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Post by joyinvirginia on May 13, 2012 15:30:15 GMT -5
Camper, just want to say your method of listing your problems to talk to the doctor about is a terrific idea and more people should do that. I work in health care. We love it when people come in with lists of all the medicines and vitamins they take. Also what refill they need, new problems, how treatments for old problems are working, things like that.
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Post by cellybird on May 18, 2012 3:13:05 GMT -5
I do suffer from a degree of personal squalor. I used to go weeks without bathing, doing laundry, etc.
It's gotten better, but there are still days when I can't bring myself to give enough of a crap to change my underwear (even when I'm on my period) or brush my hair out. I will also frequently wear the same shirt/pants multiple days in a row.
The tooth brushing thing is a huge one. I have a to-do list app on my phone, and on there is "brush teeth" every single day. Most days I do not do it, even with it right there on the app. A big part of it is that my teeth are crooked and yellow, and I figure "what's the point, they look awful anyway!"
I also haven't been to a dentist in 7 years, or a doctor in 2.
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Post by dayeanu on May 18, 2012 9:30:47 GMT -5
Some days, personal care, for me, is a matter of having time and energy. Some days, I have to make choices about what I have time and energy to do. Some days, personal care is not on that list.
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Post by downandout on May 19, 2012 0:18:14 GMT -5
Notahappycamper wrote:this is BRILLIANT!!  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Post by Di on May 19, 2012 8:41:04 GMT -5
I am almost afraid to post this here due to the recent problems with the health care post, but I really need some support. I need to lose half of me. My knees (my right knee in particular) needs to be replaced. My Ortho would like for me to lose about 100 lbs before he does the surgery.
I CAN lose weight, I have done so, I just can't keep it off and yo yoing is even worse on my knees. Right now I am in a Catch 22, I have to see my regular doctor for 6 monthly visits and be under a weight loss program (that has to be proved NOT to work) before I can qualify for weight reduction surgery. My problem isn't losing weight, it's keeping weight OFF.
Each excess lb is like it is multiplied by 5 in stress on my knee. If I started on a true weight loss program, I could lose 30 or so lbs in the next 6 months but that would disqualify me for surgery, but it would reduce the PSI on my knees. But from past experience I know it would not stay off.
I am so frustrated that I could SCREAM!!! I hate bureaucracy that doesn't take individual needs into consideration.
I hate being overweight, it is killing me -- literally. My knees are going and my BP, even with meds, is out of control, plus it makes my asthma worse. Can't we just get a fairy godmother to "fix" things for us???
I am also out of several of my meds and I can't get refills until the Rx is rewritten.. and I don't have an apt. until next week. This is going to be an interesting week....
Can't I just get an apartment in a hospital somewhere??? I HATE DOCTORS!!! Nah, that's not true, I like my doctors, I would love to see them in a social setting. I HATE MEDICAL CARE!
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Post by sleepymom on May 19, 2012 10:17:29 GMT -5
Di, if these are maintanance meds, I`d call the Dr. & ask if they could at least issue 1 more refill. *Most* Drs will do that if you have an appt scheduled, just so you don`t have to run out.
Just my 2 cents, but if you can get some of the weight off, even temporarily, wouldn`t that give you a window to get your knees taken care of, then you could deal with the weight loss surgery, if needed, later. For what it`s worth, both my MIL & an aunt had knee replacements while significantly overweight. I`m sure it`s not ideal, but it can be successfully done.
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notahappycamper
Member
Mama to Rascal the Pretty Pretty Princess and Honey The Big Black Blob
Posts: 194
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Post by notahappycamper on May 20, 2012 11:47:59 GMT -5
Di, I too need to lose half of me. More than half, if we are talking ideal weight (never freaking happen, sister). I haven't ruined any joints yet, but I am getting the early warning signs. Twinges, stiffness, swelling, loss of flexibility, shortness of breath, etc. And I just recently had a prescription nightmare that left me out of Zoloft. I called my doc and asked for a 1 week Rx to see me through, and he had no problem with that. I hope your doc will work with you.  Oh, and you have to lose 100 pounds before the surgery? WTH? Gosh that sounds so easy...NOT! For goodness sakes... how quickly does he think you can accomplish this, meanwhile your joints are going to crap? GAH! |
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notahappycamper
Member
Mama to Rascal the Pretty Pretty Princess and Honey The Big Black Blob
Posts: 194
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Post by notahappycamper on May 20, 2012 12:06:44 GMT -5
I need to banish the day-off-syndrome.  got out of bed took meds ate breakfast  shower (on my day off? ugh) brush teeth (ditto) get fully dressed, that means put on a bra, too (ugh. ugh ugh ugh) |
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Post by Di on May 20, 2012 12:10:53 GMT -5
At least I feel a little better today, maybe the shot is going to buy me some time. I hope that I can buy enough time to get weight loss surgery and lose some significant weight before the joint goes out completely... I just can't run out of pain meds.... ARUGGGGHHHH so many untenable decisions need to be made. I am extremely annoyed with myself for letting it come to this.
