One year later and I’m officially a member of the bracket of Top Guns known as a baby of the Baby Boomers and for the Top Gun doctor I saw for my physical yesterday to tell me, “You’re at risk for … so we should test you for …”
- Diabetes (Blood Sugar Levels)
- High Cholesterol
- High Blood Pressure
- HIV – I did that last year, and whew…I don’t have it, but apparently just not having it doesn’t excuse me from the screening of …
- Hepatitis C
- Mammogram (√ – all squished, smooshed, and stretched out for another year – I must say the 3-D test is way easier than the old version!)
NEVER … EVER … do they screen me for memory loss, that seriously p*ss*s me off, but I digress. I think we all should have a baseline memory screening at 55 since we are all at risk for Alzheimer’s (duh…we all have brains and the #1 risk factor is simply being over the age of 65!)
Where was I?
Oh yes, my pre-appointment prep.
That reminds me, my friends, who are all around the same age as I am have noticed our memories and recalling things aren’t as quick as they once were. If we’re all feeling the same thing – is that normal or abnormal or something else? Is it our social media obsession, and all the multi-tasking we do, or our diets, or lack of sleep, or dementia? How would we ever know if we don’t have a baseline?
Okay, I’ll jump off my soap-box already …
Anyhoo, last year I was faithful to Dry January ‘cuz I wanted to fit into a bikini for my trip to Jamaica.
I had lost 9 pounds. WooHoo!
And I had successfully pulled off being a plastic surgeon – which, by the way, impressed my care team yesterday. Until they realized I had used, “Oh, those essential oils.”
Sigh…
This year, I’m just trying to fit into my compression stockings so my legs don’t swell throughout the day while I stand for 12 hours at my standing desk. Have you ever tried to put those on without sitting down on the floor? Holy sh*t that’s a workout! Whew!
Last year, I thought I was at the top of my game, but my blood pressure was oddly up, despite my weight going down and being alcohol-free for the month. I asked for labs to see if there was something weird going on, and Top Gun replied … “Your blood work was so well last time, we won’t need to do it for another few years.”
Oddly, there was a poster in the room on how to properly take a BP. Including tips on what not to do – don’t have a conversation (they were just talking to me and that can add 10 mm Hg) – use correct cuff size (she used the extra small one and that can add 2-10 mm Hg) – put cuff on bare arm (‘it’s okay, I can go over your shirt’ – that can add 5-50 mm Hg).
Hmm …
Since the Top Gun and I do agree the best baseline measurements come from a fasting lab test, yesterday it was okay that I passed on all of the recommended ‘your insurance will pay for them’ labs.
Because last year the Top Gun told me that I didn’t need them. I’ll do them next year.
And, in the meantime, I think I’ll do some of my own research about blood pressure, leg swelling, and what my insurance will cover or not. We all know how it’s not fun being blind-sided by the costs of a non-preventative test charge on the insurance statement.
Plus I had eaten breakfast before the appointment.
That breakfast consisted of a hard-boiled egg and a 4 oz glass of beet juice (the beverage suggested to me by Top Gun last year to naturally bring down blood pressure) added a whopping 4 pounds and 1/4″ to my height since last year.
WTH?
I got fatter and taller just by turning 55?! It’s a medical miracle that my blood pressure hadn’t changed in a year.
I’m sure it had nothing to do with the 3#’s I gained in Jamaica 9 months ago (I call them my Jamaica baby rolls) and the 1# I gained over the holidays (those adorable baby cookies apparently do contain calories …).
And now I’m wondering if any of the Top Guns in the medical field really know what they’re talking about? (Sorry if you’re a doctor … ) I seem to know what my lifestyle choices do to my body best.
Post Inspiration – Linda G. Hill’s #JusJoJan and Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Your prompt for #JusJoJan and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “movie title.” Take the title of the last movie you watched (just the title, not the premise of the movie), and base your post on that title. Have fun!
PS – What drives you crazy about screening tests? Which do you think, cookies or Tostitos, add weight more quickly? Any recommendations for compression stockings?
