My appointment yesterday with The Good Doctor went OK; the labs were good other than the ongoing slightly elevated glucose just bordering on ‘pre-diabetes” but it has been hovering there for many years. TGD thinks it is a good idea to add something for this and I think it is good idea not to. I asked to see a urologist now before I really need one. Father had prostate cancer, my paternal cousin (who is my age) has prostate cancer, and my late mother’s brother has it too. I believe it is not a question of ‘if’ but ‘when’ I get mine, so might as well establish a rapport with a urologist now. The best time to dig the well is before you are thirsty. So I asked him for a referral and I don’t want no quack.
Tonight is the last concert of the season. It is also the last performance of Mr. Tito, the conductor. He’s been onboard for ten years. He’s conducting Mahler #2, one of my favorites. Herr Mahler and I are soulmates, born on the same day a hundred years apart. Each year when the symphony announces the season I look to see if there is any Mahler. I am often disappointed. But that’s not the case tonight.
The quarterly report of the 401K came out this week so I had a look-see. When the amount is added to the ML money and what’s in the checking account this comes to a milestone never before achieved. It gives a nice sense of accomplishment. I hope by the time I retire it will have grown to the next milestone. I am one of thems highly suspicious Social Security will go bankrupt and won’t be there for me when I want it, so I don’t count it in the retirement plans. As far as I can tell this is lost money; if I am wrong than hey that’s extra.
Spo-fans may recall last year I did a walking program in which I didn’t do so well. Another round is offered starting this August. I have mixed feelings about trying this again. I would like to be able to improve viz. not coming in dead last. I am not sure if this is possible or how this can happen but maybe it is worth trying.
29 comments
May 10, 2024 at 10:28 AM
Steven
Don’t give up on the walk in August! Coming in last doesn’t mean it wasn’t a success.
May 10, 2024 at 10:40 AM
Urspo
Aye it was a success that I did it and I finished.
The next step (if possible) is to speed me up some.
May 10, 2024 at 10:39 AM
Anonymous
Yes, find a good urologist now before you have serious symptoms. The first one I saw was horrible. The second was “meh”. The current one answers questions directly and clearly.
Brian Dean Powers
May 10, 2024 at 10:57 AM
Urspo
I am always glad to hear from Mr. Powers!
I keep on top of urology/prostate treatment matters knowing someday probably I will have to make such decisions, so I am already on guard if the urologist is good or not.
May 10, 2024 at 11:23 AM
Anonymous
One of the things I learned as a lowly Medical Assistant, was that MANY doctors are “meh” and I am allowed to dump them. As a people pleaser I did not learn this until I was in my 50s.
My husband and I also prefer female practitioners to male as they are usually better listeners. But YMMV.
Anne
May 10, 2024 at 11:47 AM
Urspo
Love to hear from you!
Yes, in general female doctors listen better – as do female counselors. Even the men-folk tend to want a female therapist as they will listen better. Men are more likely to hear something and sense they ‘have to do something about it’ when in fact the talker isn’t asking them to do anything but listen.
May 10, 2024 at 11:47 AM
Anonymous
Do not quack when the urologist does his digital exam. That is all. Good luck. Dwight W.
May 10, 2024 at 11:49 AM
Urspo
Tut! A digital rectal exam is nothing. Men can be such babies when it comes to such. Ironically many urologist don’t do digital rectal exams anymore but use fancy scans or probes. I think this is based on it is more money making and/or more accurate than a digital exam. I wonder what they are teaching about it in medical school these days.
May 10, 2024 at 1:45 PM
Debbie W.
Regarding the next walking program in August: I say go for it! You did fine last time, and you did way better than those who never got off the couch!😉
May 10, 2024 at 4:33 PM
Urspo
That is a good way to look at it.
When in a walk you see everyone ahead of you you forget there are the ghosts of those behind you who failed to show.
May 10, 2024 at 1:51 PM
Debra She Who Seeks
Good health news and good financial news — and Mahler this evening! It’s been a good week.
