Report of 21 May '06
Isn't it amazing how a day can change -
I was having a spectacular morning, hanging out w/ extremely intelligent women (my hostess, Colleen, and her other houseguest, Andrea, a nursing student from Germany who is very cool, easygoing, genial, and fun), and my sons (we started preliminary packing for their trip back), and came to the library, and the librarian stepped up to me in strict privacy and told me Navin was looking at porn sites.
Sigh. So we had a talk, and ostensibly, the computer game sites have pop-ups w/ lurid porn. Another patron saw it up on Navin's computer and told the librarian. Navin said he kept trying to get to the games, but that this stuff would not leave. I had the librarian repeat her warning that he would never be permitted into the Internet room again if he persisted, and all of us appreciated the warning. She gave him some names of other game sites that her son has used, and I told Navin he would not permitted to play games again this morning, that he could check his email and must then leave.
Certainly, the pop-ups are an issue, and it's disgusting and evil that the perpetrators would target the sites where apparently innocent games are being played by young folks. However, we have had serious issues w/ Navin lying, and I am aware that his interest in vivid displays of human flesh probably was sustained for more than just the few seconds he insisted had elapsed. All those w/ advice on handling such issues, pls email me.
Ok, back to blog. My car overheated this week and conked out en route to work. A couple of our able colleagues diagnosed the problem as a non-functioning thermostat, repaired it and it was back to running, delighting me no end. The following day, it overheated again. It is now in the shop for extensive and expensive repairs, including a new radiator, and Scott's prediction that this would be the last year I drive the little Accord is coming true. Indianapolis does not have good public transport, and I am dependent on the goodness of folks like Colleen, Andrea, and our friends Maryam and Ali.
I started seeing patients this week and one of them had shingles. It was so classic that I felt like taking a picture. I started her on meds, including something to keep down her pain. One of my other patients came up in a wheelchair, pushed by her 12 yo son while she moaned audibly. This is never a good sign for a doctor, when an apparently healthy-looking woman moans before entering the exam room. So I worked up this lady, 43 yo (just about my age), and diagnosed w/ fibromyalgia, which makes most of us cringe. She mentioned that she also had some nerve problems in her back, had had an MRI, and wanted to get back on her meds. I waited. She reeled off her entire med history (including the fact that the poor 12 yo was her primary caregiver), came to her meds, and I waited some more. There it was - Neurontin, something else, and of course, a little pill ("I think it was Vicodin"). I didn't let her finish, but stated w/ conviction that I would not be prescribing her Vicodin. I told her we needed the records from all her previous doctors (especially to answer the question why she had had so many before me), and then started her exam. Every time I pushed on her back, she wailed and held out her hand to her son, who took it once. We have restarted her meds, except the Vicodin, and she is to return to me in a month. I felt worst for the child.
One of my other patients came in, and she had missed an appointment to go to Pain Management. Speciality clinic appointments are extremely hard to come by and are scheduled months after the initial request. And this lady had missed it. I have no patience w/ such misses; she mentioned her father had died, but neither the death nor the funeral was on the day of the appointment, in fact had been a month prior.
My able pediatrician colleague, Dr. Dima Rifai, brought me some Lebanese goodies, including some authentic Baklava, and they were delicious! Dima's mother-in-law is visiting, and we have exchanged foodie stories before, thus the Baklava. It is nice to be surrounded by generous folks.
We spoke at University High School this week, an appointment made months in advance. It was magnificent. Sarah Healey, the daughter of St. V geriatricians Drs. Diane and Patrick Healey, attends UHS and introduced us. Vicki Townsend, the English teacher, was also present to throw in her comments. Naren and Navin spoke on the work they do as well (well, Naren did, Navin states that he generally comes close to passing out in front of crowds). The students were great and had tons of questions for all of us. At one point, when I mentioned that virginity and chastity were indeed fine things, but had to apply equally to both men and women, there was a thunderous round of applause and I was staggered. It was a fun time, and we are going to be back there on invitation next Tuesday, to speak to one of the classes. Tonight, we join the Healeys for dinner and look forward to it.
Yesterday, we got together for dinner w/ one of my former staff physicians, Maryam Massoumi, and her family. Maryam and Ali are of Irani descent, and made scrumptuous Persian food. We ate a ton, and all of it was so light and delectable that we ate again. Naren and Navin hung out w/ 12 yo Rustom and 11 yo Gulbarg, and had such a whale of a time that Naren has asked to go there one more time before they leave. There was another adult guest there named Atafeh; she is a beautiful young woman (as undoubtedly is Maryam), and so interested in the company around her that it made conversation very easy. We spoke endlessly of India, and Iran, and living in the U.S., our colleagues, our children. All in all, a phenomenally memorable evening: we had to tear ourselves away at 10.30 PM.
We are going to have to do some shopping this week, as there are lists to satisfy from our relatives at home. Scotch tape, pens, shampoo ... The boys and I saw Big Momma's House 2, Madea's Family Reunion (easily one of the best movies I've ever seen), Da Vinci Code, and Over the Hedge. I developed a bed sore sitting through DVC; not having cared for the book very much, I found the movie interminable and boring, w/ the only excitement being a scene from the middle of the movie inadvertently juxtaposed into the beginning and getting lopped off from its proper later place. First day, first showing - kinda prophetic for its run, I think. The manager was on hand w/ refunds.
If anyone has contacts at USAir, pls tell me (that's one part of our journey home). Also if you know of rental car companies that rent by the month. Thanks.
Unw -
Renu
I was having a spectacular morning, hanging out w/ extremely intelligent women (my hostess, Colleen, and her other houseguest, Andrea, a nursing student from Germany who is very cool, easygoing, genial, and fun), and my sons (we started preliminary packing for their trip back), and came to the library, and the librarian stepped up to me in strict privacy and told me Navin was looking at porn sites.
