Our new doctor

Dr Stephanie Cao

Both SG and I were stranded without a PCP (Primary Care Physicians) after our beloved Dr. Saran decided to find another position. I guess this is happening all over the country, with so many physicians quitting and/or overwhelmed during the Covid disaster. 

Dr. Cao started at PeaceHealth Medical Group earlier this year and already has a full slate of new patients, and both SG and I luckily became two of them as of today. SG had researched all the possible candidates we could choose from, and he showed them to me awhile back. I liked Dr Cao immediately, when I learned of her interests. She "enjoys cooking, yoga, and photography," according to her web page. (I cannot seem to cut and paste any more, or I'd give you more information about her.) She's Vietnamese and did her residency in Las Vegas. We feel very fortunate to have her as our new PCP.

We are required to wear masks during our entire visits, but I asked her if I could take a picture without hers, for my contact list. She accommodated me (and then immediately put it back on), and I think she's not only a lovely person outside, but also inside. Plus she does yoga! It's also nice to have a young doctor (who usually know about the most recent medical advances), but also because she's not likely to be retiring any time soon.

However, having said that, for one reason or another I keep losing my PCPs and that makes me very sad indeed. Right now, I feel in very good hands. Let's hope Stephanie sticks around for a long time to come!

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The rain continues

Lunch break

Yesterday, I was able to have a nice walk and saw these local residents out for their lunch, it seems. The little one is still has spots, but they didn't show up all that well in the picture. Today, however, I'm inside, staying dry. Last Thursday we walked in the rain, but by late afternoon the skies had cleared and the sun was shining. And it was also lovely all day yesterday.

It doesn't look like that will happen today, however. I'm reconciled to getting my daily exercise, if I decide to, in a Health and Fitness video from my local Y. Somehow it's just not that much fun. I'd much rather be outdoors. But I'll survive.

I got a call from the office of a hematologist, which had received a referral from my doctor. That was a little bit of a surprise, since she suggested that I see one, but wanted me to first get another blood test a couple of weeks after the original one. Since I was able to ascertain that I only need to pay my usual co-pay to see this mysterious doctor, I'll go ahead and do it all. Apparently my doctor is concerned about my low white blood cell count and wants to rule out any underlying conditions. I appreciate her thoroughness, but it was still a bit surprising, since I had already decided that the second blood test would be perfect. Ah well, who am I to turn down a visit to a new doctor?

When I tried to add the above picture, I again had difficulty finding a way to insert it. I tried lots of stuff and then went online to see if others are having problems. One person suggested clearing the cache on my browser, which I did without any success. Then I went over to the HTML tag and was able to add a picture using that work-around. Sigh. If anybody out there has any other ideas about how to fix this problem, I'm all ears.

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Sauk Mountain memories

Mt. Baker peekaboo on Sauk Mountain 2013

The Senior Trailblazers are hiking up Sauk Mountain today, without me. Note: see below; they went somewhere else after all.) I figured maybe it was time for me to reminisce about some of my earlier visits to the mountain. My knee is still a little wonky, and this hike is pretty challenging on the uphill. The trail winds interminably up the side of a mountain, and while it's not long, it is definitely steep. So I stayed home.

In 2013, when this picture was taken, I realized that I had left my trusty camera at home, and it's the first time I ended up taking lots of wonderful camera shots with my phone. I was simply amazed at the quality, and so it was also the last time I carried another camera. According to my blog, I've been on this hike with the Trailblazers five times, and each time I got some tremendous pictures. The first year was in 2009, ten years ago.

Switchbacks up the mountainside 2017

This picture shows the steep switchbacks that take you to the ridge above. It's claimed a few lives lately, with two people in two subsequent years slipping on the steep dusty trail and falling to their deaths. It was one factor in my consideration about whether to risk it today or not. I am not feeling my best, and after yesterday's colonoscopy, my balance is also a little off. There's always next year.

Looking down at Sauk Lake

Only once in my trips up Sauk Mountain did we end up taking the side trail down to the lake. It's another mile and around 1,000 feet down, and the trail is not as well traveled, so there were a few places where it wasn't obvious, but we made it. Of course Richard decided to go swimming, which he almost always does when there's a body of water, summer or winter.

