Old Man Take a Look at Your Life

I need a shot of senility. I need to not be cognizant of my aging and the shots God is taking at me. My body is breaking down. First, supposedly, Fibromyalgia, translation: "I don't know what's wrong with you". All those years of pain, the white noise of my existence. Fortunately, I got so used to it, I could ignore it. Then "fibromyalgia" was replaced with PD, with its myriad symptoms coming and going and now..... well read on.

I went to my neuro today. We chatted and I asked him if PD could affect my eyesight.

His response was "No. At least I don't think so. If PD has an effect on eyesight, it would affect tracking" I like this man and his honest replies. Some doctors would have tried to bluff their way through, but this guy just said, "I don't know. Maybe."

Next he asked me if I had any new symptoms. I told him I had trouble with word retrieval when speaking.

"Oh, so do I," he said, and added, "How old are we? We are getting on. I am 62 and you are younger than me. How old are you anyway?"

"I will be 67 on my next birthday."

Wow. You look a lot younger. Younger than me anyway"

I think I'm in love!!!!

I left feeling pretty good about the PD which seems to be progressing slowly. I made a follow up appointment for a year hence.

As I think I said in an earlier entry this week, I am having a problem with my eyesight. I can no longer see the numbers in the clue section of the crossword. It happened overnight. So after seeing the neuro, I went to an optometrist. She did some very intense testing. I couldn't read much of anything on the eye chart - seriously - even the large letters would not stand still long enough for me to focus on them. She concluded all her tests and said, "I don't know what the problem is. Your eyesight is so weak, you barely make the standard for driving, even with your glasses on. I don't think it is serious because all that appears abnormal is the surface of the eye. It is very odd - has little bubbles or something on it. We will treat it as dry eye but I really don't know for sure."

Two medical specialists who admit their lack of knowledge. That must be a record. As I have said often enough, many doctors go to medical school, learn a few tricks, an then expect deification. It is a treat to be treated by humble medicos.

All this and I have put on 5 pounds since my vacation. As Orson Wells said, "I was told by my doctor to stop having intimate dinners for four...unless there are 3 other people present" or words to that effect. My body is not only deteriorating, but I seem destined to be chubby. What will the future bring? A touch of senility perhaps or am I already in its prime.

Two days later.... The optometrist's action plan is working. My eyes have improved dramatically and and the future's so bright, I have to wear shades.

Or in the immortal words of Yogi Berra, "The future ain't what it used to be."