9/27/2025

 Saturday, September 27, 2025

D+326/222/-1213

70 The walls of the upper city of Jerusalem were battered down by the Roman army

1066 William the Conqueror's troops set sail from Normandy to conquer England

1590 Pope Urban VII died 13 days after being chosen as Pope, making his reign the shortest papacy in history

2020 Details of President Donald Trump's tax returns were released by the NY Times showing he paid $750 in income tax (2016 & 2017), revealing "chronic losses and years of tax avoidance"

In bed at 10:15, up at 6:20.  57°, high of 80°, mostly cloudy.  Sunrise is at 6:45, and I'm wondering if the later sunrises are contributing to my later waking.  I put a load of laundry in the washer, loaded and started the dishwasher, made a cup of coffee, and sat down at 6:35, noticing the birds are already at the tube and tray feeders.

Meds, etc.  Morning meds at  .

A call from Dr. Cheng yesterday afternoon informed me that he had received the results my recent x-rays and they showed mild deterioration (degeneration? what's the term?) in my left hip, which has been painful for some time, and "at least mild" deterioration of my right shoulder, which has been painful much longer.  I'm scheduled to receive an ultrasound-guided cortisone/lidocaine injection in the hip from Dr. England on November 4, but I may cancel that procedure if the hip pain improves, which is not likely.  There is some evidence, I am told, that these injections may provide relief for a few months, but  may also contribute to a worsening condition down the road.  I have had at least one previous injection, that time in my right hip when I was barely able to raise my right leg to get into my car.  I'm wondering of course what effect, if any, the polymyalgia rheumatica has had on the hips, my continuing shoulder pain, and now my newly-arisen ulnar nerve/"claw fingers" problems with my hands.  I agreed to an ulnar nerve test of some sort at the PM&R Clinic, but it hasn't been scheduled yet.  It takes about an hour and a half and Dr. Cheng tells me it's no fun (not in those words, of course.)

OFF TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AT THE VA HOSPITAL.