Health and Wellness Chit-Chat: Your Primary Care Topic

[shapeshifter]

Has anyone here — who gets dental checkups and cleanings every 6 months — ever had a root canal with a crown and had the crown fall off 3 years later because the tooth under it was totally rotten and now needs to be pulled and the options are: 1) leave a hole there because “older people’s teeth don’t shift”, 2) get a bridge, or 3) get an implant $$$?

[Browncoat]

2 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

Has anyone here — who gets dental checkups and cleanings every 6 months — ever had a root canal with a crown and had the crown fall off 3 years later because the tooth under it was totally rotten and now needs to be pulled and the options are: 1) leave a hole there because “older people’s teeth don’t shift”, 2) get a bridge, or 3) get an implant $$$?

Not exactly, no, but I had a failed root canal that resulted in a dental implant.  In retrospect, I would have not gotten the implant, but gone with Invisalign to straighten the rest of my teeth because #1 is not true.  I've known "older people" who've gotten braces, and they worked.  A bridge was not something I was interested in because the neighboring teeth have to be reshaped (i.e. enamel removed), which could cause failure of those teeth.  

Generally, I've been happy with the implant, but it was expensive, and it took almost a year from the time the tooth was pulled until the fake tooth was installed.

[Yeah No]

4 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

Has anyone here — who gets dental checkups and cleanings every 6 months — ever had a root canal with a crown and had the crown fall off 3 years later because the tooth under it was totally rotten and now needs to be pulled and the options are: 1) leave a hole there because “older people’s teeth don’t shift”, 2) get a bridge, or 3) get an implant $$$?

You should have been warned at the time that there was a chance that the root canal would eventually fail and you might have to resort to one of those options. I'd put the onus on the dentist that performed it to explain why that didn't happen. Usually they can tell whether that could happen, but if not were there reasons to explain why not? Or was there something wrong with the root canal?

I was once told that and elected to have the implants because when pressed for the odds, two different dentists told me the chances were probably slightly more in favor of the implant failing. I felt that I needed a second opinion.

I'm glad I got the implants but since then I've had some gum issues with them despite spending lots of time flossing, picking, and using water flossing, etc. I still think it's better than a bridge, especially because they were the back two molars.

[Yeah No]

2 hours ago, Browncoat said:

Generally, I've been happy with the implant, but it was expensive, and it took almost a year from the time the tooth was pulled until the fake tooth was installed.

Wow, that was a long time! In my case it was only a few months from tooth pulling to fake tooth installation. That was back in 2009. I'm told it takes even less time now, although I haven't researched that.

[Browncoat]

2 hours ago, Yeah No said:

Wow, that was a long time! In my case it was only a few months from tooth pulling to fake tooth installation. That was back in 2009. I'm told it takes even less time now, although I haven't researched that.

Yeah, they made me wait a month at least between pulling the tooth and placing the post, and it was months with just the post before they did the impression for the crown.  It took a few weeks before the crown was ready to install, so maybe not quite a year, but close. 

[StatisticalOutlier]

10 hours ago, Yeah No said:

I go out almost every day but today was the first day I've heard that much coughing in public.

When I get crud that goes around, it makes me cough and I continue coughing for a month afterward.  I don't get crud often, but this coughing thing happens every damn time I do. 

A couple of weeks ago I didn't feel bad but I started coughing and jumped on that quick to do whatever it took to get codeine cough medicine this time.  Fortunately, the whoever-she-was at the urgent care place acquiesced and gave me the prescription (the one last time said she couldn't prescribe any narcotic); it's the only thing that stops the coughing enough for me to sleep at night.

I tested positive for RSV but there's no treatment, so I left with just my prized codeine cough syrup prescription churning its way through the bowels of Walgreens.

And more than two weeks later I'm still coughing, especially if I laugh or sometimes just talk.  If it goes according to schedule, it'll last for two more weeks even though I'm not sick.

