Today I Am A Medicine Chest

Ron has never written anything in his life (other than a few letters he's written while at Taft), yet last week I got something from him that I enjoyed, and he gave me permission to share it with all of you. It's just a fun little essay he wrote called "Today I Am A Medicine Chest".

When we were kids of 12-13 years of age, we experienced celebrations which, depending on our religion were either Bar Mitzvahs or First Communions. When these events took place, our friends brought gifts to the lavish parties which our parents put on either at the church, synagogue, or home. any of these gifts were Esterbrook fountain pens, the kind of pens that the snorkle came out of the end and was used to "suck-up" the ink from an ink bottle. More often than not, after refilling the pen I had to go to the bathroom to wash the ink out of my shirt, pants and off my fingers. I can still hear my mother's voice imploring me not to make a mess. So, back at the celebration, when the honoree spoke to the guests, he would almost always start his speech by saying, "Today I am a man". We changed the phrase to "Today I am a fountain pen", to make fun of the entire process.

So one week ago today, I was summoned over the crackly sounding loud speaker in the camp, "Ron Anson, report to medical immediately". I quickly complied. When I arrived at medical, Nurse Spandas, who knows me well from finger pricking blood tests, said to me, "Don't worry, you're just going to the doctor in Bakersfield to see the kidney specialist".

I was immediately relieved to know I was not in trouble, but at 1PM I got to go on a field trip! Officer McKay loaded me into one of the white SUV's, which have plexiglass between the drivers seat and the passenger bench in back, for our 45 minute ride. He turned on a western music station and we enjoyed the ride in silence. I was being sent to an outside nephrologist because when I arrived at Taft my kidney test showed 41% efficiency. 59% is normal for my age. The latest tests came back 56%,59%,and 58%, so I really was surprised that they sent me to a specialist, although I realize they are very concerned about inmate health.

After arriving at the clinic, I gave a urine sample and waited with the officer for the doctor to come into the room. When he arrived and introduced himself, he stated that my tests were now normal and I would not need to return to his office prior to my release next June. Darn, no more field trips to Bakersfield.

Relieved, I enjoyed the ride back to Taft. Yesterday I was told I had a doctor's appointment at 1PM. I appeared at the prescribed time and Dr. Rucker told me that he was cutting down on my diabetes medication.

To bring you up to date, I became a Type 2 diabetic in 2002 at age 60. My diabetes was well in check until November 16, 2009, when I was sentenced to 24 months in prison. My blood sugars then went from a normal of 100 for the last 7 years to 350. My doctor in San Diego sent me to an endocrinologist who I call Dr B because he has a 5 syllable Indian name that I can't pronounce. Dr. B gave me a choice of two avenues to follow to lower my blood sugar. He also told me my spike in blood sugar was due to stress and would probably repair itself. The choices he gave me were (1) the drug Januvia, taken orally for three weeks to begin to lower my blood sugar or (2) insulin injections which would work immediately. Had I chosen insulin I would have been prohibited from going to Taft. So my choice of the pills turned out to be a fortuitous one.

Anyway, when I arrived at Taft I was prescribed 2550 mg of Metformin (I had taken 1000 before incarceration). I am now taking 500mg, and look forward to the time when I will eliminate it all together. I currently take other drugs such as lipitor, aspirin, cozaar, prilosec, synthroid and three different kinds of vitamins daily.

Now you know why I feel "Today I am a medicine chest", in a good way. The doctor here told me that not taking anti-inflammatories such as Celebrex and Ibuprofen has helped improve my kidney disease.

I guess the reality is, all medicines have side-effects which eventually surface. So less is better.