X-post with Teppy.

All manner of health~ma being sent toward your family.

I have known a number of people with TIAs and they've all done quite well after they were diagnosed.

I'm so glad your school system was lucky enough to get to keep you, ChiKat.

I would like to whine about my plantar fasciitis. I'm skipping the Y this week and skipped several days last week. I'm trying to stay off it, even though the weather is wonderful and I want to be outside gardening. I am doing all the stretching, icing, shoe inserts and braces that I did before, but my foot is not getting better. I can't get an appointment with the podiatrist covered by my insurance until August. The alternative is an orthopedist, and so far, with the exception of a PA at a remote office, the orthopedic people I can go to haven't been worth the powder and lead it would take to shoot them. Has anyone had this recently that was offered anything more magical, like cortisone?

Has anyone had this recently that was offered anything more magical, like cortisone?

I was given cortisone shots in the States for my plantar fasciitis, which killed he pain entirely for four weeks or so. When I got home, the doctor advised against it, saying they can apparently harden the ligaments and do even more long-term damage. Conversely, my case responded to the inserts, stretching and icing, and I well remember being barely able to walk with it before that, so I can't say I regret the shots.

Ginger, you might also try massaging the underside of the arch of your foot - it helped me, but my problem probably wasn't as severe (it loosened up the muscles that were tight).

And Teppy, almost five years ago I went to the ER with what they thought was a TIA but turned out to have been two strokes. I'm doing really well - may your uncle be as lucky. And, since he's in the hospital where they can monitor him, if it gets worse, they'll be able to prevent some of the worst aftereffects.

I'm pretty good about the icing, stretching, etc., but I'm approaching the end of my rope. I really dislike the orthopedic practice Kaiser works with, though. It's like the DMV with stupider employees.

um ... at least you don't leave with an ugly picture? (that's all I've got)

Instead of an ugly picture, you get inexplicable bills that you protest and protest and finally give up and pay. Then six months later you get a check for the amount you protested, without explanation. This happens after a visit in which they put you in a little room and forget you, then admit an hour later that they forgot you and laugh about it.

Your foot problems might be relieved by kicking the shit out of some people at Kaiser.

Health ~ma to your family, Tep.

Vortex, if you come down here for a late birthday celebration, we'll have the best time! I have an almost-full bottle of Fernet. It's no North Beach, but we can do some damage.

smonster, we missed you at the company picnic today. I invited Chris M. and Jessica O'H. to your going away party. Hope that's okay. They were asking about you. Get this: someone broke their ankle falling off the Segway. THAT FUCKING SEGWAY. I want to hide it where no one will ever find it.

death to the Segways!