Once again I am lucky enough to have a doctor who gets the way I am. She has doubled my meds so the chronic pain is well managed, and the depression is mostly managed. Mostly.
I have a swollen liver, failing kidneys that may need replacing in a couple of years, grating knees, a partly disabled left arm, chronic pain from spondylitis or spondylosis or whatever of the spine , and fuck knows what’s wrong with my head. My left ear rattles with loud noises, since I popped an eardrum last year. It seems I didn’t give up smoking soon enough because I have problems with my lung function. The latest diagnosis. I now take a daily dose of Tiotropium* via inhaler each morning.
On the other hand I have a job that is not too badly affected by my mobility problems, in a remote community where no one cares if I shift my hours about to suit myself. I have employers who accept the way I work. I could consider myself lucky. I should consider myself lucky.
I turned 66 last week and I just need to stick it out a while more so I have enough saved to retire and go home, except I have no home to go to. All I can think about is a small boat and a cabin somewhere near the sea back in New Zealand.
*Tiotropium – A long-acting, 24-hour, anticholinergic bronchodilator used in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) an umbrella term for a number of lung conditions that affect breathing. Three of the most common are emphysema, chronic bronchitis and non reversible chronic asthma. Given family history, and my own history, we can guess which I have.
Through Hollow Lands and Hilly Lands 
a small boat and a cabin somewhere near the sea back in New Zealand. Sounds like a great retirement plan. Do it.!
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I shall wait until my contract renewal and see how I am going then, Bob.
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I find that disappointingly similar to myself. Perhaps it is just normal for our race and age. My previous, and very much missed doctor, diagnosed me with ankylosing spondylitis, then amended it to “You carry the gene for it. That doesn’t mean that’s what is causing the problem.” the problem being long-term severe bone, joint and muscle pain. The remedy, according to three GPs and one specialist is to take panadol for the rest of my life. The shoulder rotator cuff damage is caused by 30 years of driving and seems to be slowly lessening. I had a hearing test last week and have moderate loss across the spectrum and severe above 7000 Hz. An application for ACC to fund hearing aids is in process. With a 3 year pay-off period, I can probably afford this without damaging my savings. On a larger scale, I asked you once if you had any idea what caused my lifetime odd behaviour. Well, I now have an answer. Aspergers Syndrome. Much research and discussion to go but a very high probability. So one mental and at least one physical condition undiagnosed for 62 and about 37 years respectively. And people wonder why I consider current medicine mostly incompetent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7OLCbjuidE So, seven years to go and holding at 65%. And just so you can snicker into your beer… I’m applying on the website for government service. Probably as a WINZ case officer.
“Pessimist” is a term invented by optimists to describe realists Legal equality between citizens is the foundation stone of democracy. It is fair, reasonable and totally inclusive.
On 21 January 2018 at 22:50, Through Hollow Lands and Hilly Lands wrote:
> Uisce úr posted: “Once again I am lucky enough to have a doctor who gets > the way I am. She has doubled my meds so the chronic pain is well managed, > and the depression is mostly managed. Mostly. I have a swollen liver, > failing kidneys that may need replacing in a couple of” >
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