Yearly Physical

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

I just did the Dr thing...all you women know what I am talking about. Gynecologist. But don’t stop there. Now it’s all about menopause! Hematologist. Technicians. Pelvic exams. Blood work. Machines. Time for supplements! Ok, how much else do I need to do???

I just about shot my hubby the night before my appointments, as he was making fun of me. I told him that how would he like his "parts" put between 2 pieces of equipment and squeezed tight. LOL!

Blood work to see what my blood is doing. Just a little wetness to the palms of my hands. I'm glad I didn't know how much blood they were taking and didn't watch them fill the 3 vials. I would rather see the vet take my horse's blood or doctor a wound, then see my own blood. The blood will be checked for levels of different nutrients. I’m sure cholesterol. That should be fine as I have always had low levels. I’m not eating as much ice cream as I used to, so that should help. Vitamin D needs to be at a certain amount so that the Calcium will be absorbed. Then there was a whole list. Hormone levels - yes, I definitely know they are low. And other things for other reasons. I forgot which ones, another sign of menopause.

Checking the uterus and making sure things are still fine in there. Checking ovaries and making sure they are “normal”. With the effects of menopause, the night sweats, not sleeping, dreaming, I still do not want to supplement with estrogen. I’ll live through these darn sleepless nights somehow. Usually, I sleep restlessly for 5 or 6 nights, then crash and don’t wake up at all on the 7th night. That works for now. If I can just train my husband to sleep well on that 7th night. I think he is also learning to be restless and sleep uneasy, because now he is starting to wake me up at night! Geez!

Because of my "age", we had to do the bone density thing - no sweat to that test and machine. Lie day, rest legs on this foam block, and lay still. They scanned the hip on the less dominant side. I did get a sneak peek of my bone density test. The hip joint was just starting to be in the negatives. The neck of the femur was the lowest number, and was just at the point where it was going towards osteoporosis problems.

One other test and was done. The worse for last. Mammogram! Lift up, pushed, squeezed, hold your breath. Relax. Repeat for 5 more times! How many more times? Ok, now don’t touch me again! Not for another year.

Well, that just shot a morning. Taking my calcium and vitamin D won’t bring back the density that has been lost, but it will build up the bone and help to prevent any further lose. I will be diligent now.

oh... I knew I shouldn't have stopped those multivitamins and calcium pills during the winter. I did start back up a while ago, then stopped on vacation. Who knows why, I just left it slip. I had the pills with me, just didn't take them. Now, it's time to be diligent, and I encourage all of you to do so. Now is the time for Calcium and Vitamin D, not later. I feel so much better when I take a multivitamin and glucosamine supplement. I can't take them first thing in the morning, as it feels too heavy on my stomach. I set out my pills and take some with my lunch. I will take some at afternoon slump time. I will not let myself off the hook. I hope you don’t let yourself off the hook either.

Why? so we have lots of horse years left in our body!