Covid19 Spare time

diyer2 · September 29, 2023

Been having some medical issues. Aging is not fun.

KARNUT · September 29, 2023

1 hour ago, diyer2 said:

Been having some medical issues. Aging is not fun.

One of the fun things about having high blood pressure since I was 19 is going to the doctors once a year. On medication it’s normal. I was overweight until I was 40. One of the side effects of blood pressure medication is enhanced low blood sugar. The effects are miserable, so I over ate. That made it worse. My work was very physical so I burned lots of calories. My blood work was always good so the doctor didn’t complain about the weight. Luckily for me my wife started to put on some weight. So the diet train started and finally we landed on weight watchers. Been on it since. Now I’m just a little over weight. No more low blood sugar problems. At 60 the genetics kick in. That and the abusing my body from my youth kick in. Joints, back, knees if I push it with yard work. You have to keep moving though or you wouldn’t be able to. By going to the doctor once a year it’s kinda like a double edged sword. The blood work and different tests your mapping your decline. As if feeling it isn’t enough. Mostly you can’t do too much about it. It’s your make up. Sometimes I think my father was right. He never went. He fainted once. Got a ride to the hospital. That’s when the found out he was diabetic, his mom was. They gave him medication told him to go to the doctor. He didn’t. My sister got pills from Canada mail order. A couple years later another ride to the hospital. Cancer. He said he knew it. He said leave me alone. They set up hospice, two weeks at 84 it was over. No fuss, no special treatment just done. His way. Me I get to watch the downfall.

Edited September 29, 2023 by KARNUT

Donstar · October 3, 2023

I often think that if you go through enough tests at our age, they'll find something! My recent foyer into the stroke world would have remained undetected had it not been for my persistence and a specialist who went the extra mile. I know a couple older than me and they claim no health issues yet. I strongly suspect they're not looking! Many of us have lost a loved one unexpectedly from a preventable cause. An annual physical in our senior years is essential but won't always cover you throughout the year. You need to be aware and respond to subtle changes. I find that the amount you read has little correlation to how you manage your health. My brother was a scholar and voracious reader. He died from a cause that would have been non-existent if he had his obvious discomfort checked out in the months leading up to his death. I also enjoy a good read and look forward to my next booster! Covid has recently caused havoc in my next door neighbor's house and now in a close relative's home following their trip to Europe.

Grumpy Bear · October 3, 2023

We used to divide reading into categories. Fiction and Nonfiction. We all understood the difference and respected the boundaries, for the most part. Reporting fell under Nonfiction. Or we believed it so. But truthful and factual took on a wide gray line when poly-tics, commerce and religion drove the wedge into the fictional category creation of 'alternate facts' in the interests of power and wealth and desire and placed a line between the two than never before existed. "Fact is, I don't care what is true if it doesn't serve my interest." became some form of weird truth and the debate for what the truth is became a mudslinging contest instead of rational discussion or debate.

Mud is what you sling when facts don't support your argument. Not even you alternate facts.

Edited October 4, 2023 by Grumpy Bear

KARNUT · October 3, 2023

2 hours ago, Donstar said:

I often think that if you go through enough tests at our age, they'll find something! My recent foyer into the stroke world would have remained undetected had it not been for my persistence and a specialist who went the extra mile. I know a couple older than me and they claim no health issues yet. I strongly suspect they're not looking! Many of us have lost a loved one unexpectedly from a preventable cause. An annual physical in our senior years is essential but won't always cover you throughout the year. You need to be aware and respond to subtle changes. I find that the amount you read has little correlation to how you manage your health. My brother was a scholar and voracious reader. He died from a cause that would have been non-existent if he had his obvious discomfort checked out in the months leading up to his death. I also enjoy a good read and look forward to my next booster! Covid has recently caused havoc in my next door neighbor's house and now in a close relative's home following their trip to Europe.