In fact, I tested positive for RSV but the only precaution we took at home (where Mr. Outlier and I share less than 400 square feet) was for me not to drink from the same glass or eat from the same utensils, and he didn't get it at all, so maybe I didn't have a serious case--it's just that damn coughing.

That said, I was trying to figure out where I would have picked up RSV and of course my mind went to the yoga class I went to where a guy not far from me was...coughing. 

[Dimity]

11 hours ago, Yeah No said:

Now I know how since the pandemic there is big pressure to be supportive of and sympathetic to servers and the like because they get paid so little and often don't have much in the way of sick time and benefits, but I draw the line at something like this. At least wear a freaking mask. 

I was in our local independent bookstore just before Christmas getting some last minute gifts when I noticed the woman behind the counter hacking away.  I didn't want to overreact...at first...but this kept up for the almost 10 minutes I was browsing.  At the end another customer and I caught each other's eye and she whispered to me "I'm not going up there" and we both put down our stuff and exited.  I am sure if I'd asked the unmasked sales person she would have said  it wasn't a cold or wasn't serious or wasn't catching or whatever but I'm sorry someone working with the public who is coughing continuously for 10 minutes is not someone who should be at work.  Least of all days before Christmas.

[Absolom]

10 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

Has anyone here — who gets dental checkups and cleanings every 6 months — ever had a root canal with a crown and had the crown fall off 3 years later because the tooth under it was totally rotten and now needs to be pulled and Nthe options are: 1) leave a hole there because “older people’s teeth don’t shift”, 2) get a bridge, or 3) get an implant $$$?

No, but I had a tooth crack all the way through so it had to be removed and I chose an implant.  I've had it over a year and for me it was exactly the right choice.  Getting it done was much easier on me than I expected.  Now my handbag felt it quite a bit.  😄 The dentist did split it into 3 payments several months apart as I only paid for the work that was done.

[shapeshifter]

Thank you all for the implant stories.
Any more are welcome.
The dentist said it would take close to a year, but I think at least some of that is because I live in Rochester NY, which has one medical school nearby, so is not like NYC or Chicago or Pittsburgh. 
I'm planning to get a second opinion from my daughter's dentist, which is only about 10 minutes further away.
Also a second e$timate. 
My daughter's father-in-law just went through something similar, so I might want to get his recommendation. He lives in the area, and I think it was done fairly quickly.

 

 

@StatisticalOutlier, I got RSV from my daycare-attending grandbaby 1 or 2 winters ago. The muscle aches were so bad I could barely get to the bathroom. 
And the quantities of green mucous bore witness to your tales of the cough from the Deep.
Interestingly, I had the RSV vaccine at least a month previously, and also had a terrible reaction of the same nature — and I never have bad vaccine reactions. 
But the actual illness after the vaccine was slightly less terrible, IIRC?
Anyway, maybe ask your doctor if you should still to get the RSV vaccine if you've already tested positive for RSV when you were sick. Maybe next fall? Or not necessary?
I know it's a relatively new vaccine, and apparently they aren't quite sure yet if it's a one-and-done or not.

Edited Saturday at 09:31 PM by shapeshifter

[supposebly]

14 minutes ago, shapeshifter said:

The dentist said it would take close to a year, but I think at least some of that is because I live in Rochester NY,

I had it done this year since I broke my molar all the way down last February. The main reason it takes so long is that your jaw needs to heal/fill in after the extraction, so the implant has a proper foundation. Then the implant gets drilled in, that needs to heal again, and then you can get your tooth/crown. Each healing period takes about 4-6 months. If your bones aren't healing properly, you need a bone graft, which adds another few months. I got lucky and everything healed properly, so I'll get my crown in February. Almost exactly 12 months in total.

I'm in Canada and my additional health insurance didn't cover it, so I was out overall 2700 CAD for initial visit and consultation, the implant surgery, and three follow-up visits at the dental surgeon. The tooth extraction and crown were done by my regular dentist and are covered.

