelphia has many more narrow streets than Baltimore. Nearly all the streets in downtown Phillie have parking on one side and one lane of traffic and traffic almost always goes one way. I wonder about the ratio of one way streets in that city. I think Phillie has also done a marvelous job of preserving its historic buildings. But one has to wonder what would happen if events were held at their 4 neighboring sports arenas/2 of which are stadiums at one time. Good planning? The temperatue was so high today that it reminded me of the Continental Congress meeting in 1776 and complaining of the heat and the stench. I complain about traffic and parking.

Dad's 80th

With all my health trials, I think Dad's 80th may have felt more fatalistic than I might have otherwise liked. I remember my grandparents turning 80. I think there was indeed a realization of advancing age, but not so much awareness of inescapable mortality. We had lots of southern style food - just like home- Dad's home - North Carolina. The siblings have long abandoned the country ways of feasting, but collectively, we re-created a southern style family gathering with all the foods of bygone days - salad, beef, french fries, cucumber & onions, squash, pinto beans, corn bread, banana pudding and pecan pie - and we topped it off with a store-bought cake. I asked Dad what his favorite part of the feast was - meaning the food - and he responded that he was happy to have his family together. Suddenly I realized that of course, that would be what he would want the most. He did say several times that he did not expect to make it to 80. I suspect the reason he always tells the doctors that he is OK when he is not, is that he figures his time is up or close to it, so why bother. I have not inherited THAT gene. I tell the doctors everything and complain. This week I have 3 medical appointments. I wonder if I will make to 80. I expect it will be no problem, but I just might be wrong about that! I expect I won't be as resigned as Dad seems to be. But who knows what surprises await me in the coming years? Only the man upstairs...

Ungraceful Aging

I am going through a period of seeing doctors and having medical procedures at least once a week. Good grief, Charlie Brown! NO wonder old people (including me) talk about medical stuff all the time. It's all so amazing. I went back to the doc about my arm/ pinched nerve. She upped prescription dosage - just what I wanted. I asked why she needed to see me again because she knows what the problem is. She told me I have arthritis in my neck - discovery from the MRI. I have it in my big toe, but I don't feel it in either place. But my arm hurts, throbs, tingles. It's been this way for over a month and I'm just tired of it. She wants me to see a neuro-surgeon to rule out surgery for my pinched nerve. She says I might also try accupuncture. More medical procedures! I worked in the garden - one handed - as best I could. I needed an extra dose of pain med after that! I played the piano to try to lose my tribulations. Gardening and music soothe. I think of many things to write about when I can't write. Can't remember what those good ideas are when I am writing.
oh, the picture is the Ristorante Parilla de San Miguel in Eagle Pass, Texas just yards from the Mexican Border. I just didn't posts it before. Texas was sure more colorful than seeing doctors!

A more colorful day

Sold down the river

In spite of my written protests to my state representatives, the governor and the legislature sold us (state employees) down the river to the unions. I find it so ironic being the son and grandson of union men that I am utterly opposed to unions. But the unions for state workers have no real collective bargaining power. It's all posturing. The governor draws up the budget and submits it to the legislature. Decisions about state workers' pay and benefits are made before the unions have a chance to negotiate anything. But now, actually beginning July 1, we will have union dues taken from our pay whether or not we join the union. So we are subjected to yet another effective salary decrease. I will guarantee right now that union dues will now go up as fast as the union can make it happen and the governor and democratic legislators will get record campaign contributions from the unions in the next election cycle, which is why they passed the legislation.

25,000 mornings plus or minus

Do you think state of Michigan paid real money for the commercial that blithely announces that we have only 25,000 mornings plus or minus? Am I sensitive because my life counter, which I put on my blog because I thought it was funny, shows that I am well on my way to hitting those 25,000 mornings? Dad will be 80 in a few days. I don't think he's aging gracefully. I just think he's aging and not liking it. I am feeling that I am very much my father's son. The pinched neerve is making my mood funky only because I'm tired of it and I don't like being reminded of it constantly, and it is inhibiting progress on everything because I can't do anything that takes the least bit of exertion using my left arm or there is pain that I cannot ignore. I can be patient as long as I know there is progress. My doc doesn't return until Wednesday and I am traveling all week, so I don't have time to deal with whatever is next. Uber-meds haven't worked any miracles in 5 days. I want days to be purposeful, not waiting for prescription plans to process paperwork or body parts to act the way they should. Who me? Ani-aging? I'll just think about it tomorrow and the day after that and...