I’m currently healthy. Other than joint and muscle pain that mild and easily treatable. When I visit my doctor and ask a simple question like how can I prevent my gallbladder from acting up. Or the allergy season is really bad this year how can I ease my chest pressure. It’s automatic visit to a specialist and six months worth of tests. So up goes the stress level. Then of course you’re now on the specialist radar. They now want to see you once a year. Then there’s my health insurance rider to Medicare. They call weekly wanting to visit for another check up. For wellness they say. All that does is add stress. Not to mention twice a year teeth cleaning and eye checkups. It’s a wonder my blood pressure stays in check. So screw it! I go to my GP once a year for blood pressure medicine because I have no choice. No visit no pills. Flu shots and others like that no thanks. You won’t get it as bad they say. I know that ain’t right. I’ve seen it.

Grumpy Bear · October 4, 2023

Greed has infected healthcare just as badly as every other means of earning a buck. I had a Doc like Stan describes for some time. Stress City Cental. Every hangnail was a life ending event. Every specialist took the air out of that balloon but not before tacking on another $5K to the annual expenses. After several asking why I was referred to them, I fired that corporate gal and got me a country doctor.

Recently I benefited greatly on that move. After about a decade in his care I endured a physical for insurance. One that leaves no leaves on the tree. I didn't know they could take that much blood and leave a heartbeat. :crackup: Never heard of some of those tests. The conclusion was... Well, I got the best rate they offered. Something the carrier mentions is pretty darn rare.

Am I perfect? Far from it. But nothing that isn't common to a seventy-year-old male.

I base many medical choices now on probabilities and comfort. For instance. I smoked for 35 years. Which is more likely to kill my dumb ole arse, the bug or the shot? Poly-tics, greed and religion have zip to do with nothing. Bugs don't care how much money I have. What my politics are, or how I express my belief. Don't care where it came from or how much I believe one thing or another. Doesn't care what I do or don't know. It's a bug and it likes to kill. If someone's swinging, I have my hands up. Self-defense 101.

At some point a cold will do me in. Old is old and everyone has an expiration date. If I can delay it, fine. If I can make myself more comfortable waiting. I'll do that too.

Edited October 4, 2023 by Grumpy Bear

KARNUT · October 4, 2023

2 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

Greed has infected healthcare just as badly as every other means of earning a buck. I had a Doc like Stan describes for some time. Stress City Cental. Every hangnail was a life ending event. Every specialist took the air out of that balloon but not before tacking on another $5K to the annual expenses. After several asking why I was referred to them, I fired that corporate gal and got me a country doctor.

Recently I benefited greatly on that move. After about a decade in his care I endured a physical for insurance. One that leaves no leaves on the tree. I didn't know they could take that much blood and leave a heartbeat. Never heard of some of those tests. The conclusion was... Well, I got the best rate they offered. Something the carrier mentions is pretty darn rare.

Am I perfect? Far from it. But nothing that isn't common to a seventy-year-old male.

I base many medical choices now on probabilities and comfort. For instance. I smoked for 35 years. Which is more likely to kill my dumb ole arse, the bug or the shot? Poly-tics, greed and religion have zip to do with nothing. Bugs don't care how much money I have. What my politics are, or how I express my belief. Don't care where it came from or how much I believe one thing or another. Doesn't care what I do or don't know. It's a bug and it likes to kill. If someone's swinging, I have my hands up. Self-defense 101.

At some point a cold will do me in. Old is old and everyone has an expiration date. If I can delay it, fine. If I can make myself more comfortable waiting. I'll do that too.

Honestly the only problem I have with any shot or vaccine is when they say there’re harmless with no side effects. My blood pressure medicine is about as harmless as they come. But there’s side effects. Any medication advertised on tv has a list side effects. Some can kill. But they claim the COVID vaccine has none. That’s the train I don’t ride.

diyer2 · October 4, 2023

Side effects, I know all about that.

Grumpy Bear · October 4, 2023

They say allot of things. Here's what Someone else says:

A Timeline of COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects (verywellhealth.com)

***************************

From my initial dose I knew there were side effects and what those risks were. I suffer the most common every time.

There's been side effects to every vaccine I've ever taken. Every pill I've ever taken. Even aspirin can have some serious side effects including death on very rare occasion. I still take them when needed.

Very early on before any side effects were noted; what was said was, "No KNOWN side effects". This is not the same thing as saying, "There are NO side effects".

KARNUT · October 4, 2023

2 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

They say allot of things. Here's what Someone else says:

A Timeline of COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects (verywellhealth.com)

***************************

From my initial dose I knew there were side effects and what those risks were. I suffer the most common every time.

