Pragmatist
Pragmatist

A couple of the staff were out sick, so Dr's wife was pinch hitting.  She's not a nurse, but she escorted patients to the exam rooms.  And very efficiently, I might add.  Dr B has talked about her on a few occasions, but she doesn't come close to resembling the picture I had of her.  First of all, she's not blonde, and I don't mean that in a pejorative way.

Anyway, the visit went well, and some of the meds have been adjusted.  I made a list of all the meds I'm taking,  side effects and interactions.  Made a copy for both of us, so we could talk about the same thing together.  He commented that I had done some research.  Well, yes I did.

OK.  The lungs were a little wheezy today, but I didn't have time for the nebulizer treatment.  I think that might have made a difference.  I have a persistent (productive) cough, so he said to hold the Lisiniprol for a couple weeks and see if that makes a difference.

The Dipyridamol has been increased to three times a day.  It's a blood thinner, and taken with 81mgs aspirin once a day works as well as a hugely more expensive brand name med.

Even though my thyroid level was a little low when I was in the hospital, he thought that was because I was so sick.  So the dosage stays the same for awhile longer.  We'll see after further test.  (More visits to the local vampire.  )

Since the Advair is not on the formulary, and it would cost me over $200 a month to use it, he gave me a sample of Pulmicort (which I have used before).  But Pulmicort isn't on the formulary, either. 

Actonel (for bone density loss) will be on the formulary after the 1st of January, and a 90-day supply will cost me $52.30 through the mail order pharmacy.  About twice that at a regular pharmacy.  Dr B gave me a bunch of samples, and these contain calcium tabs to be taken daily between doses of Actonel.  Something new.

I'm to continue the daily Albuterol nebulizer.

I'm going to get awfully hungry before I can have breakfast.  The Actonel is on an empty stomach and not taken with any other meds.  I have to wait 30 minutes before I can take the other empty stomach meds, then wait another hour!  before I can eat.  One hour and 30 minutes from the time I get up until I can have breakfast.  Oy!!!

Well, if that's the worst thing I have to put up with, I guess Life is still good.

Shalom