I had to stop by my doctor's office yesterday to renew my lansoprazole prescription -- my stomach antacid. For some reason, they make me come to the office to get another round, rather than allowing me to renew it online as a repeat medication. I need to ask them about that because it's a hassle. It's not as though lansoprazole is addictive. (At least as far as I know!)
Anyway, nearby I found this little stencil of Snoopy and Woodstock. I've found other graffiti at this location in the past, and in fact I think the baby pram to the right of Snoopy is a fragment of an earlier stencil. I'm not sure what Snoopy is doing -- reading from a sheet of paper? Woodstock seems pretty happy about it.
Last night I went for a massage. I called the massage place in the afternoon, just as I was about to get off work, and got a 7 p.m. appointment. Fortunately it's right around the corner from our house. I was feeling really sore for some reason, particularly my lower back -- maybe from all that library inventory? I hadn't had a massage in several months so it was time.
This wasn't the greatest Thai massage I'd ever had. I told her at the outset that I liked firm deep tissue massage on my back but a lighter touch on my legs. Right away, as she began, she pressed hard into my calves. "Ow!" I said.
"Oh, sorry!" she said. "I was thinking about something else!"
Now, I am a person who keeps my underwear on during a massage. I think it sends a message that I am approaching this from a purely therapeutic standpoint and I do not expect any hanky-panky. I don't know whether hanky-panky really happens at massage places -- I suppose it depends on where you go -- but just in case I want to be clothed.
She asked me at one point if I wanted to take my underwear off. I said if it was in her way I could, but it wasn't bothering me to keep it on. So I kept it on. I would think that this would be a relief to her, because I bet there are men who go in there looking for a little something extra and I don't want her to feel any expectation or even a hint of suggestion that that's what I want. You know? It seems respectful toward her. But maybe I'm being prudish. Or maybe it's offensive to massage therapists that this possibility is even crossing my mind -- in which case, I apologize to Thai massage therapists everywhere. I'm just trying to do right by you.
We got some rain yesterday, which is always welcome. A few nights ago, while walking home, I found a hydrangea that someone had pulled out of their garden. It was sitting loosely in a plastic pot on the sidewalk, leaves wilted, outside their garden wall. So I brought it home and planted it in a terra cotta pot on the patio, where it has perked up a bit. Yes, another potted plant. Remember how I keep saying we have too many?
I don't like deep tissue massage and would leave my underwear on too. In fact, I'm hesitant to get massages because they make me feel uncomfortable for some reason. I'm not a prude but I guess I'm more private than I think. Is your medication a different spelling of Omeprazole or just a relative?
ReplyDeleteI think omeprazole is a slightly different medication. Lansoprazole is Prevacid, while omeprazole is Prilosec. Some people just aren't into massages and I get that too!
DeleteLansoprazole, a type of proton pump inhibitor (PPI), has in recent times been associated with claims of chronic kidney injury and renal failure, as well as an increased risk of aspiration pneumonia and iron deficiency anaemia.
ReplyDeleteWell THAT I did not know! I guess I need to read those package inserts.
DeleteThe Thai massage places here use elaborate ways with light cotton sheets to cover whatever should not be seen. It's like in a Turkish bath place. When after the best Thai massage I had I thanked the woman in Thai (my daughter who worked there for while taught me the basics) it turned out she was Indonesian.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I was covered with a sheet too, but they were quite casual about pushing it aside and/or lifting it up.
DeleteThat's not a smile on Snoopy's face, it's a malevolent snarl before he whacks Woodstock to death with the iron drainpipe he is holding. I remember having a foot massage in Thailand and it wasn't long before the masseuse was at my groin. I guess she realised there was another foot in my underpants but I was pretty annoyed.
ReplyDeleteFootlong is Ray's English nephew's nickname. He named himself to me. No one else calls him that.
DeleteYP: Yikes! Why is the idea of a non-sexual massage such a hard thing for people to grasp? (No pun intended.)
DeleteAndrew: Oh my!
Just because you have too many doesn’t mean you can’t have more. You’ll still have the same amount. Too many. (That made sense in my head.) Nothing wrong with leaving your underwear on. “Sorry. I was thinking about something else,” was not the most customer-friendly response.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I laughed at that. It was right at the outset and I thought, "This is not going to go well."
DeleteFor sure asking if you wanted to remove your underwear was a suggestion to go further, for an extra fee of course. I like professional male masseurs. They will tease to the edge of going too far but don't.
ReplyDeleteEven I would have rescued a hydrangea, though I have no where for one. I love them.
I once had a male masseur put the moves on me, which is another story for another day. At the time it just surprised me but later it made me angry.
DeleteI am on a "prazole" medication too, it doesn't begin with an "L" though. I have never had a massage! I don't think I would enjoy one for some odd reason. I love hydrangeas, but I don't have much success with them.
ReplyDeleteI love them when they're done well. Sometimes they're mediocre and then it's a bit of a disappointment. (Like a lot of things, I suppose!)
DeleteI also have a "prazole", but the prescription goes for three months before I need to go back for a repeat. My other medications are for six months at a time so going back midway is inconvenient. Snoopy and Woodstock are so cute. I hope the hydrangea survives.
ReplyDeleteMy prescription gets me two boxes, which I think lasts me about a month and a half?
