Physical and Mental Health Update

I'm not dying - sometimes it just feels that way

There was more down time after my last post than I had planned. Part of it was not having much I wanted to say, but part of it was just the frustration that everything seemed to be going south, everywhere, all at once.

Last week I went through a patch test at my allergist’s office to determine what compounds I might be allergic (i.e., sensitive) to. Nine big adhesive bandages - each containing 10 different allergens - were on my back for two days, then removed for one day before the results were read. I was allergic to four of the 90 that were used in the test. The one that was most prominent - cocamidopropyl betaine - is the one that will cause more lifestyle upset than the other three combined.

This chemical, which I’ll call CB, is present in the vast majority of shampoos, hand soaps, laundry detergents, and anything else that’s designed to clean things (including my body). Thankfully, my allergist provided me with an app and website that has my allergens plugged in so that I can look for products without them. The good news is that there are products I can use in the shower to get clean and fresh that don’t contain CB or the other allergens. But it was not fun throwing out the products I was using knowing that they were causing the atopic dermatitis, eczema, and itchy scalp that I’ve been suffering with for years. Quite a bit of money into the trash.

I’ve also been dealing with the before- and aftereffects of my radical prostatectomy in September following my prostate cancer diagnosis last June. One of the things that I had to do before my surgery was to get a clearance from a cardiologist that I would be ok for surgery. That turned up that I have atrial fibrillation (AFib) as well as an enlarged aorta (I refuse to call it an aneurysm, although that’s what it says on my medical chart). I had an AFib episode today that lasted about three hours. It wasn’t a major one, so I was able to tolerate it fairly well, but now that I know what they are, I can manage the symptoms a little bit better.

My cardiologist recommended that I get a atrial ablation to treat the AFib. Unfortunately, due to lack of practitioners, there’s a one-year wait to get one in Evansville, where my cardiologist is. So I’ve been referred to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville (two-plus hours away) and have an appointment for a consultation on May 1. They should be able to get me in sooner for the treatment, which requires an overnight hospital stay.

As we get older, we end up with more specialists as part of our medical team. In addition to my regular doctor that I see for regular wellness checks, I now have a dermatologist, allergist, cardiologist, urologist, and a vascular doctor. Thank goodness for the great medical insurance we have on top of Medicare so that the only expenses have been our monthly premiums (which are not insignificant, but probably much cheaper than what we would pay on the open market for similar coverage).

Up until last year, I always considered myself to be in very good to excellent health. My doctor would probably still have me in the very good range, but it is frustrating to watch your body not be as amazing as it used to be. (Not that mine was ever all that great, as a fat kid who hated to exercise.) But we did join our local Y in January to beat back the clock, and although I’m not seeing much in the way of muscle development, I am steadily increasing the weight I can lift successfully.

What’s the point of all this? Certainly not to throw myself a pity party. I’m frustrated by this turn of events, but not particularly depressed about it. I do think it’s important that we each take care of ourselves, and take advantage of whatever medical care that’s available (and affordable) to us. And I guess that’s how this becomes political. We are one of very few developed and prosperous nations without a national healthcare program.

We spend far more dollars per person in this country on medical care, and yet our health outcomes are some of the worst. You can spout statistics about the challenges in other countries that have universal coverage, but you can’t prove that our system is better. Because it isn’t. In fact, it’s far worse. We need to elect leaders who will work to create a public option for healthcare that is available to everyone, just as Medicare and Medicaid are options for certain population groups (like us old people).

I’m very fortunate to have great healthcare, thanks to my hubby’s retirement from the US Postal Service as well as Medicare. I am not afraid to make an appointment with a specialist for fear that I can’t afford to treatment. Wouldn’t it be great if that were true for everyone?

Finally, I’d like to give a shoutout to a new Substack that I found out about through a prostate cancer Facebook group. Dr. Keith Holden is a medical doctor who documented his own experience with prostate cancer. It’s harrowing at times, but incredibly moving. I’m grateful for his expertise as well as his willingness to share his experiences.

So to all the men out there - make sure you’re getting the appropriate screening for prostate cancer. This is especially true as you get older, because the likelihood of you having PCa increases with age. Blood tests, urine tests, and the “finger” test (aka Digital Rectal Exam) are all important ways to find out if you should have more advanced testing, such as a biopsy, MRI, CT, or PET scan. Equally, all my female friends should be getting tested for breast, ovarian, cervical, and uterine cancers. And everyone should be having a colon cancer screening starting at age 50 (or earlier if you have other factors such as family history or other GI issues).

Your health matters. You matter. Stay healthy and take care of yourself.

Rays of light passing through the foliage of the trees at Oued Zen National Park, Tunisia. Photo credit: Atef Ouni