The Neurologist

But first, several pretty photos I took last Saturday at my boss's house. This orchid was blooming beautifully on the living room coffee table. The room is south facing and has the most beautiful light. Even, though it rained and was dreary both days I was there with the doggies, the huge windows let in the maximum light.
A bouquet I gleaned from a garden of hydrangeas, garbed in their fall colors, and some giant and colorful leaves. These I placed on the table where we shared lunch with LM's sister and friend, Joe. It was a perfect day for chili.

I have a long medical history, much of it not pretty, thus, there have been lots of less than satisfactory visits with health care providers of all types. Yesterday's visit, for my trigeminal neuralgia condition, with a new neurologist, was what I hope is indicative of where medical care is heading. Everyone who worked with me was so incredibly kind and generous with their time. After a very lengthy interview with a nurse, during which she entered all the information into a computer, she introduced me to the doctor and he spent another long time talking with me, asking many many questions, all followed by a thorough neurological exam. He went over many options for me and then broke down those which he thought would be best for me considering my low tolerance to medications. He praised me for my choice to use alternative therapies to combat this, sometimes disabling, condition, and asked many questions about my body's reactions to massage, acupuncture and chiropractic, and was impressed with my incorporation of these therapies in seeking relief and as a general practice for good health! NOT, the usual reaction of the medical world. The conclusion is that I go on a maintenance dose of Topamax (still have some research of my own on this drug before starting it) which should help to keep another attack of TN at bay. His interest in me emotionally as well as physically was amazing. As we ended our long appointment, he warmly shook my hand and encouraged me to call him with any questions and my call would be answered promptly. I just about floated out of that office. The piece de resistance was finding my dearest LM and his awesome daughter, Meggie, waiting in the parking lot to take me for a cup of tea to hear about my appointment. After a nice cup of chamomille, we all went to pick up a few things at Trader Joe's. Sure wish they were closer to home.
The sun is finally shining, Kristi and LM were off on a fun mission today (details to be revealed in a future post) and I am planning to work on some quilting this evening.

Happy day to you all.