Heading down to the lake in 2016

The one thing I remember the most about the trip to the lake (other than having to climb back up) were the numerous bugs: flies and mosquitos seemed impervious to my repellent. The entire trip only covered a mere six miles in total, but the elevation gain and loss was considerable. I hope to get a good trip report for today's hike and will add an addendum if I do indeed get one.

(News Flash: Melanie just texted me that they didn't even do Sauk Mountain but went to Park Butte instead! Oh well. Here's a picture of the group that Melanie sent me.)

The Park Butte crowd (taken by Melanie)

Note about yesterday's colonoscopy: the good news is that I don't have any obvious signs of cancer, but I did have a few small polyps (3-4 mm in size) removed. The bad news is that I apparently have a rare condition: a tortuous colon, which meant that my highly skilled doctor had to work hard to accomplish the procedure, but she did, and for that I am very grateful.
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Housebound Tuesday afternoon

Gorgeous ripe tomatoes

This morning I took the bus downtown to have coffee with my friend John, and then over to the gym for a class before heading home to begin my colonoscopy prep. I walked by my friend Judy's front yard garden, and she beckoned me in to see some of her veggies, and offered me some to take home.

I knew that once I got home and would begin my prep, I wouldn't be going out again until we venture out tomorrow morning to the doctor's office for the procedure. This is not a fun afternoon, but it is progressing as expected. In other words, I am staying close to the bathroom.

Big green and yellow squash

She tried to get me to take one of these home, but it's the time of year when I'm busy trying to give away my OWN zucchini squash before they get too big. I had never heard of a "honey bear" squash, which is what she says that large green one is called. As she picked some tomatoes and cucumbers for me to take home with me, I began to feel my hunger. I won't get anything to eat today until it's all over, but it's not too many hours before I take my next dose of prep to clean myself out. The best part will be when I step on the scales tomorrow to see a number I'm not likely to see again for a long time.
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Wellness visit and more

Banana slug enjoying a meal

Last Saturday during our wet walk, I saw these oyster mushrooms on a log, but that slimy critter, the banana slug, wasn't there. My friend Cindy took this picture and posted it on Facebook. I know there are at least two different kinds of slugs in our area, and this one is native and prized above the black ones that were brought here from elsewhere. Someone once told me they come from France, but if so, I haven't heard any speaking with an accent. This banana slug is certainly looking well fed and very happy.

This morning I had my wellness checkup with my doctor, and I came out of the exam feeling pretty darn good. She said my numbers are all just fine, and that considering my age, I should be patting myself on the back because of my continuing good health and determination to exercise and stay active.

There are two things I am supposed to do in the near future: a colonoscopy (oh joy) and a bone density test. At least the bone density test is painless. Not so much the other, but what the heck, it should be my last. So I'll just get 'er done. Have you had one recently? I don't have good memories of my last one, but my doctor told me they are better and even the prep is easier these days.

My cholesterol is good, but my HDL (the good stuff) had declined a bit. She just said that the number is still fine, but now my sister's is higher than mine. What, who says I'm competitive?
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Nursing my sore knee

Lilacs a month early

Well, the doctor visit on Thursday evening was almost useless. He took some x-rays and said nothing is broken (I already knew that), and suggested that I use the RICE method to heal up (that's Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation). I've been here before a time or two and have done it all. There's little to no swelling, but pain right under the kneecap. I was hoping he'd refer me to a specialist, but he said that would the next step if it doesn't get better on its own.

I learned enough online to be able to diagnose what happened when I stepped down on my sore knee and it sort of gave out with rather excruciating pain. It was either the medial ligament (not likely) or the medial meniscus that tore, so for now I have figured out that if I keep it taped up and walk with a stiff leg, much like Chester in the old Gunsmoke series, it doesn't hurt. Chester was played by Dennis Weaver, and I have learned that he found it so hard to walk that way he had to take yoga lessons! My knee bends just fine without pain when I'm sitting and there's no weight on it. I can ride the exercise bike at the Y without pain, so I went there this morning to take the place of walking with the ladies on a sunny Saturday morning.

