Yesterday my stitches were removed. My incision feels much better and I'm not constantly reminded of the surgery. However, it is still somewhat swollen and red and was told it may take up to 6 months to heal from the inside out.
I am happy to report my doctor was receptive to listening to my displeasure over the whole procedure, never once rushing me, or getting arrogant or impatient. She was actually sweet and said she wants to get feedback from her patients. (Please see Monday, 9/14 post My No Good Very Bad Day.)
The great thing about getting older is the wisdom we gain. It's not hard to see why old people get obnoxious and out spoken. Some of course revert to children and are self centered. I hope and pray I am not that bad. But lately I can see I am not going to let anyone push me around - a far cry from my personality as an overly nice twenty year old.
The whole reason for writing about this incident is to say we all need to be our own best advocates, especially when it comes to our health. We need to go into a doctor's appointment prepared to ask questions, having everything written down, listening, even taking notes, and remember a doctor works for us. We are allowed to disagree.
Today I was reminded, once again, how blessed I am. A little spot removed and it's over. Unpleasant, but I am healthy. This morning I drove a friend to her chemo appointment in San Francisco. My first thought was to let her go in and I will return when she is almost finished. However, that wasn't going to work for me. I don't like the medicinal smell of a hospital, nor do I like being reminded of the fragility of life. If she has to go through it, then I can go up with her and see exactly where she is, and make sure she is settled in, returning when she is almost finished. None of the procedure - needles, IV, different bags with potent chemotherapy meds, pills, etc, bothered me. But seeing perhaps 15 people (just from my vantage point) receiving chemo, did bother me. Most were in their 40's-50's.
That was my Thursday and Friday. Stitches out for me and finding a better chiropractor on Thursday, and Friday being honored to help a friend with a very personal need. Life is fragile and precious! Love and care for your family and friends, that love comes back!
Thank you, Good night and God Bless! Aleta
"Health is not valued until sickness comes." Thomas Fuller - English Churchman and Historian
Friday, September 18, 2015
Monday, September 14, 2015
MY NO GOOD VERY BAD DAY!
Life happens. Last Thursday was one of those days. I had a doctor's appointment to have a basil cell cancer spot removed from my nose. This is a very, very slow growing cancer, and when they take it out, it is gone. The interesting thing is, it might be from my teen years. Wednesday I woke up with stomach cramping. Whenever you have surgery in your abdomen, there is a chance of scar tissue later grabbing onto organs, perhaps intestines, causing intestinal blockages. Having had a few abdominal surgeries in the past, I have to be careful not to eat too much raw food, or too much food period. Wednesday was very uncomfortable and surprisingly debilitating. The Chinese believe everything to do with our health begins in the gut. It makes perfect sense to me, because that is where we feed our entire body, and the nutrients are introduced to keep the body healthy.
Trying to find someone to drive me to the doctor's became a necessity because my energy was quite diminished. My friend Darby was able to, and I was very grateful. I had a very uncomfortable appointment.
This is a heads up post. Doctor's instructions are not always in our own best interest. I am not saying they don't have our welfare in mind, but they might not put much thought into our emotional well being. I have a friend that is a doctor and perhaps other doctors will read this. So before you blow up, please read on. My dermatologist sees patients 5 days a week. Taking out basil cell tissues is a mundane task for her, and when you have done it for 20 years, it's a no-brainer. Please excuse the slang! Basil cell cancer spots are a very common occurrence in people. The doctor detects the spot, a biopsy is done, the doctor takes out all of the spot, biopsied again to be sure it is all gone, and stitch you up. A local is given for pain each time, stitches come out the next week, and it's over. Those are the "facts and tasks". Any reasonable person would say it makes sense.
Before the appointment was scheduled, I asked my doctor if I needed a ride, she said no, you don't need a ride and you will be fine. However, because of my stomach cramping, I knew it would be safer to have a friend drive me. Let me just add I have had several surgeries and 3 babies, and I have never cried in a doctor's office. Nor been stressed out because of a surgery.
