My Progress Report

I told some of you that I would let you know what I found out from the Gastroenterologist concerning my liver (hep-c condition). Is it always true that the doctors do not come right out and tell you what you want to hear? I would rather hear, "It looks bad" than to hear medical jargon that really leaves me still in the dark. Really I'd rather hear, "It looks good."

So, what did the doctor say? First they took my blood, three vials, and did the lab work. My enzymes are elevated and my viral load has go back up to 5,200,000 +/-. I wrote about that already on fb. Then, I had radiology done on my liver. I thought I would hear something solid, one way or the other, but, perhaps to my medical jargon ignorence, what I heard was medical jargon that really ........ like I already said. What I was told was that I looked good, or did she say "ok", or was it "fine"? Not sure, but how can that be if my liver enzymes are elevated and the viral load is over 5 million? I was not told that I had improved or 'deproved'. What? Did I hear somebody say, "Well, why didn't you just ask?" My answer is, "I did." Maybe I just can't remember the exact words. My forgetter is working quite well!

I was told that I had gall-stones. We've known that for maybe two years (I was told that back then but, like I said, my forgetter is working real good). At least it is on the record that I have gall-stones, and I was told that if I wanted to have the surgery to remove the gall bladder, just let them know. I asked about disintegrating the stones and was informed that they didn't, wouldn't or couldn't do that. (My forgetter at work again.) Kidney stones...........yes, but gall stones..........no. After asking what the symptoms were for gall-stones and realizing that I was having none of those symptoms, I decided that I didn't want to punish myself with that operation of removing my gall bladder. Now, you understand that I wouldn't have to remove it myself. The doc would do that. :) Hey, I guess the doc says that I'm ok, but with an active hep-c condition,.........I don't know.

I thank God for every day of strength that He gives me. When I feel 'funny', my energy is totally gone, or I'm having brain fog reactions I will just take it easy and know that tomorrow is going to be better. I will keep trying to eat properly (I'm always stumbling with that), and I'll keep my eyes open for some naturel health remedies to whatever ails me. I'll continue to give my regular doctor some blood samples about every 4 mos. Maybe every 6 mos. I'll go back to the gastroenterologist after a year for another check up, maybe. Who knows? The rapture of the church may take place before that time and I hope to be gone if it happens. Otherwise, I still alive and well. Talk to you later!

There aught-to-be!

We just celebrated our Senior Adult Ministry at the church and I was just thinking...."there aught to be a distinction between 'young adult' and 'senior adult'. Well, I guess there is. It's called middle-aged. But, that sounds like someone who is torn between the two classes. Their fading youth pulls them away from their inevitable older age....for a while. Then their certain destiny of old age yanks them back from the ranks of the young. Sometimes it literally 'yanks their back' and reminds them that they are no longer young.

I've noticed that these 'middle-aged' people are usually not happy to announce their age. If you've noticed, the youth will proudly say, "I'm 16", or "19", or maybe they are pround to say, "I'm 21", or even "35". Also, it's noticable that the aged are proud to say, "I'm 65", or "75", and with much more pride you may hear someone say as they have a broad smile on their face, "I'm 85", or with a much more frail voice, "I'm 95 years old today!" It's that gap between 35 and 65 that seems to be hard to define. Maybe we could make it more precise and say between 40 and 60. They are not young adults and they are not senior citizens. Oh, they may run with the young and the wild,...for a while, or they may get a senior discount at their favorite resturant, but they are 'middle-aged'.

I have a suggestion. Let's say that after the teen years, a person is a young adult through 29, a sophomore adult from 30 to 45, a junior adult from 45-60, and a senior adult from 60 to whatever. For greater clarification, the Senior adults are silver senior adults from 60 to 75, gold senior adults from 75 to 90 and beyond 90 the senior adult is a platnium senior adult. I think those who are struggling with their middle-age will have an easier transition to their senior adult position if we adopt these standards. If anyone has problems beyond the scope of this designation, well, they just need more professional help than I can offer. Sorry!

While searching the internet, I found this which may help clarifiy senior adult status: You might be a Senior Adult if:

Everything hurts, and what doesn't hurt doesn't work. The gleam in your eye is from the sun hitting your bifocals.
Your little black book contains names that only end in M.D.
Your children begin to look middle age.
You finally reach the top of the ladder and find it's leaning against the wrong wall.
Your mind makes contracts that your body can't keep.
You look forward to a dull evening.
Your favorite part of the newspaper is "Today In History."
You turn out the lights for economic reasons rather than romantic ones.
You sit in the rocking chair and can't get it going.
You knees buckle but your belt won't.
You're 17 around the neck, 42 around the waist, and 96 around the golf course.
Your back goes out more often than you do.
You get excited and your pacemaker makes the garage door open.
The little old grey haired lady you helped across the street was your wife.
You sink your teeth into a steak and they stay there.
You have too much room in the house and not enough in the medicine cabinet.
You know all the answers but nobody asks you any questions

I may be having a little trouble adjusting to my status, but you see, I'm an exception. I am 66 years young but I don't look it. If you don't believe me, just ask my wife. Neither do I feel like I should be 66, and you know, 'you're only as old as you feel," so I don't mind being a little exceptional. No, I'm OK. It's just all those other aged people out there that are having a time adjusting that I am concerned about. (Is anybody laughing! Watch it!)