Health Blogs (951)

Since originally being diagnosed with diabetes, my lifestyle changed including my eating habits. 52 lbs lost, actual real definition in my face and body for the first time in my life, a thigh gap for the first time in my life, much lighter on my feet, feeling way better overall.

Who would have ever thought that diabetes would turn out to be so awesome

I like to look back at my own comments on other members' stories.
This site has changed somewhat since covid lock down when we were all told to stay home and stay inside.
to me it was no different. Except for wearing a mask my life changed not one bit with regards to me leaving the house. My biggest regret is not witnessing the TP grab. I saw it on TV but seeing it in person would have been to die for. So sad I missed it. Just before Xmas I got sick. At first I thought it the flu and wasn't even slightly worried even though I'd never had a flu jab. But I was getting on. Still am if truth be told. None of us are getting physically younger. Some mentally but everyone of us physically; something my Cardiologist seemed intent on making me hear. Thing is he wasn't telling me anything I didn't already know, if he was going for the shock tell me your worries about dying. He is a Doctor. It is what I'd do, if I were a doctor. But I'm not. I just know my own body having lived it second by second, minute by minute year after, so far, for more than 63 years. Besides, the way I figure it, one second you are alive and the next you are dead. Dying hurts and I would only wish a slow death on my enemies, preferably over several hundred life times but I've been known to have a nasty inventive side. I once cursed someone who did me a great injustice; I wished he would live forever and never physically die. Unless you think about it, it doesn't even look anything like what we are taught mean is. Most curse people dead knowing that is the worst thing that can happen to a person. I don't believe in the one life religious line. Yes, this specific particular body I inhabit is unique in that unless it is perfectly cloned, this body only lives once. Never once have I argued that. Never once also, have I ever imagined what happens based upon what religion or TV and movies tell me to believe and in doing so accept.
How would they know?
They wouldn't and they don't.
Not that I could tell you not that you'd believe me. Just like I would not believe you unless it matched identically with what I've seen with my own two eyes. I learned at a very, very early age that everyone I had met or encountered up until that point, was lying to me. It effected me so much I decided it would be something I would learn how to do. 38 years later I started to write. I discovered I could easily lie in print or tell the absolute truth and no one would ever know the difference.
I like writing. I am so glad I found this hobby.
Anyway, that's it for now. Not this body for now, not that I really care; just this blurb. I am pretty sure of one thing, when I'm dead i will think no more on this temporary transport vehicle and either look forward to the next one or decide to just take a deep sleep before finding a new one. I also don't believe the afterlife has gates to keep you out. You know what gates are also good for? Keeping you in. I told that to my Sunday School teachers when they started lying to me. Sorry, i mean when I worked out that they were lying to me, Not one of them had physically 'eye to eye' seen God. Or Jesus. My problem back then, I Believed that what they were telling me was true. I then realized my parents had lied to me too. Then and there I decided the only way I was going to fit in this insane asylum, I would need to learn to lie or simply look away from the truth.
I found out I was shit at both... so in my terms, I've lived a pretty good life. I added somethings to my Nature and chose not to add others. All in all, my Cardiologist, if you all no longer exist in my mind a second after my light switches off, how will I know? JS, no point in worrying about it. I won't know, and unless someone who knows me tells you, you also won't know.
Maybe i should have titled this 'Sometimes I like to look forward' ? Never did say why I like to read my prior comments. Oh well, 94 letters left. Too late now. Maybe later, maybe never. I won't care if you don't. W.

I did some traveling this past weekend that involved airports with interconnecting flights, museums and sporting events. I passed through Atlanta, Georgia and much of my vacation was in Ohio. Dayton and a day in Columbus.

I noticed people... lots of people.

While the weather was very good (by any standard) we had a little drizzle rain and cool temperatures the first few days then amazing sunny, clear that went from freezing in the early morning to mid 60's (Fahrenheit) in the afternoon. I wore a long-sleeve polo with a jeans jacket and never felt cold. We went to a high-school soccer game on a cold night and those kids were in normal long sleeved pullovers with no additional coats. The spectators mostly had winter coats

It's safe to say that in cold climates, people tend to shower less often than people in hot climates. Fortunately, I didn't get a whiff of someone who's 38 hour antibacterial soap quit working. I did see something unexpected... lots of guys with dandruff. It shows up on dark clothing.

Up until this trip, I would have thought dandruff would have faded away like leprosy, where you've only heard stories and seen photos, but never had a close encounter with a leper.

Treatments for dandruff are everywhere. It's in shampoos, topical liquids... Listerine mouthwash is said to cure dandruff. So, there's no excuse.

I think I am at a crossroads in my life. Been there before and had to navigate my way through, seems like I will have to do the same again.

I got a reality check last week. Kidney specialist told me in no uncertain terms that I need to quit cigarettes and stop taking anti inflamatories for my hip and leg pain. I think the reality of it is hitting home, my kidneys are not good and it could cause problems for me later on. I don't need to make big changes aside from quitting smoking, but I do need to make those changes.

