September 2004
This month:
Health Concerns . . . . and . . . . Seven Samurai
Movie Watching posted: 9-11-04
the Road to Ruin
I watched "Road to Perdition" recently. In case you haven't seen this 2002 release - I will try not to spoil it.
I'm not a big Tom Hanks fan - I've enjoyed a lot of his movies, but - I get tired of the same performance in different costumes.
However I thought this was one of Tom's better performances. I even forgot I was watching Tom Hanks - most of the time.
The movie was pretty Hollywood formula - predictable.
Cinematography was good. The movie was saved by solid acting across the board.
So, on a scale of 1-10, I'd say "7". Members of IMDB go a little higher with 7.8 .
http://imdb.com/title/tt0257044
As I was reading the trivia section: http://imdb.com/title/tt0257044/trivia I noticed that this was the last film shot by Cinematographer - Conrad L. Hall. No wonder I was impressed by his work - he had a long and distinguished career: http://imdb.com/name/nm0005734
He earned 3 oscars - including one for his work on "Perdition".
Perdition - as you probably know - I had to look it up -- means ruin or hell / loss of the soul; eternal damnation.
Stamp it yourself posted: 9-11-04
Lick Your Own
I don't know if this is legal - seems to me the post office people who make collectible stamps would try to block this.
But, I bet this is an example of a fun new digital concept that will - in perhaps a trivial way - revolutionize / revitalize snail mail.
I think I've heard that US Postal income from letter postage has dropped off significantly in recent years (because of e-mail).
This marriage of old and new technology might be a brilliant response:
Losing Pressure posted: 9-11-04
I've posted the following excerpt from my personal medical log for several reasons (by the way - I've been doing much better since I originally wrote all the following - noticeable numbness subsided about a week after seeing doctor - I think due in part to my self-prescribed diet, exercise and meditation - didn't start Lexapro till 9/1):
(1) - I'm still trying to "stand back" and look at my situation from different perspectives - trying to re-evaluate.
(2) - I don't feel I have a close friend to discuss these matters with and get feedback from.
(3) - If my condition should prove serious - this is my way of going on record.
(4) - Although I don't expect to get feedback from the one or two people who may occasionally skim thru my blog - I may post a link to this section in a health forum in hopes of getting other opinions about the health care I've received and my plan of action.
My Medical Log
8/21/04 Saturday morning:
I've just "slept on it" - my visit to doctor yesterday. What follows may be the ramblings of one prone to fits of "high anxiety". Well, here's the thing - - the more I think about it (also prone to over processing) - I arrived at 11:25am - the doc greeted me wearing a lab coat. When I saw him at end of visit - he was no longer wearing lab coat or any other sort of medical office accoutrements - it was as though he was on his way out to lunch. This may also explain why, in part, he was snippy when I asked about the blood test. My opinion regarding blood test - he had either forgotten to have it drawn - or dismissed the idea altogether as unwarranted. The arrival of lunch time may also have had something to do with why the EKG was done so quickly. Was it a genuine EKG, or just a token effort?
(Dr Wolcott replied to a question I posted at message board on webmd.com - stating that it is possible to get a reading after just 10 seconds. So maybe it was a "real" EKG and the doc actually read it correctly.)
Call me psychotic (and I probably am), but I'm very uncomfortable with placing what seems to me a potentially very serious health issue in the hands of a facility staff that I have repeatedly found to be incompetent and rude - and drug peddling.
My revision of yesterday's diagnosis and prescription:
Diagnosis:
My life in general has been very difficult for some time now - lots of stress. I do get very anxious on my job. I can seldom seem to meet the productivity demands of my employer. I often find myself in stressful - even confrontational situations with my customers. Part of me hopes that my problem is simply the way I respond to stress, because another part of me is concerned about heart disease. So, the doc's diagnosis - pending lab results - is that my problems are related to anxiousness. My concern here, is that I'm afraid the doc may have made up his mind and he won't actually look at the uranalysis, blood test, x-ray, ekg, or stress test results.
Prescription:
1) Englert has prescribed a stress test - which I'm looking forward to as a further diagnostic. But, depending on my insurance - this might cost me a pretty penny - and the tester may not give me the full result - requiring me to go back to Doc Englert - whom I have limited confidence in. If I can determine via insurance company that cost will be minimal - and that I can schedule it around work - I will go ahead with test. Even if testing physician won't give me full results - I think I can get an overall sense of test (do I get heart pain, etc).
2) He has also prescribed that I take Lexapro - an anti-depressant. Seems odd to me that there was no discussion of mental health therapy, lifestyle changes etc - - just - here take this drug? I would like to get all the results from all the tests before I introduce such a complex chemical into my system - not knowing what the problem really is yet. I will just have to try and mellow out more and start an exercise routine to help with that.
3) And then, because I have mild heart burn (well, I think of it more as indigestion) - he prescribed that I take Zantac. I guess I don't understand what this has to do with the numbness in my arms, feeling faint, heavy chested and having to lie down. Again, lets try to determine what's really going on before administering drugs.
