Thus Spoke Dr. Marchand...And Ginger

Thus Spoke Dr. Marchand...
And Ginger

There are a few things that really bother me in life. One of them is Donald the Dumb. Another is putting Ginger in her crate and leaving her for a couple hours, which happens several times a week. Those that understand Irish Setter talk about Setters having separation anxiety. Apparently, Ginger and I suffer similar separation issues.

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I told Ginger that I had a routine appointment with Dr. Marchand, my cardiologist, and would be back in a couple hours. Ginger wasn't happy about my leaving her, but she said to hurry back.

Dr. Marchand

Reluctantly, I said good-bye to Ginger and went to see Dr. Marchand. I told him that he didn't need to check my heart. I knew that my heart was fine, but I did want some answers about some other medical issues. We had discussed other medical issues over the years like night sweats just over a year ago. Dr. Marchand requires me to record my blood pressure and pulse rate in the morning and before going to bed. When the night sweats started, I noted when they occurred on my daily documentation for him.

Early last fall, my night sweats were minimal and would occur about five times a month. However, in October, the night sweats started to occur more often. For a couple of months, they would happen about half the time. I told Dr. Marchand that nothing had changed in my daily routine. Then in November, I started to get headaches in the back of my head near my right ear and what felt like a sore throat on the right side.

I went to the internist for a diagnosis, which was glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN). After the results of a creatinine blood test, a CT neck with contrast, MRA head without contrast, and an MRI with and without contrast came back, there was no cancer or other cause for GPN. I told Dr. Marchand that the night sweats seemed to indicate that something was happening within my body over a month before I became aware of it. Regardless, I wish that I knew what the cause was for GPN.

I enjoy watching Dr. Marchand process the data that I reported and develop his preliminary diagnosis. He suspects that the causes of the GPN was a spasm of an artery in the back of my head. Not only did he come up with the probable cause but also how to test his assertion. If the GPN returns, he has documented how to test his diagnosis in my medical file. Dr. Marchand's thinking process amazes me, which is why I trust every word he says. If you need a great cardiologist, click on this link: Dr. Marchand.

Then I mentioned my other issue. Outwardly, I am not an emotional person and have never been. However, in the past couple of years, I am highly emotional, especially when I talk about my three youngest grandchildren: Jack, Owen, and Ti Ti. I knew that testosterone in males and estrogen in female is reduced as one gets older. Therefore, a man will often be more emotional later in life than when he was younger.

However, nine years ago I had a prostatectomy. I would have figured that the changes would occur very soon after the surgery, which didn't happen. Additionally, I'm not dying from a strange disease. I am happy and active. I write and teach. I want to return to Burma (Myanmar). I just got Ginger a couple days before Christmas. I am driven to enjoy life. Therefore, I wanted to know what was the cause of my emotions to kick in over a half dozen years after the prostatectomy. Dr. Marchand said that the body doesn't respond to the changes in hormones as quickly as I assumed that it would.

By this time, my questions were answered, and I was ready to leave. However, Dr. Marchand had a question about both arms and hands, which had dozens of small cuts. I explained that I had just gotten an Irish Setter puppy who uses my hands and arms as her teething devises. All that he said was "An Irish Setter puppy..." and smiled knowingly.

Dr. Marchand insisted that he was going to check my heart regardless of my certainty that all was well. Since he has been my cardiologist for years, I consented. After listening to my heart, checking my ankles, asking several questions, he said that my heart was in good shape.

I thought that it wise not to tell him that I told him so. I just thanked him again for all his help that day and in years past.

Delighted with my office visit, I returned home to Ginger and set there telling her all the details. She seemed somewhat interested and was glad to know that I was in good shape.

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I told Ginger that her second trip to the vet was coming up in less than a week. However, she didn't reply. I turned to her and found her sound asleep.

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