Subj : Another Day In The ER To : Daryl Stout From : Barry Martin Date : Sun Oct 25 2020 07:38:00 Hi Daryl! BM> I remember that ad from almost the black-and-white days! Gerber used BM> to be the 'agent' or at least seemed like the Gerber Baby was BM> predominantly displayed, and I think at the time it was almost if BM> you're not feeding your baby Gerber baby food your were feeding it BM> garbage. Anyway, back to the insurance offer, yes, it has nothing to BM> offer you so may as well toss it into recycle it so someone else can BM> get the offer on the recycled paper. DS> I saw it on the floorboard of the car when I had to go out DS> today to pick up an antibiotic, as a result from a visit to the DS> ER last night. DS> The first part of the day was stormy, with severe weather just DS> to my north...but we still had a lot of lightning and heavy rain DS> here. DS> Over the last few weeks, I had been having possible deep vein DS> thrombosis (DVT (blood clots in the legs)), symptoms. So, I had DS> called my PCP, and the nurse finally called back...recommending I DS> go to either Urgent Care, or the ER. DS> Well, I decided to drive there (as I was able to do so), so I DS> didn't have to worry about ambulance or taxi costs. As I left the DS> house, I started getting abdominal pain and testicular pain...and DS> I thought "Here we go again!!"...as sometimes, the testicular DS> pain can be a precursor of kidney stones. DS> The ER was packed...I got there at 5pm, and it was 3am this DS> morning before I was released. In discussion of my symptoms, they DS> determined I was "at a moderate risk for a DVT". Plus, in telling DS> them of testicular pain, they also asked if I still had my DS> appendix and gallbladder (I said "yes"). DS> They drew blood (and ended up having to do it twice), plus put DS> in an IV. They also wanted a urine sample...for the women, they DS> give them a cup...but for the men, it's "a test tube" (are you DS> kidding me??!!). DS> So, they did an ultrasound of both legs, and of the DS> groin/scrotum area (at least the gel was warm!!). Then, they did DS> a CT scan...and the IV had the contrast dye injected, which gave DS> "a nice warm feeling" (I thought I'd pee and poop on the table at DS> the same time). DS> The diagnosis was (thankfully) NOT a DVT...but severe DS> epididymytis, which is a regular occurrence in men who have had DS> vasectomies (I had one in 2003). But, I was not about to go the DS> area Walgreens 24 hour pharmacy at 3am...I wanted to get home, DS> get the BBS back up, and get some sleep. I picked up the DS> doxycycline before lunch today. (I know: overquote alert!) At least no clot which could break off, clog elsewhere and cause some major damage. As for picking up the prescription immediately (3 a.m.) or a more resonable hour, I'd probably have chosen the delay and get to sleep -- driving when sleepy can be more dangerous than not being on the medication! Glad everything turned out reasonably well. BM> The grandparent step is easy: without children you're not a parent and BM> so no grandchildren - directly. You forgot about the possibility of BM> marriage to someone with children, so now you suddenly have children! DS> In this case, it's step-children. Hmmm...sounds like the title DS> of a TV sitcom (Married With Children). Right: step-children by label but hopefully thought of as one's own. DS> The proctologist fainted dead away. BM> Oh sure! Where was that one yesterday when I had my colonoscopy?! DS> My next one is in late April, 2021. I hope I can talk my DS> gastroenterologist into letting me do a different prep work. DS> The last time, the My-Lytely reacted so bad with the severe DS> stomach acid, that it was burning my throat and esophagus. I would definitely ask for something different to avoid those additional side effects. I was prescribed Suprep: good news is doesn't taste all that bad, reminded me of a slightly sour Sprite (though I did chug it get it over with). Bad news is the cost isn't all that well covered by insurance: mine was $75, a friend's was over $100. (Checking receipt: U&C = $129.99). The other thing that may make a difference is my instructions were no solid food the day prior to the procedure. My first dose of Suprep was at 5 p.m., so nothing but clear liquids all day: black coffee (no cream, sugar), tea, water, broth, etc. Thinking maybe if nothing to digest in the duodenum and stomach a leer chance of reflux. (I know: sloppy diagnostics but at ths point we want results and don't care too much about the anatomical details!) ¯ BarryMartin3@ ® ¯ @MyMetronet.NET ® .... "Something wrong w/ my stomach.""Keep coat buttoned,nobody will notice." --- MultiMail/Win32 v0.47 þ wcECHO 4.2 ÷ ILink: The Safe BBS þ Bettendorf, IA --- QScan/PCB v1.20a / 01-0462 * Origin: ILink: CFBBS | cfbbs.no-ip.com | 856-933-7096 (454:1/1) .