Edited Saturday at 09:42 PM by supposebly

[Yeah No]

11 minutes ago, shapeshifter said:

Thank you all for the implant stories.
Any more are welcome.
The dentist said it would take close to a year, but I think at least some of that is because I live in Rochester NY, which has one medical school nearby, so is not like NYC or Chicago or Pittsburgh. 
I'm planning to get a second opinion from my daughter's dentist, which is only about 10 minutes further away.
Also a second e$timate. 
My daughter's father-in-law just went through something similar, so I might want to get his recommendation. He lives in the area, and I think it was done fairly quickly.

I am reading that how long the process takes depends on what you need to have done to prepare for the implant and the condition of your gums, which varies by person.

I found this site most like what I remember. For me the entire process took about 6 months, but I didn't need bone grafts and my healing time after the two teeth were extracted was only 3 months because my gums were in good shape, then the posts were implanted. Then I waited another 3 months for that to heal, then the fake teeth were attached.

I'm reading about a procedure that gives you "implants in a day" - I've seen those Clear Choice ads on TV but I couldn't really believe it was a thing. It turns out it is, "based on new advancements in technology", but knowing how I'm so sensitive to everything that wouldn't be the right choice for me. I'm still regretting having all four wisdom teeth removed at the same time 30 years later!

[StatisticalOutlier]

1 minute ago, shapeshifter said:

The muscle aches were so bad I could barely get to the bathroom. 

The extent of my symptoms was lying around one day taking it easy.  If not for the cough, I definitely wouldn't have spent a full day going to the urgent care clinic and driving all around trying to get a prescription filled.

I'd read your account of the RSV vaccine and was kind of kicking myself for not getting it, but when I was at Walgreens getting my cough medicine (which is out of network for my prescription plan, believe it or not, but the whoever-she-was (M.D.?  N.P.?  P.A?) said Kroger doesn't dispense any codeine cough syrup),  I had to stand at the counter for a long time so I was reading the various notes they had around (one of the benefits of not having a smart phone), and there was one saying that people had to be 75 to get the RSV vaccine, or 60 if they have chronic conditions. 

So I went home and looked it up and yep, that's the rule.  Or, the CDC says adults 60-74 at "increased risk of severe RSV," and I'm apparently/obviously not.  So at least I don't have any regrets.

Now, about those coughing fits.  A couple of times the nighttime ones have correlated to eating a bunch of the miniature Reese's cups I got on Christmas clearance.  Eating too much candy doesn't cause canker sores, but now I'm wondering about coughing fits.

 

[Yeah No]

Also, this may or may not have any relevance, but I had my implants done at a medical school, and not by students either, but by regular dentists. The students were just there to observe.

[Absolom]

8 hours ago, Yeah No said:

Wow, that was a long time! In my case it was only a few months from tooth pulling to fake tooth installation. That was back in 2009. I'm told it takes even less time now, although I haven't researched that.

I had one a couple of years ago and it was a few months - maybe 4?  My dentist is conservative.  There are places that say they can do it in one day.  I don't trust them.

[Absolom]

4 hours ago, StatisticalOutlier said:

A couple of weeks ago I didn't feel bad but I started coughing and jumped on that quick to do whatever it took to get codeine cough medicine this time.  Fortunately, the whoever-she-was at the urgent care place acquiesced and gave me the prescription (the one last time said she couldn't prescribe any narcotic); it's the only thing that stops the coughing enough for me to sleep at night.

I tested positive for RSV but there's no treatment, so I left with just my prized codeine cough syrup prescription churning its way through the bowels of Walgreens.

A couple of possibilities.  The first time she may literally have not been able to prescribe a narcotic.  The way it's done now, they have to have a special setting in the computer system.  The last time I was at urgent care the PA had to use her watch to prescribe Ultram.  I was rather surprised.  Also this time you had RSV.  It's sufficient justification for codeine.  

