Health Ignorance is Bliss

[Midpack]

I can sure relate. My parents lived into their 90's without many health issues, so I assumed I'd do the same - especially since I've been more mindful of diet and exercise. But I've a couple issues already including intermediate prostate cancer, and it takes forever to heal from even minor aches and pains nowadays.

OTOH, I strained my thumb at the base a couple years ago, did it using the controls on my mower as I felt it at the time. Went to a hand specialist who did X-rays and told me it was arthritis and it was only a matter of time before I had to treat it. Said my options then at the time were a) surgery, b) steroid shots or c) pain meds/wait and see. I wasn't about to go for surgery and I've never done steroid or cortisone shots - so I thought I'd wait and see. After 4-6 weeks the pain went away and I've been fine ever since. So the definitive diagnosis of arthritis was plainly wrong...

I also had a couple fainting spells playing golf and after the second one my PCP ran me through a complete set of heart tests - though there is no history of heart issues in my family. At almost 70 I thought it might be nice to know. Fortunately they told me my heart was at least 10 years younger than I am, they almost gave up on getting my heart rate high enough on the treadmill running me way beyond what's expected for my age. But after all that, I don't know what caused the fainting spells. I self diagnosed dehydration, and I make sure I'm over hydrated now when I'm active outside, and it hasn't happened since.

Right or wrong, I give any injury or illness quite a bit of time before I act anymore as more often than not it resolves on its own. If it doesn't in 2-3 months, then I will see a doctor.

 

[audreyh1]

Hydration- that seems very likely the issue. Hopefully staying well/over hydrated keeps working for you.

Interesting about the arthritis that went away…….

Healing has definitely slowed down.

 

[MarieIG]

When I was hospitalized in March of 2020, I felt as if I was scanned to within an inch of my life. Before narrowing down the diagnosis, they found a lesion on my sternum suspicious of metastasized breast cancer (I had BC previously) and a nodule on my lung (which I recalled as having been detected previously). Thankfully they were able to rule out metastasized breast cancer within 24 hours, and tracked down my prior films which demonstrated that the nodule was just hanging out-and-about without changes. But yes, those scans can really be something.

 

[engineernerd]

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.

Ouch.

I've been keeping an eye on Long COVID research. If you have the classic LC symptoms, especially the post-exertional malaise, you might find the microclot research authored by Etheresia Pretorius, Douglas Kell, Gert Laubshder, and various other authors enlightening.

Best of luck for a full return to health!

 

[brett]

I must say that after I was incented to follow my 2008 physcian's advice about weight and diet started to feel much better within months. So much so that it incented me to keep following that direction.

His description of the downside of not doing so was more than enough incentive for me to change and to make those changes permanent. Very, very thankful for that plainly spoken professional advice!

 

[audreyh1]

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.

Very sorry to hear this! Best wishes for improvement.

 

[aja8888]

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.

Wow! Your health record is amazing. In comparison, I have had over a dozen surgeries, have many steel/other material parts (hips, plates, screws, plastic stuff, etc) in my bone work, and three dental implants. Amazingly, all my soft parts are in quite good shape!

 

[doneat54]

If ignorance is bliss, good luck to you. I'm 63 years old, a cancer survivor (now 17 years clear) and am missing 3 organs that I was born with. Last August I had wires fished into my heart and burn scarring made (ablation). But I live a very active life and am quite healthy for my age. But I will never ignore ANYTHING. I am fortunate to live in a part of the country that has world class healthcare, I am so grateful for that. I maintain/pay for good health insurance out of pocket. No subsidies. Just my opinion, but I have to say if you are ignoring any persistent pain/issue and/or recommended preventative measure (scans included) you are an <redacted>.

 

[wrigley]

Ask and you shall receive!

 

[braumeister]

But after all that, I don't know what caused the fainting spells. I self diagnosed dehydration, and I make sure I'm over hydrated now when I'm active outside, and it hasn't happened since.

Same here. Had my first and only faint in 2019 (vasovagal syncope).
We had just boarded a ship, and they insisted I go to the local ER (this was in Bergen, Norway). Took a cab there, they ran a few tests, and the ER doc suggested it might have been caused by dehydration. He told me not to worry about it.
When I thought back about what liquid I had ingested that day (hardly any) I had to agree that it seemed like a reasonable cause. An easy thing to avoid as long as you're aware of it.

