Health Problems

Shirley Martin

Shirley Martin

Well-known member
I'm not sure where to post my health problems that I have developed in recent months. I'm going to put them here for now. @Ken Anderson can move this thread or delete it if need be.

I have developed some health problems. After a lot of emergency room visits, lots of doctor visits, and lots of tests, I have been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency. (Like President Trump has.) I have to wear compression stockings and keep my feet and legs propped up several times a day. They recommend thirty minutes three times a day but if I did that, I'd never get any housework done. I do it for about an hour around the middle of the afternoon. And usually take a nap.;)
>
> I also have a heart problem. My heart doesn't fill all the way up with blood in between beats. I forgot what they call it, but I think it is some kind of heart block. My oxygen level is always good, so I guess it's not too much of a problem. You all know that I have a pacemaker. I saw my pacemaker doc a couple of weeks ago. He said I have five years left on that.

It started back in August. My legs swelled up so badly that they got blisters. I went to the walk-in clinic. They diagnosed cellulitis. Take antibiotics and keep your feet propped up. Got better. Swelled again. Went to the ER (weekend ,,, clinic closed.) Cellulitis. repeat. twice more. I was on antibiotics 17 days in September. Somewhere in there my doctor ordered tests. Diagnosed PAD. Now that's a terrifying diagnosis.

I saw my pacemaker doctor at UNC Heart and Vascular Center November 11. He made me an appointment with a UNC heart and vascular specialist for November 14. He said I don't have PAD. I have chronic Venous insufficiency. Not a great diagnosis but better than PAD.

Now it's almost time for me to prop my feet and legs up.

(edited to correct dates)

I also forget to say the specialist said I don't have heart failure and I don't have plaque in my carotid artery.
 
Last edited:
Shirley Martin said:
I'm not sure where to post my health problems that I have developed in recent months. I'm going to put them here for now. @Ken Anderson can move this thread or delete it if need be.

I have developed some health problems. After a lot of emergency room visits, lots of doctor visits, and lots of tests, I have been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency. (Like President Trump has.) I have to wear compression stockings and keep my feet and legs propped up several times a day. They recommend thirty minutes three times a day but if I did that, I'd never get any housework done. I do it for about an hour around the middle of the afternoon. And usually take a nap.;)
>
> I also have a heart problem. My heart doesn't fill all the way up with blood in between beats. I forgot what they call it, but I think it is some kind of heart block. My oxygen level is always good, so I guess it's not too much of a problem. You all know that I have a pacemaker. I saw my pacemaker doc a couple of weeks ago. He said I have five years left on that.

It started back in August. My legs swelled up so badly that they got blisters. I went to the walk-in clinic. They diagnosed cellulitis. Take antibiotics and keep your feet propped up. Got better. Swelled again. Went to the ER (weekend ,,, clinic closed.) Cellulitis. repeat. twice more. I was on antibiotics 17 days in September. Somewhere in there my doctor ordered tests. Diagnosed PAD. Now that's a terrifying diagnosis.

I saw my pacemaker doctor at UNC Heart and Vascular Center Sept. 11. He made me an appointment with a UNC heart and vascular specialist for Sept. 14. He said I don't have PAD. I have chronic Venous insufficiency. Not a great diagnosis but better than PAD.

Now it's almost time for me to prop my feet and legs up.
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear about your medical issues, try to schedule propping your legs up as much as possible. It can be done while reading, listening to music, viewing the chat room whatever.
You need to take care of yourself.
I will keep you in my prayer and thoughts.
 
I think that it is possible that a Vibration Plate can help you feel better, @Shirley Martin , but you need to ask your cardiologist first.
After reading about the benefits fo the plates, I asked my cardiologist if it was safe for me to use since I have the pacemaker, and it if would help me. He said it could help with the swelling in the legs, and would not be harmful to me at all, so I got one of the cheaper ones.

It helps with lymph flow in the legs, strengthens leg muscles, and (surprisingly) it also helps my balance and I can walk better when I use it. You can either sit and put your feet on it , or stand on it for about 10 minutes, and you should feel better afterwards.

Here is what Copilot AI says about it for venous insufficiency:
Vibration plates can help relieve symptoms of venous insufficiency by improving circulation, reducing swelling, and supporting lymphatic drainage—but they don’t treat the root cause.
Here’s a closer look at how they work and what to keep in mind:

💡 How Vibration Plates Support Venous Health

Whole-body vibration (WBV) therapy involves standing or sitting on a platform that gently vibrates, stimulating muscle contractions and circulation. For people with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), this can offer several benefits:

• Boosts blood flow in the legs: The vibrations activate muscle contractions, which mimic the natural pumping action of walking. This helps move blood upward toward the heart, counteracting pooling in the lower limbs A.
• Reduces swelling and heaviness: Improved circulation and lymphatic drainage can ease symptoms like leg swelling, fatigue, and that “heavy leg” feeling B.
• May ease cramps and discomfort: Some users report fewer nighttime leg cramps and less tenderness after regular use B.
• Supports mobility and muscle tone: WBV can gently engage muscles without high-impact movement, which is helpful if walking or standing for long periods is difficult.
 
