Wednesday, December 03, 2008

A few days off

After working virtually every day since June 4, 2007, I now have some vacation time to use before the end of the year. Twenty-two hours, to be exact. Yep, not even THREE DAYS. However, I'm going to blow the budget and add two unpaid hours to that (or make up those two hours with some extra time next week -- whatever squares).

No great plans for travel, obviously. So I'm "hiring" myself out to me to get some things done around my house. I might be able to make a small dent.

Now, right to my health update for today. I went to my doctor yesterday. The results of the MRI are not back yet; however, I do have some preliminary info from the carotid artery dopplers and the echocardiogram. There is some plaque in the carotid arteries, but not enough to consider surgery. It's just a huge warning sign.

The more serious issue is what they found on the echocardiogram. It seems I have a tricuspid valve problem -- regurgitation. The valve is "floppy" and is allowing blood go flow backwards. Not enough that it can be heard by stethescope. And the physician's assistant wants a cardiologist to read the test results. A different doctor read the results and it wasn't who she asked for specifically. So.... we'll see if there's more information to come on that.

Apparently they are really backed up on MRI results so it may be another few days before they get those.

Now, the reason the tricuspid valve problem worries me so much is because I was a longterm user of the diet drugs Phen-Fen during the 1990s. I was probably on the combination for two years. They consider four months "long-term" use. And just recently there has been even more news about former users having valve damage more than 10 years later. I think I may be one of those people. And that is scary.

There's more to come in the way of big changes, but I'll wait to post until I can firm up some things. Big dreams may be on their way to becoming either fulfilled or dashed hopelessly forever. Whichever way it goes, I've got to do something big while I have some chance at it. Cryptic I know but there's nothing concrete to report, just dreams and hopes and plans at this point. And since I have a rather long history of dreams being dashed and plans being thwarted, I'll just keep some of this quiet for now, to protect my emotions.

Off I go to report for duty for the day. I think I'll crank up some high-energy music to get me going!

3 comments:

Dr. Bill Loney said...

Trixie,

It's good to get a few days off now and again...personally, I try not to toil no more than 'bout 15 or 20 days a year, give or take a Sunday or two. I hopes you gets you some more restin time.

I'd offer you some free doctorin' services, but you probably dont need no de-canklin'. But, I do got me a fresh batch of home-grown botox. I didn't actually mean to make it, but I had some pork belly go bad on me. I tried some out on the neighbor's jackass, and he aint blinked for 2 days, so its some high quality stuff.

However, if you could tell me xactly what kinda medical specializings you gettin', I could get me another certifyin' paper from Mexico City Community College Medical School (online). Bein's it only took me 10 days to get my first doctoring papers, I'm figurin' I can get me another specialization in 'bout 2 more...maybe less if my check dont bounce.

And if you's needin' some cockel warmin' music, I could send you a recordin' by the Loney Mountain Church Tabernacle Congregational Fellowshippin Choir...Their x-mas specials include "Deck the Halls(w/dollar store contact paper), "Silent Night"('cept when ol' man's Perkin's cows get into the turnip patch), "Snake Handler's ICU X-MAS", and year round favorites like "Jesus Don't like Revenuers", "Will there be Goats in Heaven?", and "Saints like a lil' Shine ever now&then".

And while I'm at it, I got some wild celery smokin' leaves that's real good for eye dialatinizin' and mushroomy pie that's good for jus' 'bout everything else, specially if for anyone with depressinatin spells.

You feel well now, y'hear.

William T. Loney MD

Erudite Redneck said...

Dr. Bill, yer a pill!

Trixie, sorry I missed you when you was in town today! :-(

And get yerself better!

SBB said...

Wow. I think Dr. Bill might possibly be one of my doctors.

Enjoy your three days. Chores are fine, but get some "me" time in there, too. Or ... and I just thought of this ... you could go door-to-door selling "Murder by the Acre"! Doesn't that sound exciting! Well, not to me, either, so maybe you should just rest a bit.