After the basil cell spot was removed and before stitching me up, the plastic surgeon gave me the local injections again. None of that was bad. But remember it was on my nose and near my eyes, and I believe it's a very sensitive area. (Even band aids pull on my face.) I don't know how long but maybe 20-30 minutes she did the stitches, from the inside out, of course. She was very methodical and great at explaining what she was doing. Because this spot was on my nose, a plastic surgeon did the procedure, they didn't want a scar. After I don't know how many stitches, and pulls, I was getting very uncomfortable. My mind was racing - "OMG! what kind of pain am I going to have next week, how could my doctor say I didn't need a ride home, there will also be pain from her stretching my skin over so I don't have a scar, and I will have to cancel, blah, blah, blah!" Every time she stitched I felt the pull, and I began saying to myself - Please God, let this be the last one! And it wasn't for a very long time. I laid there and did not move because she was working on my face. But inside I was extremely anxious.
When it was finally finished, I began to tell the doctor and nurse what I had been going through, and I told them everything I was thinking - and the tears began to fall. I knew it would happen because the tears were there, ready to erupt, many stitches ago. I was not angry with them and I am a reasonable person.
Through my tears I conveyed my thoughts, logically, though obviously emotionally, explaining from my perspective, the perspective of a patient. A patient who had never felt stitches pulled on her face. My doctor will hear my story, because I believe we can all improve. Doctors are not the best students, especially from a patient. She doesn't know me! I am not angry and won't be nasty, that's not my way. Besides no one listens when people spew out ugly words.
When asked the question can I drive myself? This is what I would like to hear her say: Most people go through this procedure just fine, and drive themselves. But if you think you might want to have a friend drive you, then you have to decide that for yourself. That sounds reasonable to me.
Thank you, good night and God Bless! Aleta
"Be yourself, who else is better qualified." Anonymous
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
FAMILY IS EVERYTHING!
It's gorgeous on the Northern California Coast today and all weekend it was clear and sunny, 70-80. Currently (at noon) it is 80 degrees and sunny with no wind. This weather calls for shorts, windows and doors open, and gardening, and most certainly a walk at the beach.
My brother and his wife just left after visiting for the weekend. We had a great time. Barney, their frisky Australian shepherd, always comes but is relegated to the back yard. We played pickle ball, I started to teach them mahjongg, we shopped at my favorite natural foods store, and of course broke bread and enjoyed red wine with dinners.
We also got to Face Time with my sons and their families who live in the Midwest. My grand daughter, Rosalie, has not met her great uncle and aunt yet. But thanks to technology, they got to say hello to her while my son Jesse gave her a bath. She is a very happy little girl and it was priceless to see her happy smiles. Everything they do at the age of 14 months is adorable (well, almost everything:) Waving bye bye, blowing kisses, meowing like a kitty cat, or barking like a doggie. Why do adults turn to baby talk? Because we want to relate with them. Sometimes I watch her videos from my phone for a long time, and talk to her, because I miss her so much.
We also got to Face Time with my other son and his wife, Ian and Tina. Life is too busy and we are all going in many different directions. But I am grateful we had family time across the miles. We got to talk about what is going on in their lives, and what we did here in California.
Family time is important and I am very grateful for my 3 sons, their wives, and my grand daughter!
Thank you, good night and God Bless! Aleta
"A family is a place where principles are hammered and honed on the anvil of everyday living." Charles R. Swindoll - Pastor and author
My brother and his wife just left after visiting for the weekend. We had a great time. Barney, their frisky Australian shepherd, always comes but is relegated to the back yard. We played pickle ball, I started to teach them mahjongg, we shopped at my favorite natural foods store, and of course broke bread and enjoyed red wine with dinners.
We also got to Face Time with my sons and their families who live in the Midwest. My grand daughter, Rosalie, has not met her great uncle and aunt yet. But thanks to technology, they got to say hello to her while my son Jesse gave her a bath. She is a very happy little girl and it was priceless to see her happy smiles. Everything they do at the age of 14 months is adorable (well, almost everything:) Waving bye bye, blowing kisses, meowing like a kitty cat, or barking like a doggie. Why do adults turn to baby talk? Because we want to relate with them. Sometimes I watch her videos from my phone for a long time, and talk to her, because I miss her so much.
We also got to Face Time with my other son and his wife, Ian and Tina. Life is too busy and we are all going in many different directions. But I am grateful we had family time across the miles. We got to talk about what is going on in their lives, and what we did here in California.
Family time is important and I am very grateful for my 3 sons, their wives, and my grand daughter!
Thank you, good night and God Bless! Aleta
"A family is a place where principles are hammered and honed on the anvil of everyday living." Charles R. Swindoll - Pastor and author
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
IS THERE A CORRELATION BETWEEN SUGAR AND HEART DISEASE?!
