Health Ignorance is Bliss

[mountainsoft]

I usually think of myself as a fairly healthy guy, but have had several annoying aches and pains lately. So, docs have put me through a battery of tests including ultrasounds, X-Rays, and a CT scan. While they never found anything of concern, several incidental discoveries showed up in the tests including cysts on a testicle, a lesion on a pelvic bone, chronic inflammation of the mesentery, arthritis in my hips, and bone spurs in my foot. None were the cause of my issues, and none required treatment. Still, there's something unsettling about finding all the internal imperfections I was blissfully unaware of.

On the upside, all the parts I was worried about look normal, though I wish they had better descriptions than "grossly intact" and "unremarkable"!

 

[athena53]

My late mother always said you should never let them scan your body because they'd find all kinds of "problems" you never knew you had. I try to remember that but still go for a few of the recommended scans and tests.

A bone scan years ago showed some osteopenia in my hips and I haven't had one since. I won't take the meds so there's not much I would do with the results. I did add magnesium supplements (was already taking calcium) and more jumping up and down in my cardio workouts, which builds bone mass. I also do exercises to improve balance.

 

[Aerides]

When I had my meniscus tear repaired in 2020, Doc showed me photos of the inside of my knee. Basically zero cartilage left, TKR a matter of when, not if. "Do squats" he said. "Maybe don't run as much" he said.

5 years later, I'm still squatting, knee feels fine! So, sometimes they tell you things that you can at least help defer becoming an issue.

Meanwhile, yeah I think every year or so after about 50 you get another "eh let's keep an eye on that" that wasn't bothering you.

 

[Mark1]

Years ago DW and I had an extensive cancer screening at MD Anderson in Houston provided by Megacorp. DW went first and I was dreading it after all the follow up testing DW had performed. Luckily DW followups were all none issues and I had no follow up test preformed. IIRC, later they added a lung scan procedure as an additional test. I never did it as I didn't like the idea of a lung biopsy with a "never mind, it's nothing" follow up. Yes, I'm chicken.

 

[Fermion]

I dunno, if I were really rich, I would probably have some sort of full body scan every 2 months from the MRI that I keep in the spare room of our villa. It would be nice to know you have stage 1 before it is stage 4.

 

[Car-Guy]

In my mid 70's now. My last comprehensive blood workup (Feb/25) said everything was in normal ranges. BP was pretty good at 128/78 IIRC and doc said my heart sounded great. Never been in the hospital for anything except for outpatient testing and never had any surgery of any kind. Never broke a bone and the only dental work I've had done in the past 15 years is to have 1 tooth pulled.

But, ever since I had Covid (15 months ago) I feel like "crap" warmed over.

 

[Guamaniac]

I vaguely remember an article that said there were generally two periods in your life when aging accelerates-in your 40's and around 60. This tends to match up with health issues I experienced, especially 60. None of these were life threatening but for an otherwise healthy person it feels like I'm seeing doctors a lot. Fortunately being retired makes scheduling appointments easy.

 

[Guamaniac]

But, ever since I had Covid (15 months ago) I feel like "crap" warmed over.

I think I had covid in December 2021. Did home test which was negative but those things weren't all that accurate and it felt much different than flu. Since then I've had this cough that I can't shake. It comes and goes without any rhyme or reason. Not as bad as your description but it sure is annoying. And I had just turned...60.

 

[athena53]

I dunno, if I were really rich, I would probably have some sort of full body scan every 2 months from the MRI that I keep in the spare room of our villa. It would be nice to know you have stage 1 before it is stage 4.

I follow Dr. Peter Attia's podcasts (originally recommended here) and it's interesting to see what he does on his own dime since he's focused not only on longevity but health span (quality of life in whatever your last decade is, which includes heading off problems). He and his wife have full body scans every 2 years. Based on his study of the data on colon cancer survival caught at various stages, he has colonoscopies every 2 years.

