Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Doctor's Visits, Surprises, and What I Should Be Doing Right Now...

Yesterday I had a doctor's appointment. The one that you have to go to because, if you don't schedule it and actually show up, the doctor will not refill your prescriptions and then you are all out of luck. We have a terrific doctor. He is the same one I take my grandma to. Leonard initially "found" him 9 years ago, when we moved here and I was impressed enough to stop going to U of M and just let him coordinate my care here. It has gone rather well, except for that moment in 2005, but that wasn't his fault...it was the hospital and surgeon's fault. So there I was, feeling pretty good about myself because I've finally gotten up the nerve to go back to the gym (a new gym that doesn't remind me so much of better, happier times) and restart my cardio/circuit schedule. The nurse took my blood pressure and said to me,"Are you stressed?" Oh....hahahahahahaahahahahahaahHAHAHAHAHAHA... My response,"Maybe just a little." Because I hate being whiney and poor me-ish and still have quite a bit of doctor=authority going on in my head even though I will deny it. So they did an orthostatics (sp...it's the one where they take your resting pulse and BP and your standing pulse and BP) and my resting pulse and BP were 140/98 and 143 respectively. Yes, I am a little stressed. My doctor came in and the same old ensued..."Did you take the Toprol/Diovan/Tambocor?" and "We're going to up the Toprol for just a little while...when was the last time you saw the cardiologist..blah blah blah blah..." and I was crushed over this,"Stay away from the gym for a week to give the meds time..." even as I argued that I often check my heartrate and it is really only in the 160's when I'm giving it my all on the treadmill and can't I...? Bleh... So I'm mad and sad all at the same time. I used to come home and do all the whining (the stuff I don't do at the dr's office) to Leonard and he was so good at being so very caring and put uppy with me. My left knee cap is apparently still drifting off to the west and a few other things. Then came the Q and A "How's your head" part of the visit. I do like this doctor because he is thorough, cares about the body and mind, explains things and such, but I don't want him to be that way and it kind of sucks that my dad has the same doctor because he tells him stuff. Stuff that he surmises about me. And I don't like that. And I told both the doctor and my father this yesterday. Yes, I appreciate that my father cares about me and my wellbeing but I am 37, quite smart, still here, still managing so please don't treat me like a 12 year old even though I know that is what Dads like to do and they really can't help themselves... (I know that was a run on sentence but in real life, I tend to talk in runons and it sometimes makes me feel better to type like I talk and I would totally irritate the heck out of most of you if we were ever to talk on the phone...) End of appointment. New appointment made for BP/pulse/weight (apparently he is not delighted by my recent weight loss like I would be if it were any other year) and I will try and figure some way out of it because that is what I do. Day made better by trip to Trader Joe's with K, my dad's girlfriend. I am really getting to know her more as the months go by and it was nice to spend some more time with her. It was sweet when James came home from school. He didn't see K in the kitchen and came in all "Mom! Mom! I can play you a whole song on the recorder!!!!" and then he saw K and dropped his bag and launched himself at her for a hug. My mother doesn't realize what she is giving up.

I have been teasing James all week, in an attempt to get him out of bed in the morning. I have told him I have this huge surprise for him (which I do because I am not really that mean. He has spent all week so far trying to figure it out. "I know! We're getting the car washed!!!" (isn't he the greatest that he thinks that is a "surprise"? either that or I am the lamest, laziest mama in the world...) and "You bought a PS3 with Call of Duty 4!!!!?" (Okay, maybe I am the lamest because that's not it either) The surprise is that I am picking up his cousins today (they are off for Spring break) and we will surpise him at school and then go to a show and dinner. He loves spending time with his cousins and they have been desperate to see him.

What I should be doing instead of fretting over doctor's appts and surprises is PACKING... You know the thing from last month. I tell myself I will just get it done, and clean the fridge, and clean the bedroom so my dad has someplace to sleep when he baby...er teen sits Nik, and scrub the floors and dust and blah, blah, blah... Instead I am sitting here, doing this and watching the time slip away again...

20 comments:

Donna said...

You'll get it all done! You've just reminded me that I need to make Our appointments for the yearly stuff...geez...I can't stand going to the Dr. Hope James has a blast with the cousins!hughugs

Rach said...

What a FANTASTIC surprise for James. I assure you, that is FAR better than a car wash, OR the PS3. :oP

I'm happy you survived the dr. appt, and no worries or stresses about the house. It'll happen.

HUGS!

Courtney said...

Watch the time pass if that's what you need to do. That is wonderful what you are doing for James tonight. You are a wonderful mom, keep doing what you're doing.

Betts4 said...

Ah the doctor. I was there last week and learned all kinds of things. I have all kinds of tests lined up. My BP may have beat yours, but it was up there. They took it three times. Are we stressed???? Yeah. right. ha. ha.

I am glad you are going to someone that is watching out for you and you are comfortable with. That's important. Take it all one step at a time.