I’m glad to hear that numbers are good enough and the tests for bad things are negative. At the advice of my dentist, I started taking my blood pressure at home. I go to my doctor with a spreadsheet of dates, times, highs, lows, averages and a little chart (just because I can). Forget the MMs of HG induced by white-coat syndrome, over the shirt, just after talking and the looming prospect of getting naked in front of a woman who isn’t my wife.
Thank you, Dan! I had to rescue your comment from my spam folder. Guess WP doesn’t like the idea of someone undressing either! Great recommendations by the dentist. I bet your spreadsheet formatting is impressive to the doctors. My mom had terrible white-coat syndrome – I normally don’t get that, but as I age, I guess it could be something. I had taken my BP before going and told her the real #’s – she said, “I believe you.” 🙂 But she recorded the one she took.
Thanks for rescuing me. I guess I touched the third rail with that word. My doctor says she suffers from white-coat syndrome, so she understands. She records her reading, but she put the report I gave her in my file.
You’re welcome. Yeah – WP did something it was actually set to do for once. LOL. It’s nice your doctor keeps your record too. I think it’s funny when a doctor gets white-coat syndrome. I also think it’s funny when the doctor is overweight and has to tell a patient that they need to lose weight.
Yes Shelley do keep researching . You could buy your own BP machine and do it daily for 2 weeks.Do morning & evening and show results to Gp Sometimes stress and underlying medical problems can cause blood pressure problems.
I have BP problems due to Thyroid medication stress and ended up on medication.
Nothing worse than feeling tired when bp is low or high 🤢
Thank you for the suggestions Julie, much appreciated! I’m sorry your thyroid meds still cause BP issues. 🙁
I think you’re right to be up on that soapbox, but my guess is doctors still don’t have a quick and easy (and cheap) way to do a baseline screening for dementia. I’m sure I’ve said before, but I did a very interesting interview with an Alzheimer’s specialist, and he said the first thing he does when seeing a new patient, is measure their waist circumference. He believes Alz is a body disease that affects the brain and that we can do so much to stave it off by keeping our bodies healthy. He and his team started this site: https://www.alzu.org/ Hope you have a wonderful weekend–time for a Tostitos treat, maybe?
Rebecca – your comment went to my spam folder, then I rescued it, but couldn’t reply to it so it got lost again! I found it finally so I could reply! Yes, I do remember you saying that you had that interview. He’s on to something by measuring waistlines. Thanks for the link – there are a lot of great articles there. I spent some rabbit hole time reading them. I may need to wean myself off of Tostitos so I don’t have to worry so much about my waistline! But, there’s always tomorrow! I hope you’re having a great weekend too!! Thank you for sharing the link and your thoughts!
You’re doing much better than most of us, even with your Tostitos! And the only plus of being down with the flu the past few days is that I may have lost a couple pounds–not a fun way to do it!
Aw, thanks – I do need to start weaning myself off of those darn temptations! I’m sorry to hear you had the flu – that’s no fun, even if the #’s shed during it. I hope you’re feeling much better now! 🙂
On the mend today–all of us home, recuperating! Thank you!
That’s wonderful news. Glad you’re all on the mend. The bug has hit a lot of people I know. It makes me want to stay in the safety of my home and not venture outside! Yikes!
You’re doing a great job to take care of yourself, Shelley. And you have Mr. Top Gun to help! It’s been hard to keep the pounds off unless I’m very strict with food intake, mostly the sugar and carbs, and it’s due to age. When I think back of all the crap I used to eat when I was 30, a size 8 and barely 130 pounds, compared to today when I eat much better and weigh more – it’s a little frustrating. Oh well, as long as I get myself to yoga during the winter and watch the sugar intake, I think I’ll be fine. We’ll both be fine.
