October 22, 2013

Seeing the Doctor

October 22, 2013

This morning I was up early and did some cleaning for quilting group tonight before I went to an 8:30 appointment with the orthopedic surgeon.  Ron and I both really like this doctor and his wife (who helps in the office).  While the doctor was looking for an old x-ray at one point, I got to visit some with his wife.  She is helping her daughter make a baby quilt for the daughter's baby due the end of the year.  I invited her to quilting tonight, but she had to work late.

Before seeing the doctor, the x-ray technician did weight, blood pressure, etc. and updated the information in the computer - as mandated by the government.  He had taken my blood pressure before asking those questions and it was high - if he had taken it after the questions, I might have maxed out the machine.  Why do they (he must get this information) need to know if I own or rent my home?; how many people live in my house?; who they are?; etc.  I was not a happy camper.  I really had trouble hearing the technician.  He speaks fast, softly, mumbles, and with an accent.  He had to repeat everything he said to me.

Then the technician took 4 x-rays of the elbow.  The doctor came into the x-ray room while I was waiting for them to be sure the x-rays were good.  The doctor asked how I was doing.  I told him I am an impatient perfectionist.  I told him that things were going fairly well but that I have a lot of wrist pain, especially when I type.  We returned to the exam room where he checked my progress.   I am making progress.  He was pleased with the elbow extension and inward bending.  He made some suggestions - including buying a different keyboard for the computer.  He went looking for the wrist x-ray from a few months ago and that was when I got to visit with his wife.

He had the technician do some wrist x-rays and said the pain seems to be from some bone deterioration in the wrist from non use.  He said that should get better as I use it more and to expect the arm to continue to get better with time.  I am to see him in six weeks again - no more physical therapy.  I need to do the exercises on my own regularly. 

It was 10:15 by the time I got to the office and Ron had needed to leave for an appointment he had, so he had just locked up and put a sign on the door, "Back in  1 Hour."  A few minutes after I got there, my friend Rhonda stopped by after walking and climbing steps at the football stadium behind our office.  While she cooled off, we had a nice visit.  She had been out of town for a week, so we had some catching up to do.  For many years I have really had a hard time hearing her, but now I do pretty well if there aren't a lot of other noises around.

Ron got back a little after noon.  I ran an errand to the convenience store down the street and traffic had pulled over for a couple of police motorcycles and a patrol car with flashing lights and sirens rushing toward town.  A block on past the convenience store were several police cars.  I wasn't sure I wanted to be out and about!  Turned out part of it was due to a house fire in an empty house.

At the office I waited on several customers, one of whom wanted me to let him use my machines so he could cut his own keys.  NO!  I wonder when he goes to the meat market if he asks to be able to cut his own meat.  When we think we have heard it all, we find we haven't!

Ron was out again in the afternoon on a job and once he got back I left a little early to go pay the utility  bill and come home and get ready for quilting.  There were four of us at quilting, including me.  It had been so long since we had been together that we ended up mostly just visiting and catching up.

After the quilters left, I talked to Bob and Vickey a long time while they typed.  It had been several days since we had visited.