News you probably can't use...

I watched The Bucket List.  I know the normal person would say big deal but for me it was a hard thing to do.  I ordered it from Netflix because my wife wanted to see it and I did too...at some point.  It lay next to my TV for almost 3 months (now part of that was out of sight/out of mind thing).  As I watched the movie, I naturally gravitated to thoughts of how it related to me and whether I might have any sort of interest in a bucket list of my own.  I came to the conclusion that I don't.  For me ultimate happiness is being with my family, delving into a good book, sleeping in on cold mornings, playing with Oreo, getting engrossed in a good movie, eating a hot bowl of spaghetti, and playing on my PC.  There are other things that would make the list of course.  But those belong to another life, a life without PH.  I'd give the movie 3.5 out of 5 stars, mostly because of the actors and the relevance of the situation.  I enjoyed the way that the two characters were able to change each other's life in a positive way.  I won't give away anything else in case you haven't seen it, but it's certainly worth a look.

In other news: I voted early this year for the first time ever.  With each day being a crapshoot on how I will feel, I decided to get out on a good day.  The lines had already formed even though I was there before the polls opened.  Standing in line was a bit tough; it reminded me of how I felt at the end of the day when I was working.  I guess it was about an hour's wait.  I had to muster a little manliness in order not to look like I needed a chair.  My decline in stamina was a little shocking considering the "athlete" I had once been.  I wore my O2 in a Camelbak backpack, trimmed for it's new course of duty.  Overall I felt OK afterwards; just don't ask me to do it everyday, ha ha.  

In weird news: It appears I was right all along.  I always knew that holding it in seemed unnatural. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/126730.php  Now I have a good excuse for my wife :-).  

Medically, I have my LFT & coumadin check on Friday. I still haven't heard anything new from the King as to the echo results. I did receive a letter today in the mail from my health insurance that my "prescription" for Ventavis was approved. The PH people really jumped the gun on this one. I almost don't know how to respond when I see them next. I don't want to put up too big of a stink in case I need this somewhere down the road, but I am going to have a pointed conversation and get some answers so I can get this off my chest.

Birthday and holidays coming up in the next couple of months.  My wife brought to my attention a new tech gadget called Kindle.  You can check it out at Amazon.  It's a bit pricey at the moment but for someone who likes to read, it looks really cool.  She & I do gifts a little different than most; we pick out what we want & the other person buys it.  We do share one surprise gift to stay with the spirit of gift giving.  I'm not sure yet if this beats out an oximeter & a wrist wrap BP/pulse reader.  (Sense my sarcasm).  We'll see what happens.  

Other than that not much going on.  I did a little off the wall writing but it wasn't finished so it didn't make this week's blog deadline, maybe next week.  I was also pleased to see that Mason and Mack made it home from the hospital.  I hope they get settled back in with a little more comfort.  

Well, time to visit the pharmacist.  See you guys next week.

T

The Chicken or the Egg

I got a package in the mail a few weeks ago, of significant size and implied importance.  It momentarily reminded me of being back at work when packages I received were always significant and my responsive action of financial implication.  This package turned out to be no different.

"Dear PHTony,

Your prescription for Ventavis (Iloprost) comes with helpful this and some more helpful that.  This program is brought to you from ------ Pharmaceuticals (wasn't that the same company in The Fugitive ?).  As your doctor explained..."

OK I know I'm a bit forgetful now a days, but I don't recall any explaining and certainly don't recall a new prescription.  The King & I have only agreed that this would be the next step should I suffer any degradation.  As a matter of fact, my last visit ended with an appointment for an echo & my appointment two weeks ago was to go over the results.  

The next morning I awaken to the cursed sound of our telephone.  I get up to answer (which isn't really a quick process anymore) but can't reach the phone in time.  The message was left by the King's assistant.  Time to call back and shine some light on the prior day's mail.  Well it turns out that Devlin Macgregor....um I mean ---- Pharmaceuticals has a rep in their office right now who would be willing to demonstrate their product if I would just hop, skip, and jump across town to their office.  Apparently an egg had hatched before we even saw the chicken.  I'm sure the King's court has nothing but my best interest in mind...um OK I'm not convinced.  

I politely (I think) tell them that I'll have to pass.  After all, aren't we missing a certain KEY part of this equation (the part where we review the echo results, then I actually get counseled by the King & then get prescribed a medication).  We don't even know the results of the echo yet, and there hasn't been any decrease in cardio function.  Doesn't the chicken come first?

Update: I went to the King's follow up appointment to discuss the echo results, only they didn't have the results (good thing my co-pay's only $50...).  Being a straight-A student of hindsight, I had a good book to keep me company while I waited for the results to be faxed over.  While we wait, I grill him on the chicken/egg issue.  After witnessing his apology I kinda felt sorry for the guy.  It's obvious that neither the chicken nor the egg come first; it's the carton...

The King receives the results but unfortunately they were coded in chicken scratch.  The King can't decipher the numbers and I can't tell a chicken from an egg.  So he tells me he'll call the Ricola guy (you know, the guy that gives the echo :-) and call me back.  That was almost two weeks ago.  I don't know how this is going to turn out, but Ole McDonald has some explaining to do.