Laurie in Ca. said...

What a great surprise for James. I'd love to see his face when he sees his cousins! Kids are so easy to love, look at how he responded to seeing K.
You're right, your mom doesn't know what she is giving up and it's so sad to see. I love my grandkids sooooooo much. I love your runon thoughts and it takes talent to type it here. And don't worry about the messes in the house. They are the most patient things in our life that just wait for us to take care of them. And the stress, well, I think you are on the right track in knowing how to "eliminate" a majority of the irritants that cause it:) I think you are doing really good Laura. Keep taking care of YOU.

Love, Laurie in Ca.

J said...

I think James and my daughter are the only two kids who are NOT on spring break this week. Oh, and I guess the other kids in their districts...but most of the schools around here are out, and off my daughter trudges to finals. She'll have the last laugh next week.

I like your run on sentences, because I like blogs to sound like I would imagine you speak, not like formal writing. :)

I'm sorry your health isn't perfect. It would be a little bit easier to cope if it weren't one more thing to have on your mind. Oh, and I hope your doctor agreed to stop talking about you to your dad. That's not groovy.

Karen said...

Laura, what a great surprise for James! You are such a great mom.

We are leaving on a big road trip on Friday for Spring Break. So I should be packing too, yet here I am. Procrastination is universal. Hee hee!

Nance said...

Hey! I still am fascinated by the automatic car wash, and I'm almost 49 years old!

Stella said...

I think a car wash would be a wonderful surprise!! ;)

Hope everybody has a great time when the cousins visit. That's one thing I missed out on is cousins. My parents were both only children. But I "adopted" some so it's all good.

Sounds like you all are really going to have good reasons to smile soon.

Love,
Stella

Shannon said...

You are doing great. HUGS

artemisia said...

Good for you for standing up to your doctor. Doctors have such an air of authority - that couldn't have been easy.

Marshamlow said...

I think you should hire someone to come and do the majority of the cleaning for you, then take a spa day with your dad's girl friend. You need to relax dr.'s orders. I am so sorry to hear that your grief is taking a toll on your health, I guess that whole, mind body connection crap might be true. Sending hugs.

Jeanette said...

In April I have a appointment with my primary care doctor at 8:30 am for a diabetes blood check, a 12:30appointment with my GYN doctor for a annual check up and then a 1:30 appointment for a mammogram. Nothing like getting it all done at one time! Stress can certainly play havoc with your health, can't it? I hope James has a good time with his cousins.

Linda said...

Seriously Laura, you should hire someone to clean the fridge, wash the car, and anything else you need done around the house. The pressure would be off you...

Stress really takes it toll on our bodies, doesn't it. The thinnest I ever been in my life was due to serious stress, and while I liked the visual results, the doctor chewed me out.
Now years later, I'm not so stressed and somewhat "fluffy". We can't win, can we?

Unknown said...

Hey..where is there a trader joe's around here??

BetteJo said...

Oh! Oh! I'll take the car wash!!

What? Did I miss something?

Shari said...

Aw. How sweet. My kids loved the car wash. It was one of those automated ones where the car rolls through and gets squirted, brushed, and all. There was a huge window inside the building so you could watch the car get a bath. I miss doing that.

A good surprise for them would be a picnic at the park. :)

Stay healthy. :)

Kathy said...

I love the way you write Laura. I can imagine you sitting right here across from me, at the kitchen table with our coffee, sharing our run-ons. Although in 'real' life we wouldn't be bold enough to share the things that can be shared anonymously. ;-)
Just this past week I was wondering how your health was 'dealing' with the constant 'stuff' you are suffering with. Sounds like your doc cares. Annoying sometimes perhaps, but I am glad you have him.
You are an awesome Mom! Cousins as a surprise, how perfect!
Hugs and prayers!

Karen MEG said...

Your boy is such a sweetheart, and you are such a wonderful mom.

Not everything needs to get done at this very moment. Sometimes this space here is just as important.

Anonymous said...

Laura,

I grew up during a time when there was little money and few surprises. One day when I was six my mother told my older sister and me that she had a surprise for us. She made us get dressed in our nice clothes and took us off in the car. This was a rare occurrence, indeed! I was on pins and needles the entire time from the sheer joy of excitement. When we pulled up in front of the pediatrician's office, my heart sank a bit. At that very moment my mother turned off the motor and said to my sister and me, "Well, girls. We're here to get your last polio shot." I had a terror of needles so my heart began to race. When I protested that this couldn't be the surprise, my mother assured me that it was. I felt so betrayed! Looking back on it I'm sure my mother just wanted to get us to the doctor without a lot of protest. Afterward she said, "That was some surprise, eh?" Some surprise, all right. It was a dirty trick! I made sure I never did anything like that to my girls, though I'm sure they have plenty of horror stories they could tell. We all try our best to be good parents and do the best we can under the circumstances.

Lissie