House Calls (on a Saturday afternoon, no less)

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.

 

Picture of the Day: Loving those drugs from the Sixties

The other day I was coming down Lincoln Avenue in Bellevue and was surprised to see this storefront sign, hidden since the 1960s.  Construction crews were tearing down the front of Rite-Aid Pharmacy, which declared bankruptcy and shut their doors in my neighborhood in December 2023. 

(For the record, I sort of blame them for my long covid; I stopped there to pick up my blood pressure meds after Thanksgiving in Nov 2023.  They asked me to come back on Monday.  When I said “Will you guys still be around?” they assured me they would. 

When I returned, they were closed and had sent my prescription to Giant Eagle.  My friend Susie gave me a ride to Giant Eagle; she had covid but didn’t know it, voila.)

Anyway, Rite-Aid had been my drugstore for 30 years.  But when I moved to Bellevue in 1993, it was Eckerd Drugs, which were bought by Rite-Aid in 1996.

But before it was Eckerd Drugs… it was THRIFT DRUGS.  A Pittsburgh company, they opened in 1935.  And that’s what this was until 1968 when it was bought by JCPenney, who sold it to Eckerd.

Anyway, the construction crew had halted their work on the storefront (which is being converted into office space) but no one seemed to know why.  I thought I’d get a couple pics before they tore it down further. 

I don’t know why I find this so curious, I can’t help but wonder—how long has it been since anyone last saw this vintage sign?  A lady on the street said “I haven’t shopped at Thrift since I don’t know when!  But it wasn’t Thrift Drugs, it was Thrift Drug!” 

My dear woman, that sign is evidence to the contrary.  Anyway, I’d love to go back in time and take a gander at the items for sale inside.  Remember Breck Shampoo?  Prell in a tube?  Dippity-Do?  Hi-Karate Men’s Aftershave?  I wonder if it had a soda fountain?

Well, the good news is my bus drove past a couple days ago and they still haven’t torn it down.  It sure would be fun to see Thrift Drugs make a comeback!

Let the healing begin (well, let some healing begin at least)

Today has been a good day—well, a better day than the last few ones.  Walking VERY carefully, I was able to make it to the bus stop to catch a ride to the Lutheran Senior Center for lunch.  But when I arrived, I discovered I’d forgotten to sign up. 

(You need to sign up at least 2 business days in advance, I could’ve sworn I did last week.)

However, my timing was perfect—Evie had just arrived, discovered she too had forgotten to sign up so off we went to KFC for some much needed fried chicken.  We brought our food back to the center, and afterward she gave me a ride to Kuhn’s Market for some much needed groceries.  

Evie if you’re reading this.. thank you again.  I love you dearly.

When I got home, some welcome relief was in the mail.  The gout (or even fungal infection) I thought I had a couple weeks ago… it’s neither.  My PCP say it’s most likely plantar fasciitis, and based on the symptoms (burning calves & soles, painful to walk in your bare feet) he recommended a couple items which I just got in the mail today, pictured above. 

A pair of nubby foot rollers and some very excellent plantar cream.  It’s hot, but soothing stuff.

This whole ordeal has been too strange, I just wish I had a timeline of when this will end.  A lot of folks at the center (Evie included) have had this, and say that one day you wake up and it’s just gone.  I certainly hope so, my PCP said it could take a few months. 

It’s in both feet, but definitely more in the right one.  And on that note… here’s my 9 1/2 double-wide right foot.  Thanks for reading.