There's been side effects to every vaccine I've ever taken. Every pill I've ever taken. Even aspirin can have some serious side effects including death on very rare occasion. I still take them when needed.

Very early on before any side effects were noted; what was said was, "No KNOWN side effects". This is not the same thing as saying, "There are NO side effects".

Sounds like flu side effects. Seems like you’re ok with it. I’ve read and heard enough I’m passing on it. Life is full of risks everyone has to assess their risk.

Grumpy Bear · October 5, 2023

9 hours ago, KARNUT said:

Sounds like flu side effects. Seems like you’re ok with it. I’ve read and heard enough I’m passing on it. Life is full of risks everyone has to assess their risk.

Absolutely! Every health decision is a personal one. :thumbs:

Donstar · October 12, 2023

Yesterday after ten years since the passing of my last living parent, I shredded two boxes of their files and papers. It was a task I needed to do as I didn't want them tossed in a dumpster when my kids clean up after me! My mother was organized and kept important papers from their 60 years of married life. It's amazing how full your parents lives were when you were growing up! Parents are actually real people who have normal lives! This is a message I try to impress upon one of my 40+ year old children who still believes we can magically produce money!

txab · October 12, 2023

4 hours ago, Donstar said:

Yesterday after ten years since the passing of my last living parent, I shredded two boxes of their files and papers. It was a task I needed to do as I didn't want them tossed in a dumpster when my kids clean up after me! My mother was organized and kept important papers from their 60 years of married life. It's amazing how full your parents lives were when you were growing up! Parents are actually real people who have normal lives! This is a message I try to impress upon one of my 40+ year old children who still believes we can magically produce money!

I'm currently doing the same thing, not only for parents, but for my late wife. Amazing the amount of paperwork generated over a long period of time. Keeping some things, like a few documents my dad signed. He had the the most beautiful handwriting and signature. I like to look at it still. I could never come close. Now my older brother comes close to the same style

Edited October 12, 2023 by txab

Donstar · October 13, 2023

17 hours ago, txab said:

I'm currently doing the same thing, not only for parents, but for my late wife. Amazing the amount of paperwork generated over a long period of time. Keeping some things, like a few documents my dad signed. He had the the most beautiful handwriting and signature. I like to look at it still. I could never come close. Now my older brother comes close to the same style

I know how difficult it was to let go of the papers that once were so important to my mum & dad. I can't fathom the emotional pain you have to endure sifting through the documents pertaining to your wife. Doing these tasks concurrently speaks to your amazing strength and I sincerely wish you well.

txab · October 13, 2023

It was finally time, for me to let go of certain things. Had been getting rid of things over the last few years. In the beginning wanted to hang onto everything. After 1 year, there were things that I could start parting with, without it bothering me. So that's how it's been. As I run across some of these things, I find they no longer have a hold on me and it's easy to part with. I tell you this, the very first thing that went was our bed, since I found her unconscious, half in bed, half out with an aneurysm. Never will get that sight out of my head. So sure couldn't sleep in that bed anymore.

With parents stuff, still have furniture pieces, but had kept, like you, documents, until I was sure there was no need for them anymore, But for some reason, seeing his signature will always has the same effect on me. Just have some memories around watching him sign things. I think my most favorite things of his that he signed were his log books he kept while driving a truck for 40 years. He kept his copy of them from the beginning, so there were box after box of them. Started long before I was born, continued until 2 weeks before he passed, 32 years ago. I went through them long ago. Picking out one log book from the different runs he had over his career. He drove for a company that only operated in Texas. His favorite run and the best to get, paid the most, was Abilene to El Paso or vice versa. Depended on where you wanted to call your home terminal. I think he ran that route for 20 years, sign on interstate says it's 444 miles to El Paso. It was an easy run, all interstate highway. To get to the terminal, traffic in El Paso never was that bad. He hated when he had to go to Houston or into Dallas, if he was pulling an "extra board" run, if another driver was sick. Only 2 wrecks in that career, neither his fault. Got a wall of his safety awards lining a hallway in the house. Over 4,000,000 miles driven. Nice to look back at those books occasionally, lots of good/great memories.

Well, rambled on enough for today.