Old geezer (and other) medical stuff

[roni]

Hi all,

As some of us have aged, it is clear that medical issues have taken a more central role in our lives, from spinal issues with MikeW, John, and Uno to hormonal issues with me, to cancers with others of us, etc...

This is intended to be a place where we can share stuff, laugh with and at each other, and find a place of support, sarcastic as it may be sometimes.

This thread may or may not have a long life, but it is worth a shot

[BonnyW]

Good Idea Roni

[beachmidwife]

I just had cataract surgery. It was amazing. I can actually see for the first time in my life! I now have super-human vision.

[roni]

Originally Posted by beachmidwife

I just had cataract surgery. It was amazing. I can actually see for the first time in my life! I now have super-human vision.

[roni]

I am going to have a test in 4 weeks where I have to lay down for an hour

then they will start an IV and give me two liters of saline solution over 4 hours.

Then the doctor tells me they will take some blood and I will run to the bathroom.

It is an aldosterone level test. Salt is supposed to lower the level, unless some is being produced by a tumor that is not regulated by the endocrine system

[MikeW]

Got bifocals two weeks ago. Am I going to hate them forever or am I eventually going to get used to that line in the middle of the glasses that gives you double vision?

[jeffandbecky]

This January, I had a disk removed at C7/T1. Not a big deal, I was out of the hospital before rush hour.

The point of the post is how I vetted the surgeon. Got the list from the neurologist and talked with my primary care physician to get the top three. The next step was to talk with a trail lawyer (friend of the family) to find out who fixes other doc's mistakes. Without prompting, the top three doc's were the same. Then it was a simple matter of which one my insurance liked the most.

Be sure to look at a problem from all sides of the hill.

[Brent & Kim]

Originally Posted by MikeW

Got bifocals two weeks ago. Am I going to hate them forever or am I eventually going to get used to that line in the middle of the glasses that gives you double vision?

Same here at the age of 44. Joints hurt so bad, the local weather man calls me to forecast!

[Seakony]

Feeling pretty darn great. And, if I don't, I just pop a pain pill..problem solved. Haven't needed any for quite a while.
My back is a little sore from a really deep tissue massage...I haven't had one in 2 months..I've been too busy doing yard work, painting the fence an other home stuff.

JeffandBecky..I totally agree with you on checking out the Doctors..I only use the best! and ..more importantly..I see them on a regular basis...I like to nip it in the bud..prevention, prevention, prevention.

Now..If I could only get rid of my nicotine addiction. and I'm not digging this ugly grey hair that keeps popping out at the roots.

[horizon200]

Originally Posted by MikeW

Got bifocals two weeks ago. Am I going to hate them forever or am I eventually going to get used to that line in the middle of the glasses that gives you double vision?

I got my bifocals a little earlier than that. I eventually ended up with trifocals. For the longest time, I had lined glasses as I could not tolerate the progressive lenses. Now, however, the technology has improved and I wear progressive lenses.

[TAPPY]

great idea for a thread Roni

Amazing words from Dr Erica D. Bernstein :
"Cancer is not a battle that we win or lose. It is not our fault or a sign of weakness. We are not responsible for our cancer outcomes. The crapshoot of cancer and recurrence can NOT be controlled. Celebrate yourself for each time you, despite all the trauma of cancer, treatment, and the mindf*ck of "survivorship", choose to love, live, lust, laugh... We are not a success story based on our cancer progression or not. We succeed when we are courageous enough to keep walking forward even with missing parts, severe pain, addled brains, and broken hearts."

[mexisv]

Good thread. I have to say here that I am lucky.....healthy. A little high blood pressure, under control, a knee that got replaced and completely wonderful now. Always working on my weight....not too overweight. Hope to live a long time (I'm 59) enjoying life. As soon as I am no longer enjoying life I hope I can check out.

Ummmmmm, the gray hair is a PITB but a cheap box of stuff takes care of that for awhile!

The rest of you guys with chronic problems, I feel for you. But you all have great attitudes, I commend you guys! Lets all hang in there together!

[roni]

Kathy is going on a tour today with folks from the Oregon Commission for the Blind.

Pairing people with trained service dogs at no charge - Guide Dogs for the Blind

I am interested in what she has to say about it this evening - but, I may get an early preview as she may stop by downtown on the way home for lunch with me!!

[user 6507]

For almost 62 I feel pretty good. I look around and see some guys much younger that are in awful shape. Treatable high BP that is under control and lipitor....which I think is making me cough. Have worn contacts for years and now wear bi focal contacts which work good for me. Been sliced, diced and frozen for skin cancer about a dozen times but it has all worked out and I now watch it like a hawk and get it early. All and all I feel fortunate.

The main thing is not having the strength and stamina I had when I was younger...you don't realize that it slips away slowly and one day you go to turn that ratchet and now you need a three foot pipe to do it....

[roni]

You doing any weightlifting?

I feel stronger at 60 than I did at 40 after hitting the gym for a couple of years.

Wish I could get my 83 year old mother to go.