Seattle (06/19/2005)

This week I had most of my medical appointments, more about them later. Robin (a quilting friend) spent Thursday afternoon with me. We had a great time catching up and talking quilts. We are going to go shopping at some new quilt shops next Tuesday. Friday, I met some friends from Symetra (one a current employee and one having moved on) at Z Tejas. We spent time catching up. I’ve got to admit, it’s nice not to be working in the current work environment. Saturday, Natalie (my prior walking partner) and I went on a 5 K timed walk. Since we both have not been walking much (she due to a back injury) this was a test of our systems. We averaged 19.19 minute miles for the three mile walk. We were thrilled with our performance. We are so good for each other. Tonight Rich and I will be having dinner with our Nephews and their wives. It will be very nice to catch up with their lives. By the way, I was speaking with my tongue in cheek when I described the interior of the 5th wheel - Great Room and Master Suite. When we were looking at houses, 2 of the 'in' things were Great Room (Living Room, Dining Room and Kitchen), and the Master Suite (Bedroom, Closet and Bath). Since the 5th Wheel has those 2 areas (only those 2), it seemed appropriate to me. The rest of the Blog will be about my medical appointments, so if you are not interested in the boring details of my physical self, talk to you next week.
Monday I had photos taken of my optic nerve so we would have a baseline in case my glaucoma began damaging it. The results of that test were not available when I visited with Dr Viselle (Ophthalmologist) so I do not know if they show anything at all interesting. On Tuesday I had my teeth cleaned - boring, boring, boring.
Wednesday I saw Dr Hughes (Internal Medicine). My A1C was a little high (7.7) (a surprise to her but not to me). I send a report of my blood sugars to her every 2 weeks, but I do not check them if it is too soon after a meal (and they would be high) a fact I knew but she did not. As a result, my reports look better than the truth. After I disclosed that fact we agreed that I would take the test before I eat whether the results will be high or not. Also I am going to start taking my insulin before I eat as opposed to after. My blood pressure was also too high (170/110), a fact that surprised me but not her as it was too high the last time I saw her. At that time she decided to let me go without changing meds (and keeping us in Seattle when we were due to move on). This time she added a Beta Blocker to my med mix and scheduled another visit before we move on. When she listened to my carotid artery she heard something so we scheduled an ultrasound of my neck. When I see her for my medicine check on Tuesday I hope she will know more about that as well. I also saw Dr Viselle (Ophthalmologist). My eye pressure seems to be OK and will most likely go down some with the Beta Blocker so all in all my eyes seem to be doing OK. I see her again (along with a visual field) in 4 months.
Thursday I saw Dr Jacobs (Oncology). My blood test (enzymes for bone or liver changes) was normal and the physical exam (poking here and there) was also normal, so it would appear that I am cancer free. I see him again in 4 months. Friday, I saw Dr Hunter (Radiation). He also poked around and said I was OK. In addition he measured my arms for the Lymphedema and said that the right arm was the same as it was 8 months ago and the lower left arm was thinner than before which is very good news. I see him again in 8 months.
Dr Hughes, Dr Jacobs, and Dr Hunter all want me to start exercising more than I have been. I have been feeling a little frail and that too would be improved if I was exercising more. I am looking for a good stretch and tone program as well as starting to walk more. Everything I read says improved diet (more fruit and vegetables, less fat) as well as aerobic exercise means improved life expectancy with breast cancer, which is a very good thing.