Brilliant Doctor CS

Last week, it was time for my annual trek to Johns Hopkins to the Myositis Center.  This time, I had a morning appointment.  In fact, I'm pretty sure I was her first patient.  In typical Dr. CS fashion, she was busy as hell and going in 20 different directions.  But once you get her to sit down with you, her focus is amazing and you would have no idea there are 30 patients waiting for her in the waiting room.

She spent about an hour with me.  She could see a marked decline in my muscles both in my arms and legs.  My lower legs were significant which explains my new found balance issues.  She also noticed my weight gain since last year.  I just straight up confessed I have not been exercising.  Because my CK level has remained steady, she feels I can rehab again and that hopefully this is not a permanent decline.  We discussed the link between inflammation and food choices and how much harder my muscles have to work to carry my weight.  Yeah I get it.  I would like to be more healthy too.  She does want me to get an MRI to compare to my MRI I had 2 years ago.  She will also find my PT exercises from last year that I never received.  She was pretty upset I never received them.

In return, I promised to get back in focus with eating better and losing weight.  I also promised to get back on my gym routine and fight for my muscles.  I can relate most the issue to emotional eating and not being focused on my long term goals.  I will see her again in a year.  We will touch base at the next TMA conference in San Diego in September/October.

Dr. Christopher-Stine.  An amazing doctor
dedicating her career to Myositis.

Where the miracles happen

Part of the hospital

I flew in the night before and was lucky enough to get my favorite Marriott in the Inner Harbor.  I was not so lucky getting a nice room this time.  But it is still a nice hotel.

View from the corner of my room

 I ate dinner in the hotel because...well I was pooped from traveling and the wind was blowing pretty hard and I didn't want to go out.  I was so excited to get a wedge salad ($12.00) and a cup of tomato soup ($8).  I was slightly disappointed with how small my salad was.  No bread.  No crackers.  Notta.  And the salad had "Applewood smoked bacon" on it but really it was like eating pork fat back.  It was huge thick chunks of fatty pork.  Ick!

I decided to save some $$ and not rent a car this trip.  Parking is outrageous in Baltimore ($45 a night at the hotel) so I used Uber for the first time.  Slick as a whistle and less expensive than taxis.  I had 2 different drivers and it was very nice and convenient.  I will absolutely use Uber again in the future.

Right after my doctor's appointment, I caught my Uber to the airport to go visit Nola in North Carolina for the weekend.  I had a good visit in Baltimore.  It was a little interesting being there the day after the election....so close to DC.