Chapter 188 - Poor Customer Relations

I had been badgering her to make the appointment for her mammogram tests. She prefers to undergo almost any other form of torture rather than that. So she rang & made the appointment at our salubrious local Public Hospital. Some time later a call came back from Hot Air City (apparently appointments are made through a bureaucratic desk there). "They remembered you from last year and don't wish to experience the same difficulties again, so you will need to come down to Hot Air City where we will do it for you." Now isn't that just so kind and thoughtful of them to compound her fear & embarrassment? Admittedly, last year when her violent tremors threatened to overturn some of the equipment at the local hospital, she was cautioned that should the scans be blurred that she would have to go to Hot Air City to re-experience the trauma. The person in Hot Air City was surprised to be told that the locals had not offered her a seated position during the scanning. So in the middle of the month we drive down there again - 4 times for medical purposes in one month! Fortunately the place is only an hour away. We should have retired there.

Yesterday she had her regular visit to the Caring Physician. He is pleased with her, said "You are much improved since I first saw you." He was the doctor, a non-neurologist, that told her she was over medicated when she had her last panic attack trip to the local hospital, some years ago now. She continues to suffer sharp, needle-like pain in her lower legs. He suggested that the pain may be the result of her last fall from the stool when she damaged her coccyx. Walking and the tread mill alleviates the pain but I suspect she takes more Panodol than she tells me. We plan to take a short trip to my Home Town next month and because of her leg pain I decided we will stop in motels rather than take the van. The Caring Physician obligingly completed the paperwork for her application for a "Medical energy Rebate" from our power supplier. He agrees that she has autonomic difficulties with body temperature regulation due to her PD. When accepted the rebate will allow us $130 per year on our power bill. At this time of the year her hair is always damp, her face is sweaty and she has much difficulty removing & replacing underclothes at time of emergency because her skin is damp and tacky. So when the ambient temperature is too cool for the air conditioner, doors are opened to capture a breeze, fans are blowing air - a small desk fan blows air across our bedroom all night long.

She continues to work furiously on the quilts, yesterday buying metres of batting to complete the jobs. She seems to be sleeping very well now, although I'm not. I realised this morning as I performed my Wii Fit exercises that I am unable to recall the last time I saw her sitting in front of the TV watching one of her favourite music DVDs. She is very proud of her Wii Fit Hula Hoop achievements - until now she has been unable to maintain the hoops aloft, but in the last week she managed about 50 right turning spins but is still a failure for left turning. But that IS progress, and her determination impresses me! Non Wii Fit experienced readers will fail to comprehend the foregoing. The combination of Sifrol and Wii Fit exercising has worked miracles for her.