Bad Case of Loving You

Honestly, I don't have a bad case of loving anyone in particular, at least not in a romantic way. What made me think of this particular song today was the line, "Doctor, doctor, give me the news!" So really, this song has nothing to do with what I'm writing about apart from that lyric.

My follow-up appointment with my cardiologist was today. Since the last time I saw him, a week and a half ago, I've had an echocardiagram, a Holter monitor, and a venous leg study. Here's the verdict: First of all, the current dosages of the two medications I'm on for blood pressure seem to be doing the trick. My BP was perfect today, and my legs haven't swollen since about two days after the med changes. My echo looked good, the Holter monitor showed that my heart does skip sometimes but apparently not in a dangerous way -- and, no, I don't understand that exactly -- and the venous study showed some irregularities in my left leg but not enough for me to need any kind of surgery. I'm good! I'm healthy! And I've lost another three pounds! I'm not thrilled about being on two types of medicine for blood pressure, but at least it's working and there are no other problems. Good news for sure.

Still, the experience of my doctor's visit was quite weird. There was a very old man, who came out to pick up his delivered Jimmy John's order while I was in the waiting room. The bill was fifteen or sixteen dollars; he gave the delivery kid a twenty and said, "Just give me three dollars back." I was thinking, "What a cheap son of a bitch!" The kid had to drive over there and wait, and even if it was just one sandwich and a drink, the waiting kept him from making other, possibly more lucrative, deliveries. I would have told him to keep all the change. Anyway, I overheard the staff saying something about my doctor being tied up at the hospital. They weren't sure when he would be back, so another doctor was covering his appointments, including mine. Don't you know it turned out to be the very same old man who got the food order! I was sitting in the exam room for I-don't-know-how-long for him to finish his Jimmy John's, and when he came in he was picking his teeth and even passed wind at least once.

He didn't know how to use the computer; I'm just hoping he gave me the right results. I feel fine, and in four weeks I'll have another check-up. I haven't liked my usual cardiologist too much, but today I gained a new appreciation for him. At least he knows what he's doing, even if he's unpleasant. And given the choice, I prefer competent over nice in a doctor, but I don't know why he can't be both. Anyway, I'll be happy to see him in a month.