Update on Dermatology Visits

This sun bathing is not good!!

(and neither was that perm!!!)

When my husband Jack was alive, we had a house down in FL.  

It was on Anna Maria Is. on the Gulf, just across the street from the water!

I sold it after Jack died about 7-8 years ago.

We went down there sometimes a month at a time and back then, it was thought that it was really good looking to have a dark tan.

We were either on the beach or on the boat. IN THE SUN!

Now days, I look at people strangely that are really tan!!

It's not "in" anymore.

Mainly because of the education on the sun and skin cancer.

You never heard about that back when I was young!!

We slathered on oil to fry even darker!

I think the worst sunburn I ever had however was when I was in my early 30's and my two girl friends and I went to the Bahamas!

It was after my divorce from my first husband and was actually my first time flying!

Anyway, it was a short vacation package so we thought we had to get as tanned as we could in a very short time.

I looked like a boiled lobster!!

I could barely stand to wear clothes.

It was not attractive!

I learned a lot from that however!

But still didn't stay out of the sun, I just didn't use oil!

The real sun damage to you skin comes years later.

It starts showing up as just age spots, if you're lucky, or as skin cancer.

I, of course should have gone to the dermatologist a long time ago but waited till I thought I really could have a problem!!

And yes, all the "things" they removed and biopsied were either basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma.

Now more follow up treatments have to be done.

Bummer!

So, just saying, if your one who liked to tan or you see anything weird on your skin, go get a yearly dermatology exam.

I know, it's easy to just ignore, but don't be like me!

Shirley

Anxiety and Aging

Until recently, it was thought that anxiety decreased with age.  However, mental health experts are altering their views.  

Aging brings added stress and anxiety because of increasing health problems, loses of loved ones, and other major life changes that build up as you get older.

The smallest things or thoughts can start anxiety and worry; sometimes, just life in general.

I know, my life has changed considerably.  I used to hardly worry at all.  

I had children and was working in a high stress job in the ER as a nurse never knowing what there was coming though the ER doors, you'd think those things would cause more anxiety and worry.

My mother, worried a lot, even when she was younger.

My anxiety and worry has definitely gotten worse in the past few years.

And with glitches in my health, my anxiety has sometimes hit the roof!

There's a lot of fears that are related to aging.  Fears of instability and falling causing debilitating injury.  Fears related to money issues, being victimized, being dependent on others and just feeling alone are a few.

If you are younger, there is no way you can fully understand these feelings.

You can't just stop worrying or stop being anxious.

I'm truly blessed and am so much more fortunate than some but still I have these anxieties.  Feeling on edge most of the time is not pleasant.

I've recently read up on Generalized Anxiety Disorder.(GAD)

Everyone feels these things once in awhile.

If you have 3-4 of these symptoms that last over 6 months, it could be GAD.

•Depression

•Impaired sleep

•Problems concentrating

•Problems with memory and attention

•Agitation

•Restlessness

•Fatigue

•Muscle tension

All these can lead to limiting your daily activities and social interactions.

Increased isolation.

Losing interest in hobbies and pleasurable pastimes.

Reluctance to leave home.

Loss of self worth.

This all sounds "depressing", right!

I'm looking into ways to get more involved outside the home.

There's also treatments for GAD that don't involve medications.

There's a lot of good articles on line.

I'm going to read up on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

and maybe see a therapist.

I don't want to end up being a hermit in my house with my dogs, my cats and my chickens!!!

Let me hear from anyone having similar problems.

I know you're out there.

Us oldsters have to stick together!!!

Here are just a few of the links to go to for more information:

http://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad

http://www.gmhfonline.org/gmhf/consumer/factsheets/anxietyoldradult.html

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/579825

There's many more if you Google "Anxiety with aging" or something similar.

Shirley

  

That Scary Word

I went to the dermatology doctor again today to get results on the "thing" I had removed from my scalp last week.

Unfortunately it was basal cell carcinoma.

Now I will have to see the surgeon and have more tissue removed till they get clear edges.

It will be done under a local anesthetic on Dec. 1st.

I'm hoping that it doesn't involve shaving too much of my hair!!

I need it.

It's winter!!!

The Trillium Center is quite a place.  You can look it up on FB or their webpage.

I also had a complete dermatology body exam today.

That is interesting!

The doctor looks at every inch of your body that has skin on it with his big magnifying glasses!

I had 3 more things removed today!

I'm at the age that back when we were younger, we sun-bathed!

I laid out on the beach with oil on!!  Just frying and getting as tan as I could.

That was before all the sun precautions that there are now.

I have a lot of sun damage.

All those age spots . . . . Yep, gifts of the sun!

Time to pay up I guess!

Shirley

Inflexability

It seems as I age, I am becoming more and more inflexible.

It doesn't really bother me but it seems to irritate other people!

I realize that being somewhat inflexible has made my world a little smaller than it used to be.

That doesn't really bother me either!

I'm comfortable here.
It doesn't mean that I'm not doing things and moving around a lot.  I don't just sit and watch TV!  In fact, I watch very little TV.  I seem to find things around the house or running errands that keep me quite busy!

