Archive for "Health"
We Are Officially THAT Age
Posted on February 28, 2023 by Ching under Health, Life.
I’d been suffering from some health issues this past year and so we decided it was probably time for a colonoscopy. Because Brian is the best husband ever, he decided to go through the procedure first so I would know what to expect. We scheduled our colonoscopies two weeks apart. Brian went first and these are pictures from his colonoscopy.
Brian got some sexy yellow socks.
Anyway, Brian wasn’t so concerned about the prep (which most people say is the worst part). He was more concerned about going under because of potential side effects from the anesthesia. But he really didn’t have anything to worry about. His procedure went smoothly from start to finish. Even his prep, which is a nightmare for most people, was a breeze. His colonoscopy came out completely clean and the doctor gave him a pass for 10 years.
Fast forward two weeks later when it was my turn. I wasn’t worried about the procedure because I knew that they would knock me out and I wouldn’t feel a thing but I was quite worried about the prep. The stuff they had you drink tasted disgusting. And, as someone who enjoys eating, I was not looking forward to not being able to eat for several hours.
They gave me fun blue socks and everyone was super nice. They even gave me multiple blankets to help keep me warm. It’s very cold at the surgery center and even coldest in the surgery room.
Unlike Brian, whose procedure was scheduled very first thing in the morning (lucky duck – his check in time was 7:30 AM), my check in time was 9:30 AM, so I was starving as you can imagine. To top it off, they were running a bit late so I think it was almost 11:00 AM by the time they got me in surgery.
Even though I was hungry, I somehow managed to not be hangry, because when we received the final report from the surgeon (I also had Dr. Sanchez, same doc who did Brian’s procedure) he made a point to describe me as a “pleasant 45 year old woman” – LOL. They had a pretty good playlist going in the surgery room which I think helped with my mood. Of course, I was out for the whole thing so I guess you really can’t be unpleasant when you’re unconscious so I suppose I was pleasant enough while I was awake.
So my procedure went smoothly but they did find some things. Some polyps had to be removed and they banded a couple of internal hemorrhoids which had me sidelined for a week. The doc said no workout or strenuous activity so as not to bust my bands before their work was done.
I felt fine overall but did follow instructions and didn’t play pickleball for at least one week. I had my procedure on a Friday and did have to teach my Aqua Zumba class on Wednesday night because I couldn’t find a sub but that didn’t bother me too much either. By the following Sunday I was playing again so I really only missed 10 days at best.
Although the polyps they removed were benign, they were pre-cancerous so the doctor recommends that I go in for another colonoscopy in five years time. That will be something fun to look forward to in 2028. LOL.
Anyway, this is the most recent development for both me and Brian on the health front. Until next time, GNG.
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Brian’s Cyst Removal Pics
Posted on September 26, 2022 by Ching under Health.
Whenever we can, Brian and I try to go to each other’s doctor’s appointments. Either we schedule our appointments at the same time (like our annual physicals) so we can be together or, if only one of us is getting treatment, the other is there to ask questions (that the other might forget or be too embarrassed to ask), take notes, and just be there for moral support.
He used to go to my gyno appointments with me to but that’s one thing that he’s skipped for several years. I’ve started getting mammograms and he doesn’t go to those because, honestly, they are short appointments and not that exciting. So, I guess, he doesn’t go to routine appointments he doesn’t need to be there for but definitely goes to the more serious ones.
As far as annual checkups, dental and eye doctor appointments that we both need to get done, we try to schedule those either together or back to back so we can go at the same time. I think some offices appreciate it because we can be in the same room and pretty much talk to the doctor at the same time so it goes much quicker than if we were to go separately. Unless, of course, Brian is having one of those days and decides to ask ten thousand questions.
That said, sometimes part of the appeal of going with the other person is mainly just to harass them. This is a picture from my surgery consultation last week. Brian went with me because he had questions and wanted to know all the details and also he’s going to be in charge of driving me home while I’m groggy from the anesthesia.
