This January marks the second anniversary of my blog. I
thought I might have run out of material by now, but it hasn't happened. I will soldier on.
I turned 80 last August and have learned the truth of the adage, "old age is not for sissies." As you know if you follow this blog, I try to avoid doctors, procedures, and medicines. However, last year, I did go to doctors a few times.
I've been to the dermatologist once or twice because of skin cancer. For me, this is kind of ho hum.
I've been to orthopedic doctors a few times: once because of an accident in which my leg swelled horribly and stayed that way (no serious damage), and a couple of times because bending my knee was painful. An MRI showed that I have a "shredded" meniscus (cartilage) in one knee. It turns out the pain is caused by excess fluid, which is caused by inflammation, which is caused by the messed-up meniscus. Except for two cortisone shots, I’m not doing anything about it. The cortisone shots helped, but my squatting days are over. At least it doesn’t hurt to walk.
I have discovered that Advil wreaks havoc on my immune system. One of those orthopedic guys had suggested four Advil pills morning and night for hip bursitis. After about a week of that regimen I got a terrible cold. So I stopped, but I kept using it in smaller doses, probably too often, with the result that I had two more colds last year—absolutely unheard of for me. I usually get one cold every five years at most. The journal, Cell Immunology says that ibuprofen (Advil) interferes with antibody production. Antibodies neutralize sick-making bacteria and viruses that are hanging around just waiting to pounce when my guard is down.
Now I am 100% med free. No other anti-inflammatory did anything for me. So I’m just toughing it out. That's where not being a sissy comes in.
Other than that, I'm doing OK, golfing, going to Jazzercise and yoga, etc. I still refuse annual checkups including any blood workups. I think it's been 13 years since I last had one. I'm sticking with that program.I turned 80 last August and have learned the truth of the adage, "old age is not for sissies." As you know if you follow this blog, I try to avoid doctors, procedures, and medicines. However, last year, I did go to doctors a few times.
I've been to the dermatologist once or twice because of skin cancer. For me, this is kind of ho hum.
I've been to orthopedic doctors a few times: once because of an accident in which my leg swelled horribly and stayed that way (no serious damage), and a couple of times because bending my knee was painful. An MRI showed that I have a "shredded" meniscus (cartilage) in one knee. It turns out the pain is caused by excess fluid, which is caused by inflammation, which is caused by the messed-up meniscus. Except for two cortisone shots, I’m not doing anything about it. The cortisone shots helped, but my squatting days are over. At least it doesn’t hurt to walk.
I have discovered that Advil wreaks havoc on my immune system. One of those orthopedic guys had suggested four Advil pills morning and night for hip bursitis. After about a week of that regimen I got a terrible cold. So I stopped, but I kept using it in smaller doses, probably too often, with the result that I had two more colds last year—absolutely unheard of for me. I usually get one cold every five years at most. The journal, Cell Immunology says that ibuprofen (Advil) interferes with antibody production. Antibodies neutralize sick-making bacteria and viruses that are hanging around just waiting to pounce when my guard is down.
Now I am 100% med free. No other anti-inflammatory did anything for me. So I’m just toughing it out. That's where not being a sissy comes in.
For an introduction to this blog, see I Just Say No; for a list of blog topics, click the Topics tab.
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