Basset Rescue of Montana
Available for adoption! 406-207-0765
All rescues spayed/neutered, wormed, all shots and vet checked. Heartworm and dental checked as necessary.

Dear Betty,

My dad had a stroke in May and is recuperating at a nearby nursing home. We’re happy with the care Dad’s getting, especially the rehabilitative therapy. There’s just one problem and it’s driving us (and probably Dad) crazy. His roommate plays his radio full blast and is endlessly chattering. Betty, my dad always loved his “peace and quiet,” so he can’t be liking this. Speech is difficult for dad now, so I approached the roommate myself. But he says he can’t hear at a lower volume and music is the only pleasure he has left. The administrator says no other rooms are available. Is there anything else I can do? —Distressed Daughter

Dear Betty,
I’m about to schedule knee replacement surgery, and while I’m thrilled at the idea of walking without pain, I am completely unthrilled about other aspects of this situation. Frankly, the idea of surgery scares me. So does the danger of picking up an infection I didn’t walk in with, which is what happened to two of my friends last year. Any advice for avoiding complications?—Bad Knees and Cold Feet

Dear Betty,

My husband hates to take pills, and he hates paying for them even more. When his doctor said she’d like to start him on another med—this time for blood pressure—he almost flipped. No. He did flip. For the first time he hasn’t filled a prescription. He says he’s going to bring his pressure down himself by exercising and losing weight (though he doesn’t seem to be doing either). He also says nobody ever died from high blood pressure, and I’m not helping his stress levels by hounding him. This makes me feel like my pressure’s going up. What can I say?

--Also Stressed in Superior

Dear Betty,

In your sixties it seems like conversations with same-age friends start including topics like surprise heart attacks and other health calamities. So when I went for my “Welcome to Medicare” checkup I was relieved to hear I was in the pink. Only one thing bothered me: since I haven’t yet had a colonoscopy, my doctor wants me to get one. Betty, not only am I not looking forward to it, but I’m so not looking forward to it that I’ve already canceled the appointment my doctor set up for me. Now I need to reschedule. At this point, I think I need a cheerleader. Any words of support? –Coward in Conrad

by Parris ja Young

How do you feel about corporations being considered human?

Dear Betty,

I haven’t even had a cold in three years, and here my new doctor is suggesting I get a pneumonia shot—in addition to the flu shot I’ve been putting off. I’m OK with protecting myself against the flu, which everyone gets sometimes, but I’m not convinced I need to be getting shots to protect myself against something as rare as pneumonia. Do you know anything about the safety of the pneumonia vaccine? Would Medicare pay for it?—On the Fence in Big Fork

Dear Betty,

It’s that time of year again. After all the new year’s resolutions I’ve made and broken you’d think I’d be discouraged, but a fresh calendar always inspires me to fill its pages with something different and better. This year I want to improve and protect my health—a gift I really value now that I’m older. I’m determined to get some form of regular exercise—at the least three times a week. Do you have any tips to keep me going?—Determined in Dillon

Dear Betty,

Last year my son helped me select a Medicare Part D plan. As I recall it was a pretty complicated process, and now it looks like I’m going to have to face it all over again, because my most expensive prescription has fallen off my current insurer’s list for 2010. Neither of my kids will be home for the holidays this year, and I’m getting a little nervous about doing this solo. Can you remind me about the steps I should take to find the best Medicare drug plan? —FLYING SOLO

Dear Betty,

As if I weren’t nervous enough about my upcoming major surgery, I just read an article that said one out of five Medicare patients end up back in the hospital after discharge. My daughter will be coming to stay with me for a while, but I worry about her missing work—and her family. I want to do everything I can to get on my feet and get better fast. Any tips? –ONE TIME IS ENOUGH