Doctors, Dentists, and Hair salons

 

After three years in Princeton, we feel we have found the doctors, dentist and hair salon that we like.  And at our age, doctors and dentists and labs are definitely a big part of our lives.   I was hoping that we could say that we had no medical or dental appointments in June.  There were none on the calendar.  But then Jim had a filling fall out of one of his teeth on a Friday.  He called our dentist hoping that this problem would not be as complicated as his last emergency. (which involved oral surgery and several dental appointments) Dr. Brummell was able to see Jim on Monday and happily the filling was easily replaced--not cheaply replaced but in just one easy appointment.

I was dreading an appointment with my primary care provider this week and the follow-up blood work.  I had not lost weight as I had hoped nor had I exercised as much as I intended nor given up sweets and carbs to any great extent.  So how could I hope for and expect good news?  But the A1C number came back just a bit lower and I feel as if I have a reprieve for another four months.  The cholesterol numbers were higher but I assured the doctor when he asked that I was taking my statin every day.   We are going to double it and I hope that will bring those numbers down.  I am relieved to have a plan and to be doing something even if it means more pills.  And I am trying to get at least 5000 steps a day and because some of those are climbing the stairs to get to our apartment maybe there will be improvement.  There is so much that I cannot control but I can try to do better with diet and exercise.

I won't go into too much more detail on this blog but these health issues and appointments are such a big part of our lives that I want to record them for our Blog2Print book for 2022.  

Jim is more disciplined than I am about walking daily.  He does not need to lose weight.  We try to eat whole grains, vegetables and fruit.  We do not eat cured meats or sugary drinks.  I have a longer list of drugs to take; he has fewer pills but a regime of eye drops.  He has a regular rotation of specialists and sees a dermatologist, rheumatologist, ophthalmologist and urologist regularly with an occasional stop at the cardiologist.  I see the ophthalmologist once a year and my gynecologist regularly.  So we are keeping the medical establishments in business here in Princeton.  

It has taken time to find doctors we like and trust and that will take our insurance.  My first appointments with a primary care doctor here were very stressful for me but I have made a change within the practice and am far happier with the one I am seeing now--the first one and I were not a good match.  Dr. Sophocles, the gynecologist at the Women's Health Center, says I am "low maintenance" and I am very grateful for her care. 

And then there was the all important aspect of life in finding the right person to cut our hair.  I went to three places where the hair cuts were good enough but it was cash only and $95 for a cut and blow dry.  One other place was less expensive but the stylist did not speak English.  We now both get our hair cut by Francine who runs her own salon (Addicto Salon) just up the road in Kingston, charges $45 and does just fine.  Plus she takes a credit card!   Maybe that is not as important as a doctor or a dentist but a good hair cut is important for one's psyche and emotional well being. 

So three years after our big move, we have made progress and are thankful for the doctors we see and the pharmacy that provides our drugs.  We have a supply of Covid tests in the closet and have our Covid vaccinations.  We know where to go to get the anti-viral drugs if we need them.  We know how to get to the ER and have made a trial run but hope we won't need to make that trip again.