Shirley Martin said:
I'm not sure where to post my health problems that I have developed in recent months. I'm going to put them here for now. @Ken Anderson can move this thread or delete it if need be.

I have developed some health problems. After a lot of emergency room visits, lots of doctor visits, and lots of tests, I have been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency. (Like President Trump has.) I have to wear compression stockings and keep my feet and legs propped up several times a day. They recommend thirty minutes three times a day but if I did that, I'd never get any housework done. I do it for about an hour around the middle of the afternoon. And usually take a nap.;)
>
> I also have a heart problem. My heart doesn't fill all the way up with blood in between beats. I forgot what they call it, but I think it is some kind of heart block. My oxygen level is always good, so I guess it's not too much of a problem. You all know that I have a pacemaker. I saw my pacemaker doc a couple of weeks ago. He said I have five years left on that.

It started back in August. My legs swelled up so badly that they got blisters. I went to the walk-in clinic. They diagnosed cellulitis. Take antibiotics and keep your feet propped up. Got better. Swelled again. Went to the ER (weekend ,,, clinic closed.) Cellulitis. repeat. twice more. I was on antibiotics 17 days in September. Somewhere in there my doctor ordered tests. Diagnosed PAD. Now that's a terrifying diagnosis.

I saw my pacemaker doctor at UNC Heart and Vascular Center Sept. 11. He made me an appointment with a UNC heart and vascular specialist for Sept. 14. He said I don't have PAD. I have chronic Venous insufficiency. Not a great diagnosis but better than PAD.

Now it's almost time for me to prop my feet and legs up.
Click to expand...
That's tough @Shirley Martin. As they say, getting old isn't for sissies.
 
Shirley, I hate to hear about your diagnosis. Seems like I remember you mentioning cellulitis a while ago but I might be imagining that. Cellulitis can be extremely dangerous as I'm sure you know. Girl, take time to sit a spell and put your feet up. (Something I have no trouble at all finding time for, haha.)

My husband has PAD, I'm sure due to smoking all his adult life. The circulatory issues seem pretty common as we get older.
 
Yvonne Smith said:
I think that it is possible that a Vibration Plate can help you feel better, @Shirley Martin , but you need to ask your cardiologist first.
After reading about the benefits fo the plates, I asked my cardiologist if it was safe for me to use since I have the pacemaker, and it if would help me. He said it could help with the swelling in the legs, and would not be harmful to me at all, so I got one of the cheaper ones.

It helps with lymph flow in the legs, strengthens leg muscles, and (surprisingly) it also helps my balance and I can walk better when I use it. You can either sit and put your feet on it , or stand on it for about 10 minutes, and you should feel better afterwards.

Here is what Copilot AI says about it for venous insufficiency:
Vibration plates can help relieve symptoms of venous insufficiency by improving circulation, reducing swelling, and supporting lymphatic drainage—but they don’t treat the root cause.
Here’s a closer look at how they work and what to keep in mind:

💡 How Vibration Plates Support Venous Health

Whole-body vibration (WBV) therapy involves standing or sitting on a platform that gently vibrates, stimulating muscle contractions and circulation. For people with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), this can offer several benefits:

• Boosts blood flow in the legs: The vibrations activate muscle contractions, which mimic the natural pumping action of walking. This helps move blood upward toward the heart, counteracting pooling in the lower limbs A.
• Reduces swelling and heaviness: Improved circulation and lymphatic drainage can ease symptoms like leg swelling, fatigue, and that “heavy leg” feeling B.
• May ease cramps and discomfort: Some users report fewer nighttime leg cramps and less tenderness after regular use B.
• Supports mobility and muscle tone: WBV can gently engage muscles without high-impact movement, which is helpful if walking or standing for long periods is difficult.
Click to expand...
Thaks, @Yvonne Smith . I'm going to check them out.
 
Beth Gallagher said:
Shirley, I hate to hear about your diagnosis. Seems like I remember you mentioning cellulitis a while ago but I might be imagining that. Cellulitis can be extremely dangerous as I'm sure you know. Girl, take time to sit a spell and put your feet up. (Something I have no trouble at all finding time for, haha.)

