La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
My latest lab results are in and I was back at the nephrologist Friday afternoon. Although there’s been slight improvement, it’s not enough to keep doing what we’ve been doing. So I started this morning on a special medication for my kidney problem, membranous nephropathy, an auto-immune disease. I’ve had some trouble remembering the name. For me, Nefertiti always comes to mind. My evil antibodies causing the problem are called, in Spanish medical terms, Fosfolipasa A2 Recept. I’m going to call them Auntie Foss.
I had some tough moments while listening to the doctor and actually thought, ‘I can’t deal with this shit. Forget the whole thing.’ San Geraldo could tell by my body language and asked if I needed a pill (Xanax). I said, “yes” and he said, “I don’t have any.” I laughed. The doctor reassured me that everything was going well and that this would be cured. She also apologized that she also had no Xanax.
After we left, I had to make an appointment for my next lab work and my next appointment with the doctor. THAT was a bit of a headache. I got the first seemingly incompetent and not very pleasant person I’ve ever met on that desk. I think perhaps she was in training. If so, she won’t last long. The doctor had printed out the appointment request. The form included the date, time, and the doctor’s name. The person at the desk couldn’t understand it. It got progressively worse and I won’t share it all. It’s amazing the top of my head didn’t blow off. She finally gave me an appointment for noon when the doctor had blocked off 1:40. I pointed that out and she shrugged. The doctor happened to come by at that time and said it needed to be 1:40 (because it’s her last appointment of the day and it allows us as much time as we need). Someone helped her, finally.
Then I had to go downstairs to make an appointment for a scan. That was a breeze and the staff there made up for the one upstairs. All smiles, warmth, and efficiency. We had lunch at Mesón Salvador when we got home.
My birthday is in 8 days and it seems I will live to see it. My options from San Geraldo were a big dinner here with friends (sorry friends), a trip to Madrid or one to Sevilla (sorry friends in those places, too). I would love a trip, but not right now, and San Geraldo finds those stressful anyway. The final choice was Cirque du Soleil – Alegría, in Málaga. San Geraldo got us the best seats in the house. Alegría means “happiness” and that’s what we need.
Good walk this morning. Lots of progress on the newest chiringuito. And there’s a new trail to follow in Fuengirola denoted by the white, blue, and yellow tile seen in the photo. I don’t know the details of the trail but it goes through our neighborhood, at least, and along the Paseo.
Ya tengo mis últimos resultados de laboratorio y volví al nefrólogo el viernes por la tarde. Aunque ha habido una ligera mejora, no es suficiente para seguir haciendo lo que hemos estado haciendo. Así que esta mañana comencé a tomar un medicamento especial para mi problema renal, la nefropatía membranosa, una enfermedad autoinmune. He tenido algunos problemas para recordar el nombre. A mí siempre me viene a la mente Nefertiti. Mis anticuerpos malignos que causan el problema se llaman, en términos médicos españoles, Fosfolipasa A2 Recept. Voy a llamarlos Tita Foss.
Tuve algunos momentos difíciles mientras escuchaba al médico y de hecho pensé: ‘No puedo lidiar con esta mierda. Olvídate de todo.’ San Geraldo se dio cuenta por mi lenguaje corporal y me preguntó si necesitaba una pastilla (Alprazolam). Le dije “sí” y él dijo: “No tengo”. Me reí. El médico me aseguró que todo iba bien y que esto se curaría. También se disculpó porque tampoco tenía Alprazolam.
Después de que nos fuimos, tuve que programar una cita para mi próximo análisis de laboratorio y mi próxima cita con el médico. Eso fue un pequeño dolor de cabeza. Senté en ese escritorio a la primera persona aparentemente incompetente y no muy agradable que he conocido. Creo que quizás estaba entrenando. Si es así, no durará mucho. El médico había impreso la solicitud de cita. El formulario incluía la fecha, la hora y el nombre del médico. La persona de recepción no podía entenderlo. Empeoró progresivamente y no lo compartiré todo. Es sorprendente que la parte superior de mi cabeza no se haya volado. Finalmente me dio una cita para el mediodía cuando el médico había fijado la 1:40. Le señalé eso y ella se encogió de hombros. La doctora pasó por casualidad a esa hora y dijo que tenía que ser la 1:40 (porque es su última cita del día y nos deja todo el tiempo que necesitemos). Alguien la ayudó, finalmente.
Luego tuve que bajar para programar una cita para una exploración. Fue muy sencillo y el personal de allí compensó al de arriba. Todo sonrisas, calidez y eficiencia. Almorzamos en el Mesón Salvador cuando llegamos a casa.
Mi cumpleaños es dentro de 8 días. Mis opciones desde San Geraldo eran una gran cena aquí con amigos (lo siento amigos), un viaje a Madrid o uno a Sevilla (lo siento amigos en esos lugares también). Me encantaría hacer un viaje, pero no ahora, y San Geraldo lo encuentra estresante de todos modos. La elección final fue Cirque du Soleil [Circo de Sol] – Alegría, en Málaga. San Geraldo nos consiguió los mejores asientos de la casa. Alegría significa “felicidad” y eso es lo que necesitamos.
