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Show 347 Among the Expensive and the Useless I am home. Virginia is coming with me to my scheduled office visit with Dr. Emerson. Dr. Chappie has moved to another state and I am grieving her calmness and her sense of humor and her endurance, keeping pace with this disease on the run. Now Dr. Emerson has assumed my primary care outside the hospital as well as in. "He said some pretty harsh things," I am telling Virginia, relating my recent hospital experience. I will feel better with her there with me. She is someone who knows me and can laugh at the absurd image of me, hitting anyone. He is coming through the door and I can hear my heart pulsing rapidly in my ears. My mouth is dry. He is smiling but I cannot easily return his smile. I am very glad that Virginia is here with me this day. I am going to try to change the emphasis of my treatment. "I would like to try staying at home the next time I get startled," I begin, after the superficial exchange of pleasantries. He does not interrupt. "Half of my home health nurses are also my nurses when I'm in the hospital," I say, "so they certainly understand how to push Versed." Versed can be a very dangerous drug. |