My husband has PAD, I'm sure due to smoking all his adult life. The circulatory issues seem pretty common as we get older.
Click to expand...
CVI can't be cured but it can be managed. When I look around and see so many people who are so much worse off than I am, I feel blessed.

I did have cellulitis before. I wonder if it could have been caused by the CVI even back then.
 
I have been thinking about buying a used laptop to use while I am reclining. I don't want or need one with all the new bells and whistles. I don't want to take selfies. I absolutely don't want it to talk to me or me to talk to it. I have a Kindle, but the keyboard is so tiny that I can't type on it. I have to use a stylus, and it takes me forever to type anything on it.

Anybody got any advice on buying a used laptop?
 
Shirley Martin said:
I have been thinking about buying a used laptop to use while I am reclining. I don't want or need one with all the new bells and whistles. I don't want to take selfies. I absolutely don't want it to talk to me or me to talk to it. I have a Kindle, but the keyboard is so tiny that I can't type on it. I have to use a stylus, and it takes me forever to type anything on it.

Anybody got any advice on buying a used laptop?
Click to expand...
I got one for my grandson from Craigslist for $100, works great very satisfied. They have computer nerds on the site, they check out the computers and clean (Prior Files) them.
 
I am not familiar with Craigslist. Do you have to be a member to buy there? I have thought about eBay. I have bought things there. I have been satisfied with everything except one. I returned that with no problems.
 
Shirley Martin said:
I am not familiar with Craigslist. Do you have to be a member to buy there? I have thought about eBay. I have bought things there. I have been satisfied with everything except one. I returned that with no problems.
Click to expand...
No membership is required just look up Craigslist and put your area in. the only thing with Craigslist they don't deliver you have to pick it up. It's a listing of people locally that have things for sale that you might need.
 
Shirley Martin said:
I have been thinking about buying a used laptop to use while I am reclining. I don't want or need one with all the new bells and whistles. I don't want to take selfies. I absolutely don't want it to talk to me or me to talk to it. I have a Kindle, but the keyboard is so tiny that I can't type on it. I have to use a stylus, and it takes me forever to type anything on it.

Anybody got any advice on buying a used laptop?
Click to expand...
I would recommend a Chromebook, and Amazon has some good prices on reconditioned ones, and they have the Amazon guarantee. Another option is to get an external keyboard for your kindle like I use with my iPad. They are large enough to make typing easy, and you will be using a device that you are already familiar with using.
Chromebooks do not have much internal storage, but like the Kindles, you can use the little thumb drive things for extra storage if needed, and otherwise, it is just stored in the cloud.
They have built in virus detection, and keep it updated, so you do not have to buy any anti-virus software, and they are simple to use. They come with or without a touchscreen, and in a lot of different sizes.

Here is how my iPad looks with its keyboard, and I believe that @Ken Anderson also uses an external keyboard with his larger kindle.

IMG_0212.jpeg
 
Chromebooks work okay except when you don't have internet access, so if you have good, reliable internet, and you don't want to store anything locally, those are a good way to go and are fairly inexpensive. You don't have to worry about Windows 11 or whatever either (I don't think). I, like @Ken Anderson, have a kindle with a standard keyboard attached. It has a small amount of storage, but I use it mostly for traveling and it works fine. I cannot use virtual keyboards as my skin is so bad from decades of scrubbing with strong soaps. As @Yvonne Smith said, the iPad is also a good way to go with a keyboard, but they are very expensive.

I have an old laptop, but it is now so slow. When I tried to replace it, I found they wouldn't ship the ones I wanted to Alaska because of the battery issue (I think). Desktops ship to Alaska just fine. I would opt for a Chromebook or a large Kindle with a keyboard if I were in your situation @Shirley Martin.
 
Chromebooks are an affordable alternative for those who can stand them. I bought one once when I left my MacBook behind when I left home for a vacation, but I hated it, so I gave it away to my sister-in-law and bought another MacBook, a MacBook Pro this time. I hated having to log into my Google account for everything.

Good choices for anyone looking to make the right choice and move to Macs are a Mac Mini or a Mac Air. I use a Mac Mini as my main computer at home and haven't noticed any lack of performance when compared with my MacBook Pro or the iMac I had before. My wife has a Mac Air, and she likes it, although I have no personal experience with a Mac Air. I think it's a little like the Mac version of a Chromebook, a low-end Mac that has the power to do everything most people need it to do.

Yes, I do use an external keyboard on one of my Kindles if I decide to use it for something more than an eReader. I have a case for it that came with the keyboard, so the setup is a lot like a smallish laptop.

It's been almost two decades since I've used a mouse for anything, so I use a trackpad on my Mac Mini and even on my Windows machines, though I rarely use Windows. It was too hard jumping back and forth between the trackpad on my MacBook and a mouse for my desktop computer.
 
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