Don't tell anyone but yesterday we played hookey. There was a snowstorm overnight and we, meaning my husband, had to dig us out in the morning. His office had a delayed opening until 10 am. He went out to shovel around 8. He went out and shoveled for an hour and then took a break. Then he went back out later in the morning. Eventually he called into work. Then I called in to the job I was supposed to work at and said that either I would be in by noon or, if not, they would see me tomorrow. I could have gone to work. But I decided not to. So it was a day of hookey.
So what did we do? We went out to lunch. We wandered around Barnes & Noble. We returned stuff to Macy's. We watched some TV together. I sorted some clothes. Then I met a friend for a drink. I did not do my exercises at all. I did not go for a walk (the bike path was not plowed). I took a day off. It was nice.
I think a day off from everything is important. I also wanted to see if my exercises or walking is having any effect on my back pain. They don't. My back still hurt. I didn't worry about doctor appointments or exercise class or PT or acupuncture. No appointments. No having to be anywhere at any time. We'll have to do it again but maybe we'll wait until summer when we can go to the beach.
Today I have to pay the price and go to work EARLY and stay all day. I will be tired and my back will hurt later too.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Obesogens
What are obesogens? They are nasty chemicals like BPA found in lots of things that cause muscle and other cells to change into cells that store fat. They mess up our hormonal systems and do all kinds of bad things to us. Traceable amounts of them are found in 93% of Americans. Yucky.
The first round of advice is to buy organic and avoid pesticides and chemicals. Well that's what they have been telling us for years - eat organic. But the chemicals are found in everything from non stick pans, children's toys, plastic shower curtains, to plastic bottles, canned goods and cosmetics.
The second round of advice, also contained in the article, is that Congress should change laws getting these chemicals out of the system.
My advice is vote with our feet and avoid chemicals. If I could afford it I would buy all organic food but its just too expensive to be perfectly honest. I would also throw out my non stick pans and buy stainless ones. I would skip canned food and buy all fresh. I don't use a lot of canned food these days other than canned beans (because the dried ones take forever) and canned tomatoes to put in food I'm cooking. (A question: if I buy canned organic tomatoes and beans does the organic part get canceled out by being put in a can?)
Could I eliminate plastic in my life? I carry a refillable plastic BPA-free bottle of water every day. This is filtered tap water which goes through a Brita filter (plastic) and put in a plastic pitcher in my fridge. I don't use plastic toys because I am a little old for that but I do use plastic knitting needles and plastic crochet hooks. I could throw those all out and buy bamboo ones. The cat has plastic food dishes. He's 16 year old (or 82 in cat years) and at this point his food dishes will probably outlast him (sadly). Does he need new dishes? These are the first dishes he has had that he can't push across the floor and are the right size for him.
And everything that gets thrown out will, at least partially, end up in a landfill or get recycled and reused in a third world country - and when that happens we are just sending our problems to someone else. That's sort of like sending the garbage in New York to a landfill in New Jersey.
But back to obesogens as I have completely gotten off the topic and how to avoid them. I guess I'll try the organic route so more. I will also reevaluate all my plastic stuff and replace what I can when it wears out. Maybe I'll write my congressman too.
The first round of advice is to buy organic and avoid pesticides and chemicals. Well that's what they have been telling us for years - eat organic. But the chemicals are found in everything from non stick pans, children's toys, plastic shower curtains, to plastic bottles, canned goods and cosmetics.
The second round of advice, also contained in the article, is that Congress should change laws getting these chemicals out of the system.
My advice is vote with our feet and avoid chemicals. If I could afford it I would buy all organic food but its just too expensive to be perfectly honest. I would also throw out my non stick pans and buy stainless ones. I would skip canned food and buy all fresh. I don't use a lot of canned food these days other than canned beans (because the dried ones take forever) and canned tomatoes to put in food I'm cooking. (A question: if I buy canned organic tomatoes and beans does the organic part get canceled out by being put in a can?)
Could I eliminate plastic in my life? I carry a refillable plastic BPA-free bottle of water every day. This is filtered tap water which goes through a Brita filter (plastic) and put in a plastic pitcher in my fridge. I don't use plastic toys because I am a little old for that but I do use plastic knitting needles and plastic crochet hooks. I could throw those all out and buy bamboo ones. The cat has plastic food dishes. He's 16 year old (or 82 in cat years) and at this point his food dishes will probably outlast him (sadly). Does he need new dishes? These are the first dishes he has had that he can't push across the floor and are the right size for him.
And everything that gets thrown out will, at least partially, end up in a landfill or get recycled and reused in a third world country - and when that happens we are just sending our problems to someone else. That's sort of like sending the garbage in New York to a landfill in New Jersey.
But back to obesogens as I have completely gotten off the topic and how to avoid them. I guess I'll try the organic route so more. I will also reevaluate all my plastic stuff and replace what I can when it wears out. Maybe I'll write my congressman too.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Snow - a different perspective
Around here the snow banks are piling up significantly and there is another storm due for tomorrow with another 6-10" of winter fun. Just after Christmas, I blogged about the snow storm. Well that was several snow storms ago.
