#HealthUpdate – #SomeGood – #SomeSo-So

/ Marcia Meara

I reckon I’ll start with the good news. Some of you know that one of the health problems I’ve been coping with is heart-related. I’m on two different heart meds to help with that, and the good news is, we seem to be managing the issue fairly well, so far. I’m hopeful we can continue to do so as time marches on.

I also had an incompetent dentist install a crown crookedly, resulting in a terrible infection beneath it, and some amazingly severe pain issues. The good news with that is, I managed to find a dentist who was able to give me a root canal, which ended the pain, and I’m going back to my old tried and true dentist for a new crown and any future procedures to sort all that out. He doesn’t take my insurance, sadly, but I know I can trust him to do the job right, so it will be worth it. And for now, the tooth is pain free, yay!

There were a couple more issues I’ve had to cope with that are all being slowly cleared up and/or managed well, so that’s all good.

The bad news is I have had a terrible infection in my eyes since October 3, and am still trying to deal with it. How do I know exactly when it started? Because Mark and I were doing some front yard hedge planting EARLY that morning. It took several hours, and when I came inside, my eyes were blood red and watering like mad. And THEN I discovered that we should have checked the news before working out there so long. Florida seldom has severe air quality warnings, but it turns out everyone was advised to stay indoors that day as the fires in Canada had resulted in the air quality being seriously impacted all the way to Miami. (Where the smoke was so dense, it looked like the city was burning.) The notices said anyone with any sort of allergies or sensitivities should NOT go outside at all. Uh-oh.

We didn’t have smoke or other visible signs in central Florida, but we were definitely impacted, and what started out that day as an allergic reaction became seriously infected, and hasn’t let up since. I’ve been dealing with puffy red eyes leaking tears down my face for SIX weeks now, making reading and blogging extremely difficult. (In addition to being irritatingly messy and sore.) I saw my ophthalmologist two weeks or so ago, and she prescribed an ointment that not only made me feel like my eyes were covered in Vaseline all day long, but also totally failed to clear up the issue. (Which she diagnosed as conjunctivitis). We are now in the process of switching to prescription eye drops, in the hopes that will finally clear it all up. Crossing my fingers, here!

I do know in the grand scheme of things, this is ALL relatively small potatoes, especially for someone who will turn 80 in three months. But damn if it isn’t tricky to deal with, and it seems like it’s been going on forever! 

All of this info is by way of alerting you that I know I haven’t scheduled any cool guest posters for awhile, and have been limited in the time I’ve been able to spend blogging, in general. (It’s amazing how tricky that is when you can’t see worth a darn!) But I do feel like we are starting to get things under control again, and by the first of the year (if not sooner), I should be scheduling new guests who might have books they’d like to promote, and be back to my normal blogging routines. In the meantime, I’ll keep up as best I can, though my favorite blogs to visit may have to make do with my “Like & Tweet” routine a bit longer.

For now, here’s to a wonderful fall season for everyone, and a very happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate it!

Happy Fall, Y’All!!!

 

 

59 thoughts on “#HealthUpdate – #SomeGood – #SomeSo-So”

  1. So good to hear form you and glad that most things are on the mend. I hate it when these things all happen at once! Take it easy and enjoy the holiday season. Hugs.
    PS: On behalf of Canada, I apologize for the smoke issues. xo

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    • Thank you so much, Darlene. I do feel that things are beginning to get sorted out. (Hopefully, the eye infection will soon follow suit.) And I don’t blame Canada at all. Honest! I’m sure no one up there wanted those fires any more than we wanted the smoke & stuff. Thank goodness that’s all behind us now, and hopefully, will never happen again!

      Have a super day, my friend! 😀 ❤

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  2. Trying to leave a comment, but it won’t let me. I’ll post it here: Oh, geez. I don’t know what to say. Yay for the good news – that’s for sure. But eyeball issues? Oh, man. That HAS to be the biggest nightmare. I am so sorry that you’re going through all this. I really hope things (and eyeballs) start clearing up!!

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    • Comment came through fine, Sue. (Sorry for any delay.) Thank you for your kind words, and yep, eyeball issues are miserable. BUT. I’m very, very hopeful that the drops (arriving Thursday) will do the trick. And lesson learned with ointments: NEVER again will I use any of them in my eyes. OMG. Horrid!)

      In the meantime, most of my health issues seem to be either going away, or are at least under control, so overall, I’m happy! 😀 ❤ Hope you have a great day! 😀 ❤

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    • Thanks for the kind words, Valerie. I’m trying to stay positive about it all, and crossing my fingers that the eye infection will begin to improve as soon as I can start using the drops Thursday. Everything else is improving bit by bit. And I’ll talk all the positive thoughts and prayers you can spare. 🤗🤗🤗 Have a super day! 😀 ❤

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    • I’m already alerted to those over 80 challenges. Mine will be commencing on St. Patrick’s Day, I reckon. (My birthday). But you know, I feel incredibly lucky that I’ll likely be here to experience whatever life brings at that point. There are those in my family who didn’t make it anywhere near that far, sadly. So, in general, I’ve been really lucky, and once I can see clearly again, I’ll be able to really enjoy the world around me once more.