Dies Irae

7 a.m. must mean MRI time - 2nd MRI in a week - this one for Phillie doc. 1 hour and 10 minutes - better thatn the 90 minutes quoted last week! I feel I should be paid for keeping these hours. Ah, but Mighty Hopkins gives me a thank you card for using their services. No one says anything about their inconvenient scheduling. Regular Good Friday Service from noon to 3 p.m. Run by two pharmacies before church - long story. They owe me. Neither has what they owe me. One pharmacy for pharmaceuticals; another pharmacy for diabetic testing supplies. And I have the best (most expensive) state insurance there is. I pay to avoid inconvenience like this! I don't need to be wasting time on a day like today - or for that matter any day. A three hour service is a lot of singing, but I get through it. On the way home, swing by the pharmacies again. Still no success. What else can I do I ask Giant? I have made phone calls. The docs' offices tell me they have completed the required paperwork. "Call your insurance company," is the answer. I get home and the phone is not working. I cannot get a dial tone. This is exactly what I need! I call my own number using the cell. Nothing. I call Verizon. NO service until next Saturday. This is unacceptable. Why did they ever break up Ma Bell? This would have been fixed in a few hours. I call the insurance company. Oh, yes, they have received the paperwork; they simply haven't gotten around to processing it. I am not amused. It is supposed to rain but the sun is shining. Should I waste more time and water the gardens? I have tender new plantings that need optimal care. The evening is advancing soon it will be dark. I can retire early and on Saturday just pretend none of this has happened. Except I have to go to two pharmacies again. Why? Tomorrow is day 5 of my 6 day pill cycle for my pinched nerve. My left arm still tingles and ocasionally pulses with pain. Sleep will present a new day. Today has had its share of aggravation!

Becoming a Junkie

Follow up on the pinched nerve. My regular doc is on vacation. My MRI is ready to be read and my arm is still bothering me. The doc covering for my doc tells me that indeed I do have a pinched nerve and we will have to wait and see what my doc wants to do. BUT what do I do in the interim? I have another MRI on Friday that is supposed to take an hour and a half. Based on my experience from Saturday, I don't think I'll make it. So we'll try methylprednisolone. You start by taking 6 pills and then for 6 days following you decrease to 1 pill. Oh joy ! That means I am taking 16prescribed pills today. I am concerned about drug interactions. Not to worry says the covering doc. The only side effect of the big M might be insomnia. Oh joy, again! This is just what I need for Holy Week - not to sleep! And it is a steroid, so I'll have to watch my blood sugar. There is just too much joy in popping pills today!

Early to rise on Saturday?

Everyone knows I jealously guard my ability to sleep late on Saturday because it is the only day I can choose to do it. These days it's usually to catch up on sleep I've lost during the week for one reason or another. I've been having a pain in my arm and shoulder. I saw my doc before going to San Antonio and she thinks I have a pinched nerve in my neck and ordered an MRI. Yesterday, I had to call the doc's office because the MRI was supposed to have been scheduled. I thought when I came home I would have an apointment notice, which I did not have. SO, what does mighty Hopkins want to do? Can I do it at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday? A moral dilemma. It is against the rules to have to get up for anything on Saturday. This will ruin my week-end. Ah, but the voice doctor also wants an MRI. I can kill two birds with one stone! I dutifully drag my butt out of the bed at 6 so I can be at mighty Hopkins at 7. As I am traversing the halls I have to dodge the night nurses who are leaving their shifts. MRI's are done in the bowels of one of the Hopkins buildings. (BTW - they are opening two huge buildings in a year or two. The complex will become even more complex!) I arrive at the designated area. The receptionist is conversing on the phone, obviously displeased that she has to attend to a patient. If only she knew how unamused I am at having to be ther at 7 a.m.! She checks me in and goes back to her conversation. Another person comes to the desk and there is some conversation about the receptionist not knowing how to do something. The second person offers to do it for her. The second woman sits at the computeer for a few mintues and does something. I interrupt. I ask, "I have an order from another doctor for another MRI. Can we just combine things and get it all done at once?" The Phillie voice doc ordered an MRI and I have the paper order to thrust into the faces of these atetndants. "That will take several hours and we don't have several hours," exclaims the second woman incredulously and a bit annoyed. It seems no one's humor is positive this morning. "Why," I ask arent they all about the same thing, my neck?" "Oh no" presses woman #2 becoming further annoyed. This doctor wants a cranial work up with dye and that will take 45 minutes alone without the other work. You'll have to call and make another appointment." I'll try my luck one more time. "Wouldn't it be better for everyone, you, me, and the doctor if I just got it all done at one time?" "We have other patients who are already scheduled and we can't get backed up. You'll have to make an appointment on Monday" I know it is useless to try to fight mighty Hopkins. It is so big that trying to buck their procedures is out of the question no matter who might benefit. One fact not yet explained here is that I stopped in yesterday on my way to work for blood work for the Phillie doc. They took 11 test tubes of blood. So now I need yet another appointment at mighty Hopkins. AND I still haven't made the 2nd appointment for another procedure in Phillie. I called yesterday and left a message and they did not return my call. Back to Hopkins... "Oh, thank you," so much, says the receptionist. And sure enough, doesn't she go back to her personal chatter. I'm sure she doesn't know how to do whtever the second woman did because she is too busy chatting on the phone. Then I am taken for my MRI. I have to lay still for 38 minutes. It is torture because my arm and shoulder hurt from the pinched nerve. When it is over the technician has to help me stand because my arm has gone numb and I cannot feel to push myself up. Once I am standing, I'm OK and I come home. I need to do some gardening and regular houshold chores, but I have trouble due to the pain in my arm. That is, I have trouble doing things other than touring.LOL