I don't really want to travel anymore.
Since I've been posting "Parts of My Life" on face book's Throwback Thursdays, even I am amazed at the things I've done and the places I've been!

I do seem to have to plan things more now however.

I'm not one to just pick up at the drop of a hat and go somewhere out of my comfort zone unless I plan for it at least a couple days beforehand!!
My plans for the day are written in my datebook and on the calendar on my iPhone.
My comfort zones consist of going to town and to the barn.
I know that does sound small but I do go other places too, but there's rules.
I have to plan ahead of time, I like to get started before noon and get back home before dark!
Boy, that does sound "old"!
Well, I have my dog to feed and my chickens to put away after-all!!!
Of course, unexpected things happen in life and we all have to adjust but, I'm saying, it's harder now than it used to be.

Shirley

You can also find me on my main blog here:
http://shirleys-world.blogspot.com/

And on Face Book here:
https://www.facebook.com/shirley.corwin?ref=name

Imagination Running Wild

My imagination is so strong.

And it usually isn't imaging the best senario for things!!

Why is that??

Am I that negative??

Well, here's the most recent one.

I've had a growth on my scalp, under my hair for years.  Like it started at least 6-7 years ago.

This past year it has grown in size significantly and become painful.

My hair covered it, so it was easy to keep a secret.  Only my hairdresser had seen it!!

Why did I keep it a secret?  Well, because I was afraid it was something awful and I kept putting off showing the doctor.

I know he would've yelled at me for not showing him sooner.

I just avoided the whole thing and buried my head!

Dumb?  Yes!
Especially when you're a nurse!

Well, I finally admitted to myself that something had to be done.

I imagined that it was cancer and had probably invaded the skull, now giving me bone and brain cancer!

That's what imagination can do for you!!

I stressed so much about the appointment that was scheduled for today that I got a cold sore.

Stress induced!

I signed into the Dermatology clinic at 10:30am.

Saw the doctor who said,

"Oh, we'll just take that off right here and now."

He's pretty sure it is benign and it was removed with a local anesthetic in about 3 minutes!!!

Years of worry!!!

Fixed in 3 minutes.

No I don't have a picture of it because it was really horrible looking.

But it's all gone.

Sigh!!!!!

I go back next week for a whole Derm exam because I have moles and age spots and all those great aging things!

There's a lesson here somewhere!!!!!!

Shirley 

A1c Results

I had my A1c drawn at my doctor's apt. on Monday.

I was anxious to see if I had changed my results with changing my diet.

My A1c that started this whole awareness 4 months ago was 6.2.

My doctor told me I was pre-diabetic.

Since it was in my genes, I wanted to stop it in it's tracks!!

I knew I was a 1st class, died in the wool, could eat a whole cake at a sitting,  carboholic!!

So I drastically changed my diet.

I did not cut out all sugar!  That, for me, would have been a sure plan for failure!

I've been writing down everything I've eaten since June and counting the carbs.

(The app, Calorie King is a great help with that.)

Reading, reading, reading labels!!!

I've tried to keep under 180 carbs a day.  Some days it was a little more and quite a few days I stayed under 160.

More importantly, as I found out later, is keeping each meal a more steady amount of 35- 45 carbs and then allowing low carb snack between meals.  I try to eat more carbs in the morning and less for supper and in the evening but that is hard.

I seem to be the most hungry in the evening.  I think, though it's because that's when I am finally sitting down and doing a lot less.

In August I decided to start testing my blood sugars to see exactly what foods affected my sugar the most so I got a meter and test strips and at first tested really often. 

 (Like 6-7 times a day.)

Fasting, in the morning, then 1 and 2 hours after each meal.  

I found out that my blood sugar had it's rise in one hour and was back down by 2 hours.

Other people may have a slower rise.  

So then I only checked randomly once or twice a day after breakfast and supper.

I found out that white bread was a bad culprit!

I never really had a spike over 157 and that was only twice.

I also read up on the good things that foods with a low or medium glycemic index can do.

Anyway, my new A1c level is 5.4!!!!!!

Yippppeeee.

This new awareness can only be a good thing.  I am past that horrible craving for sugar all the time.

Yes, I do bend to the occasional big chocolate chip cookie from Panera or a cheesecake brownie from Starbucks.

But I at least only have just one!!

I read labels on everything and am trying to eat foods that are much less processed and mostly organic if I can.

So, it was a good thing that my elevated A1c was caught so early and yes, I believe you can stop or at least put off the development of type 2 diabetes.

I'm not a doctor, but I am a retired RN and you have to educate yourself about your health.

That's for sure!

It has certainly made me so much more aware and has made me educate myself much more on 

this ever increasing disease.

Shirley

Where Are My Words??

One of most maddening things about aging is forgetfulness!

Especially when it comes to words.

It can happen mid-sentence.

Sometimes, I swear, I must sound like a real dolt!

The harder you try to remember a word you want to use, the further back it goes.

Where DOES it go!!

Do I have early dementia, am I getting Alzheimer's!

Every senior that is forgetful asks themselves those questions!

I don't think so.

Or else everyone I know would have them.

I'm not worried about it but it sure is frustrating.

Just saying!

Shirley