Watching a news program recently and reading more online, I discovered some disturbing facts. Some is old news, however, some is brand new to me. Added sugar is the single worst ingredient in the modern diet - what else is new?! Sugar has harmful effects on our metabolism, is filled with a lot of empty calories, bad for our teeth, and overloads the liver, causing all sorts of serious health problems. The most surprising statistic I read, sugar, Not fat, may be one of the leading drivers of heart disease!
I am not a scientist, but I like to be health conscious and found this fascinating. Please bare with me with a few details. Healthy, active people can tolerate more sugar than people who are inactive, and primarily eat a high-carb, high-calorie diet. All sugars are basically the same. Sugars create insulin, lead to fat storage, and slow metabolism. These large amounts of added sugars get turned into fat in the liver. This fatty liver can lead to Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), a growing problem in Western countries. When fructose gets turned into fat in the liver, not all of the fat gets out. Some of the fat gets lodged in the liver which leads to NAFLD.
About the liver. First, what is sugar made of? Before it enters the bloodstream from the digestive track, it is broken down into 2 simple sugars - glucose and fructose. Glucose is in all living cells. If we don't get it from our diet, our bodies produce it. Fructose is different, our bodies don't produce it, and we don't need it. It can only be metabolized by the liver in significant amounts. This is not a problem if we eat a little (perhaps from fruit), or if we just exercised. When we repeatedly eat large amounts of sugar, it can lead to fatty liver, and other serious health concerns. It is almost impossible to overeat fructose by eating fruit - good news!
There is also a correlation between a diet high in sugar and cancer. Very disturbing. Insulin is one of the key hormones in regulating the uncontrolled growth in cancer cells. For this reason, there is considerable evidence that sugar, due to its harmful effects on metabolism, can contribute to cancer. We all know sugar is very addictive. Sugar and many junk foods, cause a huge release of dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter released by the brain that plays different roles in humans, and animals. Such as: memory, pleasure, behavior, sleep, and mood. Dopamine is a fascinating read and I suggest you look it up to learn more.
Like abusive drugs, sugar causes a release of dopamine in the reward center of the brain - hence, we run to it to improve our mood, etc. Everyone knows sugar is a leading contributor to obesity. But new studies show it isn't only the fat that raises cholesterol and gives us heart disease.
There is a lot of conflicting news out there, and doctors often disagree. I read and re-read my posts and try hard to be accurate. Please take this information as an introduction that I hope will pique your interest to learn more. Thank you!
Good night and God Bless! Aleta
I am not a scientist, but I like to be health conscious and found this fascinating. Please bare with me with a few details. Healthy, active people can tolerate more sugar than people who are inactive, and primarily eat a high-carb, high-calorie diet. All sugars are basically the same. Sugars create insulin, lead to fat storage, and slow metabolism. These large amounts of added sugars get turned into fat in the liver. This fatty liver can lead to Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), a growing problem in Western countries. When fructose gets turned into fat in the liver, not all of the fat gets out. Some of the fat gets lodged in the liver which leads to NAFLD.
About the liver. First, what is sugar made of? Before it enters the bloodstream from the digestive track, it is broken down into 2 simple sugars - glucose and fructose. Glucose is in all living cells. If we don't get it from our diet, our bodies produce it. Fructose is different, our bodies don't produce it, and we don't need it. It can only be metabolized by the liver in significant amounts. This is not a problem if we eat a little (perhaps from fruit), or if we just exercised. When we repeatedly eat large amounts of sugar, it can lead to fatty liver, and other serious health concerns. It is almost impossible to overeat fructose by eating fruit - good news!
There is also a correlation between a diet high in sugar and cancer. Very disturbing. Insulin is one of the key hormones in regulating the uncontrolled growth in cancer cells. For this reason, there is considerable evidence that sugar, due to its harmful effects on metabolism, can contribute to cancer. We all know sugar is very addictive. Sugar and many junk foods, cause a huge release of dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter released by the brain that plays different roles in humans, and animals. Such as: memory, pleasure, behavior, sleep, and mood. Dopamine is a fascinating read and I suggest you look it up to learn more.
Like abusive drugs, sugar causes a release of dopamine in the reward center of the brain - hence, we run to it to improve our mood, etc. Everyone knows sugar is a leading contributor to obesity. But new studies show it isn't only the fat that raises cholesterol and gives us heart disease.
