What are you doing to take care of yourself?

flyinglentris said:
It is very important to understand when considering your health care that all physicians and specialists are not equal. Further you need to know that it is you, not your physician or specialists, who has the last word on your healthcare. You can refuse a treatment, if you perceive that it does not apply or has aspects that you do not want to be subjected to. I explicitly refuse in writing in my medical records and state not to be treated with Narcotic medications, Narcotic Pain Killers, etc. I have in the past requested an alternate Physician when the one I was assigned did not live up to my standards or wanted to force treatments on me, without allowing me choice. Further, Physicians who do not accept feedback from me and just go by the book, are definitely canned by me. I look for Physicians and Specialists who are beyond med-school and have learned by experience best practices as they evolve, years after they graduated. As a result, I have some very good Physicians and Specialists and am happy with my healthcare. A Physician or Specialist who goes by the book and has been graduated 5 to 10 years ago is a stone age relic that can do you great harm.

I had once been sent to see a Podiatrist who was infamous for hacking off pieces of patients feet, toes and heals, etc. And when I first had this guy cut in to me, I immediately stopped him, told him that was all and that I would be seeking an alternate Podiatrist - and I did. He bemoaned that I should follow his advice and that he had spent years in school learning whereas I had not. People I knew called this guy "The Butcher."

It is important to know however, that if you elect to make decisions regarding your Healthcare, know what you are dealing with and what you understand as possible via alternate treatments. Do your homework, but do not be mislead. Take council in second opinions and use what ever research vehicles you have available, the library and the web, as well as specialist contacts. Don't just think you know what you are doing; know what you are doing. Most people are not able to and therefore submit to whatever a Physician or Specialists orders.

You will find that if you treat your Healthcare workers like human beings and engage them with serious intent to understand their purpose and the procedures they want to apply, they will treat you better. And they will be more willing to engage in discussions with you, when you really do demonstrate that you grasp what they are imparting and have done your homework.
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Agreed. I have never and will never let someone else have the last word on what I put in or do to my body. I'll take medical advice but I do my due diligence and any doctor that is so full of himself/herself that I'm not allowed to advocate for my own health is not someone I will ever trust or return to.
 
ElizabethB said:
@Morning Glory my normal weight is 135 lbs. At 150+ I am in the range of obesity. My weight is all in my mid section. I look like I am 7/8 months pregnant.
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I am much heavier than that. I'm 5 ft 8ins and don't know what I weigh right now (threw the scales out!) but its a lot more that 150lbs. My ideal weight is around that. Like you, the weight is all round the middle. Maybe you are not as tall as me but 150 lbs really doesn't sound that bad.
 
ElizabethB said:
One thing that many people fail to grasp is that supplemental insurance only covers what Medicare covers. Medicare recipients must be informed, do research, ask questions. Physicians respect informed patients. If a physician explains something to me I have no problem looking her/him in the eye and requesting a layman's translation. I am well read and above average intelligent. I do not have medical training. I expect to have my questions answered with respect and detail.
Exercise: I despise exercise. A walk around the neighborhood is OK. I wave at neighbors, get nosey and look at houses that are for sale, listen to music on my phone, sing off key. I started today with a 15 minute walk, stroll. I will continue to walk 15 minutes 4 times a week, everyday if the weather cooperates. I know that the distance I cover will increase = increased speed = increased cardiovascular work out.
I am not setting big goals for myself. I want to walk 15 minutes at least 4 times per week. I want to lose 5 lbs. to start. Then increase to 20 minute walks and another 5 lbs. Morning Glory my normal weight is 135 lbs. At 150+ I am in the range of obesity. My weight is all in my mid section. I look like I am 7/8 months pregnant. I hate going out in public. I hate looking in a mirror.
Smoking: After smoking from the age of 16 (I am 67) and quitting numerous times, I think this time is for keeps. I did buy a pack about 3 months ago. I smoked a couple of cigs and was disgusted. Tore up and tossed the rest of the pack. About a month after that we had dinner with friends. She still smokes. I realized how much I liked not smelling like cigarettes. I do chew nicotine gum - 4 mg. I am running low. My next purchase will be 2 mg.
Cataracts - I would love to have the more expensive lenses. It depends on how expensive they are. I have heard $3,000 per eye. I have worn glasses my entire life. I am OK with glasses or contacts. I am excited to have cataract surgery. I do not drive at night and stick to my usual stops during the day. I can not read street signs. Yes, I use my phone for directions. I am uncomfortable. I need to SEE where I am going.
Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia) - I am OK with a Psychologist. Prescriptions can be called in by a Family Practitioner. It is more about a connection. Someone I am comfortable with.
It has been - 3 or more years since I have seen a physician other than a walk in clinic setting. I had begun to establish a relationship with a Nurse Practitioner for overall health care and a very caring Cardiologist. Monday I will make an appointment with NP Blanchard for a physical and blood work.
I am setting small goals. Little things that I can do one day at a time. If I think of big things I get overwhelmed and end up doing nothing.
I love my family. Mother and my sibs are always supportive and loving. Some times too much. If I state a goal and fail I feel as if I am failing my loved ones. Sharing with all of you is different. You do not know me. You all have your own issues. You cheer me on but my failures are not personal. Thank you all. This community is amazing. You are all amazing. My wish is to someday meet you. CD you are first on my list. When all of this Covid cr@p is over I will visit my Niece in Plano. I will get in touch with you and, if you are willing, meet for a cocktail or a meal.
Enough of my cr@p.
It is a New Year. I wish you all the best - happiness, health, friendship and most of all - good food!
:woot::woot::woot:
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I'd love to me you, too. Plano and Frisco are neighbors, so getting together somewhere would be easy.

