Navigating Health Problems As We Age

Discussion in 'Health & Wellness' started by Babs Hunt, Apr 21, 2017.

  1. Babs Hunt

    Babs Hunt Supreme Member
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    You know Ken...you hit the nail on the head with what you said there! Not only does it not go away...but also what used to help it...doesn't help it anymore either.

    Having enough money to cover what Medicare, etc. doesn't cover is a factor in health care for many of us who are older but money by itself cannot cure disease, etc.
     
    #16
    Last edited: Apr 21, 2017
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  2. Chrissy Cross

    Chrissy Cross Supreme Member
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    Could be my area but I never even had trouble or long wait getting my husband in to all the specialists he had to see, urologist was one...Of course he had a grapefruit size tumor in his bladder..spread from his colon cancer...
    And he died a year later so didn't matter much in the long run. :(
     
    #17
  3. Chrissy Cross

    Chrissy Cross Supreme Member
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    The urologist was 13 years ago and I just remembered his name...Dr. Rainwater, lol.

    Even though we saw him soon and didn't have to wait, I did not like him at all..no compassion at all, think I cried after the appt and not only because of the diagnoses but the drs horrible bedside manner.

    I just looked him up and he's still practicing and the reviews are very mixed, some say he's horrible and some say he's the best ever!
     
    #18
    Last edited: Apr 21, 2017
  4. Babs Hunt

    Babs Hunt Supreme Member
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    I think most of us have had an experience with the Doctor from Hell at one time or another! :eek:
     
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  5. Cody Fousnaugh

    Cody Fousnaugh Supreme Member
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    Well, I'd still rather have plenty of money so not to worry about paying any kind of heath bill that came in.

    To me, money and retirement simply go "hand in hand" and makes the retirement years much more happy.
     
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  6. Babs Hunt

    Babs Hunt Supreme Member
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    I definitely agree that having plenty of money for retirement would make retirement alot easier. Unfortunately, not everyone (for whatever reason) enters retirement with plenty of money. ;) So for those of us who don't have plenty of money during retirement years, we make the best of it, and hopefully choose to spend what money we do have wisely. And it's fun to take a few bucks and try to win the Lottery so there might be a chance to have plenty of money during retirement. :p
     
    #21
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  7. Hedi Mitchell

    Hedi Mitchell Supreme Member
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    Life is a bitch and then you die... remember that line? I have been so very, very blessed with good health. So far at almost 69 , not on anything. However, I have horrible teeth issues- in fact had four bone grafts, last week, and another next week. The thing is- for me, whatever you like to eat, drink, do, think or feel ... its gonna kill ya at some point. And in the mean time, before it does... your gonna balloon up, shrink down, something is going to grow on you, or fall off,turn colors or stop working all together.
    My mother was the epic healthy person... died at barley 70- ate rabbit food as my grandma use to say. Major stroke. In the mean time my dad died a year later of cancer, he was 73. When its your time... your going...bottom line. So instead of living longer, per sae, we hope to live as best as we can, while we are still breathing.
     
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  8. Babs Hunt

    Babs Hunt Supreme Member
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    It is tough for me to admit that I am a wimp when it comes to taking those preventive care tests, etc. Even though Medicare covers this testing like mamograms and colonscopies, etc. I just don't want to take them...in case the results do not show good news. However, just like I decided I could not just sit and not live my life because of the irregular heart beats I started having...I also decided I will not be a wimp anymore about these preventive care tests either.

    Last week I did a Cardiovascular Disease Screening, Breast Cancer Screening, and a Bone Density Test. Yesterday I took my colon sample to UPS to send off to screen for colon cancer, etc. Tomorrow I'm off to the Dentist where I know the Dentist is going to tell me she wants to do another root canal and crown on at least one of my teeth...and I am going to tell her I can not afford that and we will just pull the tooth when it is time. I'm praying all the testing comes back with good results but I know there is no guarantee of this at my age. I just don't want to be a wimp anymore or afraid of what might be. Because being this way is not letting me live the life I have to the best of my ability. This life I have on earth is the only one I have here and I am going to teach myself to step outside my comfort zones and live this life as fully as I can. :)

    I have only gotten one test result back...the Cardiovascular Disease Screening shows my total Cholestriol is 193 and all the numbers are good on this test. The year before last my total was 210 which wasn't bad, but wasn't good either. Even with the coconut oil @Yvonne Smith my Cholestriol levels have dropped. :)

    As the other test results come in I will share with y'all those results too. It helps to know we are in a way "all in this kind of stuff together."

    There's always a blessing in everything, my little blessing in taking these tests is earning "mall bucks" with our Medicare Advantage Plan. I can take these bucks and get gift cards and many other free things...and I get to do my shopping online. :p
     
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    Last edited: Aug 8, 2017
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  9. Babs Hunt

    Babs Hunt Supreme Member
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    My Honey did see the Urologist and his exam showed his prostrate was not enlarged and he was not concerned with the PSA level being a little higher than normal. But because my Honey's brother has Stage 4 prostrate cancer the Urologist felt is it best that he does a biopsy on my Honey's prostrate. That will be done on August 31st.
     
    #24
  10. Babs Hunt

    Babs Hunt Supreme Member
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    Got a call from my Doctor's Office a short while ago to let me know my Bone Density test results. My bones are still thinning but all the Doctor wants me to do is continue taking 1200 mg of calcium and up my Vitamin D to 2000mg's. I can do that. I'll just put it in my yogurt smoothies. :)
     
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  11. Martin Alonzo

    Martin Alonzo Supreme Member
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    Hope you do not have any digestion problem as you can take the calcium but will not absorb it. Like someone who has acid re flux you will have difficulty absorbing calcium.
     
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  12. Babs Hunt

    Babs Hunt Supreme Member
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    Thank you for sharing this Martin. :) I don't think I have any problems absorbing calcium and I do try to eat foods that contain alot of calcium too. I take yearly blood tests and from now on I will be taking a Bone Density Test too to make sure my bones aren't getting worse.
     
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  13. Hedi Mitchell

    Hedi Mitchell Supreme Member
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    @Babs Hunt ...I get the mamo every year.Breast cancer does not run in my family but when you have been blessed with more than your share...um still a good idea. Have not been to gynecologist in years. Over due about a year for colon test...but hubby is way past due.Since he has had ployps ..it become disgontistic and you have to pay up front.
    There is no money for that.
    Had blood work done last year. Cholesterol is high but can't take the meds for it because they affect me funny.
    I just live from day to day...whatever happens ...happens.But good you are getting tested since it has been awhile.
     
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  14. Babs Hunt

    Babs Hunt Supreme Member
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    The colon testing has been quite awhile for me but the other tests were only two years ago. There has not really been breast cancer in my Family except right before my Mom died they found a tumor in one of her breasts. She was 80 years old and had regular breast exams, etc. and there was never any tumors, etc. before that. She died of natural causes and the tumor did not show itself until at least the last four months of her life. I think as her body was shutting down things inside didn't work right anymore and one result of that was a tumor forming.
     
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  15. Cody Fousnaugh

    Cody Fousnaugh Supreme Member
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    That's one of the problems with healthcare and some seniors and younger folks........not enough or no money to pay for tests, etc. Same thing goes with dental care and some people's mouths show it when they talk. Heck, some won't even smile or want their picture taken due to dental problems that can't be taken care of due to finances.
     
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