This Happens Every 6 Months.or so, Give or Take

 I had been aware for a while that I would need to see the doctor soon, as my prescription medications, alprazolam and clobazam, were running low. These are for neuropathic pain and anxiety. It's just that seeing a doctor is low on my list of favorite things to do--somewhere in between eating raw garlic and jumping off a cliff. 

When I finally got around to contacting the doctor for an appointment, I found to my surprise that the doctor would be gone for a year. I'm speaking of the doctor I have most commonly seen. So I called my backup at a different hospital, and made an appointment with him. 

Aside from the need to refill two medications, I had a few complaints I wanted to discuss. 

I started with the medications, got that done for the next 6 months or so, and then said "Doc, I'd like to discuss three problems I'm having. The first is that my entire body is painful."

I anticipated that he would laugh, or chuckle, or at least smile, but his face maintained the expression of a Sphinx.

So I laughed for him. 

Seriously though, my shoulders hurt, my back hurts, my hips hurt, and my legs hurt. 

"I'm thinking this might be arthritis," I suggested. 

"Hmm, that may be so," he said. 

I remembered then that this particular doctor was always receptive to my self diagnoses, which seems good in one way and not so good in another. Good in that it makes the whole doctor appointment thing simpler, not so good in that I really have no idea what I'm talking about. But there is always the hope that he will prescribe a magical medication that will return my state of health to that of a man 20 years or so younger. 

As it turned out, he suggested that I take low dose ibuprofen, a suggestion which I could not help feel someone disappointed with. Really, ibuprofen? That's your prescription for full body pain? 

Or could it be that full body pain is normal in a 71 year old man?

Hmm. I think I'm going to need more of those anxiety pills. 

I must say though that the low dose ibuprofen has helped.

Other than that, he ordered some blood tests, which turned out okay, showing as usual borderline diabetes and some minor cholesterol problems. I'm already taking medication for the latter, atorvastatin and cardio aspirin, but I've been kind of a bad patient in that I have continued to eat sweet snacks such as cookies and cinnamon rolls and ice cream. My bad. So I am trying to exert some self control now. As long as it doesn't include quitting cigarettes.