Rcnevada

Meds

03/30/2025 / rich / 0 Comments

Tiffany opened one of my kitchen cabinets and just stood there.

This is what she was staring at.

It’s not nearly as bad as it looks. That large bottle on the left is Gabapentin, which I take three times a day. The problem is they send it in multiple small bottles instead of one large bottle like they used to. So it takes up a shitload of space. (Those bottles at the back that are upside down are meds I quit, but things have been changing so quickly that I keep them, just in case.)

That leaves a mere eight pills I take twice a day. That take up too much room for my medicine cabinet.

I take two for my blood pressure, one for my diabetes, one for my afib, one so my pulmonary edema doesn’t come back, one for my cholesterol, one for the swelling in my legs, and one for medically induced pain. – You’ve gotta love that last one.

One doctor put me on beta blockers, one doctor put me on blood thinners, one nurse practitioner put me on the water pills, and an assortment of primary physicians put on the rest.

Now, I knew a dude on nineteen different meds spread across his waking hours, with one wake up in the middle of the night. So I don’t feel so bad about my list of meds. But I can’t help but wonder if there isn’t some way to cut the list in half.

Ah well, that’s very unlikely since I’m now the proud possessor of a primary physician, a cardiologist, a pulmonologist, and any number of techs who’s goal in life seems to be to see just how uncomfortable they can make me while they take pretty pictures of my insides.

I have to agree that a cupboard full of medicine is kind of scary, but so far I’ve outlived a primary doctor and one of those people who do wellness checks. Now all I’ve got to do is outlive an overweight cardiologist and I will tie my father’s old record. And why is it that the people who tell you you need to lose weight all seem to need to lose weight?

Yup, I’m wandering again.

Cheesecake – sort of

03/30/2025 / rich / 0 Comments

I was staring at a graham cracker pie crust I stashed in the freezer a month or so back, wondering what to do with it. Then I remembered I also had a block of cream cheese. So of course I decided to make cheesecake. The problem was that I didn’t have any sour cream or sweetened condensed milk. So I compromised.

I softened the cream cheese, threw it in the mixing bowl with a whisk. Then tossed in a large dollop of Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.

To this I added 1/3 cup (give or take) of white sugar and a splash of vanilla and whipped it well.

The yogurt is always a little sharp, so, because apricot preserves are sweet/slightly bitter and go well with yogurt, I warmed up a large dollop and beat that in.

When I got it to the consistency I wanted I dumped it into the room temperature pie crust, and put it in the fridge. Two hours later I took a bite and decided I’m probably going to do it again.

This is what’s left very early on the second day, so I must have done something right.

It’s not half bad, but you really need a cup of strong black coffee to cut the sweetness.

Tired of medical posts

03/14/2025 / rich / 0 Comments

I went in and read the results of the stress test and all it said was “Tell the patient that there are no major blockages.” Straight to the point. No big words for me to look up. This means that I’m probably healthier than my cardiologist. – Barring some major changes I’m not planning on doing any more medical posts.

Well, I got a new phone, an iPhone 16 Plus. I thought about spending even more money on the Pro Max, but it’s taller and only a tiny bit wider, making it look strange. And while it has more screen real estate and a better camera (at least on paper) I don’t want anything I can’t drop in my pocket.

If you go to Apple you can see how carefully they’ve illustrated the difference, but when you go to the store it jumps out at you.

As for the camera, unless you plan on making YouTube or TikTok videos or maybe entering a photo contest (yes, they have photo contests for smartphones) I doubt you’ll ever notice the difference. – This is what happens when hype meets the real world.

Now I’m going to do something important, like figuring out how to use Bluehost’s WonderBlocks — or not.

More tests

03/12/2025 / rich / 0 Comments

Well, they’ve got new stress test that doesn’t require a treadmill. It’s all chemical. Some sort of radioactive material followed by a dye. This cocktail stimulates the heart so it reacts just like the treadmill, without the physical stress, the gasping for air, and the whining. It’s like a ct scan (cat scan), only more comfortable.