As he is there for me, I also try to be there for him. So when he went to get his cyst removed on Friday afternoon, exactly a month ago today, I went with him. The bump had been bothering him for some time. He noticed it before we left for Mexico and had our doctor look at it then. Dr. Hane told him if it didn’t go away on its own then he could surgically remove it. Anyway, the cyst got bigger and harder so Brian decided surgery was the way to go and scheduled it for August 26.
These pics are so gross but I know you’re all dying to see them… LOL. So, here you go. Enjoy! This is the doc feeling around the cyst.
The doctor drew dots where he would cut Brian’s flesh.
This is a picture of the fatty tumor that was removed. I guess the cyst had ruptured and Brian’s body encased it in fat to protect him. They literally cut out a lump of fat.
This is the hole that it left.
This is a picture of it all stitched up.
Here’s a video of the doctor showing us the fatty tumor. It’s so gross but you know you want to see it. LOL.
Thanks to both Dr. Hane and Brian for allowing me to take pictures and videos. It definitely makes going to these appointments much more enjoyable. I’ll post an updated pic of the scar soon so you’ll see what the spot looks like after one month.
Until next time, GNG.
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Spread HopeICT Event
Posted on June 10, 2022 by Ching under Community, Health.
Here are some pictures from HopeNet’s Spread HopeICT event at Chicken N Pickle last month. The purpose of the panel is to promote positive youth mental health and support for suicide awareness and prevention.
We ran into Judy and Malachi Nola.
And also Jo Lynn Bright, HopeNet’s Director of Community Impact.
I felt overwhelming emotion upon seeing Jo Lynn. She was my most favorite EMPAC counselor and helped me work through some issues 12 years ago. It was so great to see her again and to know that she continues to make a difference for so many through the HopeNet organization.
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Brian Gets Dose #1
Posted on July 26, 2021 by Ching under Health.
Brian got his first dose of the Pfizer COVID vaccine last week. I took a bunch of pictures because I honestly never thought this day would come. He has been so adamant about not getting vaccinated despite all the research that has proven it to be extremely beneficial.
Anyway, he was freaking out about it a lot and wanted me to be there — which worked out well because I wanted to take pics of the momentous event. It’s like hell froze over. Seriously. Because he didn’t want to get vaccinated. At all.
I think the clincher is our upcoming trip to Jamaica. He knows that he can’t go unless he gets fully vaccinated. And he knows that I will go with or without him. So, yeah. He pretty much had no choice. There was no dragging his feet any longer.
Below are the pictures from his first dose. Shot #2 happens in about three weeks. Stay tuned for the continuation of this vaccination saga. Will he go through with it? You’ll just have to come back here in a few weeks to find out.
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I am Officially Fully Vaccinated
Posted on April 21, 2021 by Ching under Health, Life.
I received the second dose of the Pfizer COVID vaccine yesterday so I am officially fully vaccinated. Here’s a picture I took when I got my first dose of the vaccine at the old library a few weeks ago. The whole operation was super efficient. Having printed my form ahead of time, I was in and out in less than 30 minutes counting my mandatory observation time.
I was going to go back to the library for my second dose but the vaccine is now widely available. Rather than going downtown again, I scheduled my second vaccine at the Walgreens in Andover just down the street from our house. That part was no difficult but it took some doing for me to cancel my original appointment at the library because I couldn’t figure out where to cancel my appointment on the website. I had to actually find the email they sent me about the appointment and cancel it from there.
It was nice to be able to get it at Walgreens because (a) I didn’t have to contend with downtown and (b) I actually got to walk around the store during my mandatory observation period so I wasn’t stuck just playing on my phone. I used the time productively to pick out a card for a friend who is having a birthday celebration this weekend.
I have heard of people having issues after getting vaccinated and Brian, who is borderline anti-vaxxer (I say this because he has never gotten the flu shot ever and completely against the idea of getting vaccinated), never hesitates to tell me these horror stories of people getting sick. Other than my vaccination arm being sore, I’ve experienced no complications whatsoever.
Anyway, I’m hoping that this will encourage him to get vaccinated. I hate that he’s dragging his feet and won’t do it. Can you guys help me convince him please?
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