This past Friday (September 5) with the help of my dear friend Mary, I visited my new doctor in nearby West View so he could look at my plantar fasciitis and also have bloodwork done. Mary, THANK YOU.
(I regret to say the foot problems have gotten worse since a week ago, and it’s just too painful to walk even with shoes. I am seeing a so-called plantar specialist this Wednesday at Bellevue Chiropractic.)
Anyway, Dr.Mike told me he once had this same condition (from being an overzealous marathon runner) and wound up tearing the fascia in both feet. It took him two months to make a 90% recovery. He said “There’s an old saying, ‘work thru the pain’. That is wrong. Do NOT work thru the pain.” Got it, doc.
Afterward, they took me into another room to do the bloodwork—I asked the nurse her name, she said “Karen but don’t worry I’m not one of THOSE Karens.” What a shame that someone named Karen almost has to defend themselves now!
After they finished, they told me they’d have the results in a couple days and someone from the office would schedule another visit or talk to me on the phone.
So earlier today (Saturday) I’m sitting here on my sofa, the phone rings. I don’t recognize the number, but pick it up anyway. I hear “Hello Doug? It’s Doctor Mike.” He explained he was reviewing my bloodwork and didn’t want to wait until Monday to call me.
Uh-oh!! A woman at the senior center once told me her doctor called her once after-hours—to inform her she had diabetes. My heart began racing and I said okay, I was ready.
He said “I’m comparing your numbers to 2 previous blood works, one 3 years ago, one 5 years ago. Your good cholesterol numbers remain stable, your bad cholesterol has decreased. We see no excess uric acid, nothing indicating possible prostate cancer, your glucose and A1C numbers are in safe ranges so you aren’t a candidate for diabetes.”
I said wow that’s awesome and he said the numbers were much better than 5 years ago. He also said “Your liver enzymes were 78 in 2020, making you a candidate for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Your enzymes now is 13, I would’ve been happy with 25. How did you do that?” I told him I gave up candy, cake, soda pop, nightly pie and weekend ice cream for the most part. He said “I think that worked out in your favor.”
So, he wants me to come back in 2 months. I’m still 30 pounds overweight, still have high blood pressure, still dealing with daily long covid relapses in the side of my skull and now this infernal plantar fasciitis in both feet. But somehow, my insides are doing better than ever!
I know this was a boring read, sorry about that. I just had to share the good news with somebody.
That bloodwork news is very good. You should be happy and want to shout it from the rooftops. As we age it gets harder and harder to get those numbers in order. You are doing a lot of right things. Keep it up.
ReplyDeleteThank you Dkzody, much appreciated. 🙂
DeleteWow - great results in your blood work! Your changes really made a difference. And what a great guy Dr Mike is! Wonderful he called on Saturday so you didn't have to sweat it out for more days.
ReplyDeleteNow we just need to get the foot things straightened out. What a goofy thing to happen, but it sounds like he is on the case!
I have a neighbor named Karen. It was such a normal name. I think we had several Karen's in my graduating class (I know that dates me). Meanwhile, when ever I say "my neighbor Karen" these days, everyone starts laughing!
DeleteThank you Miss Merry! To be honest the plantar fasciitis worries me more than anything, only because it really limits my getting around and I've never had it before. But you're right that doctor of mine, I sure do you like him. 👍👍
DeletePS I had four Karens in my high school graduating class and they were all wonderful girls! In fact one was my very closest friend who just passed a year ago. I have a sad feeling people are going to be naming their babies Karen again anytime soon.
DeleteThat's such wonderful news! I always hope for good cholesterol and A1C numbers--those are the main ones I'm worried about. Now that you have such excellent insides. you need your outsides to cooperate. It sounds like you're getting some good advice!
ReplyDeleteThanks Margaret, I'm really glad I went yesterday. I'm so caught up in this darn plantar fascitis stuff that I almost canceled the blood work. That brought some needed peace of mind at least. 👍
DeleteWell, that seems to be pretty good news. If you can get your feet right (and long covid, of course) things would really be looking up.
ReplyDeleteI have never been a “work through your pain” person. If it starts hurting, I stop. That’s served me well.
There wouldn’t be that confusion with Karen if she was Australian – she’d be called Kazza.
Similarly, Sharons are Shazza, Barrys are Bazza and so on.
Fortunately, there’s nothing they can do with Peter.
Haha Peter my good friend thank you for the chuckle. I'm very glad I know you. 😄
DeleteI sure hope they can get some help for your plantar fasciatis soon. I see this ad on TV all the time about how GoodFeet arch supports help. Have you tried that?
ReplyDeleteThank you DJan, to be honest it's been years since I've seen any good feet commercials so no I haven't tried those yet. I have to wait and see what the specialist says this week. He'll be doing x-rays and stuff.
Delete