earache

Monday, April 14, 2008 4:23 AM

So I had this earache, ya see? Pressure in my ear, hearing loss, face swollen on that side, ringing, numbness, yadda-yadda... Had it for a week and it wouldn't go away. Had something similar maybe 10 years ago, and I figured antibiotic, decongestant, maybe a shot of cortisone, which is what it took back then. So I took a night off from my job and made the first doctor's appointment I've had in about 10 years.

Walked in, paid the fee, filled out alla the paperwork. The nurse took my blood pressure-- then stopped. Took it again. Changed to a different machine. Tried the other arm. Got the Doctor's Assistant. He tried both arms. Then they got the Doctor. She took it on both arms and then explained. It was 190 over something. 200 is when the little oil derrick on Popeye's head explodes in a gusher.

Which, of course, blew her mind. " Can't treat your ear, anything I do might cause a stroke. We gotta get your BP under control before you leave the office today---" So she put me on one BP med--- she says it may take a combo of 3 or 4, but she wants to sneak up on 'em one at a time, to watch for side effects. Makes sense. Meanwhile, lifestyle changes- exercise, take pills, loose weight, change my diet, low sodium, low colesteral, reduce sugar and caffiene, lower stress, monitor my BP, buy a machine for that, Lots of Doctor office visits at $ 30 a pop. And a blood test...

Now, I've got a phobia about folks with needles. Can't watch some of the scenes in FF and the BDM where they're sticking folks with 'em. That's the main reason why I haven't been to a doctor in years- never been in a medical situation yet where somebody wasn't trying to stab me with something sharp, usually in the ass, and hurt me, " for my own good." So we negociated that one, put it on hold for the time being.

Anyway, she finally looked in my ear, and said, " Your problem is impacted wax- flush it with peroxide and water, it'll clear up. " Which I did, and it did.

Meanwhile, I've started walking every day, eating better, eating smaller portions, eating fruit-- I ate the first banana I've had since High School. Had a burger over the weekend, but it was a single with no cheese, instead of a double cheeseburger. Ate a tuna sandwich on white for lunch the other day-- maybe not the first since high school, but the first in a long time.

But I've lived on Pepsi-Cola and junk food for maybe 30 years. Eggs and sausage for breakfast. Drinking bottled *W*A*T*E*R* and fruit juice don't get it. Pasteurized OJ tastes like <gose>, that's why I don't drink the stuff. NO chips, no cookies, the old boiled fish and bran muffin diet. And my wife has done this for years, to deal with HER various troubles, so now I gotta put up with " I toldya so..."

Went to the supermarket today, and the "healthy " option products, where there were any, cost twice as much. Can't have tomato sauce, too much sodium, so no spagetti or gumbo, which we have lived on. No lunch meat, no pickles, no sauces, no Hamburger Helper, no mac-n-cheese, no cheese...

So I'm gonna lose weight one way or the other, either because I choose to eat healthier, or eat smaller portions, or because I can't afford to eat any more than I get, or maybe just because I'll starve.

But today I got lots of frustration. I DON"T WANTA DO ANY OF THIS STUFF. But I'm gonna, I understand the need, and the cause and effect relation, I JUST don't wanta. It would be easier if it didn't cost more of my already short money, and stuff was available at the local store instead of Acme HealthFood, where ya can pay $10 for a half gallon of good OJ. But I'm gonna do it, one day at a time. and see how it goes.

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