What about it...bone time again...

         It was time for the annual Wellness Visit. Doctors do annual Wellness Visits that are not really 'exams'. For me that entails a fasting lab, and a short visit with the nurse who does the height-weight and blood pressure thing along with the long questionnaire designed to see how your ADL [activities of daily living] are getting along. 

There was a review of medications [right now, none for me] and a review of family history. 

The subject of osteoporosis came up and I came clean that I quit the meds after 2 months and didn't notify anyone. 

I won't be due then for another bone scan until 2025 which is fine with me. The Ibandronate made me so sick with headaches and nausea for 3 weeks after each monthly dose. On the 4th week before taking the med again, I felt pretty normal. 

[If I am not taking the medicine for Osteoporosis, the insurance won't pay for a scan except every two years.]

I have a history of sensitivity to medications. But I kept trying. After 3 strikes, I'd like to call it quits for the moment. 

I'm not in pain, I haven't broken anything, I even got run over by an E-bike and a woman and I came out with just a bruise.

We read the lab test, she asked how I am doing with being a caregiver.

------>>> 

We discussed the bone stuff. 

Here we are again. 

Discussing bone numbers. We discussed the 3 meds I've tried and not gotten along with. 

Of course Prolia was mentioned again. Pretty much because my medication choice has run out of options. 

I told Ann "forget it". 
She agreed that it was my choice ultimately. Then she discussed my results from last year once more. She urged me to call Emily and talk to her. [Emily is an Endocrinologist]

Her biggest point was again to point out to my that my LS [Lower Lumbar spine] scored a -4.8. The scale for Osteoporosis only goes to -5. Ann said she never had a patient with such um, alarming numbers.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!
I scored High!
Go Big Or Go Home!

Yet here we are.

I will call Emily's office and either make and appointment or talk with her via phone. 

My biggest concern with Prolia is that it may play badly with me. 

I've reacted terribly to all the bone meds so far. What happens if I start to have hypocalcemia with a 6 month shot in my system? I've had that before with the first med.  It is a critical emergency if that happens. Not all people have it happen, though. 

Prevention of hypocalcemia and by more lab tests. Yum, who doesn't enjoy a needle poke? Another place to monitor is the kidneys. Rut Roh. My kidneys have been flagged, so there is that. 

For 3 years they have been in the low normal range and now have dipped into the hmmm, range.

So what happens if my kidney numbers get worse with the meds? Um? Back to a med that caused me so much pain?

The really fun thing about aging is this. Your body ages, parts start to break down whether we like it or not. Skin gets wrinkly, joints get stiff, ... If only we were like old classic cars that could be rehabbed.

My lower spine got rusty. Unfortunately there is no body shop for spines. 

The issues with where the awful numbers are lies in my lower spine which supports by body weight and helps support my hips and legs. Eventually one way or another there will be a compression fracture in the low back. 

Eventually that causes a domino effect of compression fractures. 

It will happen with or without the medication in my opinion, since at this stage the meds can only maintain me at that low score. 

So I ask. What am I preventing? 

The bottom line is, I am not going to give up Hope. 

I found an inspiration just the other day from one of my older cousins. How much older? I'm not sure. She was a teen when I was a little kid.

I grabbed this from her FB page:

You are seeing it right. She is in Mongolia living with a family and learning to hunt with an Eagle from a Mongolian pony.

I would love to grow up just like her!

Doctor Doctor

Now that I am OF age, a curious thing happened. I had a complete Wellness Exam. 

I GREW shorter! I'm a half inch shorter than I was at 20 yrs old. Well, no real surprise there. I'm a little people.

Taking care of me is as important as taking care of hubby. 
A couple of things came up. The eyeball thing of course which will be re-evaluated tomorrow, stress from caregiving and dealing with the mental status of the other half.

My doctor Ann, is awesome. I've been with her for 23 years. She said with the stress and anxiety issues I go through she'd like me to go see a counselor. I agreed. [Seeing means by zoom in these times and I am not sure about that. I need human contact. Even if it means conversing outside.] Phone calls are OK. But seeing another face other than my walls is what I need.

Interesting that she said I qualified for meds for this. She rattled off the med list and I shook my head with each one. She smiled and said she did not see me taking those meds either. 

I told her what I currently do to try to keep sane. I will go back to CF with modified exercises until the bay doors are closed for cold weather. Then I will go back to Virtual CF. She prescribed hiking and Yoga. 

So I have a diagnosis code Z63.6 which is Dependent Relative. The hardest part is having to admit it to your provider. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have been this comfortable discussing these issues in a Zoom or Virtual Appointment. 

Here is a not so great fact. Most CareGivers do not outlive their dependent if they do not take steps to Care For Themselves.

This is not new information to me. It is just how it is. I hate to admit it, but I do have more times per week that I get irritated with the other half for no real reason. I always am nicer after a nice long hike or workout.

And now I will take time to do a bit of bragging. I passed my exam with flying colors as far as all the vital readings go. I even got a BMI rating! Too funny, I had to look it up. 
Since I am small, I've got to do a bone density test. Hmmm, how do you study for that? One fasting lab and poke and I'm done with my tests. 

I also got the flu shot and am scheduling shots for Shingles. Interestingly enough on a side note. A friend who WILL not get the Covid vaccine did get the Shingles vaccine. 

Ruminate on that for a moment.

My last thoughts for today.
Doctor Ann told me that last week they had to divert patients because our little hospital had NO room in the ER or beds. She did not say why, she just said it happened.
The ambulance had to take patients to another state. There were no available ER's within 100 miles of our tiny town.

It did not make our local news. 

She told me to stay safe and do her prescribed hiking and yoga plan. To follow up with a phone call to get in touch with a counselor if the VA couldn't provide any help.

~~~~~

I'm going to make up a sheet to put on the fridge. 

It will go something like this:

Val must go hiking every week as a prescribed medication. Dr. Ann Said So.

I do like my doctor.