A few years ago after a snowstorm I would be happy to go out and play in the snow - ski, snowshoe, etc. Now I can't. It makes my back hurt. And I am worried that if I fell skiing, especially down hill skiing, I would do more damage to my back. I did try snowshoeing last weekend and it was a success as I thought - it made my back hurt for a few days. But it was fun while I was doing it.
Last Friday's storm started in the morning and intensified and then moved out in the afternoon. My husband made it to work where he stayed all day. I was basically stuck at home. There is a difference between being able to work at home and being forced to work at home. Then I can't shovel to get my car out and go anywhere when it stops. I have to wait until my husband comes home and digs me out. I can't walk in loose snow as it makes my back hurt. I am trapped and at the mercy of others. I don't like this.
Tomorrow I am preparing to be stuck again. I do have work to do but I will have to come up with more projects or something. Today the storm is supposed to start in late afternoon and be the worst between 8pm and 6am. If the roads get cleared out I might be able to get to work in the afternoon. Yesterday I drove to work in the snow - with a lot of morons. I don't wish to repeat that anytime soon.
Maybe I should move some place warm. Maybe I just need a vacation.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Doctors get old too
About 15 years ago I had some digestive issues which sent me to a gastroenterologist who at the time I remember as thinking was getting up there in age. Then I went to see him again for new issues a few years ago and he was decidedly on in years. He didn't remember seeing me before but due to the intervening years, I wasn't surprised. He sent me off for some tests and saw me again and then more tests and saw me again. Finally when our conversation went like this, I decided it was time to switch to a younger model.
Me: Well what about my hiatal hernia?
Him: Who told you you had a hiatal hernia?
Me: You did.
Him: (Rereading the notes he had just written) Don't worry about it.
Well, the long and the short of it was that he needed replacement. I looked up his credentials on the hospital website and figured out with his dates of medical school graduation he was the same age as my father, or older. My father is now 82. You do the math. He has since retired. At one visit, I mentioned something to the person checking me in and she said they were all amazed he was still working but was only part time.
As doctors age, there are no checks in place to ensure they are still competent. I think there should be something like retaking drivers tests for elderly drivers. As we worry about doctors retiring and not enough primary care physicians, we also need to think about making sure all doctors retain their competency. I am sure there are some requirements to meet their state's medical board standards and keeping skills sharp but a long term, slow progression of losing the sharpness of youth, can be difficult to diagnose and report.
I am not a big fan of the young doctors who are still wet behind the ears. I think I prefer my doctors to have between 5 and 30 years of practice. Too young and I feel like their mothers. Too old and I feel like they are treating me as their child. I would rather be their peer.
Me: Well what about my hiatal hernia?
Him: Who told you you had a hiatal hernia?
Me: You did.
Him: (Rereading the notes he had just written) Don't worry about it.
Well, the long and the short of it was that he needed replacement. I looked up his credentials on the hospital website and figured out with his dates of medical school graduation he was the same age as my father, or older. My father is now 82. You do the math. He has since retired. At one visit, I mentioned something to the person checking me in and she said they were all amazed he was still working but was only part time.
As doctors age, there are no checks in place to ensure they are still competent. I think there should be something like retaking drivers tests for elderly drivers. As we worry about doctors retiring and not enough primary care physicians, we also need to think about making sure all doctors retain their competency. I am sure there are some requirements to meet their state's medical board standards and keeping skills sharp but a long term, slow progression of losing the sharpness of youth, can be difficult to diagnose and report.
I am not a big fan of the young doctors who are still wet behind the ears. I think I prefer my doctors to have between 5 and 30 years of practice. Too young and I feel like their mothers. Too old and I feel like they are treating me as their child. I would rather be their peer.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Screening tests
Many health insurance companies already provide screening tests such as Pap tests, mammograms, and colonoscopies at little or no charge to patients. As part of the health care reform, they will be free to patients. The reason why is the idea to save money in the long run by catching things early.
Because of my lovely medical history, I have had annual mammograms since I was in my 20s. I was privileged enough to have a sigmoidoscopy in my 30s. I had a colonoscopy in my 40s. I am the model of early testing. If I hadn't been having mammograms for so long, my breast cancer would probably be far more advanced when detected.
My husband got a pass by his doctor at 50 to wait a year before his first colonoscopy. At 51, he had a malignant polyp. He didn't want to have one. Now after what he has been through he says he would rather have a colonoscopy every year than go through surgery again.
Apparently only 63% of Americans over 50 have had a colonoscopy. And the reason is they are scared. Well, if I had skipped all my screening tests, where would I be? If my husband had skipped his colonoscopy, where would he be? Dave Barry summarized this a few years ago and it is worth rereading.
At this point in my life, I am so sick of going to doctors. I am no longer a patient patient. But I still get my screening tests. I just wish I could go for one day and have them all and then get all the results as well. That would be the perfect medical system.