Wednesday's child is full of woe

I forgot to explain that one of the reasons for going to the north hill country above San Antonio was because there were several towns founded by German settlers. Who knew that Germans settled in Texas? AH, but remember in the early 1800's Germans were the main immigrant group, so much so that the US almost became a German-speaking nation.
Wedensday was my last full day in San Antonio and there was no lunch-time break to be had among the very full agenda. The only option was dinner. So I chose to go southwest to Eagle Pass which is a small border town. I wanted to see it because many farm workers come from Eagle Pass, and I had heard it was a rather poor town. Well, it is a rather poor town. They have Walmart and Lowe's which appear to be the newest items in town. The only buildings that come close are the Social Security office, the Social Service office, and the Employment/Unemployment office. I couldn't even find a town hall. I found a wonderful restaurant called Parilla de San Miguel. It was built at a site that was believed ot be an old mission and uses some architectural details that would be typical of the Spanish influence. It was moderately priced and the food was good. I imagined the locals thought of it as quite a treat.
The border crossing there is unassuming and appears to be quite downplayed. There is only one road that goes into and out of town. And MOST interesting, about 5 miles out of town, there is a border patrol checkpoint that only stops you when you LEAVE Eagle Pass, not when you are going TO the town. The dogs sniff around while the officer asks the usual questions about why you came to Eagle Pass and what you did while you were there. I ate dinner. THE END. On Thursday, I returned to the big northeastern city - in time for choir practice - thank you very much! Nothing like a quick return to reality!
BTW - this year's conference was especially unproductive. Everyone in government is awaiting some new "intiatives" from the new presidential administration - if they can ever do something besides print more money for banks!
do re mi fa sol la ti do sol do

Lavender Leisure

Tuesday of my conference gave me another break surrounding lunch, so I headed to the north hill country as the locals call it because -believe it or not - just north of San Antonio are lavender farms that constitute the lavender center of the US. THey grow mostly French lavender for all the uses that one has for lavender. Who knew that Texas is the capital of the US lavender market? The lavender farms were actually not open to tourists - the season was too early just yet - but I made my return to work through a town called Groene - prounounced Green - which claims to have the least amount of modern development of any town in Texas. Most of the buildings are from the 19th century or earlier. I had lunch at the general store which has really becaome mostly a tourist shop. Groene also has what it claims is the oldest dance hall in continuous operation in the US. It is a bar by day and you can dance in the evenings with a juke box. There is an old grist mill that is a restaurant now, but the structure is well-preserved so you can see how it operated. And there was evening and morning the second day.

Mission Mission

AS I have been to San Antonio several times in the past, my mission for this trip was to visit the missions. I learned on the internet that there was a string of five missions running from south to north that culminated at the Alamo. I was determined to see the four missions I had not seen previously. I achieved my mission on the first day of the conference. There was a morning session whose speaker I had heard before and whose topic was not news - the perfect session to skip - followed by a lunch break. That gave me time to head south. I decided to hit the farthest mission first -a good move because the missions are in various states of disrepair - the farthest being the oldest and the least preserved or restored and the closest - the Alamo - being the best preserved. Each mission to the north became better preserved and more complete. I visited the four missions and got back to my conference just tastefully late for my afternoon session. My first mission ever was San Diego and ever since then, I've been smitten. So each time I go to the southwest, I look to head out to a mission. When I visited Los Angeles, I got to see San Juan Capistrano the day BEFORE the swallows returned. But there were beautiful flowers. There are always beautiful flowers - probably another reason I enjoy visiting the missions. They are always good places to pray. You know people have prayed at these places for hundreds of years. You can't help feel that they are indeed sacred spaces. Though you have to wonder why people would call a sacred space San Francisco de la Espada - Saint Francis of the Sword??? I know Saint Francis was a soldier before he became a famous monk and hermit. Who knows what those Spaniards were thinking in 1731? My thoughts were prayerful and awe inspired.

San Francisco de la Espada

The southernmost and oldest in the San Antonio mission chain

Considering Concepcion