Healthy Living

I have been thinking a lot about health lately - DUH! A few weeks ago Rich and I decided that we were going to get real about fighting our obesity, knowing that it contributes to all of the health issues that we are concerned about...we are continuing that fight and will be in it for a very, very, very long time! LOL

But I also decided that I needed to bite the bullet and visit my pcp and have my own workup done and get referrals for my own screenings. Been there and done that.

So today I had my mammogram - all negative. Then received news about my blood workup - total cholesterol is good - LDL was a little high at 162 but HDL was 58 and very good, triglycerides are 50, sugar was 90, vitamin D level was spot on. And these will only continue to improve as I lose weight!

When I get back from my jaunts I will be having my colonoscopy. It is recommended for everyone starting at age 50 - I'm a little slow but I will do it. It is probably the thing I dread most - and yet - having watched Grandma Bainbridge die - it is so worth it if they find anything because it is one of the most curable cancers if caught early. Rich has had three and continues to tell me that it really isn't that bad - I'll believe him later!

Hannah got me started on the 200 sit ups program and I am progressing on that - and I continue to drink Dr. Oz's "belly busting smoothie." My knees are beginning to calm down a little after the injections Friday - still a long way to go - but at least I can take steps without wincing with each one of them!

And I have seen my eye dr. He was concerned that the profound improvement in my vision was from blood sugar disturbances (diabetes) - but since that isn't the case I guess he'll have to revisit that one when I have my follow-up in May. However! I love my new glasses and I really can see better! And I know that I don't have macular degeneration or glaucoma - only cataracts - and they can easily be taken care of as they worsen.

I will probably go in and have my other toe replaced sometime this summer or maybe even fall.

Rich is continuing to improve too. Hallelujah! He has progressed to the point that he is no longer having to use oxygen during the day - just at night and I don't think that will ever change - and that is probably for the best. I think it really does help him rest better and of course rest is crucial for health. Now - if I could just get him to bed at a decent hour! LOL

Both his pulmonologist and cardiologist are continuing to monitor his liver as many of the medications he is on are hammering it...but he is really good about taking his meds and getting his screenings for it. And hopefully, as he loses weight too, some of the meds that are so hard on it can be dropped - but that is a little ways off.

His heart is strong, the stent is doing well, his heart is staying in sinus rhythm, and pulmonary functions are improving! Obviously he has a long way to go - but I am so grateful to still have him here and to see him improve. He is still tapering off of the steroids - but that should be done in 3 weeks if everything goes well. And, he continues to go to his cardio/pulmonary rehab for exercise several times a week.

I think I will be a "nervous Nellie" forever - in fact - I am extraordinarily concerned about him as I prepare to leave - when I went to Oklahoma for Ellie's birth is when he first started having heart problems and was in the hospital, when I went to Marsha's for Grandma was when he was continuing to have heart problems and the night I got back he had the heart attack, and then of course, the day that I went to Ohio for Reah's birth was the infamous case of respiratory failure - but he continues to assure me that he is feeling okay and that I should just go and have a good time. EEK! I will probably bug him 20 times a day just so I feel better!

All in all I would say that we have been very blessed. What a privilege it is to live in this day and age when we are able to have screenings, diagnostics, medications, and life-saving procedures done so easily. We have so much to be grateful for. And now, it is up to us to do our part to maximize our health and strength - physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.