Our neighbor's apple tree is in bloom

I'm still going to attempt to get a minimum of 10,000 steps every day, even with this injury, but there's no doubt that I'll be unable to hike or do any fast walking for awhile. My stiff-legged walk is slow but gets me around, and if I try to hurry it up a little I'm reminded by a pain from my kneecap that I just can't do it. There's nothing to keep me out of the garden, though. I'll just take it easy and enjoy planting and watering it. So even though I'm down, I'm not out of commission. Just need to change things around a little and adjust my attitude.
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Off to spend a fortune

Why do glasses and frames cost so much?

I'm going to make this post short, since I've got an appointment to get my eyes checked by an opthalmologist today. I skipped it last year; the time just got away from me. I didn't skip my retina specialist appointments, but my eyesight has gotten worse in recent months, so it was time. Plus I can go back to my regular doctor because of another change in insurance. For the past two years this guy didn't take what I had, but I've since changed back.

Although I only need to make a co-payment to the doctor, I need new frames, and we all know they are very expensive, especially when you want all the bells and whistles (transition and progressive lenses and non-glare coating). It's possible he'll tell me that I might finally qualify for cataract surgery in the eye that has deteriorated the most. I know it's easy these days, but I still am scared of it. It's great when it works, but sometimes things go wrong. I'll put it off as long as I can.

Winter kale in my garden, plus some weeds

I harvested the last of the Russian kale you see here, and we are both enjoying steamed goodies from the garden. The black kale in the middle of the picture has begun to flower, so it was time to get out there in the rain and gather it up. Now I'll turn over the soil in my little plot and begin to dream of my springtime garden.

Maybe I'll be surprised at the eye doctor's office and I won't end up spending as much as I think I will. New glasses are always fun in any event. I'm going to pick out the frames before my appointment, since my eyes will be dilated afterwards and there's no telling what I might end up with.
:-)

These doctors just keep getting younger

Dr Patrick Blair

Meet Dr Patrick Blair, my new Primary Care Physician (PCP). It was five years ago now that I wrote about my new doctor at the time, Dr Brent Whitehead and how young he looked. Brent has gone onto to a different clinic, and I was given a new PCP without any input from me. I saw him for the first time yesterday, and I was amazed that he's even YOUNGER than my previous doctor, who looked so young to me. I'll bet he isn't even thirty yet.

But lucky me, Patrick is a gem! We chatted for awhile about various things and I learned that he is just out of residency and this is his first job. He is from South Dakota but his wife grew up in Seattle, so they ended up here. He loves it as much as I do. I realized when I read that earlier post that I had decided to lose ten pounds I had gained and that I've kept it off since then. I patted myself on the back, but so did Patrick! He said that whatever I'm doing, I should keep on doing it. All my lab numbers are good, and he ordered a bone density test since it's been awhile. He cautioned me, however, that the drugs available for osteoporosis are not as effective as weight-bearing exercise.

I told him of my activities and he was suitably impressed and said that hiking and walking are the best things I could be doing for my bones. He told me that it's important to keep flexible and when I told him about my yoga classes, he suggested that I continue with them, so I will consider that my "prescription" when it comes time to sign up for the next semester.

Today when I took the bus to my yoga class, I got off a little early so I could walk in the brilliant sunshine and enjoy the sights of our early spring. I saw daffodils in bloom, and the trees everywhere are sprouting blossoms and tiny new green leaves. We have three days of sunshine and blue skies ahead, with above-normal temperatures, so I suspect that you'll be seeing lots of springtime pictures on my Thursday post.
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What could possibly go wrong?

What would make YOU go to the doctor?

My sister Norma Jean recently began taking blood pressure medication. I've been taking it since 2000, so I didn't think much about it, but I got to thinking about how many things can go wrong with one's physical body, and it gets worse the older you get. I'm beginning to think about how to celebrate by 73rd birthday, and the first thing I want to do is give thanks for being vertical and in pretty good shape to boot!

