Summing up 2018

One of the two doctors in our town mentioned to his wife, a fellow Jazzerciser, that most of his patients are the “worried well.” I saw him for the first time last summer when I became alarmed that a tiny wound on my finger kept getting bigger instead of instantly healing, as usually happens with me. I started thinking of flesh-eating bacteria and even looked up images on Google. Horrifying! The doc, who may have lumped me into the worried well category, acknowledged that my finger was infected and prescribed an antibiotic ointment that had no effect. The wound kept getting larger so I quit using the ointment. After two months, it finally healed unaided—except by my immune system. (I think it really was a variety of flesh-eating bacteria. The spot is still tender.)

I was definitely in the “worried well” category when I went to the ER in the middle of the night because my heart was pounding. I’d been having these types of episodes off and on, usually when lying down and usually only for a few minutes. I'd been somewhat concerned. But on this occasion the pounding didn’t stop after a few minutes. Plus I was wakened from sleep! Anyhow, after the exam, which included an EKG, the conclusion was ordinary heart palpitations. The ER even had a prepared handout for people like me who turned up at the ER. I was embarrassed (although glad to know my heart was fine). Interestingly the palpitations have pretty much abated.

It’s hard to know when to seek medical attention. I’m not a very fearful person, but even I have my moments, as explained above. I think most of us try to avoid doctor visits: they're often so unsatisfying and the charges are so outrageous that you want to stay away. Of course there are times when you’re glad medical treatment is available. I guess the trick is to have sufficient body awareness to discern when medical attention is called for. Even so, it’s still kind of a crapshoot. Come to think of it, whether you’re blessed with good or poor health is also pretty much a crapshoot.

For an introduction to this blog, see I Just Say No; for a list of blog topics, click the Topics tab.