The blooming Christmas/Thanksgiving cactus I bought is bringing so much color and life to my laundry room. I'm glad I bought it. I wonder what it will look like by this time next year after I've had time to put my succulent curse on it. For now though, I am just enjoying it.
My appointment with Zorn went fine. I just spent about an hour writing about it and the discussions we had but I've deleted all that. We know I'm a fan girl of the young and brilliant and funny doctor. No need to do a blow-by-blow of the entire thing.
I will say that he gave me two referrals, one for a different dermatologist and one to get a second opinion about my kidney stones. Turns out there are options for retrieving or removing them and I'd like to hear about that.
He showed me pictures of his kids and when he got to the baby girl, I lost it. She was the prettiest little thing you ever did see.
"Oh!" I said. "Will you give her to me?"
Rather unbelievably, he won't.
I have another appointment in six months because this is how he does it.
Oh. I forgot to say that when he had done his magic trick of getting me up on the exam table before I knew I was even headed in that direction, he took my blood pressure himself with the sphygmomanometer that lives on the wall instead of the portable device the tech uses at the beginning of the appointment that they strap around your arm and hit a button, and which always indicates I should probably be in an ambulance on my way to the hospital, and when he was done he said, "Your blood pressure is fine."
I've never had a physician whom I've felt so comfortable with.
There is a good chance that this man will be the one to take care of me unto death. I hope so.
We're ready for your close-up, Ms. Succulent. Look this way. Hold it. Hold it.
Love...Ms. Moon
That is a glorious cactus! Oh my, Mr Moon is starting to look like Santa Claus.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking he looks like Poseidon.
DeleteI'm glad your doctor thinks there might be other ways to handle the kidney stones. Good. Another successful visit.
ReplyDeleteWell, Dr. Z. is very smart so we shall see what the urologist says.
DeleteYes. It was a successful visit for sure.
Glad your doctors appointment went so smoothly. That Christmas Cactus is so gorgeous! I love seeing them blooming in stores -- I always want to buy one and bring it home, but I won't condemn it to death via my brown thumb, so I resist the urge.
ReplyDeleteThat's the main reason I haven't bought one in forever! I knew it was fated to die. I suppose I am not as worried about the fate of one $3.99 cactus from the grocery store.
DeleteThe cactus is gorgeous! I'm glad the doctor visit went so well and it's nice to hear about kidney stone removal options.
ReplyDeleteIt is good to hear there may be a solution although I doubt it's an easy fix.
DeleteI want a doctor like Zorn. Great photo of the gang at the game. The only way I ever get Christmas cactus flowers is when I buy one in bloom.
ReplyDeleteYou would love Dr. Z. He is just as cute as he can be, too. The first woman who recommended him to me said, "Look, I'm a lesbian and I'd have his baby."
DeleteI think it's okay to buy and subsequently kill a Christmas cactus. Not like there's a deficit of them in the world. They are not endangered, as far as I know.
It is always good to find a good doctor that you can trust. I luckily have that myself too. I am sorry to read about your kidney stones. I have had quite a few of them and they are so incredibly painful. The summer before last I had three removed from my bladder. Not a fun process! I am on a medication now that is supposed to help prevent stones from forming. It only works in about 50% of patients who take the drug, but so far, no stones. I had a sonogram of my kidneys this summer and there was no evidence of a stone. Fingers crossed that this will continue. My Christmas cactus is blooming now too. The added color in the dining room is a plus!
ReplyDeleteUgh. How did they remove the stones from your bladder? Dear god I'm sure that was painful. I will ask this urologist for a fuller picture than the one I've been getting. I hope that medication keeps working for you!
DeleteChristmas cacti certainly are beautiful colored, aren't they?
They were surgically removed, and then I had to have a stent placed "in there" for five days. Not a fun way to spend a week I must say!
DeleteYour Christmas/Thanksgiving Cactus looks very happy. Here in Canada, I put mine outside for the summer (May to Sept) and then bring them inside for the winter. I neglect them terribly all summer long and only throw water on them when they are close to death. lol I'm not sure if it's the horrible treatment I give them, the shortening of the days or the lowering of the light they get once they are inside but within a month of bringing them inside, they bloom like crazy ..... every single year. Good luck with yours - mine also give me something to smile about when I'm sad that the summer has ended.
ReplyDeleteI always put my Christmas cacti outside when they weren't blooming. They still died. Perhaps I watered them too much?
DeleteYes, hold back on the water, their leaves indicate they are a type of succulent, as all cacti are, less water will see more blooms too.
DeleteGlad your appointment with Dr. Zorn went well!
ReplyDeleteMy Thanksgiving/Christmas cactus looks like that now too! So lovely!
They are a treat for the eyes, aren't they?
DeleteI gave away my cactus and haven't asked about it as my friend said she probably would kill it. Don't want to make her feel bad if she did! Yours is gorgeous! So glad you've got such a good comforting doc. And he sounds knowledgeable too! Now to the specialists...
ReplyDeleteOh, Barbara- that is so sweet! Not to ask your friend about the cactus you gave her. Very thoughtful.
DeleteYes. Now the specialists.
I love the color of that cactus. It's such a deep red-pink. Why are there so few people at the basketball game? Is that normal?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure why there weren't many people at the game. Perhaps because a lot of the students have gone home for Thanksgiving? They never fill the place at the best of times.
DeleteThis is how they all do it when we get to our age. Every six months. Gaaaah. Once a year was bad enough. I've jettisoned the vascular doctor, the one who did the emergency repair on my femoral artery which he had told me all was well after doing an ultrasound of legs, feet, and thoracic which cost me $350 before the consult. A little minor loss of circulation normal for my age. See you in 6 months for another ultrasound of my body. I canceled, told them I couldn't afford the co-pay for the ultrasound. No telling how much it would cost now with the cuts to medicare. I'll go back when I start having pain in my legs.
ReplyDeletePretty cactus.
Oh, god, Ellen. I'm not sure that's wise. By the time you're having leg pain it might be a bigger problem than it would be if they'd discovered a problem beforehand. But I get you and I'd probably do the same.
DeleteFinding a solution to the kidney stone issue would be great. Dealing with frequent flare-ups is no fun. A second opinion hopefully will be fruitful.
ReplyDeleteYour cactus is gorgeous, and the bloom color is outstanding.
Your boys look very happy at the basketball game. Did their team win?
I just want to speak to a doctor who has more answers or, at least, is more willing to spend a little time explaining things to me. What are the pros and cons of different treatments and so forth.
DeleteI think the guys had a good time. And yes, FSU won!
That cacti is gorgeous! Beautiful color!
ReplyDeleteGlen is looking more and more like jolly old St. Nick!
As I said to Deb, I think he looks like Poseidon. I see him more as a Poseidon than a Santa Claus.
DeleteAll my xmas cacti are now pink and I could swear there were at least some red ones. Maybe the elves come and switch them. This red one of you is so nice.
ReplyDeleteLong live Dr Zorn!
Oh those darn elves! Always messing with us humans just for their own entertainment!
DeleteYes. Long live Dr. Zorn!