Thank you, Mary. My doctor did say, “You’re perfect.” And I replied, “As perfect as a 55 year old woman can be eh?” She laughed… is that a good thing? You’re right, carb counts seem to triple at this age, just looking at a cookie adds pounds on the scale! Ah, the 30’s… 🙂 Yes, keep exercising. And, I’ve often felt that we’re like bears hibernating – we need the extra layers in the Wisconsin winters! 😉
Tis the season for doctor visits, I guess. I did my annual with my OB/GYN and will now do my internist in a few weeks. So I got the obligatory orders for the blood panel and will be doing that soon. I have genetic low blood pressure, but it’s always higher in the office (white coat syndrome, I’m sure). My mom bought me a home BP cuff a while back as a gift. I come from “medically aware” people – read “just a bit hypochondriacal. LOL. So, as much as I hate the annual trek, it’s a good thing, and you’re smart to keep it up. I’m always amazed when someone tells me they haven’t been to the doctor in years. How do they sleep at night?
We’re all trying to meet our deductibles so that when something real happens it is covered, right? I pulled our BP cuff out and took my reading before I went so I was sure their machine was wrong. Just like the scale – a naked weight at home is always the most accurate! Congrats for you keeping up with your visits – it is important to make sure we’re not missing something we can prevent or post-pone by getting early preventative treatments. Yeah, I’m amazed that people don’t take advantage of their annual visits. They are covered 100%. 🙂
Keep after yourself Shelley. Things can and will change, about three years ago my BP went chronic high, medications galore every day. Type 2 Diabetes came a few years ago. ❤️😎
Thanks, John. Sorry to hear about your changes, keep up with your health too. Yep, BP leads to diabetes – that’s the route my mom took as well. Have you ever watched Dr. Ken D Berry on YouTube? You like olives, he recommends eating those and you might appreciate his messages about diabetes and High Blood Pressure.
The memory slips do seem universal as we get older. At times, I appreciate being with a group of my peers because at least one of us will remember the word we’re looking for pieces of the event we all experienced. It’s surprising that you got taller! Maybe it has something to do with exercise which might motivate me to exercise more to keep my osteoporosis shrinkage at a minimum. Sounds to me like you’re doing great. Keep up the good work!
Yes – collective memories are wonderful! It’s like all of our eyes light up at the same time when one of us comes through with the word! 🙂 It’s funny ‘cuz last year I had shrunk 1/4″. I’ll keep on keeping on – and I think I’ll change some things up this year too. We’ll see – I want to be ready for the blood work next year.
Good motivation! 🙂
And don’t forget the colonoscopy, also due starting when you turn 50. I’m almost 64 and I’ve finally scheduled my first. Prep for that is pretty awful, at least that’s what Mary says (she had her first a couple of months ago).
Whether Tostitos or Christmas cookies put more weight on you depends on which you eat more of.
Compression socks are a pain to get on and off (especially if you can’t do it for yourself, but I don’t think it would be a problem for you, because you have the use of both hands), but there are devices that hold the sock open so you can step into them. Search YouTube for “donning compression socks.” One thing I’ve been told is to have them measured properly. Your doctor can point you to companies that do that and also sell the socks. Check CompressionSale.com once you know the size; that’ll save you a few bucks because good ones ain’t cheap. And forget the ones with zippers; they’re more trouble than they’re worth. Hope that helps.
Yes, I did that colonoscopy thing when I turned 50. I hated the taste of the drink and the frequent trips to the bathroom. Thank goodness I don’t have to go back for another 5 years.
I think the combination of cookies and Tostitos did me in. At least the cookies are all gone now.
Thank you for the info on compression stockings, I appreciate your insight – I just bought some from Menard’s and from Walmart, so I’m sure they’re not proper for me. I’m giving those a try just to see if they help at all. Thanks again, John!
The ones from Menard’s and Walmart will probably work great for you. I was kind of a special case because of the lymphedema: I needed more compression than most. If you need a higher compression (more than 30 mmHg), your doctor can prescribe them.
I have to mix a bottle of Miralax with 2 quarts of gatorade. Mary had something she had to get at the pharmacy. Funny how that is….