 

[Flyfish1]

If ignorance is bliss, good luck to you. I'm 63 years old, a cancer survivor (now 17 years clear) and am missing 3 organs that I was born with. Last August I had wires fished into my heart and burn scarring made (ablation). But I live a very active life and am quite healthy for my age. But I will never ignore ANYTHING. I am fortunate to live in a part of the country that has world class healthcare, I am so grateful for that. I maintain/pay for good health insurance out of pocket. No subsidies. Just my opinion, but I have to say if you are ignoring any persistent pain/issue and/or recommended preventative measure (scans included) you are an <redacted>.

I have to agree - ignoring basic screening tests or failure to look into a significant change in health makes no sense to me. But, I saw it all the time when I was in practice. Quite sad actually.

 

[Teacher Terry]

I had arthritis in my little finger that really hurt. Then I broke that finger and it never hurt again .

 

[Koolau]

I had arthritis in my little finger that really hurt. Then I broke that finger and it never hurt again .

A breakthrough in arthritis treatment. A rubber mallet and a distraction for the patient. (Now look over here at the pretty picture. Pay no attention to what I'm doing...)

 

[FlaGator]

Everyone does their own thing based on experiences. In my mid-60's, single with the kids launched and a full life I beyond my expectations, I'm not wound up about trying to get an early look at what could/will eventually kill me.

All three practitioners missed or didn't find the growing tumors in my wife for 4 months although it later became clear they were the cause of back pain and escalating fatigue. Finally the cardiologist sent her for a scan and that's when the terminal cancer diagnosis was revealed. Yes, pancreatic cancer is practically impossible to diagnose in time to effectively treat. As are some others that sneak up on you. I know what I'll do if diagnosed with one of them and am betting (hoping?) other ailments have modest quality of life impacts, are treatable, and give me time to prepare for the end.

I dealt with a severely herniated disc 10 years ago that was painful, but I was able to continue to function. I've since healed, and improved my exercise regimen but I expect problems down the road and I'll deal with them at that point. I'm a pale Anglo-Saxon who grew up in the Sunbelt and get checked every 3 months after multiple skin cancer removals and a melanoma a couple of years ago.

Otherwise, I've been *very* fortunate to not have anything else that needs periodic attention or monitoring. Active, weight is in a normal range, and blood work is done every few years. When any of those change, I'll adjust. In the meantime, I see a doctor when I have a specific problem. Understand this is not the norm, nor recommended.

 

[thod]

Same here. Had my first and only faint in 2019 (vasovagal syncope).
We had just boarded a ship, and they insisted I go to the local ER (this was in Bergen, Norway). Took a cab there, they ran a few tests, and the ER doc suggested it might have been caused by dehydration. He told me not to worry about it.
When I thought back about what liquid I had ingested that day (hardly any) I had to agree that it seemed like a reasonable cause. An easy thing to avoid as long as you're aware of it.

I also had issues with fainting about 5 years ago (age 50). It took them a month of me passing every test they could throw at me. I was finally diagnosed (vasovagal syncope) by a Tilt Table Test. This is probably one of the weirdest (and maybe most primitive) tests I have ever been given by a doctor.

I ended up getting a pacemaker to solve the problem. I am guessing yours was deemed a one-time event and if it was to reoccur, they might have taken more action.

It has been interesting going to the doctor office for the pacemaker. At 50-55, I have been the youngest patient every time.

 

[mountainsoft]

ignoring basic screening tests or failure to look into a significant change in health makes no sense to me. But, I saw it all the time when I was in practice. Quite sad actually.

I wasn't ignoring screening tests. I had the ultrasound, X-ray's, and CT scan. The surprises were the things that showed up in the scans that weren't causing any issues and didn't require any treatment. Just more minor imperfections.

 

[mountainsoft]

I also had issues with fainting about 5 years ago (age 50). It took them a month of me passing every test they could throw at me. I was finally diagnosed (vasovagal syncope) by a Tilt Table Test. This is probably one of the weirdest (and maybe most primitive) tests I have ever been given by a doctor.

I ended up getting a pacemaker to solve the problem. I am guessing yours was deemed a one-time event and if it was to reoccur, they might have taken more action.

It has been interesting going to the doctor office for the pacemaker. At 50-55, I have been the youngest patient every time.

My wife used to faint frequently, especially if she hit her elbow or got a small cut. She says she fainted often as a child too. Her heart rate would drop too low and she would faint. We figure she probably had this condition her whole life. She ended up getting a pacemaker at age 49 and hasn't fainted since then. And yes, she was always the youngest person at the doctors office.

 

[Teacher Terry]

A breakthrough in arthritis treatment. A rubber mallet and a distraction for the patient. (Now look over here at the pretty picture. Pay no attention to what I'm doing...)

I have offered my services to many people that complain about arthritis however, no one has taken me up on it. I actually broke my finger 10 years ago so the cure has held.