[Note: This is another blog based on my weekly emails to my family on the mainland. In the last few editions I've related my aging woes to the extent that this might be called The Geezer Gazette.]
11/2/24
Aloha Everybody --
The flab index in Kona rose dramatically this week as the triathletes left town. The weather didn't
cooperate entirely for race day as rain moved in during the afternoon. I'm sure they've endured worse
conditions, though. The storm that came through brought the first snow of the season on the summit of Mauna Kea, which is unusually early. It is now quiet for the next month or so, one of our least touristy times of year. We'll soon get an influx of migrating snow birds and then lots of tourists during the holiday season until early January.
cooperate entirely for race day as rain moved in during the afternoon. I'm sure they've endured worse
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| Jingle Bells |
conditions, though. The storm that came through brought the first snow of the season on the summit of Mauna Kea, which is unusually early. It is now quiet for the next month or so, one of our least touristy times of year. We'll soon get an influx of migrating snow birds and then lots of tourists during the holiday season until early January.
We're in the final prep stage for our trip. This is the time when all the last minute things get done, including gardening of course, but also things like cancelling the mail and newspaper, arranging for house checks with my handyman, last minute shopping, etc., etc. We've done this so often that I have a check list to make sure it all gets completed.. This year the preparations include doctor visits, which are unwelcome additions to the list.
On Monday I saw my regular doctor to get clearance for my upcoming cataract surgery. I had to do this now because there might not be enough time when we return. I also needed renewals for my bp and cholesterol prescriptions which would have run out during the trip. On Tuesday I had a preemptive eyeball shot from my retina doctor to avoid problems while traveling. I'll see him again right before my cataract surgery in case the eye that is being operated on needs a shot. Finally, on Thursday I saw my cardiologist for an EKG to see if I was still ok after reducing the arrhythmia drug. It was. However, the side effects are still so bad that I told him I wanted to stop it altogether, He seemed surprised that the side effects were so severe and said he's never had a patient as bad as me. Of course, the effects I'm experiencing occur in only about 5% of those taking the drug. In other words, 95% of his patients wouldn't complain about them. At any rate, by the time I saw him I had decided that the effects were so debilitating that I'd rather have Afib. He reluctantly agreed that I should stop taking the drug altogether and see what happens. The drug has a very long half-life, so the anti-arrhythmia effects should last though most of trip. If the Afib returns it shouldn't interfere with the trip, and we'll take a different treatment approach when I get back. I also have quit my heart rate medication, at least for the time being because my rate was way too low. That makes my blood thinner the only heart medication I'm on. Other than easy bruising it hasn't given me problems. Fun times!
This will be my last missive for awhile because of our trip and because of my cataract surgery when we return. I should have plenty of news to share after that.. In the meantime, Carpe Vitae, VOTE, and try to keep calm for the next few weeks or months. I'm very glad that I'll be far away after this election.
