Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Joys of Getting Old

Ok, I know 40 isn't old, but it's starting to feel that way. 6 months ago I went to the dr. because I've been having pain and tingling in my feet for a long time (like 3-4 years). You know when your feet get too cold outside and as they start to warm up they sort of burn? It's like that. Finally decided I should deal with this (yes, I know), and went in. She ordered every blood test she could think of.

I'm not diabetic BUT my fasting insulin response was low so I am on an insulin-boosting drug.
My heart is ok BUT one of the blood chemicals indicated I should take a low-dose asprin daily.
My rheumatoid factor is elevated = rheumatoid arthritis = Celebrex
My blood pressure has been creeping up = blood pressure medication
The RA seems to be causing carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists = braces (at night)

Notice that nowhere in there is the explanation for the feet? We're still pursuing that, I have to have biopsy of a nerve in my leg at the end of this month.

I'm starting to feel like I don't want to know what's wrong with me. Objectively, I know it's better to know and treat now before some of these issues get worse, but gimme a break! What's next? But, being the glass-half-full person that I am, I am coping most of the time. I look at what other people have to deal with, and am grateful that I am as healthy as I am, and that my issues are mostly treatable. And if I can loose weight, some of them may go away altogether. So we soldier onward, and I am blessed with beautiful children and a loving, supportive husband. Can't ask for more than that.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I know! Doesn't 40 seem so old?? I went in for an x-ray on my wrist because I thought it was broken and the orthopedist said I have arthritis in my wrists. I'm ignoring that.
My dr. tells me I have a hernia in my belly (following the pregnancy) but that I should lose weight before seeing someone to fix it (because it will be easier to fix.) And, of course, I haven't lost any weight, so I'm not dealing with it.
I also have a small benign growth in my pituitary that causes high prolactin (I've known about this for quite a long time.) My dr. wants me to continue to follow up with an endocrinologist, as I have for years, but the symptoms are receding, so I'm avoiding that, too.
And then there's various other things like occasional migrains and self-diagnosed IBS.
Then every time you see a dr. for your kids, they want to know if the parents (i.e. me) have any medical problems. "Um... no?"

Susan Z said...

Ok, so this brings me to something I have been thinking about adding to my blog (in one of the side bars) or possibly creating a second blog for...I was wondering about creating a long distance diet/weight accountability group. I had been sort of trying to decide whether I need to wait until I had access to a scale to launch it or not. Let me know if you are interested.

Anonymous said...

I really miss the accountability I had to my friends that I worked with in CA when I started my workout/triathlon kick. Now that I'm a stay-at-home mom, my hubby and are are just enabling each other.... I would certainly be interested in such an accountability group. (BTW, I'm Ann's old friend from college.) I'm thinking about trying to train for the Danskin women's triathlon next July (see http://www.danskin.com/triathlon.html) and could really use some help staying motivated.