#HealthNews

Just wanted to share what I found out at yesterday’s Echo Complete exam. I wish the news were great, but sadly, not so much. Not the WORST possible, you understand, but I definitely have some issues with my heart that will require monitoring and some changes in a few of my activities. Nothing TOO dire, for someone 80 years old who was already slowing down a bit, but I won’t be taking on any heavy physical tasks, nor running in any upcoming track events, or the like.😮 In other words, my heart is still beating, but I have been advised to slow down somewhat on some of my favorite things (like gardening, especially in Florida’s hot sun.) 😢

The good news is, I have been cleared to sit at the computer as long as I like. 😁 Apparently, exercising my fingers on the keyboard is an approved activity, so I can blog to my heart’s content. Also, reading for long periods is definitely allowed, as long as I don’t sit in the Comfy Chair the entire day. 😊

Now this advice came from the gals at the hospital who performed the Echo. I still have to have a consultation with my cardiologist, and she may have some other ideas of what’s allowed and what’s not. We’ll see. But as of right now, I don’t have to worry about blogging, or even WRITING, should I feel up to finishing my WIP one of these days. (Counting my blessings, here! 😉)

As I’ve always said, gettin’ old ain’t for sissies, & you can quote me on that. 😂

Every now and then, it’s good to stop and take stock of things–where you’ve been, where you’re going, how you’re planning to get there, and stuff like that. Thought I might do that today.

Some of you may know I’ve had some health issues crop up in the last few months. Skin cancers, which aren’t new for me, Type 2 diabetes, which is, and other age-related things that plague all of us who persist in sticking around a long time. My thanks to everyone for all the support and encouragement! Hope you’ll forgive me if I update you all at once.

After having had many, many basal cell carcinomas removed over the years–I grew up under the Florida sun before we’d ever even heard of sunblock–I finally developed my first melanoma. Luckily, my dermatologist and I are old friends who see each other at least annually, if not more often, and it was caught very early and totally removed. Whew. The basal cell in my ear was a bigger problem to get rid of, though not as dangerous, and I was quite happy to keep the top of my ear.

In May, I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, and I’ll tell you, it scared me more than you might imagine. My father passed away due to diabetes when he was a mere 8 years older than I am now. So, I took my doctor’s advice seriously, and determined that while I have no way of knowing whether I’ll be here in 8 years or not, I would NOT let diabetes be the reason I wasn’t. Continue reading →