May 10, 2024 at 4:35 PM
Urspo
If only the cowboy from the online tourism website were here as well.
May 10, 2024 at 2:03 PM
BadNoteB
”A digital rectal exam is nothing.” Ho Ho Ho! Spoken like a true Friend of Dorothy!
Good luck with your urologist search. I’m currently on my 4th and best so far in a 5 year succession. Best advice I can share is to seek an evaluation through the urology department of a teaching/research hospital facility if you ever hear mention of the C-word… Not a bad idea to check out the doc’s CV and research publications on-line before booking, either.
Congrats on another successful A1C. My doc wanted to prescribe Metformin at first 5.8 result. He reluctantly agreed to my insistence on a follow-up reading in 90 days before writing the Rx. I left his office and stopped to join a gym en route home. Regular 3x a week visits over 3 months lowered the lab results to normal ranges. This was 7 years ago but I tape a strip from each current lab report to the back of my membership card to remind me why I’m doing this every time I go to workout.
May 12, 2024 at 7:43 AM
Urspo
On the other hand metformin is showing some signs of promoting longevity – I forget how this is allegedly done. Might be worth going on just for that.
May 10, 2024 at 2:20 PM
Moving with Mitchell
Glad to know you’ve got good news on the 401K and on your health! I’ve got another round of labs Monday. Here’s hoping. I sure hope Social Security doesn’t go bankrupt — at least not in my lifetime!
May 12, 2024 at 7:43 AM
Urspo
I wish I knew if my fears are unfounded. I’ve heard people say no it won’t and others argue how can it not?
May 10, 2024 at 6:23 PM
Blobby
I’ve learned from running, you can’t worry about coming in last.
May 12, 2024 at 7:44 AM
Urspo
Someone will be last, always. Usually it is me. I cannot seem to get myself going any faster than a 20 minute walk. At least not for long.
May 10, 2024 at 8:23 PM
Anonymous
Training for the distance walk is always a good thing.
Will Jay
May 12, 2024 at 7:45 AM
Urspo
Last night Saturday I went for a 2.25 mile walk and this felt good to do so. It was at my usual pace.
May 10, 2024 at 9:49 PM
Old Lurker
Wait. You’re a millionaire now?
As for the walk: do you think there is even one Spo-fan who would advise you to remain sedentary and skip the Fun Walk just because you finished last? (Incidentally, it certainly sounds as if you finished strongly?) I mean, Blobby might say such a thing but even he didn’t. In the linked entry you even wrote that you hoped to keep walking, so you should listen to your past self.
May 12, 2024 at 7:46 AM
Urspo
Last night I walked about 2.5 miles. Keeping up walking becomes difficult as we go into the summer months. Walks will have to be down in the wee hours of morning or after sunset and even then it may be too hot to do much.
May 10, 2024 at 11:52 PM
David Godfrey
Keep walking, every chance you have, you finish ahead of everyone who never started. Congrats on the $$$s.
May 12, 2024 at 7:47 AM
Urspo
Hopefully the money is there when I need it and hasn’t gone bust thanks to whatever financial shenanigan wipes it out.
May 11, 2024 at 7:50 AM
Robzilla
Excellent news on the health and financial fronts are both great. I’d say go for that walk again and not worry about where you finish. The fact that you’re fit enough to do it should be treated as a win.
May 12, 2024 at 7:48 AM
Urspo
Walking remains THE thing to do for overall well being, even 30 minutes is good.
May 11, 2024 at 2:45 PM
Robert
If the walking program is set outside, would it not be more prudent to start it in autumn or winter?
May 12, 2024 at 7:49 AM
Urspo
The walking program starts in late August and goes until November when there is the annual run/walk downtown. Starting in late August is ticklish as it is ardent heat then and the walks are done very early before the sun rises.
May 12, 2024 at 7:20 PM
Robert
Eminently sensible.