But the older I get, the more I wonder about new aches and pains and whether they might be something to take to my doctor. First of all, my pal Dr. Whitehead has moved on to another office and now I've got a new doctor to break in, and I don't even remember his name. I did remember that he's a D.O., a doctor of osteopathy. I needed to look it up to find out what that is. Basically, it's a medical doctor who has also been trained in physical manipulation, sort of like a chiropractor, I guess. I''ll find out.

Anyway, my sister and I both have blood pressure cuffs at home to keep track, and we also both go to the doctor at least annually. But last night I woke up with a pain in my bad hip, and after tossing and turning for awhile I finally got comfortable again. I debated about calling the doctor today, but it's much better in the light of day. I'll wait for awhile. After all, what could possibly go wrong?
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Getting better and better

John showing off his homemade cane

Every time I see John at the coffee shop, he looks a little livelier and moves a little better. He made himself a cane out of an old branch on his property, stained it and put a tip on it. Those new knees make it hard for him to get up and down, but he moves pretty well once he's vertical. He won't be running any marathons any time soon, though. But in his "Ozark tuxedo" as he calls his overalls, he looks much more natural than he did in the nursing home.

He's already gotten onto his tractor and made some progress at home. Driving isn't a problem, either, and he's happy to have a handicapped parking sticker so he can park nearby when he's out and about. I suspect by the time he's ready to plant his garden, he'll be almost back to normal. It amazes me what they can do these days with worn-out body parts.

My friend Steve, an old skydiving friend on a journey to get a new liver, has made great progress, too. I've been able to keep up with him on Facebook. He had a kind of liver cancer that required a transplant if he was going to be able to live more than a few months. We agonized as all his friends waited to see if he would get one in time. On January 8, he received a new liver, and last week they removed the staples.

Steve's amazing scar

Inside him now resides a liver from someone who died, probably in a car accident, as that seems to be where most organs come from these days. I am wishing him all the best in the future, because even though he now has that essential ingredient, he will need anti-rejection drugs for the rest of his life to keep it. He is a strong person in many ways, and he has his wonderful life partner, Maria, who has been taking care of him ever since he got sick. Hopefully the two of them will have many more years together.

I just made a new friend online, Heather, who was given a short time to live more than nine years ago. She had mesothelioma and in order to save her life, she opted to have her lung removed and is now doing well with the remaining one. Her story is very inspiring, and you can read all about it here. To honor the day she said goodbye to her lung, she started a blog called "Lung Leaving' Day" and gives us all a chance to leave behind our fears by writing them down on a plate and shattering it. It's very cool! Yesterday was the nine-year anniversary of that first day.

We are all very fortunate to live in a time when these miracles of scientific progress take place every day. Although none of us will know the date and time when we will leave this earth, I am inspired by those who valiantly take their future into their own hands. I am doing what I can to keep my own knees and lungs and liver, because I don't know if I would be able to go through it. I hope I don't get a chance to find out!
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Getting my head examined

CT Scan information here

I went to the doctor last week because of a curious symptom I've recently developed. He could find no outward reason for it, so tomorrow I'll have my head examined by this machine: a CT scanner. I've never had one before, so it will be interesting to see what he might discover.

Basically, the reason I went to see him is that lately when I awaken from sleep, my left eye doesn't want to open. It's almost as if it's shut because of dried crust, like you get when you have a bad cold. But there doesn't seem to be any of that, and it only happens to one eye. The doctor ascertained that both sides of my face, including my eyelids, are the same, and there doesn't appear to be any weakness on one side of my body or the other. He was stumped.

So, he thought it might be a good idea to have my head examined to make sure there's nothing in there. I do hope they find something in there, like maybe a brain. I suspect they won't find a cause for this curious symptom, other than possibly age-related parts of the body giving out. Although I have used both of my eyes equally, it seems that sometimes one side wears out before the other.