Of course, throughout this latest bunch of tests I never saw my cardiologist, only techs.

Now, after waiting for 24 hr while the Holter monitor recorded my heart activity, I get to wait for my cardiologist to read the results. And then, I get to wait for the results to be posted. -Let’s just say that waiting is not one of the things I do well.

I returned the monitor a few minutes ago and this dinky flight of stairs left me winded. There are only 18 or so steps, but I’m sure glad the railing is solid.

I think one of the problems is that the steps are not very high or deep. I assume this is to accommodate vertically challenged folks. But it makes them awkward for us normal people. I know that’s not much of an excuse but when it’s all you’ve got you run with it. — What do you mean 6’ 4” isn’t normal?

At any rate, the results of the ultrasound say that I have “Bilateral dependent basilar platelike atelectasis -no mass.”

As I understand it, this means small sections of the lungs have collapsed. So this little beastie (incentive spirometer) is what a nurse suggested. — The day I bought this it cost $30 on Amazon.

According to the instructions you inhale just hard enough to keep the yellow ball centered, repeat for a total of 10 reps, pausing every 3 or 4 breaths. Once an hour?

I’m not sure how such a gentle machine is supposed to help, but it makes me tired and makes my lungs feel like they’ve run a marathon. So I guess it’s doing something.

This is what happens when you don’t have the good sense to die young.

All that being said, I figure I’ve still got a few good years left.

So stand by for even more medical whining.

Cardiologist

02/11/2025 / rich

Well, I have yet another doctor. This one’s a cardiologist.

This time it’s for an ultrasound. Now I’ve been trying to get the bloody test done since December. I finally gave up and sat on hold with southwest medical for half an hour, at first I had them call me back, then they transferred me to someone in referrals, who was very helpful, but also very confused. After a lot of searching he figured it all out. They wanted an ultrasound but they sent the request to radiology.

Once he figured that out he scheduled my appointment, then, he contacted my pulmonologist and had them resubmit to the proper department.

Once he (sorry I don’t remember his name) got it straightened out it only took two days to get it done.

The lesson from this is keep up with what is needed, and don’t assume that professionals know what they’re doing. In this case, I’m reasonably certain that they chose the wrong option when the order was first sent and just kept pushing the resend every time I asked about it… And here, they’ve been telling us how computers are simplifying our lives.

When it comes to medical issues it’s up to you to look out for yourself. Write everything down, and keep it where you can reach it anytime you need it.

Waiting for my pulmonologist

01/08/2025 / rich

I’m sitting here waiting on a callback from my newest doctor.

Am I the only one who shows up when I’m told and then waits an hour to finally see the doctor for ten minutes?

Of course, it could be worse. At Sunrise Hospital I lay around on a gurney for several hours until they could find me a bed. Speaking of which, did you know that Sunrise is one of the hospitals that got grandfathered in for multiple patients in a room? I was in a room with two other old dudes. Fortunately, they were quiet. Unlike someone on the same floor who yelled loud enough every freaking night to make me shut the door. — And they call those good drugs.

I’m staring at one of those little doohickies you put on your finger to check your pulse and oxygen levels. It says I’m doing ok but I’m checking so often that I may need to replace the battery before I get my callback. –Nothing like worrying about things you can’t control to keep your mind focused.

Okay, so no call back after several attempts.

I despise doctors and, more importantly, their nurses who are too important to give a shit about anything as trivial as their patients.

I got an email telling me about their new answering service… Still ignoring me.

And this is my heart doctor. I give up.

Tachycardia

10/11/2024 / rich

I’m sitting here waiting for a callback from my pulmonologist. Partly because my pulse hit a little over 150 then dropped back down to 75 in about 15 minutes. Then I had a second attack an hour later. It seems that one or more of the blood clots in my lungs have moved to my heart. Oh, happy days. Now I get to worry about a stroke.

