Knee Update

The university's orthopedic clinic is a well oiled machine. They see a huge number of people each day with ease. It was fun to watch the process. I arrived early enough to enjoy a really good cup of coffee at the little place in their building before heading upstairs. No waiting in line to check-in. I grabbed a newspaper and sat for minutes before being called for the X-rays.

Back to the waiting room for a few minutes, I was then escorted down the hallways to see the doctor. We reviewed the X-rays after he examined my knees. The good news was that I have tight ligaments and he said both knees felt great. The new X-ray reveled that I had completely healed from the fracture, there was no arthritis and I had amazing cartilage. So why the pain and fluid? He believed that I overdid the treadmill and my muscles in the knee were stressed and not happy. Thus, the swelling and the soreness.

He said that I must begin again. No treadmill for a bit then I need to start slowly and build both the time and speed in a safe manner. All good news. No permanent damage. Thank goodness.

In other news, a new blood pressure machine is in the house and I am still shocked at Michael's high numbers. We will continue to take the pressure in the mornings and evenings until his physical. I have also noticed a recent breath odor that is new during the past three months. He has excellent dental care but I worry the cause may be connected to his recent acid reflux issues. I will make sure he mentions it during the physical.

When I was being featured in advertising for my university hospital in 2015, the woman who interviewed me for the writers told me her father had been diagnosed with IPF. We ended up meeting with her parents for lunch here on the coast and I think I helped him with many of his questions. She wrote to me yesterday with an update that he is currently on hospice, had two strokes and on oxygen 24/7 but his sense of humor was still intact. He was a really great guy and actually, he has done well for IPF as I think he was diagnosed in 2014. It is such a nasty, fast disease. The hope is that the new anti-fibrotic drugs will change that fact and slow down the process of the disease. Sadly, it is too late for many.