Mind, body and spirit

Johnny's been to the doctor's this week - in pursuit of better hearing - nothing serious.  Doctors do feature quite frequently in Johnny's life.  'Johnny,' sister Gill will tell him, 'you are suffering from Creaking Gate Syndrome!'
'I am,' says Johnny, 'it's to do with getting old!'

Johnny takes his health seriously and his doctor's advice now and again.  His relationship with the medical profession?  A paradoxical one:  he trusts doctors, but not always the cure or cause.

Take cholesterol for example.  Last year, the doctor told Johnny that his cholesterol level was on the high side and would like him back for a further test in a month.  Now, what would you do?  If it were me, I would reduce the animal fat intake and hope that would bring the level down.  What did Johnny do?  He upped his burger intake to see if it raised it.  'That way,' says Dr Middleton, using his unique branch of logic, 'I will know it's the burgers and to stop eating them.'  The cholesterol was alright as it turned out.

'There's nothing wrong with me,' said Johnny after this week's visit.  'Every time I see the doctor, he can't cure me - because there is nothing wrong.  As I walk through the door, he says, "I can't help you John," but he did recommend olive oil for my ears.  He knows giving me a prescription doesn't work - but olive oil is OK - I haven't used it yet.'