I'm not that extreme but I have bloodwork done every 3-4 months, mostly directly from the lab and some through the RequestaTest site. Reasonably cheap, pay up front, no surprise bills. I monitor my cholesterol counts and a1C so I can tweak my diet if needed. It also helped when my PCP noted that my white blood count was low-ish and I could tell her it's always in that range and I seem to have a pretty robust immune system. End of conversation.

 

[engineernerd]

I usually think of myself as a fairly healthy guy, but have had several annoying aches and pains lately. So, docs have put me through a battery of tests including ultrasounds, X-Rays, and a CT scan. While they never found anything of concern, several incidental discoveries showed up in the tests including cysts on a testicle, a lesion on a pelvic bone, chronic inflammation of the mesentery, arthritis in my hips, and bone spurs in my foot. None were the cause of my issues, and none required treatment. Still, there's something unsettling about finding all the internal imperfections I was blissfully unaware of.

On the upside, all the parts I was worried about look normal, though I wish they had better descriptions than "grossly intact" and "unremarkable"!

Well, at least they didn't describe your brain (CAT scan result) as "unremarkable"! HMMPPPHHH! My brain is extraordinary, I'll have you know!

 

[USGrant1962]

I started mentally cataloguing all my defects quite a while ago. Perhaps after reading Old Man's War by John Scalzi. Fascinating sci-fi novel where old peeps get rejuvenated if they commit to be soldiers. Downside is their skin is green and they are soldiers, upside is they are 21 again. I've thought about what one or two repairs would I like - bulging disk causing some sciatica, childhood strabismus meaning I have monocular vision, male pattern baldness .

And yea, I feel fairly healthy but have a bunch of medical/physical imperfections. But health ignorance is a different matter - knowing what "major" issues you have is important.

 

[Koolau]

I usually think of myself as a fairly healthy guy, but have had several annoying aches and pains lately. So, docs have put me through a battery of tests including ultrasounds, X-Rays, and a CT scan. While they never found anything of concern, several incidental discoveries showed up in the tests including cysts on a testicle, a lesion on a pelvic bone, chronic inflammation of the mesentery, arthritis in my hips, and bone spurs in my foot. None were the cause of my issues, and none required treatment. Still, there's something unsettling about finding all the internal imperfections I was blissfully unaware of.

On the upside, all the parts I was worried about look normal, though I wish they had better descriptions than "grossly intact" and "unremarkable"!

Heh, heh, the word you do NOT want to hear is "suspicious."

 

[aja8888]

Old long distance runner here...full of metal parts. Still pretty active, though. Arthritis is catching up with me. All internals are functioning fine.

 

[Koolau]

Years ago DW and I had an extensive cancer screening at MD Anderson in Houston provided by Megacorp. DW went first and I was dreading it after all the follow up testing DW had performed. Luckily DW followups were all none issues and I had no follow up test preformed. IIRC, later they added a lung scan procedure as an additional test. I never did it as I didn't like the idea of a lung biopsy with a "never mind, it's nothing" follow up. Yes, I'm chicken.

Lung biopsies are no fun. You've seen a movie where someone is shot in the chest and instantly there is blood from their mouth. I always assumed that was wrong. I assumed it took a long time for the blood to get to the mouth. I was wrong. Maybe 1 or 2 seconds and you're coughing blood - oh, and you (the patient) is the only one concerned. YMMV

 

[Letj]

I dunno, if I were really rich, I would probably have some sort of full body scan every 2 months from the MRI that I keep in the spare room of our villa. It would be nice to know you have stage 1 before it is stage 4.

Except I don’t think many of the mri scans are good at detecting early stage cancer.

 

[rodi]

I started mentally cataloguing all my defects quite a while ago. Perhaps after reading Old Man's War by John Scalzi. Fascinating sci-fi novel where old peeps get rejuvenated if they commit to be soldiers. Downside is their skin is green and they are soldiers, upside is they are 21 again. I've thought about what one or two repairs would I like - bulging disk causing some sciatica, childhood strabismus meaning I have monocular vision, male pattern baldness .