At any rate, I’m supposed to get an echocardiogram but I have no idea where to go, I’m told I need to RSVP. How do I do that if I don’t know who to RSVP to???

I like my doctor. He’s old school, complete with suit and tie, and a stethoscope poking out of his pocket. He reminds me of the doctors I had growing up – yes, I know I’m showing my age. He’s also pretty laid back making it easy to relax around him.

The paperwork says to check with their patient portal, but the patient portal just flat sucks. It looks like it was written by someone’s favorite nephew, not a professional. You need to apply for access… I think. But my request has been ignored. –Or maybe their programmer’s mommy has grounded him.

Yes, I’m being hard on the programmer, but I’ve seen this sort of thing written by high school students that was much better. They don’t even tell you what they want, they just give you a series of choices with no explanation.

God, I hate dealing with new doctors with different ways of doing things.

Yup. I’m rapidly becoming one of those crotchety old dudes.

Ah well, I guess I’ll quit bitching and wait quietly like a good boy.

Gravel in my lungs

09/29/2024 / rich

Okay, so I went to the hospital and was diagnosed with pulmonary embolism. In other words, my CT scan showed my lungs were full of small blood clots.

The E.R. doctor said something about finding the source and removing it. But when I got a room and mentioned it to my new doctor he said something like “he’s an ER doctor.” Instead, he started me on a heparin drip, kept me there for a few days, and then sent me home with a prescription for Eliquis.

I started out thinking that it was some kind of miracle drug, but all of a sudden I couldn’t breathe again. My oxygen levels were fine, just like they were when I went to the hospital. So I went to urgent care and they X-rayed my lungs and rather than send me back for another CT scan they tried a nebulizer. That helped a bit so I got a prescription for an inhaler. This helps a bit so I guess I don’t have to go back to the hospital. This is a good thing.

One thing that stood out to me was the doctor’s comment about this being caused by being too sedentary. Which is not good since I can’t use my treadmill because I feel short of breath. — So, I can’t breathe, because I can’t exercise, or something like that. By the time the subject came up, I was dressed with one foot out the door. Needless to say, I wasn’t paying a lot of attention.

Now, I have an appointment with yet another pulmonologist on Friday.

God this is getting old.

More hospital B S

08/25/2024 / rich

This is chicken Caesar salad.

Of course, the Parm tastes like the stuff that came in the round green box we used to eat before we knew better.

I know it’s supposed to be cold, but I swear the chicken was so cold it was crunchy.

On a different note; this is a heavy blanket… According to the hospital at any rate.

If it was any thinner it would be tissue.

I decide when to put on the blanket (which, surprisingly, does help) by watching the thermostat in my room when it hits 71 it’s time. This “thermostat” has nothing to do with the a/c unit, but it does let you know when the room is getting cool. (you know you’re officially “bored out of your mind” when you find yourself watching the thermostat.)

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. If you have visitors they need a secret code to get in. It’s your first initial, last initial, two numbers, and then your room number. I’ve met security and I’m not sure if they’re just not smart enough to deal with anything more complicated or if they’re not paid enough to care.

Hospital food

08/17/2024 / rich

Well, once again I’m laying in a hospital bed with a heparin dip. I hadn’t give my pulmonary edima so much as a passing thought. I mean, after ten plus years without a single symptom who expects it to pop back in for a visit.

One definite improvement over my last stay is my night shift menu. The hospital made a deal with the cafeteria so some patients can order a cheeseburger and fries.

I’ve been trying to stick to a low fat diet, so a mediocre hamburger and french fries was an amazing treat.

I really must fall off the wagon more often. When you live on fish, chicken and salad beef is worth it’s weight in anything.

Bad news. The good meal is only available for late checkins. Rats.

I spoke to my doctor and I’ll be here a while for more tests and lost sleep. – Last time I went through this I got bills from doctors I never saw and for lab work that was never ordered. Yes, they made a few bucks but only because it was cheaper than my hiring a lawyer.

Now I have something to look forward to.