It's My Imagination » Family Health

Next Stop… The Eye Doctor

Lynne — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 23:33:11 +0000

The thing I dislike most about aging is the number of visits to various doctors that I must make! I try to get by without going, but life just doesn’t seem to allow me to skip it all together.

Last week I had my major dental work done (still waiting to get the permanent crowns in 2 weeks). Tomorrow I will visit the eye doctor and am hoping my prescription hasn’t changed. The only reason I’m actually going is to get the prescription on my eye drops re-filled! Next week I return to the family physician for a blood test to check my cholesterol, again to get prescriptions re-filled. I really do despise getting older!

Dentist

Lynne — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:56:29 +0000

I conquered my fear today and I should be feeling proud, but instead, I can’t feel half of my face!

My dentist has been talking to me for the past 2 years about removing old silver fillings and getting crowns. Finally, 2 weeks ago at my regular check up, he found very small cracks in 2 teeth that had silver fillings. So, I bit the bullet, put my ginormous fear aside, and went in today for the procedure.

I was given nitrous oxide, although I’m not sure how much it helped. My mouth was numbed and the drilling began. He removed two silver fillings from 2 bottom, back molars and then gave me a temporary crown. I go back in 3 weeks for the permanent crown. I will also have to ask him when he plans to do the same procedure on the left side. I’m thinking next year so that I can have the money set aside in our Health Savings Account, but I’ll have to wait and see what he says.

I’m trying to save my money for Invisalign braces, but at the rate I’m going, it will be a few years before I can do that. Today’s procedure cost me $1000, and that’s AFTER the insurance!

What I Wouldn’t Give For a Day at the Spa

Lynne — Tue, 12 May 2009 21:22:07 +0000

I got myself dressed and got a pot of coffee brewing and then downed some sinus tabs. Before I knew it, it was time to start work. I put on my telephone headset and began taking calls with my head pounding. The entire time I sat there making hotel reservations for people, I just kept wishing I could have someone massaging my head. Seriously, the thought of heading directly to the Downtown Chicago Spa was so appealing, I would have given anything to get myself over there for a nice relaxing spa treatment.

The best I could do this morning was to massage my head with tree tea oil shampoo which can actually help my headaches a little bit, but I would much rather have had some spa time with someone else rubbing my head and temples, in fact, a scalp and neck treatment would be just the cure.

I have taken 2 doses of sinus tabs since this morning, but I do have my daughter’s band concert to attend this evening. Anyone have any ideas on how to get rid of sinus pressure and a pounding headache? My doctor hasn’t been able to come up with any resolution.

Sleep Deprived

Lynne — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 13:16:19 +0000

It’s a simple question, will someone please answer it?

Why is it that during the week, I cannot wake up and have several times slept past 7 a.m. when I am supposed to be getting up at 6:30. Then the weekend comes, I go to bed around the same time, but wake up at 6 a.m. and cannot for the life of me get back to sleep. WHY?!

I am sitting here now watching the sun come up. It’s beautiful, but why couldn’t I have slept for another hour while it was still dark outside? Do I need to see a doctor or is this a Doogie Howser question?

Stress Management

Lynne — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 03:59:10 +0000

I believe we’ve all had those kinds of days when we feel so stressed out we don’t know which way to turn. In today’s world, it’s almost inevitable that we will have to deal with stress from our jobs, our families, our children and many other areas as we lead our busy lives.

StressInstitute.com provides methods of stress management, prevention of stress, and mindful living to businesses and individuals. The company was founded in 1997 by Dr. Kathleen Hall, an expert in stress management. The goal of the Stress Institute is to help people to live well balanced lives, who couldn’t benefit from that?

If you’re in need of de-stressing, check out their website for help.

Healthy Eating For the Holidays

Lynne — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:56:36 +0000

Since being diagnosed with borderline high cholesterol a few months ago, I’ve really worked hard to eat a healthier diet and greatly reduce the fats in the foods I cook and serve my family. Because of my healthier eating, I’ve managed to lose 9 pounds and am not in need of lap-band. Now comes the hard part, the holidays. I have a pattern of eating way more than I should and foods that I shouldn’t when it comes to holiday foods. I just love all those pies and sweets too much!

