Yesterday at the doctors

When I got to the maison médicale yesterday I learned that our médicin traitant (GP, ot primary-care physician) has simply changed his work hours. I don't know why. He no longer sees patients on Wednesdays. The doctor who saw me yesterday is a young woman who is described as a médecin remplaçant.

All went smoothly. She reviewed my file on her computer screen and I helped clarify some of the entries therein. Why I had one treatment or another, and when, for example. We talked about the arthritis I developed (or fell victim to) last summer. She examined me and said my heart is strong and my lungs too. That was good news.

However, she found my blood pressure to be slightly higher than it should be and advised me to buy a tensiomètre and test my blood pressure monthly or even weekly at first. There's a very complicated-looking form to fill out and return to the doctor. I can do that. In fact, we have a tensiomètre and we'll see how well it works Walt bought it in the U.S. on a trip last year. A new one costs as little as 20 euros here in France.

She also wrote me a prescription for Prednizone to treat my current arthritis flare-up along with a renewal of a prescription for an ointment that contains Ibuprofen. I told her I have some Ibuprofen tablets on hand but I'm not taking any right now and haven't felt the need to for several months.

My wrist joint inflammation seems to be less painful this morning. I don't know which doctor I'll see when I go back for other consultations this winter and spring. It might just depend on the appointments that are available and on which days. I'll definitely need to go back in about six months, as always. Or before, as need be. That's my status report.