Medical matters

Gregg got a call from the dermatologist yesterday. The spot they biopsied on his forehead is indeed basal cell carcinoma, and will need to be removed in the next week or two. The doctor also wants to examine him all over for any other suspicious skin sites. Gregg spent many years getting lots of sun, and as a fair skinned person, that's a really bad idea. Although he's known better (and done better) for the past decade or so, these things take time to pop up. The good news is, they're usually slow growing and when caught early have a super high cure rate. The treatment is likely to be a simple outpatient procedure, thank goodness. He says he's not really worried, and I believe him, but I can tell that the "C" word has cast a pall over his mood. I don't blame him; I don't like it either. I'm just grateful that it should be easily fixed and forgotten this time.

This has driven home the point for me that I need to continue to be picky when looking for a new job. We would be in trouble without proper health insurance, and I carry it through my job. Gregg's work doesn't have the option. So any job I consider has to come with a decent benefits package. I have to say, despite how much I've disliked some parts of my current job, the health coverage has been pretty good and I'm grateful for it. It will be an essential part of my next situation--it has to be.

Speaking of medical matters, Ginger had to go to the vet yesterday for her bi-annual heartworm prevention shot. She's such a good girl. There's barely a need to put a leash on her; she'll almost always do exactly what you want her to do in any situation. The newer vet in the practice saw her, and had the nerve to say my perfect little girl needs to lose some weight!

Ok, maybe a little bit of weight.

The vet suggested a 10% reduction. She's 67 pounds and so about 60ish is what we're shooting for. On the way home I told Ginger not to feel bad. I need to lose 10% of my body weight too! We can do it together! I've been considering taking her for slow jogs when I go for bike rides, and we can both cut back on treats and meal portions. Look out world, the Sparrow Tree Girls are going to get in shape this summer! Haha.

In addition to taking Ginger to the vet yesterday, I had an eye exam. I needed new contact lenses and the clinic I use requires a yearly exam to make sure the prescription hasn't changed. A new eye doctor, who looked about twelve, examined me and said, "You don't need bifocal glasses yet....but maybe by next year. You're in your early 40's now, you know." Jerk!





Today I'm taking a sick day off from work. I've had colicky pain in my stomach for the past two days, and the over the counter medicine I took for it had an unpleasant (ahem) side effect. (I can't stray far from my bathroom). I have episodes of pain like this every few months. The doctors I've seen have run all sorts of tests, but they can't seem to pinpoint a cause. My gallbladder has been removed (I had terrible gallstones) but it feels a bit like a mild gallbladder attack. Not fun. I'm hoping it will pass very soon this time.