So, I’m putting my goal in writing, right here, right now. I promise myelf that I will do my best to continue my healthy eating through the holidays and avoid those foods, no matter how much I love them, that are heavy in fats and cholesterol. My primary reason is of course the keep my cholesterol levels down, but also, I have to admit, losing weight has been a nice end result.

The Price of Aging

Lynne — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 23:10:49 +0000

I completed my annual doctors appointment, multiple blood tests, mammograms, bone density, and all sorts of other tests. In the end I feel fortunate to find out that I am in an overall healthy condition with the exception of early onset osteoporosis. To combat that I have been placed on a prescription that I will more than likely be taking for the rest of my life, as well as several supplement to build up my calcium and vitamin D levels.

I did a stock up shopping event today for supplements and this is what I came home with.

Liquid Calcium Citrate with Magnesium – $8.99 (this was the sale price, it’s normally $10.99)
Ionic form calcium (mix with water for flavored water) – $17.99
Vitamin D 400mg, 100 soft capsules $4.99

In addition, I pay a monthly $25 for my Fosomax prescription. In the end though, this is sure cheaper and much less painful than broken bones.

Softball Players need Sunglasses

Lynne — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 04:28:39 +0000

We just spent our entire day out at the softball fields. It was a tournament and my daughter’s first game started at 8 a.m. and her last of 4 games was at 8 p.m. We’re all exhausted, but, it really was a beautiful day here in north Texas, so it was a great day to be outside.

This morning it was still dark when we left the house and still dark when we arrived at the fields. It’s the first time we’ve ever been to a softball game that was so early in the morning that the lights on the field were on! What was funny was that by the middle of the first inning, the sun had started to come up and it was shining right into the pitcher and first baseman’s eyes. If the girls weren’t all ready wearing eyeglasses, they were coming into the dugout to get sunglasses. By the second game, the sun was shining brightly and it was pretty toasty out too. It was hard to believe it was November 1st and 85 degrees out there!

These softball players go through eyeglasses and sunglasses almost as fast as they grow out of their cleats. There is no way I’m spending $75-100 on sports glasses for my daughter! As a pitcher, she really needs them too, so I’m happy to have found ZenniOptical.com. For as little as $8 I can get her a pair of prescription sunglasses. As a spectator I need them too, and I can also get my bifocals from ZenniOptical. I’ve been thinking of going with something more modern, like these:

With the high prices of food, gas just about everything else right now, I’m glad I can at least get a good deal on glasses for me and my family.

Speaking of Dermatology

Lynne — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 03:02:22 +0000

It’s late, but suddenly I was thinking about an earlier post. I was talking about skin care in an earlier post which made me think of Martin Sands, founder of Dermatology Associates, P.C. He is a graduate of the University of Iowa School of Medicine and has his own private practice in the Waterloo and Cedar Falls, Iowa area.

Having a girl who has seen a few small signs of acne, and me with my aging skin, it’s always good to know where to go for good doctor.

Anyway, it was a random thought and I typed it out as I was passing by the computer on my way to bed. Think I’ll go on to bed now!

High Winds of Fall Equal Dry Skin

Lynne — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 18:49:50 +0000

Our temperatures here in North Texas are finally dropping today. It’s almost the end of October and it hasn’t felt at all like Fall around here. The leaves are all still green and we’ve been wearing shorts just about every day. Of course, with the cooler temperatures comes the dryer air which brings on the dry skin.

I’ve stocked up on my favorite skin care croducts and say bring it on! I use everything from anti-aging skin creams to mineral makeup to keep my skin looking good, I don’t want it dry and cracked just because the weather is changing. I like to know that the things I use on my body, are made with the finest ingredients and yes, I’m a label reader.

How do you alleviate dry skin?