There is a lot of conflicting news out there, and doctors often disagree. I read and re-read my posts and try hard to be accurate. Please take this information as an introduction that I hope will pique your interest to learn more. Thank you!
Good night and God Bless! Aleta
Friday, August 28, 2015
MY TOP 10- MOST POPULAR POSTS FOR 2015!
Life is busy for all of us, especially those of us who are addicted to technology. I admit it I love all of the cool, techy toys and apps available to us - texting, emoji, email on the go, Facebook and of course blogs! Silly me - I even taught myself how to text like young people:-) My thumbs are quite speedy now!!
Life being so busy, I have been asked which are my top 10 most popular posts this year. Here is the list according to page views from Google Blogger:
February 13 The first day of the rest of my life
February 15 What does your past say about you?
February 17 Online dating is not for the faint of heart
March 23 Late bloomers unite
March 24 I don't care what others think about me!
March 31 Rekindle the light everyday with gratitude
April 27 What, not those ugly grandma stockings?
May 2 A month of good byes
June 23 I was adopted and didn't know it
August 26 My friend is a horror film star!
Life being so busy, I have been asked which are my top 10 most popular posts this year. Here is the list according to page views from Google Blogger:
February 13 The first day of the rest of my life
February 15 What does your past say about you?
February 17 Online dating is not for the faint of heart
March 23 Late bloomers unite
March 24 I don't care what others think about me!
March 31 Rekindle the light everyday with gratitude
April 27 What, not those ugly grandma stockings?
May 2 A month of good byes
June 23 I was adopted and didn't know it
August 26 My friend is a horror film star!
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
MY FRIEND IS A HORROR FILM STAR!!
Today was one of those days when my mind wanted to wake up at 5 am, but my body said "Are you kidding? No way, I'd rather toss and turn." So that was what I did....until I gave up and got out of bed a half hour before my alarm. The night before I had written down my schedule, because it was going to be a busy day.
There are 3 cypress trees in my back yard and one has to be taken down because it is seriously leaning on my neighbors garage. Yesterday I called my favorite tree guy, Bill, and he was my first appointment at 8:30. This post is not about the nonsense I did today, but about my friend Bill.
Bill has done several tree trimming jobs for me over the last 10 years and I just adore him. He is ruggedly handsome, has silver hair, about 6'1", slender and strong, and is the nicest guy. He is a wild man, climbs like he was born and raised in the wild. He is polite and handles himself professionally. He also recently married a long time friend and they are great for each other.
We had to visit because it had been 2-3 years since we last saw each other, so we sat in my kitchen over coffee. He shared with me he has stomach and liver cancer and right now he is doing well with his meds, etc. He looks healthy and strong, but it wasn't the case a year ago. He has a wonderful attitude and his wife is his best advocate, keeping on top of all the doctors, reports, labs, meds, etc.
He loves life and looks like the epitome of health. I hope and pray they caught it early. When we went outside, I noticed he had a different car and I asked him about that. He needed a bigger one, an SUV, and said he gave his other car to an employee's wife, and he pays their car insurance. Isn't that something?
I have saved the BEST for last. Bill isn't only a tree trimmer, that's his gig he does when he isn't busy making movies! Yes, he has been acting for about 20 years, doing, and I quote, B horror films. Not my favorite movies, but he always is so fun to talk with and has the most interesting stories to tell. Only in California, I always tell my kids! If I ever move away from California, I will definitely miss the diversity of people here!
This is another instance where I feel very blessed. Bill is a friend I can count on to make me laugh, and I can call him if I need help with anything. Good friends are a very special gift!
Thank you, good night and God Bless! Aleta
"Friendship doubles our joy and divides our sorrow." Anonymous
There are 3 cypress trees in my back yard and one has to be taken down because it is seriously leaning on my neighbors garage. Yesterday I called my favorite tree guy, Bill, and he was my first appointment at 8:30. This post is not about the nonsense I did today, but about my friend Bill.
Bill has done several tree trimming jobs for me over the last 10 years and I just adore him. He is ruggedly handsome, has silver hair, about 6'1", slender and strong, and is the nicest guy. He is a wild man, climbs like he was born and raised in the wild. He is polite and handles himself professionally. He also recently married a long time friend and they are great for each other.
We had to visit because it had been 2-3 years since we last saw each other, so we sat in my kitchen over coffee. He shared with me he has stomach and liver cancer and right now he is doing well with his meds, etc. He looks healthy and strong, but it wasn't the case a year ago. He has a wonderful attitude and his wife is his best advocate, keeping on top of all the doctors, reports, labs, meds, etc.
