A Good Report
Wow, what a relief.
I went to the doctors yesterday (that would be Cardiologist Jim McCrisken and General Practitioner Eric Duncan) and got an A from each on my semi-annual, post-stroke, post-valve replacement surgery, and just general health checkup.
Cholesterol is a tad bit above 150, triglycerides is 137, good HDL is at 34 and bad LD is at 74. Blood pressure at McCrisken’s was higher (but to be honest, going in there twice a year unnerves me a bit,) than at Duncan’s—so I will take Duncan’s score of 117 over 80 and the pulse rate with Duncan also a tad lower at 74. Everything is going well.
Both doctors waxed philosophical on me a bit, which probably shows that they know me as a person and care about me. Dr. McCrisken commented that I might want to check out a non-denominational Men’s group weekend retreat in March. He said it was good for folks who had gone through experiences similar to mine. To be honest, I am interested. Dr. Duncan said he would recommend the same. Both told me that I should live my life without dwelling on the stroke. Both thought that being cog nascent of my meds and keeping up with a healthy lifestyle and checking my INR is an adjustment of sorts, but other than “taking care of myself” there was no reason to worry.
Dr. Duncan gave me a great analogy. He said that it was extremely rare to have a stroke as a result of the valve in the first place, let’s say one in two-hundred thousand. To have it reoccur would even be more astronomical, considering they are monitoring me so closely, something like one in a million. He told me not to live my life with regrets and worrying about things 25 years from now that I could have, should have done.
Both commented that I was in a good mood that was noticeable and equally notable was that I was less of a worrywart.
After hearing their good news, I had reason to reflect. I cannot deny it, something happened to me: spiritually, physically, and amazingly that I truly do not understand. To be here after that stroke, and just as importantly to be here relatively unharmed and unchanged, is an amazing occurrence.
It is a testament to my doctors and the medical care in Bloomington-Normal, but I cannot help but think it is more than that. I feel awakened a bit, as I also feel more clear-headed and more confident. I mean, aside from being a worrywart about my health (which I know will never go away), and I know I will always be a bit too critical of others and things that annoy me; still I feel something happened.
I am relatively certain that I was helped and I experienced some divinity in my presence. I really do, and for someone who was fairly agnostic to admit to those words, well… miracles never cease, do they?
I feel as though I was given a second chance, or as Dr, McCrisken noted, a fourth or fifth chance for those keeping score at home.
I have always tended to look at folks who proclaim miracles or miraculous happenings in their life as a bit of a skeptic. If someone is bold enough to suggest divine-intervention, I also tend to have my doubts raised. I look in the same manner at someone who props themselves up as being more sacred than others in this world. I have no desire to infiltrate others lives with biblical quotes or stereotypical phoniness.
The above noted, I must honestly say that I was given yet another lease on life and I intend to live by an example of being a better person and being worthy of the important gifts I have been given. I will also learn to be more appreciative of those around me and give back to those around me in a meaningful way.
I truly feel my spirit has been lifted and it is an incredibly positive feeling, to be honest.
I went to the doctors yesterday (that would be Cardiologist Jim McCrisken and General Practitioner Eric Duncan) and got an A from each on my semi-annual, post-stroke, post-valve replacement surgery, and just general health checkup.
Cholesterol is a tad bit above 150, triglycerides is 137, good HDL is at 34 and bad LD is at 74. Blood pressure at McCrisken’s was higher (but to be honest, going in there twice a year unnerves me a bit,) than at Duncan’s—so I will take Duncan’s score of 117 over 80 and the pulse rate with Duncan also a tad lower at 74. Everything is going well.
Both doctors waxed philosophical on me a bit, which probably shows that they know me as a person and care about me. Dr. McCrisken commented that I might want to check out a non-denominational Men’s group weekend retreat in March. He said it was good for folks who had gone through experiences similar to mine. To be honest, I am interested. Dr. Duncan said he would recommend the same. Both told me that I should live my life without dwelling on the stroke. Both thought that being cog nascent of my meds and keeping up with a healthy lifestyle and checking my INR is an adjustment of sorts, but other than “taking care of myself” there was no reason to worry.
Dr. Duncan gave me a great analogy. He said that it was extremely rare to have a stroke as a result of the valve in the first place, let’s say one in two-hundred thousand. To have it reoccur would even be more astronomical, considering they are monitoring me so closely, something like one in a million. He told me not to live my life with regrets and worrying about things 25 years from now that I could have, should have done.
Both commented that I was in a good mood that was noticeable and equally notable was that I was less of a worrywart.
After hearing their good news, I had reason to reflect. I cannot deny it, something happened to me: spiritually, physically, and amazingly that I truly do not understand. To be here after that stroke, and just as importantly to be here relatively unharmed and unchanged, is an amazing occurrence.
It is a testament to my doctors and the medical care in Bloomington-Normal, but I cannot help but think it is more than that. I feel awakened a bit, as I also feel more clear-headed and more confident. I mean, aside from being a worrywart about my health (which I know will never go away), and I know I will always be a bit too critical of others and things that annoy me; still I feel something happened.
I am relatively certain that I was helped and I experienced some divinity in my presence. I really do, and for someone who was fairly agnostic to admit to those words, well… miracles never cease, do they?
I feel as though I was given a second chance, or as Dr, McCrisken noted, a fourth or fifth chance for those keeping score at home.
I have always tended to look at folks who proclaim miracles or miraculous happenings in their life as a bit of a skeptic. If someone is bold enough to suggest divine-intervention, I also tend to have my doubts raised. I look in the same manner at someone who props themselves up as being more sacred than others in this world. I have no desire to infiltrate others lives with biblical quotes or stereotypical phoniness.
The above noted, I must honestly say that I was given yet another lease on life and I intend to live by an example of being a better person and being worthy of the important gifts I have been given. I will also learn to be more appreciative of those around me and give back to those around me in a meaningful way.
I truly feel my spirit has been lifted and it is an incredibly positive feeling, to be honest.
posted by Eric Sweetwood at 8:19 AM
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