Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Tell-Tale

"See?" I asked the Lovely Bride. "I'm supposed to eat more kimchi."

"That's not what he said," she replied.

"He said I should take good care of myself. Cabbage is healthy. Q.E.D."

The Lovely Bride turned her attention back to the cardiologist.

"Doctor, can you summarize?" she asked.

"Certainly," he replied, clearly relieved to have something to discuss besides fermented vegetables. "Your husband is in atrial fibrillation again. The choice is whether to attempt another cardioversion, coupled with new medications, or to let him live with the condition."

"And as I understand it," I interjected, "the new drugs would carry a small but measurable risk of lung, liver, or heart failure."

"Correct," said the doctor.

"And the research doesn't indicate one way or the other whether living with A-Fib will impact my life expectancy."

"True," he said.

"And my quality of life isn't being impacted in any significant way by my irregular heartbeat."

"You're the best judge of that," he said.

"So, balancing all that, am I wrong to forgo the medication?"

"I can't answer that," he said.

"I've thought about this," I told the Lovely Bride.

"I suppose you have," she said.

I hope I'm right, I thought.

11 comments:

zombie rotten mcdonald said...

LIVER FAILURE?!?!?!

... my surprise is that it would take the addition of further drugs to achieve it.


OK, dude, don't know what to say besides the joking. Also, if the transcript is accurate (and since you are lawyerly, why wouldn't it be?) that is a tremendously crappy choice to make.

Not that it makes your deal any better, but you are very fortunate to have decent health coverage. Unlike so depressingly many people in this GREATEST OF ALL COUNTRIES EVER FOREVER.

get better. ummm, get less death's door-ey. I recommend long times listening to the new Rush album, but then, I would.

You know what you need? A NEW HOUSE! specifically designed to minimize stress to your system!! We can add a high-tech security system that keeps your boys (and Lucy) in designated areas! Oxygen feeds everywhere! Low slope ramps rather than stairs! Lots of natural light and solar power! Bourbon taps in every room ! ....wait, did I say that last one out loud? Don't let LB see that one, right?

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

Sounds like zrm has a better plan than your doctor, Snag.
~

Smut Clyde said...

So instead of throb... throb... throb under the floorboards, your heart will go throb... throb... NIDNIDNIDthrobKERPOWticktick throb PLOING.
You have a Don Martin sound effect within your chest! How cool is that?!

fish said...

This is the decision tree for about 80% of the medications out there right now. Perhaps you have restless legs you would also like medicated? How about a medication that will "boost" your anti-depressant? Your cholesterol is a couple points high too.

Vonnie said...

Thinking of you. You will do what is right for you.

mikey said...

It has been my experience that even the best of pills come with some significant downsides.

But do we really want to live in a world without pills? It is a stark and lonely choice, my friend...

Snag said...

I do believe my legs are restless. Bourbon seems to cure that, however, so I'm good to go.

Pinko Punko said...

BOW BEFORE NEMEH

that is what goob calls medicine

zombie rotten mcdonald said...

Perhaps you have restless legs you would also like medicated? How about a medication that will "boost" your anti-depressant? Your cholesterol is a couple points high too.

In California, any of these qualify you for a Weed Card.

Jennifer said...

Bourbon taps in every room!

And plenty of bourbon bowls.

Substance McGravitas said...

Crazylegs?