Like the man said. You can have fame, fortune, women, everything in the world but if you don't have your health, you got nothing. Its time to start treating my body better and get rid of the cigarettes and the anti inflamatories. Kidney dialysis is not something I think I would adapt to very well

A few months ago my cardiologist recommended I increase my diuretic to resolve leg swelling when I sit at a computer many hours a day. If that doesn't work, I should wear compression stockings. Medium compression of 20-30mmHg was the recommendation.
So, I bought a pair from a store that sells medical supplies. They were fitted to my foot and leg dimensions. I found them uncomfortable and would make my legs itchy if I had them on for more than an hour or two.
So, I ordered some from Amazon that were a size larger and kept them on for at least 6 hours. When I removed them, my legs and ankles were uncontrollably itchy, worse than the previous pair.
I researched reasons for itchy ankles and one symptom was diabetes. Ruling that out as my weekly sugar levels are in the normal range and I'm doing brisk walking 4 to 5 times a week.
I put some Benadril anti-itch medicine on the affected areas but it only worked for an hour or two and an itchy episode came back, it was like flipping a light switch!

How do you cure an itch?

You scratch it... I did and broke the skin. This started a viscous cycle.

Trying to make this go away, I'm using different medicines and alternating between antibiotic, hydrocortisone, and Benadril. My leg swelled so much I went to the doctor. He had me go for an ultrasound to be sure it didn't create a blood clot. Simple test... no clot.
The medical technician thinks I've got an allergy to the material the stockings are made from.

I'm headed to some outside appointments so no 'compression' for now... when I return, I've got a day of drawings to make and I'll consider some support hose. 10-15mmHg and some dry skin cream first.

An amazing cave whose walls, ceiling, floor, and everything in it are made of rock salt... for healing and getting rid of negative energy. It is very useful for respiratory diseases as well. Amazing experience. You can find it in Siwa Oasis, Marsa Matrouh city and Cairo in Egypt
I recommend it For medical tourism
Hana

Over 200 Cases Of Suicidal Thoughts After Taking Weight Loss Drugs: New Analysis

As Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro soar in popularity, the drugs are facing increasing scrutiny by regulators over reports of suicidal thoughts.

A recent Reuters analysis reveals that over half of the adverse event reports by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration describe suicidal thoughts arising soon after starting or ramping up doses of these injectable drugs.

About 40 percent found relief after quitting the meds or taking a smaller dose.
...
Suicidal Thoughts: A Recurring Theme with Weight Loss Medications

Wegovy's label explicitly warns of potentially serious mental health side effects such as depression and suicidal thoughts. Patients are advised to monitor any sudden mood changes, behaviors, and feelings.

Similarly, liraglutide has been linked to suicidal thoughts and worsened depression in some patients.

A case reported by The Epoch Times spotlights the mental health risks. After starting Ozempic in February for his diabetes, a man became uncharacteristically withdrawn. By May, severe fatigue and declining mood set in. On May 14, he took his own life.

Weight loss medications provoking suicidal thoughts is not unprecedented. Sanofi’s weight loss drug rimonabant (Acomplia, Riobant, Slimona) was pulled from European markets in 2008 amidst concerns about suicidal ideation. Though unrelated to GLP-1 medicines, it reduced hunger through the endocannabinoid system, which serves as a connection between the body and the mind. Rimonabant was never approved in the U.S., due to psychiatric side effects.3

It is the time of the year, again, when leaves turned into beautiful colors of orange, red and yellow before they fall to the ground. Yet the sky is always gray or worse, black and rain just keeps coming day after day. I wonder where the sun goes.

A few weeks ago someone commented on a forum post about the dangers of consuming artificial sweeteners and suggested using Stevia as it was derived from natural plant sources. Perhaps, but I see an article that stated Erythritol, an ingredient in Stevia, linked to heart attack and stroke.

I stopped drinking fruit juice, Coke & Pepsi and sometimes take a diet drink mixed 50/50 with seltzer water or flavored for the slightly sweet taste. By doing that, I dropped a few pounds. It's difficult eliminating sugar from my diet. Walmart has some baked goods with no added sugar. Also, I've found only one company who has tomato sauce without added sugar and one company who has mayonnaise made without sugar.

Here's a link to the story about the ingredient Erythritol and while this blog is to call out the awareness of the possible dangers to consuming Stevia, it's not to be taken as medical advice.

I am typing this on the final day of the month, September 30th. Tomorrow, on October 1st, I am starting fresh with more healthy eating. To do that, I have bought a few ingredients that - hopefully - is gonna take me down a path of more healthy eating.

Change will not happen over night, but over several months. I don't expect to be a changed man tomorrow, just because I have started eating more salad and vegetables. The first thing I have to stop eating is chips. I eat way too many of them, but they're an easy thing to eat, but not very healthy or filling, so they have to go.

The next thing on my list: stop drinking so much soda. Switch it for water or flavored water. This step is undoubtedly going to be the hardest step, because I'm addicted to coke. Not the powder, but coca cola. I have been drinking it for over 35 years, so kicking the habit completely is going to be VERY hard - but very rewarding, in the end. Hopefully that will see an improvement on my overall body, as well as on my wallet. I bought 5 crates today, which sat me back 565 kroner, or about $80.

Every day at work, I drink 4 cans. The plan is to slowly bring that number down to 0. Some people might be thinking "What about diet soda? Isn't that better?".. I have heard somewhere that diet soda is worse than regular soda, but I am not sure if that's true or not. I might have to ask a nutritionist about that.

But - starting tomorrow, I will begin my quest for a healthier lifestyle. It's gonna be hard, but rewarding in the end!