CD
 
Morning Glory said:
I am much heavier than that. I'm 5 ft 8ins and don't know what I weigh right now (threw the scales out!) but its a lot more that 150lbs. My ideal weight is around that. Like you, the weight is all round the middle. Maybe you are not as tall as me but 150 lbs really doesn't sound that bad.
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I am 5' 3" so 130/135 is my ideal weight. 150 is too much.
 
Morning Glory said:
I am much heavier than that. I'm 5 ft 8ins and don't know what I weigh right now (threw the scales out!) but its a lot more that 150lbs. My ideal weight is around that. Like you, the weight is all round the middle. Maybe you are not as tall as me but 150 lbs really doesn't sound that bad.
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I am 5.8 and 114 lbs was what I weighed when I was a very skinny teenager at the same height as now. That was also why I got my eating disorder, my parents starved me. I now weigh more than double that.

Morning Glory why are you worried about your weight? I've seen your photos and I'd love to have a body like yours. Nothing disproportionate about it.
 
I'm 5'11" and currently weigh 160-165 pounds (it goes up and down constantly). But, I inherited the family bird legs.

CD
 
Windigo said:
@Morning Glory why are you worried about your weight? I've seen your photos and I'd love to have a body like yours. Nothing disproportionate about it.
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The thing is that selfies if taken from a certain angle can make the lower half of the body look slimmer because of the lens in the phone. In reality I'm fattish in the middle and can no longer get into jeans I wore before lockdown. My current waist size would probably shock you. Not that I've ever had a slim waist, but right now in profile I look about 6 months pregnant! My 'normal' size is UK size 14 (bottom half) and size 16 (top half), so I'm not exactly slim even when normal weight.

Goes off to measure waist.... (gulp)

... that was a nasty experience. Waist 41 inches. I can reduce it to 38 if I really pull it in. Now do you believe me? :)
 
Morning Glory said:
The thing is that selfies if taken from a certain angle can make the lower half of the body look slimmer because of the lens in the phone. In reality I'm fattish in the middle and can no longer get into jeans I wore before lockdown. My current waist size would probably shock you. Not that I've ever had a slim waist, but right now in profile I look about 6 months pregnant! My 'normal' size is UK size 14 (bottom half) and size 16 (top half), so I'm not exactly slim even when normal weight.

Goes off to measure waist.... (gulp)

... that was a nasty experience. Waist 41 inches. I can reduce it to 38 if I really pull it in. Now do you believe me? :)
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Okay , I understand those measurements. But still, I was a size 14/16 before I spent 3 full years on prednisone. Now I am a size 18/20 so to me you looked pretty trim especially from the angle you describe.

But the good news is that I just received all my lab test results of this year in the hospital and despite not dieting ( but focussing on healthy habits instead) all my health markers have improved, especially my liver that went from having 4 markers at too high to 1 marker and that's caused by my use of opioid meds.
So adding healthy habits is proven to be a good thing regardless of body size.
 
Windigo said:
But the good news is that I just received all my lab test results of this year in the hospital and despite not dieting ( but focussing on healthy habits instead) all my health markers have improved, especially my liver that went from having 4 markers at too high to 1 marker and that's caused by my use of opioid meds.
So adding healthy habits is proven to be a good thing regardless of body size.
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That's great news!

Now all I have to do is stop drinking...
 
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