PSA Still GoingUp

My husband went back to the urologist for a follow-up appointment. He had his prostate removed last summer and although his PSA dropped almost to zero, it soon started creeping back up. This indicates that the cancer had already left the prostate and may eventually become a problem.

The urologist said that when his PSA reaches 10 he should start hormone therapy. At the present rate, this will take about a year.

The doctor also prescribed Viagra, since Cialis caused severe leg pain. When we picked up the prescription for Viagra, we experienced sticker shock. The pills cost $12 each AFTER the insurance company's discount. Husband did not want to pay that much, but I insisted that he try it. Not because I am anxious that he "perform" but rather because the operation took away just about all feeling "down there" and he is a bit depressed about it.

The doctor prescribed that he take 3 pills a week until circulation returns to the area, but at the high price for the medication, he probably won't take that much.

A Pun I can Relate to

I've had an allergic reaction to something in novocaine so I've had my dental work done without it for the last 15 years. This included numerous fillings (not too painful) and a couple of root canals (painful and unpleasant). Most of the time, I try to relax in the dentist chair and when things get uncomfortable, I grip the arms of the chair and try to channel my pain into the chair.

So when I read this pun, I had to smile:

Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root canal?
His goal: transcend dental medication.

What the Doctors Ordered

I take three prescription medications every day, each in a different form:

1. Armour Thyroid tablets for hypothyroidism
2. Topical Hormone Cream, prescribed by a doctor and prepared by a compounding pharmacy
3. Pilocarpine eye drops for a tonic pupil.

Items 1 and 2 are prescribed to my needs as indicated by blood tests. The hormone cream contains estrogens and a bit of progesterone. The eye drops were prescribed by my opthalmologist to shrink my left pupil which no longer contracts by itself. If I forget to use the eye drops and then go out in the sunshine, my eye gets very uncomfortable and eventually I feel pain behind the eye.

Fell on the Asphalt

I fell last week. There was a bit of black ice on our front walk and I didn't see it. Landed on one leg, scraped and bruised.

After my husband helped me back in the house, he fetched the bandages. The pack for sensitive skin had a warning on the box that the wrappers contained latex. Huh! Many of us with sensitive skin are allergic to latex. So why not wrap them in something else?

I decided to skip the bandages. My scrapes are healing okay and the bruises are faded now.