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Post by cleandream on May 20, 2012 14:42:14 GMT -5
Wow, notahappycamper, I am going to try the Listerine for my feet! I have some thickening on a couple of my nails; years ago, a doctor diagnosed it as fungus, but she made me feel so stupid for asking about it, saying "it's only cosmetic." So anyway, she gave me some pills for it but I got sick and had to stop treatment. Then I felt too self-conscious to ask about it ever again after that. I have spent the last 3 years or so making gradual improvements in my self-care. I wouldn't describe my situation as personal squalor, but I was "letting myself go". And there were certain things I had just never done for myself because I didn't think I deserved to look and feel any better. I am glad to say that has changed. Oh, and I have done the "5 hairs a day" on my eyebrows and my upper lip. And yes, it works!  By the way, I have tried that method on the web site that was mentioned, that involves using Closys, etc. I just want to put out a word of caution. I tried that method and ended up with black spots on my tongue. Apparently, the disinfectants in the products used killed off the "good" bacteria in my mouth. The spots went away as soon as I stopped using the mouthwashes. Although I went through many, many years of not going to the dentist, I am blessed with strong teeth so I've never had any serious problems. (I now go to the dentist regularly, thanks to insurance and a good dentist that I like.) I will say, though, that there are two things that have made a visible difference in my gums and the amount of plaque on my teeth. I had a sore spot on my gums that wouldn't go away. I bought a Sonicare toothbrush (the "sonic" makes a difference-- before that, I was using a Spin-brush.) The spot went away, and when I finally went to the dentist, he said I had really healthy gums. Also, a couple of years ago I got braces on my teeth and was required to floss twice daily in order to avoid cavities from the braces. Besides that fact that I'm now very aware of just how much food gets stuck between my teeth, my dental hygienist says she has noticed a difference. Now that I'm in the habit, I can't imagine not flossing. I know we've all heard this before, but it really does work: Pick one or two things and work them into your daily routine. Once they become habit, add on another thing. If there's anything you can do to give yourself a dramatic boost, do it. I know that not everyone can afford to splurge (believe me, I've been in that situation) but if you can do a little something extra for yourself, perhaps something that you've been putting off or depriving yourself of, it helps to remind you that you're worth it. |
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Post by maggie on May 20, 2012 16:09:48 GMT -5
Someone I knew said he flosses in the shower. No spots on the mirror that way. Another person I know has her kids brush their teeth when they bath.
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notahappycamper
Member
Mama to Rascal the Pretty Pretty Princess and Honey The Big Black Blob
Posts: 194
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Post by notahappycamper on May 20, 2012 17:42:01 GMT -5
...it's only cosmetic..... Only cosmetic??? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onychomycosis...There is usually no pain or other bodily symptoms, unless the disease is severe.[8] People with onychomycosis may experience significant psychosocial problems due to the appearance of the nail, particularly when fingers – which are always visible – rather than toenails are affected.[9] Dermatophytids are fungus-free skin lesions that sometimes form as a result of a fungus infection in another part of the body. This could take the form of a rash or itch in an area of the body that is not infected with the fungus. Dermatophytids can be thought of as an allergic reaction to the fungus.... ...Nail fungus can be painful and cause permanent damage to nails. It may lead to other serious infections if the immune system is suppressed due to medication, diabetes or other conditions. The risk is most serious for people with diabetes and with immune systems weakened by leukaemia or AIDS, or medication after organ transplant. Diabetics have vascular and nerve impairment, and are at risk of cellulitis, a potentially serious bacterial infection; any relatively minor injury to feet, including a nail fungal infection, can lead to more serious complications.[35] Osteomyelitis (infection of the bone) is another, rare, possible complication. [7]... I hope the Listerine works as well for you as it is for me |
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notahappycamper
Member
Mama to Rascal the Pretty Pretty Princess and Honey The Big Black Blob
Posts: 194
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Post by notahappycamper on May 20, 2012 19:02:37 GMT -5
shower (on my day off? ugh) brush teeth (ditto) get fully dressed, that means put on a bra, too (ugh. ugh ugh ugh) take walk around duck pond take shower (its 90f and I WILL sweat) put on clean clothes |
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Post by maggie on May 20, 2012 19:06:31 GMT -5
Female incontinence -- this happened to come up in a conversation between some late 30 early 40 moms at a sports practice. It is fairly common (as far as I know) to have stress incontinence issues (e.g. peeing a little when you sneeze or exert yourself in activities). The converstaion was along the lines of having to wear a pad sometimes, and embarrassement about the possibilities of having to wear adult diapers (e.g. depends). Anyway, I have stress incontinence, and rather than wear a menstrual pad, I use the depends or poise pads. I assume they are better for quick absorbtion of urine and probably for odour suppression. The companies make everything from a thinnish panty liner (thicker than a regular panty liner, though), right up to the diapers. Just throwing that out there in case anyone needs a way of dealing with that issue.
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notahappycamper
Member
Mama to Rascal the Pretty Pretty Princess and Honey The Big Black Blob
Posts: 194
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Post by notahappycamper on May 20, 2012 19:26:10 GMT -5
Female incontinence -- this happened to come up in a conversation between some late 30 early 40 moms at a sports practice. It is fairly common (as far as I know) to have stress incontinence issues (e.g. peeing a little when you sneeze or exert yourself in activities). The converstaion was along the lines of having to wear a pad sometimes, and embarrassement about the possibilities of having to wear adult diapers (e.g. depends). Anyway, I have stress incontinence, and rather than wear a menstrual pad, I use the depends or poise pads. I assume they are better for quick absorbtion of urine and probably for odour suppression. The companies make everything from a thinnish panty liner (thicker than a regular panty liner, though), right up to the diapers. Just throwing that out there in case anyone needs a way of dealing with that issue. Thanks for posting, how I could have forgotten that one, I don't know. I have it! It was one of the things on my doctor list (see above posts). He prescribed Detrol, which is wicked expensive! However, I applied for and received Patient Assistance from the pharmaceutical company, and get it for free. It's a very simple process to apply, I encourage anyone with a need to do it. |
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