      Thanks for the kind wishes, John, and I hope you have a super day and week ahead! 😀 ❤

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    • Me too, Vera! That’s my clever plan, anyway. 😀 And thanks for the encouragement. It helps to focus on the positives, for sure.

      Hope you’re having a great week so far, and that it continues like that in the days ahead! 😀 ❤

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    • It’s very uncomfortable and hard to cope with, since it limits my vision. But I’m very hopeful that the new drops will clear it all up before long. They won’t arrive at the pharmacy until Thursday, but after six weeks, what’s another day or two?

      Thanks for stopping by, Jeanne. I appreciate your kind words, and hope you are having a great day. 😀 ❤

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  8. Oh no, Marcia. It seems that when you get control of one thing, another pops up. I’m delighted to hear that your heart medication is working well and that the tooth is pain free and getting fixed. But your poor eyes! Please rest them and let them heal even if that means ignoring the blog for a while. Your vision (and comfort) is more important and we all understand. Sending hugs and healing your way, my friend. ❤

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  9. I’m happy for your good news, my friend, but sorry to hear about the trouble you’re having with your eyes. That’s a loooong time to be dealing with conjunctivitis (although I guess it started as an allergic reaction). I hope you can put it behind you soon, especially after everything else you’ve had going on.

    I have been offline for an extended period again, and hope to refocus on blogging soon. It’s amazing how life changes and life in general leads us on unexpected paths and can brings disruptions. You take care, and hang in there, Penderpal! Sending you big hugs!! 🤗 ❤️ 💕 🤗

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    • Thanks for your kind words, Mae. Yep, the eye issue was definitely allergic for a while before it gradually got infected. (Probably from me rubbing at it, even in my sleep.) I’ve noticed you’ve been quiet online recently, and believe me, you’ve been missed. Hope to see a bit more of you around, when your schedule allows, and I promise you this, My Penderpal … I’ll hang in there until this mess goes away and life is fun again! 😀 ❤

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    • I try my best to stay positive and upbeat, Nancy, but lest you think I’m never down, rest assured there are times when I want to kick and shout about it all. (Now and then, I even give in to them for a few minutes.) Overall, though … I think staying positive helps us heal faster in many ways, so I aim for that most of the time. Thanks for your well wishes and for stopping by today to cheer me on. Hope you’re having a great week! 😀 ❤

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    • Thanks so much, Olga. I’m working on the getting part and am even trying to take it easy, too. Hopefully, between the two of those, I’ll soon be past this and be enjoying life a bit more again. I appreciate your stopping by to wish me well, and I hope your week is going along smoothly, so far! 😀 ❤

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  12. Hi Marcia,
    That’s good to know that some of your health issues are under control. I pray your eye problem gets better soon and you get the eye medicine. You’re my favorite blog to read!
    I don’t get to answer much but I enjoy reading everyone’s comments.

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    • Thanks so much for such sweet comments. I appreciate your wishing me well as I deal with this annoying stuff, and I’m delighted that you enjoy my blog! I try to make it fun and interesting, and I have made some wonderful friends in the blogging/writing community who add to my pleasure every day. (Happy to add you to the mix!) Thanks for stopping by today, and I hope you are having a grand week, so far! 😀 ❤

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  13. I’m delighted that the serious issues (heart and tooth pain) are now under control, but I’m so sorry to hear about your eye problem. 6 weeks is a long time to have sore, weeping eyes! I’d rest them completely for the time being. I’m hopeful that the prescription drops will do the trick and then you can come back to your lovely blog in comfort – and we’ll be here looking forward to your return. ❤ ❤ ❤

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    • Thanks for your kind words, Trish, and yep, six weeks has started to feel like an eternity! Hopefully it won’t drag on too much longer as soon as I can start the new medication. One way or another, this will pass, and I’m very happy to know that so far, the more serious issues are being managed well.

      I appreciate you stopping by today more than you know, and I hope your week is going well so far. Take care of yourself, too, my friend! 🤗❤️🤗

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    • Thank you so much, Teagan. Healing vibes sound like just the ticket right now. I’ll take them gratefully! Frustration will fade as things improve, and relief will become the dominating emotion, I’m sure. Thanks for stopping by today to cheer me on, and I hope your week is off to a super start! 😀 ❤

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    • That’s great, HHL. I sincerely hope we never have any further issues with air quality of any kind, fingers crossed! Thanks for stopping by today and for the well wishes! Hope your week is turning out to be a great one! 😀 ❤

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  16. By my count, you have used up your allotment of health issues for a few years! I’m happy for you for your good news, and happy there is progress toward resolving most of the remaining bad news issues. I hope you know that you have a large cheering team behind you as you go though this. I’m right there in the middle of cheering you on!

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    • Aw, thanks, Dennis! I’d like to think I’ll be done with most (if not all) of this stuff soon, and I do feel good about some of the progress being made. Now if I could just SEE where I’m walking, it would be great. After all, we have four BIG cats in this house, and not stepping on them is a good plan.