Buen paseo esta mañana. Mucho progreso en el chiringuito más nuevo. Y hay un nuevo sendero a seguir en Fuengirola marcado por los azulejos blancos, azules y amarillos que se ven en la foto. No conozco los detalles del sendero pero pasa por nuestro barrio, al menos, y por el Paseo.
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Nothing I hate more than incompetent or rude medical personnel. Don’t they know the patient might be going through something and to act like an idiot only makes matters worse?
Every single time I’ve encountered rude nurses or doctors or what have you, I have written to complain, and every time I have had wonderful, lovely, doctors and nurses and what have you I write to praise.
Have a fabulous birthday night out when it arrives and enjoy the happiness! You deserve it.
Bob:
I was close to telling her I wasn’t well and she needed to get someone else. I do the same as you with the praise in writing. If a staffer or medical pro is especially awful, I do the same, too.
Glad to hear the kidney issue is curable. Enjoy Cirque du Soleil!
Debra:
Curable is what I should be focused on! Can’t wait for another Cirque du Soleil.
Okay. You are going to live and your doctor says you will be cured. Definitely reason to celebrate another birthday. I know, though, that going through all of this medical stuff is a nightmare and I am so sorry you have to do it.
Ms. Moon
Ms. Moon:
I’ll be really happy when my energy returns!
Oh, brother. That person at the appointment desk sounds truly incompetent. I HOPE she’s in training — otherwise she needs to be fired!
It would be fun if you were going to be in Madrid when we’re there (on the 22-23rd), but I can’t begrudge you seeing Cirque du Soleil! I saw them at Royal Albert and they were amazing.
Steve:
If she is a trainee, she so far has nothing going for her. I wish we could see you in Madrid! We saw Cirque du Soleil at Royal Albert in 2017. Maybe we were there the same night!
No pills here either, I could fix a very large manhattan. You will survive. We need you, and the Cats want their snacks.
David:
Doctor said I can only have teeny tiny Manhattan.
What a character the incompetent at the desk was. I’m glad you got it resolved despite that help.. And glad you can get well from the kidney issues.
That was me, boud, and I also meant to wish you a happy birthday soon.
Boud:
I need to focus on the positives the doctor shared.
Sorry Aunt Flossie is being a b!tch. Hang in there and enjoy Cirque du Soleil. Xx
In NM for another two weeks— the usual reasons. 100 degrees here.🥵
Mary:
Hope all is going well in NM, despite the heat. I kept typing Auntie Floss when I meant Auntie Foss.
Gosh, it’s becoming a real saga – at least you now know there is light at the end of the tunnel, when they get you the right treatments…
Doctors’ receptionists are a species apart. I’ve lost my rag quite a few times with incompetent “jobsworths” over the years. Jx
PS “Nefertiti” is a much better name for it!
Jon:
I like it.
Jon:
Vithas International in Benalmádena has a large, exceptional staff manning the desks. Very unusual. Great hiring and great management. So this one anomaly was a huge frustration. I can’t say the same about the staff here in Fuengirola.
Cirque du Soleil shows are always fantastic, so I hope this one is, too! You need a pleasurable distraction.
Kelly:
We have seen so many of them (some 2 or 3 times) and have loved them. Can’t wait.
After that row with the woman making the appointment, I wouldn’t blame you taking a Xanax then.
Kirk:
Amazingly, I didn’t need one after lunch!
I’m sorry that you have so many sorry friends…
Walt the Fourth:
Yeah, they are a sorry lot.
Auntie Foss, love it! Sending vibes… 😘
wickedhamster:
Vibes received with gratitude.
I hate it so much when I get that kind of “service” at the doctor’s office! Ugh. I’m so sorry. I understand your head being about to blow off!!
Allegria will be a wonderful show! I’m jealous! I’ve seen it on TV but haven’t had the opportunity to see it live. That’s going to be a wonderful birthday event for you. 🙂
Sending hugs that you feel better soon. xx
J Barlow:
We’ve been to many Cirque du Soleil shows (we saw all but one when we lived in Vegas, as well) but it’s been 7 years. I’m excited.
I’ve never seen Cirque du Soleil, though I’ve always wanted to… I’m pea green with envy!
Tundra Bunny:
We have seen so many over the years. We used to go to the tent shows wherever we lived, but then we lived in Las Vegas for 2 years and saw every single one, some 2 or 3 times, except for the Michael Jackson show. Amazing.
Wishing you continued good health and quick recuperation. I remember the Cirque du Soleil in Montreal, the year they started it was a small affair with an instant success, no one had ever seen such a spectacle, so very different to what we were use to. Le Cirque has come a long way since.
larrymuffin:
It sure has come a long way. We saw our first when we lived in San Francisco around 1999. What an amazing first experience.
I wish I had some xanax too! ha ha enjoy the circus…
bodhisattvaintraining:
And I haven’t needed one since!
Always the way isn’t it! Can’t even get them here anymore…
I thought I commented the day I read this, Mitchell, but I must have been on my phone (which I don’t use for commenting). Curable is good! But, Frustration and wanting to run away is a pretty natural reaction, I’d say. Cirque de Soleil will be so good for you!
J Chabot:
It’s coming soon!