So Where's The Beef

July 13, 2009 — Ok, my children have come and gone and soon (today) my niece will be on her way home. We have talked about so many things...laughed at so many stories...cried a few tears...all of it good stuff. Now comes the hard part and that is doing the work.

I will have my second opinion pulmonary consult today. I look forward to it and my expectation is that there will be agreement between all that the best approach right now is to monitor the nodules in my lungs using a CT scan every three months. They are too small for needle biopsy at this point and if attempted I would most likely end up with a collapsed lung/s and the problems that would introduce. So, I can buy into all of that.

Of equal concern is the abdominal aortic aneurysm. I had asked for a vascular surgeon consult from my PCM last Tuesday and have not heard yet as to its status. You know the drill...the PCM has to get authority from the health insurance carrier...find a Dr...provide them with my info...and then they either contact me directly or I call their office to arrange an appointment. Well I am going to get an answer today on this issue. Geez, sometimes it gets so complicated. Am I being impatient? I don't think so. I just ask that the medical professionals do their job and provide me with timely information so that I can make the best decisions possible given that information.

Today will be a huge challenge for me. It is the day I have targeted that I begin the challenge to quit smoking. Mind you I have been smoking for 49 years. When I go to bed tonight I will be wearing a nicotine patch. I have tried this before and once it worked for a 3-month period. The bottom line now is that all of my health issues are directly related to smoking. If I do not quit I have no chance really of an extended life. Age 63, 64, or 65 is way too young to be leaving this life...there is still so many good things left to do.

So as the lady said in the Wendy's commercial, I believe it was, "where's the beef?" I must put some meat behind what I am professing to be what really matters. It's time to walk the walk. I will not be too hard on myself...I will be patient...and I will be successful. It's what really matters!