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NEVERENDING ♾️ The NEVERENDING What's Ailing You Now? Thread

^^ Serious ouch! Fingers crossed your pill(s) kick in soon!

I am overdue for a dentist appt. I usually go every 6 months like clockwork. But I haven't been since last fall because of COVID. the next appt will not be fun, I can tell.
Same. Haven't been since pre-covid and I'm going soon. They always ask to use the "cavitron" to take off calculus and I'm always like, "yeah fine," then practice deep breathing for the next 45 minutes, knowing otherwise it would be an hour and a half of scraping.
 
I went to the dentist after a very long while last week. I am pretty meticulous with my at home dental routine so I knew I did not have any cavities. It was fine. Only people with appointments are allowed inside the clinic and masks are mandatory, the staff were all gowned, gloved, masked, as well as shielded and it was clear they sanitize everything and maintain social distancing as much as possible. They texted a link to a health questionnaire the morning of the appointment asking about current health, COVID exposure, recent travel, etc. When I arrived at the clinic they took my temperature, I spent 5 minutes in the waiting room by myself, was called for xrays and dental exam, and sent off for a cleaning.
The last time I went to the dentist was in April 2019. I was due for my regular cleaning in April 2020, but then COVID hit and the dentist office cancelled/closed all their regular cleanings. I got a phone call from their office like in March saying that they're trying to get folks back in for their regular cleaning schedules now that covid restrictions are lifting. I asked what dates were available, and the lady said 'we're booking into January 2022 now' :oops:

Fortunately, I've got teeth like rocks, but they're gonna need a jackhammer to get all the calculus off my teeth by then.
 
The last time I went to the dentist was in April 2019. I was due for my regular cleaning in April 2020, but then COVID hit and the dentist office cancelled/closed all their regular cleanings. I got a phone call from their office like in March saying that they're trying to get folks back in for their regular cleaning schedules now that covid restrictions are lifting. I asked what dates were available, and the lady said 'we're booking into January 2022 now' :oops:

Fortunately, I've got teeth like rocks, but they're gonna need a jackhammer to get all the calculus off my teeth by then.
I've been in for my regular six month checkup/cleaning three times sine the pandemic hit - I think our dentist closed for about a week to rearrange the office and establish some pandemic SOPs.
 
I've been in for my regular six month checkup/cleaning three times sine the pandemic hit - I think our dentist closed for about a week to rearrange the office and establish some pandemic SOPs.
Same here. My dentist and his staff have been super during Covid. We got behind, maybe a few weeks at most, but I've been very impressed with all their precautions.

++
I wish I had teeth like rocks: mine are more like chalk, so regular care is essential.
 
I see my dentist 3 times a year - to avoid any Diabetic issues.
2 visits are covered by insurance & copay
3rd out of pocket
 
Just back from another doctor visit with my sister (in Switzerland).

Last visit - thumbs down, needed antibiotics and some other post-surgery stuff (major surgeries, 4 doctors over 8.5 hours, then 7 nights in the hospital), special bandages, and couldn't be alone for 2 weeks after getting out.

This visit - thumbs up, keep on the antibiotics 'cause it's looking much better, more regular bandages, and can start testing her limits with lifting, bending, extension, etc.

I'm here for another week, so I might not have to sit in the heated waiting room and then the heated exam room, both of which are too hot for comfort, again while I'm here!
 
Went to Ortho Urgent Care ( yes my fair city has this service) - xrayed my hip & knee -

I have a combination of tendonitis & arthritis

Treatment - stretching excerises, oral prescription med, & for the knee - an injection into it.
 
Went to Ortho Urgent Care ( yes my fair city has this service) - xrayed my hip & knee -

I have a combination of tendonitis & arthritis

Treatment - stretching excerises, oral prescription med, & for the knee - an injection into it.

You know, now that you have a smartphone you would have known that by goggling your symptoms and saving yourself a trip!

:rofl: :p :D
 
Had my first ever ambulance ride of Friday afternoon:

I was working from home and sitting on the couch in my den. Around 11:45 a.m. I was going to heat up the oven to make lunch I got up to head out to the kitchen. I can remember seeing my wife in the hallway and then the next thing I know I’m waking up flat on my back on the floor of the den wondering how I got there and my wife is running in yelling for our oldest to bring her phone. I somehow had passed out and hit the deck.

My wife called 911 and within 90 seconds the paramedics were there (followed by three fire trucks, two police cars from our community, one from the city next door, and my doctor neighbor who saw all the commotion and was concerned… it must have been a slow day for the emergency folks). I was still sort of disoriented and out of it but otherwise alert. My wife told me and the paramedics that she saw me coming out of the den and then my eyes rolled back and closed and I hit the deck. She called out my name but I gave no response.