I can’t imagine more compression than the ones I have! YIKES, I’m sorry you have lymphedema to worry about.
Wow – colonoscopy prep has come a long way in 5 years? Interesting.
I go up and down 5 lbs depending on what I eat, or how many sodas.
The magic 5 #’s – yep, I’ve got those too! 😉
I have my tests due in March. Hoping to see some really good numbers this time. Not sure if I’ll actually need a visit. I do think it’s my year for a mammogram. My mom always wore support hose to help with her legs. They are cheaper and easier to put on than compression stockings and seemed to work well for her.
Yes – I bet your numbers will be great. I was thinking about you – I’ve been reading about Keto and it’s benefits for helping with leg swelling. Mammograms are recommended every year for me. I do like the 3D version better. I’ll have to look into support hose – that was the other recommendation – I don’t care for how the knee high put pressure under the knee. 🙁 Maybe with a change in diet I won’t need them!? Have you ever watched any of Dr. Ken D. Berry’s info on Keto?
No, I haven’t. I got most of my info reading the intro books we bought.
You must’ve read good info since you’re doing so well, that’s a good thing!
You crack me up! And, yep, those annual exams are all fun and games. There should be an Olympic medal or something for passing. I’m off to see a new Top Gun this week for my annual pokes, squeezes and you want me to do what visit. Gotta love the new year!
LOL – ditto to you – I hope your appointment goes well! And, you have a fun tale to tell too 🙂
I’m in the process of doing my yearly medical exams and will be finished in mid-April. Getting appointments seem to be as difficult as hearing what the docs have to say. I take all medical advice with a smile, then go home to contemplate if the doc is onto something or just babbling about something hypothetical.
Wow – that’s a quarter of the year just waiting to get the tests in?! I like your description of how you handle your appointments. I’m sure there’s a bit of ‘hmm…is that a blogworthy comment?’! 🙂 I hope you enjoy your visits and that you’re healthy and happy when you get through them.
Good on you for taking care of yourself Shelley. I hope your Mr is too
Thank you, Brian – Yep, he is. 🙂
I can relate! We have to be our own healthcare advocates. Good for you!!!
Yes, we need to be our own advocates, that’s for darn sure!
Those doctor visits can be quite the experience. And, yes, I often think they are playing a guessing game with us. Ordering labs when they think something is wrong rather than thinking of prevention. Best way to put on those compression stockings? Lie on your back with feet in the air – and if you can reach, go for it! As far as cookies or Tostitos, I’d alternate. And all that exercise putting those stockings on should use up the calories, don’t you think? 😉
A guessing game is right. Even with lab results they still guess?! LOL – I have not tried laying on my back with my feet in the air. I’ve been sitting on the floor and pulling them on. It’s quite the scene – Copper just sits there and looks at me like I’m a mad woman. I do break a sweat so I’m guessing I did burn the equivalent of one Tostito’s worth of calories. LOL!
Whatever works! 🙂
January seems to be the month for doctor, dentist, and optometrist appointments. So far, so good for both my husband and me. Still have to get a mammogram… I’ll have to look into those 3D versions.
It’s surprising how many people do have appointments in January! I like the 3D because they only have to take 4 images! Less squeezing and squishing 🙂
It sounds like you have quite a thorough doctor, Shelley. I guess they can never truly screen for everything. Very beautiful photo of you! I wore compression socks twice on long flights. Yes, a challenge to get on. Good for you on the standing desk. I think the latest is, ‘sitting is the new smoking.’ You remind me how we need to listen to bodies and do what works for us. Great post!
Thank you, Erica. My doctor is as thorough as I’ll provide data for her to look into. With preventative coverage, you don’t want to take the doctor on a wild-goose chase – that gets pricey!
I’ve found a solution to the leg swelling. I’ll be writing about it soon. I’m pleasantly surprised it doesn’t require not standing and it doesn’t require compression stockings either! YAY.
You’re right – listening to our bodies is what we should be doing!