      I really appreciate all the support everyone has shown, and am very glad to know you are cheering me on, even as I type! 😀 I’ll get through most of this, and find ways to live with the things that aren’t going to go away. I’ve still got LOTS I want to do, and friends I want to do it with, so I’m not giving up, by golly! 😀 ❤

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  17. You amaze me, dear Marcia. With one challenge after another, most of us would be quite grouchy, but you are upbeat and optimistic. I’m relieved to know you are improving and there’s an end in sight. Know that I’m sending prayers and lots of love your way. ❤️🤗❤️

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    • Thank you for the kind words and prayers, Gwen. I’ll gratefully accept them all. And while I try to stay optimistic about all this stuff, I have to admit, I have times when I just want to throw myself facedown on the bed and kick and scream. However … having tried that approach at least once, I know it doesn’t do nearly as much good as keeping a positive outlook and being determined to enjoy every single day I’ve been alloted.

      Thanks so much for stopping by today to cheer me on! Hope you are having a great week so far! 😀 ❤

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  18. I’m glad that things are slowly improving for you, and I know all too well how disruptive eye infections and tooth pain can be. Take care of yourself, Marcia! And don’t worry about us. We’ll wait for your blog and your new schedule. Put yourself first 🙂

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    • I’m sorry to hear you are familiar with some of these issues, Debra. They can be so very disruptive, can’t they? And yet, in the grand scheme of things, I’m doing pretty well overall, so I’m trying to stay positive. First, I’m positive I hate all this stuff, and second, I’m positive I’m gonna beat it all! 😀 Thanks so much for stopping by to offer encouragement, and I hope your week is going well! 😀 ❤

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  19. If it’s not one thing, it’s another. My three older brothers and I ZOOM each month for a couple of hours. It seems the medical news between the four of us gets longer all the time.

    I haven’t heard you mention anything about your long Covid in quite some time. Has that lingered or gotten better over time?

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    • Your opening comment says it all, Pete, and it’s a good reminder not to wallow in gloom and doom all the time. Yep, to the medical stuff becoming more prevalent each year, but hey. That’s life as we age, and I know I have to learn to deal with it. I’m still HERE, and every day is another chance to do it all better, right? (And to get past these physical setbacks, too!)

      The Long Covid appears to be long gone, fingers crossed. Thanks for asking. The eye situation isn’t much improved today, but tomorrow, I get my new medication, and hopefully I’ll soon be saying the same thing about it.

      Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts this morning, and here’s to a wonderful (and HEALTHY!) rest of the week ahead! 😀 ❤

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    • Eye problems can definitely mess up anything you’re trying to do, and I hope you don’t have any more. I hope *I* don’t have any more, too, assuming I ever get THIS one cleared up. And yep to the good dentist. I’d rather pay for it out of my own pocket than have any future experiences with the “other kind.”

      Thanks for stopping by to offer some encouraging words, Janet. I really appreciate it, and hope the rest of your week goes beautifully! 😀 ❤

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      • You’re welcome Marcia. I am really lucky with my dentist. There is a great shortage of NHS dentists, but I got an emergency appointment straight away one time. I have to be extra careful with teeth because of the infusions I have every six moths for my post cancer treatment. Apart from children and pregnancy etc. most of us pay for NHS dentistry, but it is a lot less than going privately! Another funny thing is all the best dentists ( out of many ) I have seen are always in an old building at the top of several narrow flights of stairs.

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        • So glad none of my doctors or dentists have offices that involve climbing to reach. I’d have to go without, I think. These days, neither my back nor my legs are up to much of that. Here’s wishing you healthy (or healthier) days ahead, with no new problems, and fewer stairs to climb!
          😀 ❤

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  21. Hi Marcia, great to hear the positives, but how frustrating to have the eye issues. Particularly tricky for an author 😦
    I hope its sorts itself out soon, and you can get back into the swing of things as you’ve been battling to do for so long – you are missed when absent, believe me.

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    • Aw, thanks for the kind words, Debby! I appreciate them more than you know, and am doing my best to NOT be absent from my blog and other things in life I enjoy. Some days, it can’t be helped, but I’m working towards getting past this eye issue so I can really enjoy life again, and actually SEE it while I’m doing so! 😀 I’ll really be glad to start the new medicine tomorrow. The pharmacy had to order these drops, hence the delay, but it shouldn’t be long now until I can treat this issue and move on with life back to something akin to normal.

      Thanks for stopping by and I hope your week is going beautifully! 😀 ❤

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    • This has been going on for way too long, but Mark just left to get my medication. Every place was out of it, and it has taken forever for them to get it IN again. Now to hope and pray that it works as well as they’ve said it would. I can’t WAIT to be able to see clearly again, and to have the itchy, watery mess GONE!!!

      Thanks for the well wishes, Sue, and I hope to be back to normal very soon. (Well … as normal as I get, anyway. 😀 ) And thanks for the hugs, too. 😀 ❤

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    • Thanks so much, Sally! Crossing my fingers that the new meds will do the job, finally, and I’ll be back to something akin to normal again. Thanks for stopping by and wishing me well, too. I appreciate it hugely! 😀 ❤

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