Because of my lovely medical history, I have had annual mammograms since I was in my 20s. I was privileged enough to have a sigmoidoscopy in my 30s. I had a colonoscopy in my 40s. I am the model of early testing. If I hadn't been having mammograms for so long, my breast cancer would probably be far more advanced when detected.
My husband got a pass by his doctor at 50 to wait a year before his first colonoscopy. At 51, he had a malignant polyp. He didn't want to have one. Now after what he has been through he says he would rather have a colonoscopy every year than go through surgery again.
Apparently only 63% of Americans over 50 have had a colonoscopy. And the reason is they are scared. Well, if I had skipped all my screening tests, where would I be? If my husband had skipped his colonoscopy, where would he be? Dave Barry summarized this a few years ago and it is worth rereading.
At this point in my life, I am so sick of going to doctors. I am no longer a patient patient. But I still get my screening tests. I just wish I could go for one day and have them all and then get all the results as well. That would be the perfect medical system.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Connecting with other people with cancer
Once diagnosed with cancer, you start meeting others. We are all members of a secret club and are happy sharing our stories with one another. As a blogger, I read other cancer blogs from across the country and beyond. Other bloggers read mine as well. We never physically meet but we become friends. We are one another's support group in a world connected by wifi - bits and bytes flying through the air around us.
We are always there for each other. Last year one of my cancer friends died. The anniversary of her death is this week. A woman from my first diagnosed support group three years ago went to stage IV about 18 months ago and is hanging on through chemo. These two women I knew. I met them for coffee, have friends in common, discussed our health issues with each other.
Yesterday another woman who was blogging her way through cancer died. She was fine until the middle of the week when her husband posted they had taken her to the hospital. Friday he posted they were making arrangements to move her to a hospice this Wednesday. She didn't make it to get to a hospice. Her cancer was first diagnosed in 2000 when she was 39 with later recurrences. She has been on chemo for about the last 2.5 years. She lived in Alberta with her husband. She had a bucket list. She will be missed.
We are always there for each other. Last year one of my cancer friends died. The anniversary of her death is this week. A woman from my first diagnosed support group three years ago went to stage IV about 18 months ago and is hanging on through chemo. These two women I knew. I met them for coffee, have friends in common, discussed our health issues with each other.
Yesterday another woman who was blogging her way through cancer died. She was fine until the middle of the week when her husband posted they had taken her to the hospital. Friday he posted they were making arrangements to move her to a hospice this Wednesday. She didn't make it to get to a hospice. Her cancer was first diagnosed in 2000 when she was 39 with later recurrences. She has been on chemo for about the last 2.5 years. She lived in Alberta with her husband. She had a bucket list. She will be missed.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
A Change I Will Be Glad to See
In Massachusetts, where we have some of the most patient oriented health care laws - no issues with pre-existing conditions for years already, mandatory health insurance, etc - cities and towns, like everywhere in the country, offer health insurance to their employees and are slowly going broke as a result. The unions have had the right for years to veto changes in health insurance. So if the cities and towns try to cut back on insurance or require higher co-payments or portion of insurance paid by the employees, the unions would veto it.
Some towns are currently paying 20% of their budgets for health insurance for the employees and pay for 90% of the insurance premiums. And the employees and retirees pay $5 co-payments. After decades of huge insurance premium increases the towns and cities are cutting back on services and thousands enjoy health insurance on the town's dime. Its not just employees but retirees who enjoy health insurance for life. And after 10 years of employment an employee can retire and keep their insurance.
The governor, Deval Patrick, who just was elected for his second term, and has announced he will not run again, has split with the unions on this. He wants the towns and cities to be able to change the system so that the unions can't veto changes to health insurance. This change will only happen if it is legislated and this is the first step. This system is an archaic leftover from times when health insurance was affordable. This is a system which needs change, now.
But there is also a caution here. As health care reform comes into play, we want to make sure that we do not overburden our federal, state, or city governments with the costs and we do not back ourselves into a similar position. The insurance companies who set the premiums should not be able to make a profit at the expense of our citizens or government. This will be a tricky line to balance - offer insurance to all and keep costs under control.
Some towns are currently paying 20% of their budgets for health insurance for the employees and pay for 90% of the insurance premiums. And the employees and retirees pay $5 co-payments. After decades of huge insurance premium increases the towns and cities are cutting back on services and thousands enjoy health insurance on the town's dime. Its not just employees but retirees who enjoy health insurance for life. And after 10 years of employment an employee can retire and keep their insurance.
The governor, Deval Patrick, who just was elected for his second term, and has announced he will not run again, has split with the unions on this. He wants the towns and cities to be able to change the system so that the unions can't veto changes to health insurance. This change will only happen if it is legislated and this is the first step. This system is an archaic leftover from times when health insurance was affordable. This is a system which needs change, now.
But there is also a caution here. As health care reform comes into play, we want to make sure that we do not overburden our federal, state, or city governments with the costs and we do not back ourselves into a similar position. The insurance companies who set the premiums should not be able to make a profit at the expense of our citizens or government. This will be a tricky line to balance - offer insurance to all and keep costs under control.
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