DeleteI was prescribed that for a limited time after surgery, to offset the effects of the other meds. I'm off all of them now, yay. That med has potential serious side effects so they like to monitor it. Not something to use indefinitely.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I didn't realize the side effects could be such a problem. I've tried to go off it but I always have to restart.
DeleteI think you do whatever makes you feel comfortable.
ReplyDeleteI'd leave my drawers on!!
Yeah, that is definitely more my style.
DeleteYou have to rescue a hydrangea. It's just what one must do! My massage therapist would always leave a light blanket over the parts not being handled. It felt safe and uncomplicated.
ReplyDeleteThat's fine when the blanket/sheet stays on. But sometimes they tend to be a little too casual about moving it aside. Honestly, I'm not a prude, even though I'm sounding like one!
DeleteI also like a good massage. Finding a skilled therapist and becoming a regular customer makes everything perfect.
ReplyDeleteYour new rescue hydrangea will thrive in the garden. My white flowering hydrangea is covered in blooms and at 4 feet tall and wide, it makes a nice focal point.
Yeah, exactly. If you can find a massage therapist you know and trust that makes a huge difference.
DeleteMassages can be a tricky thing, although they really shouldn't be. Both of the best masseuses I ever had were female. I felt very safe in their hands. And yes- underwear ON! and I am not a bashful person.
ReplyDeleteI think Snoopy's on his iPad and Woodstock is on his iPhone.
I've had both male and female massage therapists who have been great. Oh no -- not digital Snoopy and Woodstock!
DeleteTo be honest, as a single person, my drawers would have probably come off at that point to see what would happen. As a married person, I probably would have left them on as you did, to signal that I wasn't desiring anything more to happen. I've never had a massage, mostly because I'm unclear on the etiquette or possibilities of such places.
ReplyDeleteWell, for one thing, being gay, I was not at all interested or curious about what might happen! LOL! Usually massage therapists are quite professional but occasionally there can be weird vibes.
DeleteI've never had a massage! I've had the chair kind (we had a wellness event at work & brought in someone who had a chair). That was pretty nice.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to your photos of the rescued hydrangea!
Oh yeah, chair massages are great. I used to get those at work too!
DeleteI've never had a massage.
ReplyDeleteGood luck to your new hydrangea!
It's worth a try, especially if your muscles are sore for any reason! I love a massage as an occasional treat.
DeleteI love Snoopy - he always makes me smile and he's on my watch face. Good luck with the hydrangea. People throw out the strangest things.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I am a Snoopy fan. We are of that generation. :)
DeleteIt's not addictive like an opioid but it's not something you can stop cold turkey without severe rebound effects. I just slowly weaned myself off one over the course of 6 months and it was not easy.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I've tried to stop it cold turkey and I find that my stomach rebels. Maybe that's why -- I haven't tapered off properly!
DeleteI wonder if Snoopy has graduated perhaps?
ReplyDeleteIt does look like a diploma!
DeleteI've only had two massages in my life so I'm certainly no expert. I did take my underwear off for one of those and I found it a bit unnerving. I couldn't really relax and isn't relaxing part of the point.
ReplyDeleteInteresting about your prescription. The US has a lot of rules about renewals but most of those are put in place by insurance companies and not doctors. But then we have RFK, Jr. overseeing the medical profession instead of a doctor so I guess that makes sense. :-/
Yeah, exactly -- the bottom line requirement for a good massage is that you have to be comfortable. I didn't realize until reading the comments above that longtime lansoprazole use can have side effects!
DeleteI have to go back for a refill for a basic med too - its like when did this happen - I usually get a years supply. So dumb.
ReplyDeleteIt is always a little awkward getting a massage - like - I'm here for REAL LEGIT reasons - the "hanky panky" comment made me laugh - but I also get it - in this crazy world - you know the massage therapists wonder what a day holds for them.
Can you imagine what it must be like to be a massage therapist? They must approach every appointment with an unknown client with a sense of caution, to say the least!
DeleteI kinda had the same thought as YP about the stencil. It looks like Snoopy is going to bash Woodstock with whatever that is in his hand! I'm not sure what that says about me.
ReplyDeleteHa! Are you projecting inner hostility? As I recall Woodstock did get kicked around a fair amount but he always recovers.
DeleteWhat a day—from prescription hassles and Snoopy graffiti to a massage mishap and rescuing a wilting hydrangea, you sure know how to find the little things that matter.
ReplyDeleteWell, I don't know how much they matter, but they make a good blog post. :)
DeleteAs another commenter said, stopping Lansoprazole causes rebound effects. It took me months to cut my dosage in half. But my pharmacist says if I can't reduce it further, I shouldn't be worried. The biggest effect she was concerned about was osteoporosis, and I'm being monitored for that. It's crazy and frustrating to be on a med that you just can't go off, cold turkey, and then have access to it be so difficult. Maybe they could explain to you why they are guarding it so closely? Maybe your bloodwork showed some warning signs? I think kidney function is one area that can be affected. Okay, I am not helping your tendency to worry about medical things - sorry!
ReplyDeleteWell, my kidney tests were fine, so I'm not worried about that. But this explains why I got such bad acid reflux after I stopped the meds. I didn't realize there was a rebound effect.
Delete