And yea, I feel fairly healthy but have a bunch of medical/physical imperfections. But health ignorance is a different matter - knowing what "major" issues you have is important.

I loved that book (and the follow on books).

 

[Fermion]

I loved that book (and the follow on books).

I too read that series. You might like Starman's Saga and the follow on books in that series. It is about a fellow, Leif Grettison (nicknamed Leif the Lucky) on a long mission and deals with some of the age related things.

 

[badatmath]

Except I don’t think many of the mri scans are good at detecting early stage cancer.

I was kind of shocked when someone sent me their PET scan results . . . that thing seemed to know every detail of every body part. Like would I really want to see that?

 

[Koolau]

Except I don’t think many of the mri scans are good at detecting early stage cancer.

CT scans are generally much better at seeing cancers. Unfortunately, CT scan radiation dose is too high to use them for simple screening. Risk vs benefit just isn't there in most cases.

 

[target2019]

I was kind of shocked when someone sent me their PET scan results . . . that thing seemed to know every detail of every body part. Like would I really want to see that?

I had a PET five years ago. CT and MRI regularly, too.

For me ignorance is not bliss. But I do remember when it was.

 

[brett]

I had a physical in 1980, another in 1986. Employer medicals. Again in 2008. Physician told me to loose weight and change my diet otherwise I has headed for potential issues with diabetes, heart/back/knee issues. I followed that advice...changed my lifestyle.

The next one was in 2013. Spouse, a nurse, insisted. Said I was overdue and that I had nothing better to do since I was retired. Numbers fine, weight fine, all systems go.

After that 2023 and again 2024. Now every year. Too many friends, relatives, and former colleagues going to the 'other side' at what seemed to be an increasing rate.

I have been fortunate to have good health. But I am the first to realize that it does not pay to push your luck. Besides, my physician insists on an annual physical for those over 70. Otherwise she may drop me from her practice.

I was very foolish.

 

[mountainsoft]

Well, at least they didn't describe your brain (CAT scan result) as "unremarkable"! HMMPPPHHH! My brain is extraordinary, I'll have you know!

They only scanned my abdomen and pelvis, so my brain could still be quite unremarkable.

 

[mountainsoft]

In my mid 70's now. My last comprehensive blood workup (Feb/25) said everything was in normal ranges. BP was pretty good at 128/78 IIRC and doc said my heart sounded great. Never been in the hospital for anything except for outpatient testing and never had any surgery of any kind. Never broke a bone and the only dental work I've had done in the past 15 years is to have 1 tooth pulled.

I've never been in the hospital or had any surgery either, other than 18 hours in the ER waiting room when my heart rhythm went wacky. I have broken a bone in my left arm THREE times. Unfortunately, I have had lots of dental work and need to get back in for a checkup.

 

[mountainsoft]

I vaguely remember an article that said there were generally two periods in your life when aging accelerates-in your 40's and around 60. This tends to match up with health issues I experienced, especially 60. None of these were life threatening but for an otherwise healthy person it feels like I'm seeing doctors a lot. Fortunately being retired makes scheduling appointments easy.

Yeah, I think I've been to the doctor more in the last year than the previous 10 years.

 

[audreyh1]

I dunno, if I were really rich, I would probably have some sort of full body scan every 2 months from the MRI that I keep in the spare room of our villa. It would be nice to know you have stage 1 before it is stage 4.

Not me! I wouldn’t want early detection attempt healthcare to be such a major focus of my life. Way too many investigations and interventions probably not warranted. And that’s just trying to detect cancer, when Alzheimer’s and Metabolic Diseases rob the most health span from longer lived Americans.

I focus on habits today to avoid metabolic diseases and dementia and very low sugar is also better for cancers that might show up.