I think it simply comes down to this - - - What is the problem?? For example - Is there a problem with my heart (disease or plac in arteries etc)? - since a lot of the symptoms seem to point to a heart or circulatory problem - - is it not a fair and reasonable expectation on my part - to ask for all reasonable tests regarding my heart??? And to be taken seriously? And to be treated with respect?
I will find another clinic and schedule a routine physical for a 54 year old male.
8/20/04 Walk-in Clinic
Visited Campasina Clinic across street. Was told I would have to call Monday (today is Friday) to schedule myself to be taken in as a new patient. So, went back to Thornton Medical Center "walk-in" (11:25am). Actually felt pretty good about the way I was treated. Submitted a copy of my write-up below to Dr. Englert (D.O.). And he actually read it. His first impression - as was mine - was that this was a problem with my heart. Took 4 x-rays (two didn't turn out correct because she had machine set too high! - had to re-shoot). Doctor also had EKG administered - took about a 10 sec reading - I thought it was supposed to be much longer?? Doc said EKG (I thought it was called an ECG - electro cardio grahm?) - was perfect. Blood pressure was 104/73. This seemed a little low to me, but I was trying to be laid back and calm (better than high?). Doc took my grocery store wallet record of blood pressure checks - to make a copy - and didn't return it - and I forgot to ask for it back ( I always get a little flustered during doctor visits - hence my coming prepared with the write-up below.). I also submitted sample for uranalysis.
Englert came in with meds, bill, and prescriptions to wrap things up. He never mentioned (to my flustered knowledge) drawing blood). So, after a bit, I interrupted him and asked if it wouldn't be a good idea - since my issue was circulatory related - to run a blood test? He turned the table on me and asked - almost sarcastically - what kind of test I thought should be run. And I said "I don't know - maybe a CBC?" and he fired back that he did know (being the doctor and all). He acted as though he had planned to have blood drawn - all along - and, among other tests - including the CBC - check for cholesterol. I think - if I hadn't said something - they would not have drawn blood. To me - of all the things used in this exam - the blood might be the most telling.
Diagnosis:
So, the doc's diagnosis - pending lab results - is that my problems are related to anxiousness. "Being the doctor and all" - I'm willing to go with his assessment for now. I do get very anxious on my job. I can seldom seem to meet the productivity demands of my employer. I often find myself in stressful - even confrontational situations with my customers. Part of me hopes that is what it is, because another part of me is concerned about heart disease.
Prescription:
1) Englert has prescribed a stress test - which I'm looking forward to as a further diagnostic.
2) He has also prescribed that I take Lexapro an anti-depressant. Lexapro supposedly "helps to restore the brain's chemical balance by increasing the available supply of serotonin . ..". - according to the Forest Laboratories literature. Although I'm anxious about taking a drug for depression - I've contemplated doing so for many years. I'm a little afraid of this, but I know depression and anxiety affects/effects me terribly - and this may be my best chance, better late than never, of breaking out. I plan on holding off on the Lex until after the stress test - which I will try to schedule next Friday (my next day off).
3) And then, because I have mild heart burn (well, I think of it more as indigestion) - he prescribed that I take Zantac.
My reaction:
Thornton Medical Center - Well, they shot me with more than twice the x-rays that I should have been exposed to. I have questions about the validity of the "EKG". And I strongly suspect the Doc was not going to have blood drawn - maybe because he is leaning strongly with the idea - that its "all in my head" - so to speak. Neither the staff or the doc ever recommended anything in the area of stress relief, diet or exercise. I felt offended by Dr. Englert's snippy response toward the end because I dared to ask if blood was going to be drawn. My sense - with this visit and previous - is that these folks love to prescribe drugs. Therefore - despite of my initial hopeful impression - my experience with Thornton Medical Center has not improved. I was left feeling like a hopeless, powerless little pawn (or victim) in our great medical care system. What's a poor boy to do? Try to find another clinic.
The prescription.
a) Stress test - yes - lets get it on and see how my body reacts.
b) I know I have a terrible problem with depression. Maybe if I could have a complete life style change (including change of job) - I wouldn't need meds, but I have a feeling this is the most practical course - to medicate.
c) Seems to me - if prescription #2 works, I don't have a need for #3?
I may drag my feet on this one. I'm anxious enough about taking Lexapro - without adding more drugs to my system.
some questions:
What is an EKG? and how long should it run?
Same as an ECG (Kardia is greek for heart).
"An electrocardiogram usually takes 5 to 10 minutes to complete. Sometimes a longer period of recording ("a rhythm strip") is done to measure your heart's rhythm for a minute or longer." according to webmd.com it should have taken at least 5 minutes. When I had one 15 or so years ago it seemed to take quite a while. http://my.webmd.com
What is a D.O.? Is it a real doctor?
"An osteopath will be able to diagnose and treat medical conditions, prescribe drugs, and perform surgery. However, due to their extra training in the muscles and bones they will be able to understand and fix problems with structures of the body (such as bones) by using their hands (a technique known as osteopathic manipulative treatment). For example, D.O.'s may help patients stretch their muscles or place pressure on the joints to improve movement. A joint is a place where two bones contact each other. D.O.'s are generally more willing to try non-prescription drugs to treat problems, such as herbs."
www.medfriendly.com/doctorofosteopathy.html#difference
