I'm falling apart

    • Gold Top Dog

    I'm falling apart

    Until a couple of years ago i never went to the doctor.  Now i have a thousand of them, and take a zillion pills a day.  Some of you may remember some of these episodes.  For those of you who don't, briefly:
    -i was driving down the street and closed my left eye and couldn't see a thing.  It was like i was wearing a black patch on my right eye.  Diognosis: MS (though i have never been bothered by it other than occasional numbness and the loss of partial vision in my right eye)
    -i had a heart attack three years ago. (told to stay away from meats, fats etc.)
    -i was recently diagnosed (during a stress test) with atrial fibrillation (that was the episode where i was dumped out of the wheel chair into the street on the way to the ER and subsequently lied to the nurses about what i was doing in the bathroom (said i was washing my hands after using the facilities, though i was really washing my hair) as they dragged me out of the bathroom - with, unbeknownst to me, soap suds coming down the side of my head. (Put on coumadin cuz of the blood clots and told i could no longer eat salads and most green vegetables because vitamin k counter-acts coumadin).
    -In trying to find cause of atrial fibrillation, i was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea (though i sleep like a log).  I have to wear a darth vader mask every night (apparently has serious repercussions on heart if i don't).
    -Last month, as a follow up to some blood work, i was diagnosed  with diabetes.  I now stick myself three times a day.  Now i can't have sugars or carbohydrates.  What's left you might ask (only fruits and chicken).
    -Two weeks ago i was at one of these doctors and i asked about a small lump under my right arm.  I was referred to another dr who said it was nothing.  i asked him to cut off a skin tag so i could continue to have a beautiful body (they bargain like used car salesmen - cost me $200 out of pocket since it was a beauty thing not covered by insurance).  He also did a biopsy of another growth.  As i got to my car, i could feel blood running down my leg.  It was the last night of Survivor.  I bloodied every towel in the house, as well as every newspaper (sitting on them so i didn't get anything bloody.  As soon as survivor was over i ended up in the hospital - they couldn't stop the bleeding till 8 the next morning when they finally burned it closed. 
    In any event, i got the results of the biopsy today and i have basal cell carcinoma. (probably means i can't eat fruit or chicken).  I have to go have it out in July. 
    Watch out Glenda - i might start walking for MS, err, Heart Assoc, err Diabetes, err sleep apnea, err cancer  - and put you out of business!!  The amazing thing is i feel and look so good!
     
     
    • Gold Top Dog
    Yanke, I feel terrible for saying this, but your post cracked me up (probably because I'm at the lovely age where things start falling apart, and the list of phone numbers in my datebook I carry in my purse contains numerous doctors!).  Your last line reminded me of that guy Billy Crystal used to imitate - Fernando Lamas, I think.  He said (in a heavy accent), "Remember, it is better to look good than to feel good."  [;)]
     
    Getting older is no fun.  In a very comical way, you just summed it up quite well!  You should submit that to a magazine for publication!
     
    On a serious note, sending you good wishes for a smooth surgical procedure for the carcinoma.  Will it only be that procedure, or will you have to have additional treatments?  One thing you clearly have going for you is a good attitude and sense of humor.  That's so important to our overall health and healing.  Take care!
     
     
    • Gold Top Dog
    Whoa! That list almost makes me glad I don't have health insurance!

    [8D]

    Best of luck with everything, especially the carcinoma surgery. Hope that it comes out with clean edges (no cancer cells in surrounding tissue) and you don't have to do anything further.

    Great attitude, Yanke, and I hope you can find something to eat one of these days! Shall I send you some baked tofu? You need that elvish waybread from the Lord of the Rings trilogy!
    • Gold Top Dog
    Wow Yanke, you're falling apart!
     
    I'm just gonna have to keep you in my prayers, that's all there is to it.
     
    With all the MS prizes I typically turn them down and let the money stay with MS research.  This year, they gave me an "Elite Feet" sweatshirt.  I accepted it because I will WEAR it and in wearing it, raise awareness just a little every time that I do.  But gosh, I wish the darned thing wasn't RED....just not my color.  But, by golly, I will wear it and hope it's noticed.  As if bright red wouldn't be.......
    • Gold Top Dog
    Sorry to hear you're falling apart!  Maybe we should get together sometime - I can't eat chicken/potatoes due to food allergies so between the two of us the meal won't be wasted!!! 
     
    I had a gf tell me it was all downhill after 25 - I didn't believe her until my own heart malfunction (VTach), food allergies, nasal allergies, etc.  I figure by the time I'm 90 I will be like the knight in Monty Python's Holy Grail "I can still bite off your bloody knee caps".  LOL 
     
    Keep on laughing - some days that all we have!   
    • Gold Top Dog
    Geez, Yanke, I'm sorry to read of your health issues, though your presentation has me choking back laughter (not due to content).
     
    I do have a book that's called "365 Ways to Cook Chicken".  Do you want me to send it along?
     
    Seriously, good thoughts on surgery and figuring out all the other stuff.
    • Gold Top Dog
    You sound like you are keeping your spirts up and that is very important. You are in my prayers.
    • Gold Top Dog
    I'm one of the strange people who is not a big fan of chicken, so that's no big loss.  I'll join you in a great big fruit plate, though! 

    Sending you my best vibes and prayers for the upcoming surgery...
    • Gold Top Dog
    While the content of your post isn't supposed to be funny, you just made it sound so humorous! I couldn't help but laugh. Ugh. I'm just glad that you look and feel so good! It seems like you have an awesome outlook on things which probably helps you keep feeling so good. I wish you luck with the carcinoma removal. Hopefully it will be quick and easy!
    • Gold Top Dog
    Gawd there is soooooo little to be said for getting old.  But things could be worse.  At least you can still have beer and sex.  [;)]
    • Gold Top Dog
    Pretty soon, you'll have to open up your backyard as a miniature tropical resort just to pay the medical bills. [:D]
    • Gold Top Dog
    Yanke- I'm only 28, but its a b**** getting old isn't it? I have a degenerative disease that is similar to MS in symptoms and somedays my joints ache like a 90 year old woman, Keep the faith.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Jeepers Yanke! I'm right there with you buddy. [sm=lame.gif]
     
    I was just recently diagnosed with glaucoma, and the damage to my left eye is quite substantial. I knew something was wrong when I kept walking into the damn walls and tables! You should see my legs - all bruised up from the collisions! I think they were getting close to drug testing me at work. [sm=lol.gif] Ever hear of a blind artist?
     
    I also have a spot on my nose that will probably turn out to be basal or squamous cell. Great. If you're going to get stuff like that, why does it have to be on the end of your nose, when that's the only place you were ever "well endowed"? [sm=lame.gif]
     
    Hope things get better for you. Hell, they can't get any worse. [sm=lol.gif]
    • Gold Top Dog
    Yankee,,,I remember laughing my head off when you posted about being sick before,,,you are one funny guy!!!  Sorry that you are going thru all this, but thanks for making it sound so darn funny!
    Hang in there Yankee!!!
     
    I'll vouch for Debbie,,,she is NOT a puppy!!!
    • Gold Top Dog
    Gawd Yanke and Debbie - I hope things get better for you - you'll be in my thoughts and lemme know when you open up that tropical resort!