Sigh. So we had a talk, and ostensibly, the computer game sites have pop-ups w/ lurid porn. Another patron saw it up on Navin's computer and told the librarian. Navin said he kept trying to get to the games, but that this stuff would not leave. I had the librarian repeat her warning that he would never be permitted into the Internet room again if he persisted, and all of us appreciated the warning. She gave him some names of other game sites that her son has used, and I told Navin he would not permitted to play games again this morning, that he could check his email and must then leave.
Certainly, the pop-ups are an issue, and it's disgusting and evil that the perpetrators would target the sites where apparently innocent games are being played by young folks. However, we have had serious issues w/ Navin lying, and I am aware that his interest in vivid displays of human flesh probably was sustained for more than just the few seconds he insisted had elapsed. All those w/ advice on handling such issues, pls email me.
Ok, back to blog. My car overheated this week and conked out en route to work. A couple of our able colleagues diagnosed the problem as a non-functioning thermostat, repaired it and it was back to running, delighting me no end. The following day, it overheated again. It is now in the shop for extensive and expensive repairs, including a new radiator, and Scott's prediction that this would be the last year I drive the little Accord is coming true. Indianapolis does not have good public transport, and I am dependent on the goodness of folks like Colleen, Andrea, and our friends Maryam and Ali.
I started seeing patients this week and one of them had shingles. It was so classic that I felt like taking a picture. I started her on meds, including something to keep down her pain. One of my other patients came up in a wheelchair, pushed by her 12 yo son while she moaned audibly. This is never a good sign for a doctor, when an apparently healthy-looking woman moans before entering the exam room. So I worked up this lady, 43 yo (just about my age), and diagnosed w/ fibromyalgia, which makes most of us cringe. She mentioned that she also had some nerve problems in her back, had had an MRI, and wanted to get back on her meds. I waited. She reeled off her entire med history (including the fact that the poor 12 yo was her primary caregiver), came to her meds, and I waited some more. There it was - Neurontin, something else, and of course, a little pill ("I think it was Vicodin"). I didn't let her finish, but stated w/ conviction that I would not be prescribing her Vicodin. I told her we needed the records from all her previous doctors (especially to answer the question why she had had so many before me), and then started her exam. Every time I pushed on her back, she wailed and held out her hand to her son, who took it once. We have restarted her meds, except the Vicodin, and she is to return to me in a month. I felt worst for the child.
One of my other patients came in, and she had missed an appointment to go to Pain Management. Speciality clinic appointments are extremely hard to come by and are scheduled months after the initial request. And this lady had missed it. I have no patience w/ such misses; she mentioned her father had died, but neither the death nor the funeral was on the day of the appointment, in fact had been a month prior.
My able pediatrician colleague, Dr. Dima Rifai, brought me some Lebanese goodies, including some authentic Baklava, and they were delicious! Dima's mother-in-law is visiting, and we have exchanged foodie stories before, thus the Baklava. It is nice to be surrounded by generous folks.
We spoke at University High School this week, an appointment made months in advance. It was magnificent. Sarah Healey, the daughter of St. V geriatricians Drs. Diane and Patrick Healey, attends UHS and introduced us. Vicki Townsend, the English teacher, was also present to throw in her comments. Naren and Navin spoke on the work they do as well (well, Naren did, Navin states that he generally comes close to passing out in front of crowds). The students were great and had tons of questions for all of us. At one point, when I mentioned that virginity and chastity were indeed fine things, but had to apply equally to both men and women, there was a thunderous round of applause and I was staggered. It was a fun time, and we are going to be back there on invitation next Tuesday, to speak to one of the classes. Tonight, we join the Healeys for dinner and look forward to it.
Yesterday, we got together for dinner w/ one of my former staff physicians, Maryam Massoumi, and her family. Maryam and Ali are of Irani descent, and made scrumptuous Persian food. We ate a ton, and all of it was so light and delectable that we ate again. Naren and Navin hung out w/ 12 yo Rustom and 11 yo Gulbarg, and had such a whale of a time that Naren has asked to go there one more time before they leave. There was another adult guest there named Atafeh; she is a beautiful young woman (as undoubtedly is Maryam), and so interested in the company around her that it made conversation very easy. We spoke endlessly of India, and Iran, and living in the U.S., our colleagues, our children. All in all, a phenomenally memorable evening: we had to tear ourselves away at 10.30 PM.
We are going to have to do some shopping this week, as there are lists to satisfy from our relatives at home. Scotch tape, pens, shampoo ... The boys and I saw Big Momma's House 2, Madea's Family Reunion (easily one of the best movies I've ever seen), Da Vinci Code, and Over the Hedge. I developed a bed sore sitting through DVC; not having cared for the book very much, I found the movie interminable and boring, w/ the only excitement being a scene from the middle of the movie inadvertently juxtaposed into the beginning and getting lopped off from its proper later place. First day, first showing - kinda prophetic for its run, I think. The manager was on hand w/ refunds.
If anyone has contacts at USAir, pls tell me (that's one part of our journey home). Also if you know of rental car companies that rent by the month. Thanks.
Unw -
Renu
posted by Renu Weiss at
10:44 AM
1 Comments:
My name is Karen Tobin and i would like to show you my personal experience with Neurontin.
I have taken for 4 months. I am 54 years old. Was taking 1800 mg per day for pain, numbness and scalp soreness. It helped immensely and right now am weaning off of it taking 300mg two times daily with no noticeable side effects.
I have experienced some of these side effects-
Drowsiness and dizziness.
I hope this information will be useful to others,
Karen Tobin
By
Anonymous, at 19/11/08 11:43 AM
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