Friday, March 1, 2013

“Grow old along with me. The best is yet to be, the last of life, for which the first was made.”

After three days of the valacyclovir (Valtrex), my case of shingles continues unabated.

I thought the pain was easing and the discolorations were fading slightly, but no. It was just wishful thinking.

It’s becoming a regular pharmacy around here.

I currently take three pills in the morning prescribed by my cardiologist (Cozaar, Toprol, and 1/4-grain Aspirin), one from my family doctor (the Valtrex), and two extra-strength Tylenol. In mid-afternoon I take two more of the Tylenols and another Valtrex. Before bedtime I take three other cardiologist-prescribed pills (a Zocor and two extended-release Niacin), two more extra-strength Tylenol, and a third Valtrex. I keep Nitrostat (nitroglycerin pills) on hand “just in case” of a heart flare-up but I am happy to report that in the 17 years since my heart attack I have never had to take a single one. Oh, and I just completed a three-month tour on Omeprazole (the generic equivalent of The Purple Pill) courtesy of the gastroenterologist following my first-ever endoscopy (bleeding ulcer) and colonoscopy (polyp). Counting the Omeprazole, that’s 16 pills a day, about 14 more than I would like to be ingesting.

I’m turning into a regular Snowbrush.

Well, maybe things haven’t quite reached that point yet.

But that which I greatly fear has come may have come may be trying to come upon me.

I speak of the condition we all dread. A-G-E.

Age.

Old age.

Nah.

It’s probably just the shingles talking.

In honor of the occasion, though, I have composed a pome (translation: some doggerel verse):

Old age -- it ain’t for sissies;
Old age -- it ain’t for wimps.
Old age is full of gases
Like those they put in blimps.

Old age has come a-knocking;
Old age will get us all.
Old age makes people long for
Dear dead days beyond recall.

Old age -- the final frontier --
Into it we boldly go
Where none of us has gone before.
What’s there? You don’t want to know.

(End of pome)

If you’re the type who likes to get a second opinion, you can always go with Robert Browning up there in the title of this post.

Otherwise, take two aspirin and call me in the morning.

15 comments:

  1. Love your "pome"!

    I've taken Valtrex, too, then went back to the generic acyclovir. I hope you get some relief soon.

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  2. Thanks, Mary Z., for your compliment and your good wishes.

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  3. You're ahead of Snowbrush in terms of numbers and varieties of pills. This week, I've taken two Ambien, three oxycodone, two Neurontin, quite a lot of marijuana, and five Cymbalta. Yep, congratulations, you've done it. You've surpassed me. I'm so very embarrassed. Think I'll go out and buy some heroin.

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  4. It aint no rumour, you young fella', have a sense of humour (humor) apologies to my English spell check.

    Me like your pome. And old age, in my case, the final fartier.

    Be better and I shall ask my doctor, for free, a second opinion on your um pome.

    Peace, I'm outta' here.

    Gary

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  5. Shingles is a horrible illness and I'm very sorry you are in the throes of it ... but I do think that your wonder medication will shorten is painful symptoms. Let's hope you are feeling better soon.

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  6. Snow, I may have surpassed you in quantity, but you're way ahead in bang for the buck. It's rather like comparing firecrackers with nuclear bombs.

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  7. "you're way ahead in bang for the buck."

    Don't give up, though. As I demonstrated last year, it's even possible to hallucinate on anti-biotics.

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  8. Oh dear, I fear these shingles are the legacy of those nights of wild debauchery you spent in Sweden all those years ago. You know those nights you never told Ellie about and have even tried to convince yourself never happened.... Seriously though GET WELL SOON!

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  9. York Pud (a new Thai dish?), everything I have read leads me to believe that the cause of shingles is chicken pox, not nights of wild debauchery in Sweden or anyplace else. Still, your concern is touching.

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  10. "Still, your concern is touching."

    And mine's not?! Plague likes Yorkie better than he does Snowy. Boo, hoo, hoo.

    Actually, I rather picture you sitting there with moist eyes in gratitude for the fact that the two people who have given you the most grief over your various views actually care for you after all, if only because they would miss giving you grief.

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  11. Snowy, the logic in your statement ranks right up there with "I keep hitting myself with this hammer because it feels so good when I stop." But I guess it's the thought that counts.

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  12. "the logic in your statement ranks right up there with..."

    My horoscope--or maybe it's my Myers-Briggs--describes me as "logic optional," so I'm not surprised that you feel that way, although I myself can't imagine what you're referring to.

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  13. You fellows leave me laughing.... Praying for you, RWP ~ shingles are no fun!

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  14. Didn't mean to overlook either klahanie (Gary) or Helsie (Helsie) in my responses. Thanks for commenting, both of you.

    LightExpectations, thanks to you as well. Do you think it's better to laugh before praying or to pray before laughing? I can't decide.

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  15. Can't we do both at the same time?
    ~ Psalm 2:4 "the One enthroned in heaven laughs" ~

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<b>Always true to you, darlin’, in my fashion</b>

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