The paramedics gave me an EKG and some quick bloodwork and everything seemed fine. They offered to take me to the hospital and at first I said, “No” but my wife convinced me to go and get checked now while everything is fresh (plus I don't have a PCP so it would have taken a while to get into "my" doctor to get checked out). Some more tests and better bloodwork later and everything is still coming up good.

The official diagnoses was Exercise Associated Postural Hypotension and dehydration which caused a vasovagal syncope. Basically, the doctor said as an "endurance athlete" (his words) I have very low blood pressure and an extremely low resting heart rate which makes it more likely for the blood to pool in my lower legs when sitting or standing still and then when I got up to move I suffered the vasovagal syncope which was a sudden loss of oxygenated blood to the brain and caused me to pass out.

There were no signs of concussion and thankfully when I fell I missed the corner of the coffee table by a few inches. The ER doctors orders were to take it easy for the weekend, get an appointment with a GP who specializes in sports medicine or works a lot with runners or cyclists or other endurance athletes to take a better look at my blood pressure (low blood pressure does run in my family, and maybe this is one of the reasons my feet and hands are always cold), and be conscious when standing up to not do it too quickly and hopefully this shouldn't be a recurring issue.

I will say that I was pretty scared when I came to but if my wife hadn’t been there I probably would have (stupidly) brushed it off completely and just gone about my day like it hadn't happened.
 
I passed out from dehydration on a couple of occasions. Once while in the desert when it was 118 out and the other time (much less expected) inside an office during the summer.
 
I passed out from dehydration on a couple of occasions. Once while in the desert when it was 118 out and the other time (much less expected) inside an office during the summer.

Don't lock your knees! I learned that the vasovagal syncope is the same type of passing out that happens when you have to stand in formation forever because some colonel demands he have an ornate going away ceremony with the entire battalion on the parade deck in the middle of July and the associated NC heat and humidity!
 
I had a come to Jesus meeting with my doctor about hypertension, etc. On most days I am around 160/110

I have to confront all my bad habits and have some major change. Including how I process things mentally.
 
I had a come to Jesus meeting with my doctor about hypertension, etc. On most days I am around 160/110

I have to confront all my bad habits and have some major change. Including how I process things mentally.
At least you are taking the steps, which are important. The next step is getting into a healthier routine and staying there. It is tough. I've learned to have blank time, which is when I don't over think things and live in the moment. It's ok to occasionally zone out and binge watch a show. The job related stress is part of it. As I told a friend, it is better to have the stress of a job with a steady income than the stress of poverty.
 
I had a come to Jesus meeting with my doctor about hypertension, etc. On most days I am around 160/110

I have to confront all my bad habits and have some major change. Including how I process things mentally.

Good for you! That is great news.


The process things mentally is something that I have had a real difficult time dealing with in the past. There is so much pressure in today's society to think or do things a particular way. It is a continuous process to let go of those ideals and be my own person. Because of this, I stopped trying to please people and focus on my needs. That is why I have the workout program that I have, the eating plan that I have, and why I have cut back drinking by 95%.
 
Had my first ever ambulance ride of Friday afternoon:

I was working from home and sitting on the couch in my den. Around 11:45 a.m. I was going to heat up the oven to make lunch I got up to head out to the kitchen. I can remember seeing my wife in the hallway and then the next thing I know I’m waking up flat on my back on the floor of the den wondering how I got there and my wife is running in yelling for our oldest to bring her phone. I somehow had passed out and hit the deck.

My wife called 911 and within 90 seconds the paramedics were there (followed by three fire trucks, two police cars from our community, one from the city next door, and my doctor neighbor who saw all the commotion and was concerned… it must have been a slow day for the emergency folks). I was still sort of disoriented and out of it but otherwise alert. My wife told me and the paramedics that she saw me coming out of the den and then my eyes rolled back and closed and I hit the deck. She called out my name but I gave no response.

The paramedics gave me an EKG and some quick bloodwork and everything seemed fine. They offered to take me to the hospital and at first I said, “No” but my wife convinced me to go and get checked now while everything is fresh (plus I don't have a PCP so it would have taken a while to get into "my" doctor to get checked out). Some more tests and better bloodwork later and everything is still coming up good.

The official diagnoses was Exercise Associated Postural Hypotension and dehydration which caused a vasovagal syncope. Basically, the doctor said as an "endurance athlete" (his words) I have very low blood pressure and an extremely low resting heart rate which makes it more likely for the blood to pool in my lower legs when sitting or standing still and then when I got up to move I suffered the vasovagal syncope which was a sudden loss of oxygenated blood to the brain and caused me to pass out.

