Improvements

Hello,

The doctor looked at Leroy’s face and the top of his head. He then pronounced them good enough to stop putting on the cream. Dr. Paula, me, did not think Leroy would get a pass on the top of his head. I do agree with the diagnosis that he should continue with the two spots on his wrists. Personally I think that Leroy was one lucky duck to be able to stop the treatment on his face and head so soon. Seems to me it was much longer for me. Now I wonder if it had to be to such an extent before I stopped applying the cream.

“Does your face feel better this morning?” I wanted to know as I remembered the relief.

“Better, but it still hurts if I move it too much,” Leroy replied.

Since he was in front of the group and his face is not to be missed, last night Leroy told people at the group meeting about it. One of the attendees is a dermatologist. He agreed that it looked “good” and Leroy was lucky that it had progressed so quickly. He also thought that the spot on his leg is one of the easiest to deal with so it should not be such a big deal. That helped Leroy’s outlook.

On a very positive note, the pink Christmas cactus is blooming almost as much as it did in the fall. I am so happy when I look at it. The white plant, which is smaller, has six buds on it. They must love the bedroom window since they have responded so well. For the pink one this is the third time blooming this winter. Seems to be a mighty effort!

Leroy rode his bike this morning. Rain is predicted so I have loaded the bike rack in the car and will go fetch him. The rack was caught in the holder. Giving it a jerk to make it come up and out, caused me to hit a lawn chair which came down on top of me. I must be more careful!

Paula

The Pain

Hello,

Leroy’s face is so red that it hurts to look at him, partly because it is sore but partly because memory is opened and exposed. Soon he will be finished putting on the cream and healing can start. I remember that almost immediately it felt better when not exposing it to any more of the torturous, but beneficial cream. For some reason the top of his head does not look as if it has had enough applications, but the front and sides of his face are well along on the journey.

His leg hole has not healed much since the spot was taken off almost two weeks ago. It is squamous cell carcinoma. He has learned that he should be in good shape afterwards. So he believes that he can do the three worship services since they are not strenuous activity. Leroy also is considering the possibility that he will drive himself to the appointment. When it is finished he can just walk across the parking lot to the church where he will do his mostly seated work. If that works then I can just go to my work. I suppose he could call me and I could come if necessary. It would just take me longer than if I were home.

Leroy feels almost as if he is on vacation since many of his night meetings/classes are finished. Of course, I still work two nights out of the week so we have not so much time to do anything else together.

I am amazed that Leroy’s watch records him moving so many steps. He almost always has documented more than I do. The other day when we walked home from church we checked to learn how many steps we each took. He had only about 10 more than I did with that trip so it must be more accurate than I thought it could be. This watch also takes his pulse so he knows what is happening there. I do not feel the need to know that. Besides that, his watch also tells the time of day and what the date is. What more can you ask from a wrist accessory?

Paula

Leroy's Red Face

Hello,

Leroy has now a bright red face in many spots. His nose is especially bright as it is looking ready to blister. He tells me that it hurts to smile. I tell him that is progress with the cream for the elimination of precancerous cells. It does look rather painful as he has somehow gotten it under one of the pads where his glasses sit. I told him, “You should stay away from that spot.”

“I did not mean to be getting it,” he replied.

He will have been putting on the cream for two weeks come Wednesday so he will be about done with some spots for sure. The top of his head does not look so intense. Perhaps it will need a bit longer to get that.

Leroy also did some action teams; one was to assist with the postage for a Kid’s First fundraiser. Kids First is an organization that works with kids whose parents are getting a divorce. He also said his team could help put on address labels and postage. We, along with a number of other people, got 1500 postcards ready to mail in about an hour. It was fun as I have not worked on that type of project in some time. Really the visiting is what gives a lift to the spirit.

One of the people there has a little free library on her lawn. She said, “Those books that you put in there were gone almost right away.”

I am going to try to do another such action team as there are many little free libraries that we did not get to. I have since seen another one of them. The day I looked in, it had no books in it. Seems there is always a need.

Paula

Eyes and Skin

Hello,

I had my eyes checked today. My cataracts have grown, especially in one eye. I am getting stronger glasses. At first he talked about having the surgery soon, but then said, “My recommendation is that you wait a year since they are so slow growing. However, if things change drastically before a year is up, come back so we can plan. In the meantime I am prescribing new glasses which will bring your focus better, but not 20/20. You can drive.”

Both he and the optician talked about the strength of my prescription. They also both talked about how I will be so amazed after the cataract surgery at being able to see without glasses. I am not sure I am ready to go without glasses. I will not look right. I have not seen myself without them since fifth grade. That would be about 49 or 50 years ago. I can see myself in the mirror, but I have to be so close that I do not get a good impression of the image.

