I hope 2013 is a better year for you Carefree, all the best.

Every year I am still here, I find it amazing. I'm glad Snitz is still here too!

My blood pressure fell to 61/38 (all time low for me, as far as I know) a couple of days ago, alarmed more doctors and nurses. One of the doctors later told me that I looked like one of those fake, conspiracy-theory photos of a "Roswell alien" (gray and wrinkled). After almost 6 hours, my blood pressure had only increased to 70/49.

My pulmonologist never orders tests, he says tests are for doctors who don't know what they're looking at. I enjoy talking with him, he reminds me of George Carlin. On the other hand, my cardiologist LOVES tests. Let's try this, and this, and that .... He knows what he's doing, also - but I suspect he may own (or have a share in) the company which conducts most of the tests.

I'm proving to be a learning curve for the heart center (like I am for most doctors who treat me). On one occasion last year, I had a stroke followed by a seizure. By the time they got me to the E.R., I was unresponsive to everything they did. After trying for some 30-45 minutes, they were ready to pronounce me, but the lady doctor who brought me in didn't want to give up. She tried to tell the E.R. doctor about my genetic brain disease, but he didn't want to listen. When the E.R. staff moved on to a different patient, she kept trying things - and when my brain started functioning again, the E.R. staff finally decided to learn about my condition.

Now, they want to work with the neurological center and do some joint series of tests - of course, these tests cost a LOT of money. One series they did when I was in Ohio cost a bit more than 75000 USD in a single afternoon. If the tests were only 15-20 USD each, I suspect they wouldn't bother ordering any of them....

To Everyone:
Happy New Year!