“Always a pleasure”

Yesterday (Wednesday, February 20, 2008) I visited my Primary Care Physician (PCP), a Dr. Vincent Yavorek, at Bloomfield Family Practice.
Yavorek and I always have a good time, and I think he’s one of the best doctors I’ve ever had.
I had three things to discuss:
—1) “Need some Flonase®?” he asked.
“Well, it works pretty good, but maybe I should be using something better,” I said.
“Works on nasal allergies, but not the eye itching,” I said.
“I get the impression something better might be out there that does.”
“Hold it,” he said; “I’ll be right back.”
He returned with a sample of Veramyst®.
“This is the stuff advertised on TV,” I said. “Promises-promises. ‘In case of death, please contact your physician immediately.’”
“Well try it,” he said; “and if it works better, use it instead. But it’s not a generic like your Flonase substitute. You’ll pay more out-of-pocket.”
—2) “Next issue is whether I should be taking Simvastatin,” I said. “I got this article that ran in the Messenger.”
“That guy’s a crackpot. Studies connect lowered cholesterol with improved cardiovascular health.”
“Yeah, but the import, and we’ve heard it elsewhere, is the body, especially the brain, needs cholesterol; that it’s being reduced too much. Don’t forget I have a brain-injury.”
“But what if you stop the drug and have a heart-attack or stroke?”
“I already had a stroke and that wasn’t because of cholesterol.”
“Well, lessee. Last time we checked, which was last December, your cholesterol was 122,” he said.
“That’s pretty good, isn’t it?” I asked.
“Probably because of the Simvastatin.”
“But maybe also because I’m working out, and eat right.”
He thought a minute, and said “Maybe you could stop, and we’ll see what happens in three or four months.”
—3) “We need a referral to a skin-man,” I said.
“Why? What’s happening there?” he asked anxiously.
“Nothing,” I responded. “We just wanna make sure nothing is happening.”

“So what about this prostate thing?” he asked. “I see you had a prostate assessment at a urologist last December.”
“Yes I did; and you can bet your bottom dollar I gave him the business, as you probably have already surmised.”
“Yes, I’m sure you did,” he commented. “Better him than me!”
“I wanted to know if having to go to the bathroom two or three times a night is okay for someone my age; and apparently it is.”
“They could put you on medication for that, but it may not work,” he said.
“So what sense does that make? If two or three times a night is normal, why bother?”
“It’s like bifocals. I ain’t gettin’ ‘em if I don’t need ‘em.”
“I can’t even get you to take Simvastatin!”
“Yeah, but the impression I got is that I more needed to get back into shape. I’m running too; wasn’t sure I could, but apparently I can.”
“Pretty soon you’ll have to go back to work,” he said.
“Oh no,” I should have said. “Work or exercise. You can’t get in shape working.......”

“Bloomfield” is a nearby village. We live in West Bloomfield.

“Flonase®” is a prescription anti-allergen sprayed up the nose. I get hay-fever.

The “Messenger” is the Canandaigua Daily-Messenger newspaper, from where I retired over two years ago. Best job I ever had.

RE: “Don’t forget I have a brain-injury......” —I had a stroke October 26, 1993.

“My age” is 64.