After I got home there was a phone call with the lab report on Leroy’s leg spot. It is cancerous so he will have to have more taken out. They will do that in the office, but I am to drive him because he might be disorientated when it is finished. Leroy was sorry because, “It is healing nicely now.”

I went ahead and scheduled the surgery for the first time offered even though I do not know Leroy’s schedule. Another day would have been better. He has three church services that day. Two he is only helping with communion and the other he is leading. Will he be up to that? It is hard to say. The caller said he would just need to take it easy for about two days. However Leroy said, “What does taking it easy mean? That is rather nebulous.”

My glasses are expensive (extra charges for such a strong script, thin lenses, progressive lens, non glare, and transition lens) but upon learning the price, I said, “I am so grateful that I can pay this and I will be able to see.”

The optician replied, “I wish everyone had just such an attitude. You are right, seeing is very good.”

Paula

Medicine Costs

Hello,

I get a cream that combats vaginal dryness. Last time the cost to me was $100. This time I was at a new pharmacy and the cost was $200. I dropped my jaw and did not get that cream. The pharmacy faxed my doctor to learn if there was another option. Just today I learned that the other cream co pay was only $47. I felt good about the lower price. One drug like another was what I thought. After I got home I started thinking about the fact that the dosage on this drug is half of what I used with the original. I suspect this is one of those times when the Dr. really thinks I should use the pricier product, but the insurance company will not cover it so well.

I had stopped at my former pharmacy where my insurance company must be hashing out a deal with this provider. I was hoping that I could get it at the earlier cost, if so I would have my Dr. send the script there. The pharmacist said that my company still was not covered by them, however he believes that in the fall when I need a flu shot, they will have a contract in place.

It also makes me think about how my shingles shot cost more than twice what Leroy spent. I wonder if the second pharmacy has a different deal with the insurance company. There is certainly much that we consumers know nothing about. It is difficult to know what the best deal is, let alone get it.

I am grateful for: health care providers, pharmacies, insurance, and money to pay the difference.

I am also grateful that my overall health is good so I do not need many of these services often. I pray for all those on the fringes who are not receiving the care they should.

Paula

Ironies of Life

Hello,

Yesterday when it was so nice out I had things to do in the house in the morning and then work in the afternoon and evening. Today it is not so nice out and my only obligation was Tai Chi. Even though the outdoors is not so inviting I did go out two times to hang out clothes. After that I have gone out three times to bring some back in. Different materials dry at different speeds. The bath mats are still out there so I will go out once again for them. The wind is doing its job by forcing out the moisture. Otherwise I believe that the air and lack of sun would have just looked but not touched.

The eye doctor we saw in the past has changed his work place. Amazingly he is now working for the specialist Leroy visits from time to time. I have been putting off making an appointment. You know me; I just hate to make those calls. Emergencies do push me to get some things done but no emergencies please. My vision in my right eye is not quite up to the standard that I like. On Friday I will learn the reason for that. It could be that my distance vision has once again gotten worse or it could be that the cataract is growing. Another reason for putting off the appointment is that I thought my eyes might have to be dilated and I do not like driving after that. So I have been quizzing Leroy about when he could take me. Apparently they seldom dilate as they have a different type of imaging that they can do. No doubt more of that technology stuff that so helps our quality of life these days. The worst part of that is that I do hear people complaining about technology when it does not work. However our lives would be very different if it disappeared. I could hardly get the car out of the garage. Perhaps the car would not even move.

Paula

Sleeping and Yoga

Hello,

I had two nights in a row of sleeping at least five hours at a time. After going to the bathroom once during the night, I went back to sleep for the remainder of the time. It was wonderful and I felt so good during the day. For some optimistic reason I thought I had it all locked in with a changed sleep pattern.

However last night popped that bubble. I had a little trouble going to sleep. Just as I got there the neighbors across the street decided to have some type of altercation that involved yelling, slamming doors, and loudly driving away. It was quiet after that, but I was unfortunately awake. Leroy managed to slip promptly back to the world of dreams while I shifted my position several times before drifting peacefully down. The first time I woke to go the bathroom I was hoping that it would be close to morning, but that was a vain thought as it was only 12:30. Sigh! I managed to walk up two more times before it was morning. My eyes were dry, but getting a drink one time helped with that. Perhaps that is what I needed all along, but did not realize it.

This morning I followed a yoga tape that left me with a sure knowledge that there are many poses that I cannot possibly do. At least that keeps me humble. Sometimes when I do things that others cannot, I feel a bit of pride. This tape, however, assured me that we all have our limitations. A comfortable place is to accept what I can do as a gift, work for more, but be aware that there are always others who can do what is impossible for me. In other words I should not be so arrogant or hard on myself. Neither is a happy contented place to be.

Paula