. . . I should be doing some catching up on my life since December 2008.
After the surgery in November, I had two life-threatening infections that sent me back to the hospital for all kinds of ministrations. IV here, IV there, IV everywhere. Found out that morphine IV drip makes my blood pressure drop like a rock. So the doctors had to find some kind of pain med that would keep me comfortable and let my b/p get back up where is was at least approaching normal. At one time it was down to 60/32.
Recovery after the second infectious event went OK. I hated the colostomy bag, and the surgeon was pretty sure I'd be able to get along without it, eventually.
So eventually in May '09, I went back for surgery to "take down" the colostomy bag. If I'd had even a small inkling of what was to come, I'd still have the bag. Without going into too much detail, the bowel did not want to function as the eliminator of waste. Then there were times I wished I'd had stock in Depends. My innards and I finally got to a more or less amicable working relationship.
Now, trying to recall incidents after all that hooraw. . . if I told you I have 911 on speed dial. . . Well, let me put it this way: the paramedics at Fire Station 105 (around the corner) recognize my address now. Nosebleeds that last more than two hours, and quit the moment the ER doctor walks into the examination room. Bronchitis (twice). Broken toe. Can't breathe. And some other stuff. The last visit to the ER ended with admission to the hospital. GI bleeding from a still unknown source.
That last visit had a positive result, though. I've been wanting to change doctors, and I happened to mention it to the hospitaler. He gave me the name of a woman doctor, and as it happened, she is the doctor of my then hospital roommate. Praised her to high heaven. How can you go wrong with a recommendation like that?
So I called my HMO and asked for the protocol for changing doctors. That got taken care of on the phone in less than 10 minutes. I got my new medical card in the mail today and haven't even made an appointment with the new doctor, nor said goodbye to the old one. How's that for efficiency?
I can't see the new doctor until May, so there's time to tell the current doctor that I'm leaving, and please send my medical record to the new one.
I'd been seeing my previous doctor for 22 years, then he left the practice. I've not been happy with his replacement, and been thinking I might like a woman doctor. That's what I'm giving the current doctor as the reason I'm leaving. I don't need to tell him that I just haven't gotten on any kind of comfort level with him. The front office could use some improvement, too.
I need to make an appointment for physical therapy. I should maybe wait until I see my new doctor because she's in a different medical group. Would probably have to get a new order from her to continue the therapy. But oh dang! my knee she sure do hurt! Tendinitis the doctor says, but (here we're both surprised) he says no arthritis in the knee!!!
Well, that's it. God willin' an' the crick don't rise.
Bless