The Silver Lining

I get by with a Little Help -- August 10 - 21, 2018 Help in this case comes in many forms, including chemical, emotional, and personal. The Cellcept finally arrived.  Designed for use mainly with transplant patients, this medication keeps the body from rejecting a newly transplanted organ.  In my case, it would re-vamp my immune system to keep it from attacking itself.  The first three months, my immunity will be quite compromised, and I will need to be careful about exposure to germs.  Then, gradually, my system should be “re-booted” in a kinder, gentler form that won’t try to kill itself. Knowing that my immunity will be compromised throughout the fall, I am looking at ways to streamline some things, to avoid public and exposure to colds and other germs. I have a face mask, I also carry and use hand sanitizer.  I am trying to be selective about where I go.  For example, since I retired 9 years ago, my “gift” to myself has been pretty acryli...

Take Your Medicine! August 10, 2018 When I was a little girl in the late 1950’s-early 1960’s, when I fell down and skinned my knee, it was time to get out the Mercurochrome.    It would sting and burn a bit.   Turn my skin bright orangey-red.   I am not sure it did much else, to be honest!    But if you needed more than orange Mercurochrome, that meant a trip to the doctor. Our family physician was Dr. Garland.   His office was in a dark red brick Federal-style home located in Marshville, NC.   When you walked in the front door, you entered the waiting room toward the left.   His nurse Mrs. Hill, a tiny dynamo of a lady, would call your name and lead you through double doors into the examination room.   She would be dressed all in white, from her starched nurse’s cap down to her shoes.   Dr. Garland always had on a white coat, and his stethoscope would be around his neck.   He would complete the examination, give ...

July 27- August 4, 2018 We both felt such a boost from the consultation with Dr. Raja at Duke.   Suddenly, it felt like we were on a good path.   I now had a team of 3 great doctors, and I felt like I was in good hands.   I could smile again.   Monday, July 30, I had a follow-up appointment with my pulmonologist, Dr. Mayson.   My Pulmonary Function Test was greatly improved, thanks to having the Bi-Pap machine every night.   A test of my blood oxygen levels also showed that I was much better.   I took a stroll around the office, and the levels remained constant.   Dr. Mayson indicated that I could come off of the 24/7 oxygen.   Free of the cannula, free of the tubing, free of the tanks!   That was one of the best feelings in the world to me! Thursday, August 2, I had a follow-up appointment with my PCP, Dr. Marom.   As always, he was quite attentive to both me and David.   We let him know how grateful we were ...

July 24-26, 2018 After Monday evening’s awful experiences, we had hoped to just sleep in.   The choking episode had really taken a lot out of both of us, physically, mentally, and emotionally.   We crawled into bed at 11:30 after returning home from the hospital and slept.   That is, until the phone rang Tuesday at 7:00 am, waking us up.   “This is Dr. S__.  Is Ms. Tarlton there?” I didn’t know a Dr. S__, had not seen a Dr. S__.    So David asks, “Excuse me, who are you with?”   She identifies herself as a member of the hospital Neurology team.   She spoke quickly, informing me that my case was “too acute” for their practice, and they were releasing me as a patient.   She suggested that I might find a doctor at Duke, Emory, or MUSC-Charleston.   Oh, and your follow-up appointment with us has been cancelled. Good luck!   Buh-bye! I’ve been “fired” as a patient, so it seems. Honestly – I was relie...