While I was visiting him, I asked about some achilles tendinitis I've been experiencing on one heel, and he thought maybe it's caused by overuse. Well, I use both of my feet equally, too, and why would one begin to hurt and not the other? The pain in my heel has gotten much better since last week, although the eye thing hasn't. It's very annoying, and I have started using artificial tears in that eye to see if it helps at all, but so far (one night), it hasn't made a difference.

Anyway, I'll let you know what happens. One more thing I will have experienced after tomorrow. And it wasn't on my bucket list.
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Time flies when you're having fun

Organic and tasty

I am getting a half dozen ripe strawberries from my little patch every day now. And they are the sweetest and most delightful strawberries I've ever eaten. Could it be because I grew them myself? My garden neighbor Joan transplanted some of her strawberry bushes into my area last fall, and I really didn't think I would get much from them. Boy was I wrong! It looks to me that I might actually end up at some point getting a lot more, if half of the ones on the plant ripen.

I'm so enjoying the garden this year. However, it was about this time last year when I began to get discouraged by aphids and mealy bugs, so I am watching my plants carefully and hoping everything will be better this year. I've planted no kale, no brussels sprouts, since they were basically infested almost immediately. My broccoli and red cabbage are coming along well; I've got my fingers crossed.

In about an hour, I'll leave for an appointment with a dermatologist. When I changed insurance this past January, I immediately called my new provider for a referral, as required. I got on a list to receive an appointment, and here it is June and I'm actually going in to see someone. It's not like I have any real issues, but at my age (and with melanoma in my family history) I'd like to at least have a baseline examination.

I laughed because Smart Guy got a woman doctor (he sees her tomorrow), and I have an appointment with a man. I didn't have any say about it, but if I could have switched, I would have. It's no fun to undress in a doctor's office with someone you've never even seen before! Or is it just me? But at least I've got health care; I should be grateful. The clinic I belong to is a good one, and I really like my primary care physician (another man), even if he doesn't look old enough to drive yet.
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Entertaining selfies

Not easy taking this selfie

I tried to get a picture of my poor index finger, but it wasn't easy to focus on it while holding the camera, and trying to find the button on the camera that would actually take the picture. See that red around my nail? That's the final stages of what I learned is called paronychia. Last Wednesday, almost a week ago, it started: it felt like a hangnail had gotten inflamed, but by that evening I wasn't able to sleep without taking some ibuprofen for the pain. I also hoped that the inflammation would be reduced by it as well, and it did help, I think. When I woke in the morning there was a small pustule on the right side of my nail. For the next three days, I was in pretty much constant discomfort, but after researching the problem, I found that unless it begins to get worse, it should clear up by itself, and it's definitely better.

I think I caused this by incessant hand washing after I got that cold and didn't want to give it to Smart Guy. It might have been caused by something else, I have no idea what, but now it's no longer painful except right where it is reddest, and there is no more swelling or throbbing. I think by tomorrow or the next day it should be completely gone. I'd never had this before, but if you look at the link, you'll find it is a very common infection of the hand.

My new glasses

Yesterday I picked up my new glasses. I'm getting more and more nearsighted in my left eye, mostly because of a hefty cataract in there, and a much smaller one in the other eye. By this time next year, I'll be getting cataract surgery, I suspect, but for right now my vision can be corrected to nearly 20/20 with glasses. The lens on the left is much stronger, as you can see from the refraction on the outside of my left lens. It looks like my head is caved it, but it's an illusion, I promise.

I was surprised when I put on the new glasses at how much older I look: I can see ALL my wrinkles now in chilling detail. I thought about touching up the picture before I published it, but heck, by the time you are 71, you are entitled to these marks of distinction, right? That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
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Ten needle sticks

From OhioHealth

Yesterday I got a thyroid biopsy at the Northwest Imaging Center. As you might have guessed, I was a little nervous because I've never had any sort of biopsy before. First I read about FNAB (fine needle aspiration biopsy) on line so I wouldn't be completely in the dark. When I was ushered into a room, I was able to have Smart Guy accompany me, which helped a great deal. Because of a second monitor in the room, he was able to watch the entire proceedings.