There were no signs of concussion and thankfully when I fell I missed the corner of the coffee table by a few inches. The ER doctors orders were to take it easy for the weekend, get an appointment with a GP who specializes in sports medicine or works a lot with runners or cyclists or other endurance athletes to take a better look at my blood pressure (low blood pressure does run in my family, and maybe this is one of the reasons my feet and hands are always cold), and be conscious when standing up to not do it too quickly and hopefully this shouldn't be a recurring issue.

I will say that I was pretty scared when I came to but if my wife hadn’t been there I probably would have (stupidly) brushed it off completely and just gone about my day like it hadn't happened.
Glad you are ok! Sounds like it was scary.
 
Good for you! That is great news.


The process things mentally is something that I have had a real difficult time dealing with in the past. There is so much pressure in today's society to think or do things a particular way. It is a continuous process to let go of those ideals and be my own person. Because of this, I stopped trying to please people and focus on my needs. That is why I have the workout program that I have, the eating plan that I have, and why I have cut back drinking by 95%.

Yep. As part of this I decided to go sober as well. I was not a big drinker, but I have done my share of stupid things drinking going back to college. Another thing has been my problem. I cant seem to handle it in moderation, so its time for a new day.

Its like I had an epiphany on Thursday. Time for changes.
 
Sounds like we are on the same page with drinking. I too am not currently drinking much at all, but that has not always been the case.

The mantra I play in my head when I am tempted to pick up a 12 pack or fifth is, "no one has ever looked back at their life and thought, I wished I drank more"
 
Yep. As part of this I decided to go sober as well. I was not a big drinker, but I have done my share of stupid things drinking going back to college. Another thing has been my problem. I cant seem to handle it in moderation, so its time for a new day.

Its like I had an epiphany on Thursday. Time for changes.

I was the same way and alcoholism runs in my family. Looking back on it, I am surprised at how much I was drinking. It was 2 to 3 beers every week night and more on weekends. A couple of beers wasn't enough to get me drunk (or even put me over the legal limit), it was every night, and that really adds up over time. Weekends were not unusual to kill off a 6 pack in an afternoon/evening and I always had beer in the fridge.

It was a serious shift in thinking for me. Now when we go out to a sports bar for dinner or something and I will get a water. I will still have a drink on occasion, but that's it. Once, maybe twice a month and it will 1 to 2 if that.
 
I have been sober since 1993 for health reasons. Health problems are under control and mostly stable.

Developed a new health problem - Arthritis & Tendinitis in both hip & knee in same leg -

good quote from the movie Electric Horseman -
Some parts wake up faster than others. The broken parts take longer.
 
Extended family may have played a part in this as well. I'm proud of my blue collar roots. However, family reunions were interesting. One of my grandmas was pretty hard core about not drinking. She also wasn't afraid to hold me accountable for the things I did, and didn't, do.
 
Nobody in my family (either side) are particularly heavy drinkers and while I may have had a night or two or 12 of heavy drinking when I was in the Marines, I've ever really been a particularly heavy drinker and I cut waaaayyyy back during the pandemic when I shifted to WFH since there's no more going out to the bar for lunch.

These days if I buy a 6-pack it will last me a couple weeks.
 
Dammed if you do, dammed if you don't

Got a steroid injection into my knee to relieve pain & improve mobility due to arthritis.
However
side effect is that it elevates my blood sugars - I am getting some high readings doing finger sticks.
 
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"Dear Abby dear Abby my feet are too long
My lefts are all rights and my rights are all wrong..."-- John Prine
 
My MIL is in surgery today.

She has cancer in her jaw and is having a portion of the bone removed, a feeding tube put in, and possibly (depending on what it looks like when they slice her jaw open) a portion of the soft tissue removed as well.

Hubby is with her but surgery is expected to be 13 hours total. Yikes.
 
Update on MIL:

In addition to the ^^surgery, she also had a bone graft. Total time was about 11.5 hours.

She went straight to ICU for overnight observation, longer if needed.
 
Blood Lab report - only numbers my Dr talks to me about

A1C - 7.0
Cholesterol - 100; HDL not high enough
 
Sounds like we are on the same page with drinking. I too am not currently drinking much at all, but that has not always been the case.

The mantra I play in my head when I am tempted to pick up a 12 pack or fifth is, "no one has ever looked back at their life and thought, I wished I drank more"
Scrolling old posts and saw this. Realized I have not had a drink since about two weeks before Thanksgiving. Do not miss it AT ALL.
 
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I had a vasectomy on April 1st, no joke! The bruising still hasn't 100% gone away and today is the first day that I haven't had to bring an ice pack from home to sit on.
 
Bilateral occipital neuralgia, arthritis in shoulder and knee, two discs staring to slip, tinnitus, sleep apnea (obstructive and central), always preparing for future leaking CSF (patched twice) from the several Tarlov cysts along my spine.

If I don't count those issues, I'm fine.
 
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