I am due to go into hospital soon for another small operation on my hand (it is yet another attempt to halt the remorseless desire of my little fingers to curl in on themselves (a.k.a. Dupuytren's Contracture, a.k.a. Viking Disease)) In preparation for the operation I had to attend the hospital last Friday for a pre-operative assessment. Everything was going well until the nurse took my blood pressure and declared that it was too high, I was given a letter to take back to my GP asking him to start me on a course of antihypertensives and send me back to the hospitals when it was under control. I was reluctant to start taking pills until I was certain that there was a real problem (I am reasonably proud of my pill-free status) so when I got home I started taking my own blood pressure two or three times a day and all readings were well within normal limits. Armed with this evidence I was able to persuade the Practice Nurse to simply re-check my bloods pressure over a three week period before even thinking about antihypertensives. Yesterday she did the first of these three readings and it was well within normal range.
Feeling rather pleased with myself, I came home and found a chap on my doorstep trying to deliver a parcel (later, I couldn't help recalling that he was a tall, dark chap with a swarthy complexion). I signed for the parcel and took it inside only to discover that it was a case of craft beers with the collective title of "The Day Of The Dead Beer Selection". It contained wonderful offerings such as "Death Becomes You" (An ambler American style IPA); "Death Rides A Pale Horse" (A pale blonde beer); and "Hop On Or Die" (A golden hoppy beer). It arrived without any card or note saying who it was from.
I have a suspicion who might have sent it and in that case its arrival during my blood pressure crisis was a complete coincidence. But I can't help wondering whether it is the Grim Reaper sending me a none too subtle message; the thought of which is enough to send my blood pressure sky-high.
Glad to hear your blood pressure is okay. Hope the operation goes ahead and it is successful. That beer is enough to make your toes curl up as well as your finger.
ReplyDeleteI believe there is an alternative and supposedly more effective treatment for that finger contracture problem, involving needles. Someone I know has it but is not yet at the stage of needing to be treated. Sounds like you've had to have it done more than once before.
ReplyDeleteYes Jo, it was the alternative (a needle somethingorother) I had last time but, in my case, it didn't work
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ReplyDeleteGreat packaging! I hope the contents are tasty too.
ReplyDeleteMy blood pressure is probably far too high but I had a major disagreement with my doctor over my treatment. She prescribed me a commonly used drug which made me cough. Continuously. For 8 months. I went back several times worried about my health, and lack of sleep, and she gave me a chit for a chest x ray. Turns out (I read in the FT) that coughing is a very common side effect of the drug I was taking but apparently my doctor either doesn't know or doesn't care. So I'm afraid I stopped taking the pills and feel much better. I should go back but I don't like being shouted at.
Enjoy the beer.
Good Lord protect me from Doctors (except from you my dear in case you are reading this)
DeleteObviously the GLW would never be so careless. Tried the beer yet?
DeleteAnd following later a comment - I only drink decaf coffee (and no tea) because it seems I have a VERY low caffeine threshold. No idea if that makes any difference.
Hope the fingers aren't too sore to use the bottle-opener, Alan!
ReplyDeleteInteresting looking beer! Someone knows you well. I hope your surgery goes okay...keep an eye on the Blood Pressure. I staved off the pills for a couple of years by giving up coffee:)
ReplyDeleteYes, our blood pressure fluctuates wildly. I admire your pill free status and ability to get free beer.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wild gift of beer, appropriate for the Halloween season perhaps. Before your surgery it is rather funny. I am glad you did not have to get on the pills, good for you for having them check your blood pressure again.
ReplyDeleteWishing you the best with the upcoming surgery. Enjoy that beer.
ReplyDeleteBeer has great curative powers, (at least when taken in an appropriate dosage). To your good health, Alan!
ReplyDeleteI confess that good beer would be a hard habit to break...
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