He loves life and looks like the epitome of health. I hope and pray they caught it early. When we went outside, I noticed he had a different car and I asked him about that. He needed a bigger one, an SUV, and said he gave his other car to an employee's wife, and he pays their car insurance. Isn't that something?
I have saved the BEST for last. Bill isn't only a tree trimmer, that's his gig he does when he isn't busy making movies! Yes, he has been acting for about 20 years, doing, and I quote, B horror films. Not my favorite movies, but he always is so fun to talk with and has the most interesting stories to tell. Only in California, I always tell my kids! If I ever move away from California, I will definitely miss the diversity of people here!
This is another instance where I feel very blessed. Bill is a friend I can count on to make me laugh, and I can call him if I need help with anything. Good friends are a very special gift!
Thank you, good night and God Bless! Aleta
"Friendship doubles our joy and divides our sorrow." Anonymous
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
HUMOR!!
Is it just me, or are we all a little weird? Haha, I can hear a few friends saying "It's just you, Aleta." I love humor. Sometimes I like to say I am my own home entertainment system! I like being a little different, it's healthy, and wouldn't it be boring if we were all alike? Humor is cathartic and bonds friends.
CBS Sunday Morning interviewed Jerry Seinfeld recently and it was great. Have you ever seen comediansincarsgettingcoffee.com? Jerry Seinfeld is joined by friends for a cup of coffee and it's always in a classic car. And of course all of his friends are comedians, and they share stories either in a car, or a coffee shop. A few months ago I got to watch this on an airplane flying back home. I happen to like Seinfeld. You either do or don't I suppose. But getting to listen to 2 comedians kibitzing is the best! For those of you who don't know 'kibitz', and don't want to google it....it is Yiddish for chatting, or to offer unwanted advice, being a busybody. Years ago while living in the Bronx, I learned some Yiddish words. A Jewish friend warned me Yiddish is a dying language - and he chuckled with my response "Oh great, I'm learning a dying language." Chutzpah, yenta, and kibitz are my favorite, I often use chutzpah. Chutzpah is a great word when you want to say someone is very courageous or brave. Yenta is generally used for an old gossip.
In the interview Seinfeld said "a laugh is such a pure thing." It's so true and very healthy for our bodies. Laughter creates endorphins which are natural pain and stress fighters. Please google it for more techy information. After about 15 minutes of fairly strenuous exercise, endorphins are released into the body. It leads to feelings of euphoria, decreased appetite, enhancement of the immune response, and decreased feelings of pain. Our bodies are amazing - I love those endorphins, I'm going for a brisk walk!
Thank you, good night and God Bless! Aleta
"Exercise? I get it on the golf course. When I see my friends collapse, I run for the paramedics."
Red Skelton - comedian extraordinaire
CBS Sunday Morning interviewed Jerry Seinfeld recently and it was great. Have you ever seen comediansincarsgettingcoffee.com? Jerry Seinfeld is joined by friends for a cup of coffee and it's always in a classic car. And of course all of his friends are comedians, and they share stories either in a car, or a coffee shop. A few months ago I got to watch this on an airplane flying back home. I happen to like Seinfeld. You either do or don't I suppose. But getting to listen to 2 comedians kibitzing is the best! For those of you who don't know 'kibitz', and don't want to google it....it is Yiddish for chatting, or to offer unwanted advice, being a busybody. Years ago while living in the Bronx, I learned some Yiddish words. A Jewish friend warned me Yiddish is a dying language - and he chuckled with my response "Oh great, I'm learning a dying language." Chutzpah, yenta, and kibitz are my favorite, I often use chutzpah. Chutzpah is a great word when you want to say someone is very courageous or brave. Yenta is generally used for an old gossip.
In the interview Seinfeld said "a laugh is such a pure thing." It's so true and very healthy for our bodies. Laughter creates endorphins which are natural pain and stress fighters. Please google it for more techy information. After about 15 minutes of fairly strenuous exercise, endorphins are released into the body. It leads to feelings of euphoria, decreased appetite, enhancement of the immune response, and decreased feelings of pain. Our bodies are amazing - I love those endorphins, I'm going for a brisk walk!
Thank you, good night and God Bless! Aleta
"Exercise? I get it on the golf course. When I see my friends collapse, I run for the paramedics."
Red Skelton - comedian extraordinaire
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