Somebody recently asked me how I was feeling. It was probably one of my kids. Only they have the audacity to ask such a foolish question of a nonagenarian. To avoid a lot of further conversation on that issue I always answer “I feel fine”. Maybe there are some of that advanced age in the world that have no ailments and always feel great. But I feel more like the ones I’ve known personally who number one. When he asks me that question I have to answer truthfully, “I feel lousy”. He always answers the question the same way.
I recently got a copy of my primary physician’s “notes”; something I ask all the doctors to give me when I visit them from time to time. It’s amazing how frequently I find mistakes in them. Most of them dictate their notes and either mumble or have a secretarial employee who suffers from some loss of hearing. This last issue if his description of me from head to toe had added a new problem to the list of the plumbing and wiring in my aching body that is no longer working as well as it should. That led me to consider my listing all my ailments as shown in the good doctor’s notes on a small card that I would give to anyone who asks me that question while I answer, “”Here’s a list of the things that are wrong with me. What the Hell do you think I feel like?”
Reviewed Problems (from Doctor’s notes)
Chronic lymphoid leukemia, Cancer Acute bronchitis
Hypothyroidism Urinary tract infectious disease
Hypercholesterolemia Traumatic hematuria
Mild cognitive disorder Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Glaucoma Shoulder, back & neck pain
Tinnitus Brachial (cervical) neuritis Benign hypertension Fatigue
Hypertensive disorder Unsteady gait
Atypical angina Dysphagia
Coronary arteriosclerosis Carotid artery stenosis
Irritable bowel syndrome.
I recently got a copy of my primary physician’s “notes”; something I ask all the doctors to give me when I visit them from time to time. It’s amazing how frequently I find mistakes in them. Most of them dictate their notes and either mumble or have a secretarial employee who suffers from some loss of hearing. This last issue if his description of me from head to toe had added a new problem to the list of the plumbing and wiring in my aching body that is no longer working as well as it should. That led me to consider my listing all my ailments as shown in the good doctor’s notes on a small card that I would give to anyone who asks me that question while I answer, “”Here’s a list of the things that are wrong with me. What the Hell do you think I feel like?”
Reviewed Problems (from Doctor’s notes)
Chronic lymphoid leukemia, Cancer Acute bronchitis
Hypothyroidism Urinary tract infectious disease
Hypercholesterolemia Traumatic hematuria
Mild cognitive disorder Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Glaucoma Shoulder, back & neck pain
Tinnitus Brachial (cervical) neuritis Benign hypertension Fatigue
Hypertensive disorder Unsteady gait
Atypical angina Dysphagia
Coronary arteriosclerosis Carotid artery stenosis
Irritable bowel syndrome.