Relative Something

As much as I’d like to focus on the positive of striving for optimal health, my attention of late is uncontrollably dominated by my suffering lungs. The other day at work, someone asked me if I would like a cough drop. My reply: “No, thank you. What I would like is another set of lungs.”

Over the weekend I decided to return to the twice daily dose of controller medication that I stopped using about a year ago. The inhaler comes in 1-month doses. Since I don’t know how much is left in the one I have from last year, Cyndie checked with the local pharmacy to see if the prescription still allowed automatic renewal, or whether I would need a new prescription from the doctor. First, we needed to wait till the weekend was over for an answer, then it took all day yesterday to learn the good news and the not as good news.

My Doc authorized a new prescription! But he only allowed this one dose, with no refill. Plus, he requires that I come in for a complete checkup since I never returned for a follow-up to my pre-trek physical in 2008. He requires that I come in today! Twelve-hour fast required and I need to arrive 30 minutes early to fill out an extensive 6-page survey. Oops. I guess that is what I get for neglecting to proactively schedule myself for that follow-up doctor appointment.

I failed to see the value at the time. I was back from my trip and I felt just fine. No need to take up his time when I have no needs. Plus, with my rogue decision to stop using the drugs that I’d been prescribed, I wasn’t being the best behaved patient, either. I’d already made a choice to take responsibility for my own treatment plan. Now that I’m again interested in a little support from my health care provider, I must play by their rules.

John: “Doc, it hurts when I do this.”

Doc: “Don’t do that.”

John: “Doc, my asthma is kickin’ my butt lately!”

Doc: “Take your meds, John.”

My goal is to get out of there without him finding something else wrong. Last time I saw him, he came up with several things to warn me about. I need to help him focus on all of my features that are still working the way they were designed to work.

The next trick will be finding where the heck the paperwork is for the warranty on my lungs. They definitely aren’t behaving properly.