I was thinking about my 17 minute virtual appointment with my neurologist that I just had. I surprised her with two things. I think I started seeing her in 2016 when my first neurologist retired. I remember that I thought that my neurologist would fix me 25 years ago but after 25 years, almost 26, that is not the case. I need to fix myself. Or rather, there is NO fixing, just have to deal with it. That is proving kind of rough to say the least!
But what I was thinking about is that I surprised her twice. She was surprised at first when she asked me to raise my arms and I could with ease. I told her I stretch my arms and hands every day. I remember that I saw an internist in 2021? I stretched my arms for her and I told her that I will eventually lose that ability and she just kind of furrowed her brow, and said, “Maybe not.”
Dr. Cerghet was surprised at the ease with which I raised my arms up. I told her that I stretch my arms and my hands every day because I do. I know that I will lose abilities, even more than I already have lost, but I guess I wanna keep it at bay as much as I can. I listen to audio rosaries as I stretch my hands with my therapy putty, and then another when I stretch my arms.
The last thing that she asked me to do which I don’t remember her asking me to do it before was to open my mouth. Right when she asked, I opened my mouth wide and stuck out my tongue a little bit. She was audibly surprised! I told her that I go to the dentist three times a year for my cleanings now and she asked me to move my tongue. Her surprise startled me and I thought back to my working days.
I went to lunch with a friend on Saturday morning. We laughed and talked, and I think it was almost toward the end of our meal when she looked at me and asked me quite seriously, if I had any cavities. I was not prepared for that question and I think I swallowed and I told her that I did not. But I definitely wasn’t ready for what she asked next. “Can I see?” I remember that I swallowed again and I think I took a sip of water and then I slowly opened my mouth in the middle of a busy restaurant in the middle of the day. I had never had someone ask me to do that before, but I take dental hygiene, quite seriously!
I had no problem opening my mouth for Dr. Cerghet. I have said before that my dental appointments are the only time that I feel good about myself because those are always good. I am currently in transition because my dentist who I’ve had for all my life retired and a corporation took over the practice. I still go to the same office, but I have different doctors now. Last time I had Dr. Dawood and I’ve had him before. His check ups are very short because there’s nothing wrong with my mouth. The time before last, I had a woman, and I don’t remember her name, I don’t think she introduced herself to me. She checked my teeth and she pressed on my back molars. There was nothing wrong with them, but that was very strange because I haven’t had them press on my back molars in a long time because my teeth are good.
At least my dental health is good! at least that is something because everything else is progressively worse. My job now is just to keep things at bay for as long as I can.