A nurse explained to me that I have two nodules larger than a centimeter, which is when they usually recommend a biopsy. Both are on the left side of my thyroid and in close proximity to each other, although when she showed them to me on the ultrasound monitor, they look completely different from each other. One is perfectly round with what she called an "eggshell" coating, and the other is diffuse and much harder to see. After introducing me to the doctor, they explained that they would make three "sticks" into each nodule, and another person would come into the room to examine the aspirated materials to see if there was enough tissue to biopsy.

The first stick was a bee sting-like novocaine that deadened the skin over the area. It was uncomfortable, but it wasn't too awful. Then I felt nothing when he inserted the needle, first into Nodule 1, the diffuse one, and when he got close to it, I could feel something as he pressed against it with the needle. It wasn't too painful, but a strange feeling. He was very careful and I had to lie very still and not swallow or move while he inserted the needle. Once it was inserted, he wiggled it back and forth a bit. Then he did that two more times on the nodule.

Next he went to the other nodule, which he thought might be problematic, because sometimes they can't get into one with a calcified coating like this one has, but he was able to pierce it and get cells out. This, however, was probably the most uncomfortable part of the procedure, because I felt an unpleasant sensation that I can't quite describe as the needle poked at the nodule. Three times in that one and I thought we were done. The pathologist worked in the background while we chatted. It took her what seemed like a long time and then she said she needed more from the first nodule.

So, three more sticks into the first one, this time he was much more aggressive and worked hard to get enough tissue, which was pronounced sufficient this time. It took about a hour and a half before we were finished, and I was able to sit up and was given a cold compress to hold onto my neck. I was told to expect some bruising and even some swelling and what to watch out for.

Now, the morning after, my neck is sore and tender to the touch, but there is only a little swelling and bruising. Next week I should hear the results from the biopsy, and I admit to some trepidation but am hoping for the best.
:-}

I can hear again

Today I had an appointment with an ear doctor. In Boulder, I had been a patient of the the same doctor for years, so I had never before seen an ear specialist for a buildup of ear wax. Apparently it's pretty common that, as we age, ear wax doesn't come out like it used to and can impair your hearing. That has been happening to me for a few decades now, and every few years or so my doctor would simply sit me down in a chair and hand me the ear irrigator, remind me how to do it, and close the door. She said to come get her when I thought I was done. She cleaned up anything I missed, but it took a while.

It worked pretty well, I got good at it, but a few weeks ago I noticed the telltale crinkly sound in my left ear and when I would wake up in the morning, I couldn't hear anything out of that ear. I'd wiggle the ear, pull on it, and eventually get the wax away from the eardrum, but it wasn't working all that well. Now that I am a Medicare patient and have moved away from Boulder, I called the Center for Senior Health and figured they would just do the same thing I was used to. No, they sent me to a specialist, an ear doctor. I was a little disgusted that they couldn't just let me do the work, but apparently liability issues wouldn't allow it. (Probably had some old geezer whose eardrum got punctured and didn't want a repeat.)

Of course, I googled the doctor I was scheduled to see and learned he has an "excellent" rating. So I waited for the appointment and went to see him. I walked into his office at 2:10 pm, we chatted about my ear history, he got out a cute dainty little vacuum cleaner, and whoosh! my ears were clean as a whistle, and I walked out at 2:20 pm. And I could hear just fine! It was the best doctor visit I've had in a while, and I wasn't drenched from the top of my head to my elbow, either. (I didn't always have the best aim back there in Boulder.)

Although I have heard about ear candling, I don't know anything about it, and I certainly don't want to mess with something that might actually harm my dainty little ears or my hearing. When I was in Bangkok, I recall that there were interminable little shops in the alley behind my hotel that advertised "Ear Wax Removal" along with their foot massage. I wonder what they used? I got a foot massage twice a day, I was hooked on them. But since I wasn't having any problem with my ears, I puzzled over the signs but didn't pursue it. I was sure that if I inquired about it, before long I would be fending off the practitioner.

Since I have a very international bunch of blogging buddies, it got me to wondering what other people do when (if) they can't hear because of ear wax buildup. Is it just me? I don't think I've read about this question having ever been addressed before. Anybody?
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