Unrelated: Here’s why there is no God -- if there was, he’d send down a thunderbolt and strike Ted Cruz dead, because he’s ugly. A lot of other reasons to be sure, but ugly would be way up there as important. God would certainly not want such an a-hole on his side.

Back to topic:

I’m going through paperwork this morning -- I have lost several prescriptions for tests I should have and will have to phone the facility and find out what to do without them. First on the list is tomorrow’s ultrasound.
My doctor, seeking to find the reason for a month long dizzy headache (intermittent) decided to test me for everything. I have already refused a 5-hour glucose tolerance test. It is considered the only reliable test for a diabetic condition. I don’t know why the home kit isn’t sufficient but the medics don’t think so. What happens in this test is you get to the hospital by 8 a.m., without eating; they give you a sweet drink, they measure your body’s response and throughout the ensuing 5 hours, they repeat, repeat, repeat. A lot of people get sick, throw up, etc. Knowing myself as I do, I think I will be one of them. Anyway, my headache symptoms have abated -- I have been sniffing peppermint oil and it is helping.

I am refusing an overnight heart monitor. Every day, wearing a 5 lb. weight on each ankle, I do 16 ballet jumps and lie on the floor and do wide arc, straight-leg movements and a few standing up. I think my heart would have protested before now. In any case, I am getting two ultrasounds, one for the carotid artery and I forget what the other one is for.

My irritation with the medical process is that, because of my age, there are knee-jerk tests ordered. Doctors have learned to rely on tests instead of the diagnostic skills that used to be common among truly good doctors, and they are also covering their asses in case they miss something. Also, tests are good business. Ed refers to this as practicing money instead of medicine.

I don’t feel like being a guinea pig. A few years ago, I had some symptoms (hormone therapy was contributing). An upper endoscopy was ordered. I said, no way. It is invasive and I thought unnecessary because, in New York, my gynecologist was fully aware of the symptoms that go with hormone replacement and was monitoring me. Occasionally, he’d perform a D&C which had to be under general anesthesia because of my body structure.

Anyway, I had to stop the HRT when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Things look okay on that front three years later -- all tests clear. I thought I’d miss the HRT more than I do and I am surprised that I look better. However, I am not as strong nor do I have as much endurance as before. And several years later, it is obvious I never needed that test.

I did have to adjust to the cessation of the HRT -- it took 2 -3 years to work itself out. Symptoms I had (intermittent pain, loss of balance, etc.) spooked the medics. Into the hospital for 5 days -- heart monitor, cat scan, MRI, ultrasounds -- nothing, nada, zip. $30,000. I did a ballet jump for the neurologist and he blanched, wrote it into his report, I learned. I had been on the neurology floor so they did their auto-discharge number -- sending me home with instructions on how to avoid stroke that included no salt. Heads up: I need salt. I have low blood pressure. If I had followed those guidelines, I would be in a coma.

I know doctors hate when patients tilt at them and my response is that I am not a typical 82-yr.-old patient and you should take that into account. So, even though I know my internist is miffed, I am not going to back down.

xx, Teal