[Absolom]

2 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

Anyway, maybe ask your doctor if you should still to get the RSV vaccine if you've already tested positive for RSV when you were sick. Maybe next fall? Or not necessary?
I know it's a relatively new vaccine, and apparently they aren't quite sure yet if it's a one-and-done or not.

My doctor said I could wait two years after having RSV before getting the vaccination.  I'm nearing the two year mark and haven't had RSV again and neither have the kids I caught it from.  That's just one doctor's opinion so I'd ask your doctor who knows your health history.  

[StatisticalOutlier]

53 minutes ago, Absolom said:

Also this time you had RSV.  It's sufficient justification for codeine.  

The two visits were at different urgent care clinics. 

My cough this year was nowhere near as bad as last year, but maybe because I went to the clinic just as soon as it started.  Last year, my cough was much worse, and I brought a paper towel full of the thick green globs I'd coughed up in just the previous couple of hours.  I was coughing so much and so hard it started coming out of my eyes!  But no codeine for me!

[shapeshifter]

10 minutes ago, StatisticalOutlier said:

The two visits were at different urgent care clinics. 

My cough this year was nowhere near as bad as last year, but maybe because I went to the clinic just as soon as it started.  Last year, my cough was much worse, and I brought a paper towel full of the thick green globs I'd coughed up in just the previous couple of hours.  I was coughing so much and so hard it started coming out of my eyes!  But no codeine for me!

My oldest daughter had frequent asthma and bronchitis growing up.*
If I recall correctly, they didn’t always recommend cough suppressants (like codeine) because it was “important” to expectorate that crud so it didn’t turn into pneumonia. I don’t know if current medical opinions would concur.

———————-
* Finally, in her early teens (early 90s) a visiting health nurse told me to leave a window a tiny bit open next to the wood stove to draw out the smoke when there was a back draft. Obviously, I should have realized that is not a healthy source of heat.

[StatisticalOutlier]

As an aside, I don't have a regular doctor, and neither does Mr. Outlier.  We're not the type to have checkups or anything like that, but traveling fulltime makes it impossible even if we wanted to.  We just find someone to go to whenever we need doctoring, which is rare.

So much for the easy breezy footloose fulltime travel lifestyle.  Mr. Outlier has had a missing tooth for a few years but hasn't gotten an implant because we never know if we're going to be somewhere long enough to get it done.  And like y'all, I'll need some convincing on these 1-day implant places.  (He doesn't mind his missing tooth, but I hate it.)

People who are snowbirds get dental work done in Mexico, including implants, but they go to the same place every year and can schedule accordingly.  And sometimes we've ended up staying somewhere for a while (like our current stay, which has been six months), but we didn't know going in we'd stay that long.  Argh.

(We did get dental work done in Mexico several years ago.  It was just fillings and a cleaning, all done in one day.  $25 per filling, and $25 for the cleaning.  And no problems since then.  Except for that tooth falling out, which was just weird--it was a supersized thing (he always called it his "megatooth") and one day it just fell out.)

At least neither of us takes maintenance narcotics--getting those can be a massive PITA, and sometimes literally impossible, for people who travel fulltime.  Some of them have had to not travel like they wanted to after they retired, which is really sad.

[Absolom]

My parents did the Mexican dentist thing and it worked out well for them.  It saved them thousands of dollars.  I can't travel any more for very long for many of the reasons you listed.  It's a good thing I didn't save my trips for after retirement.  That's one thing I've learned.  If you want something or to do something and it's really important to you, do it now.  Don't put anything off with the when I retire I'll get around to it.  I only know one couple who is off doing cruises and tours and everyone who knows them thinks they're nuts.  He's in bad shape and was medevac lifted off their latest cruise a couple weeks ago.  Last year he spent a cruise in sick bay.  Yet I bet in a few months, they'll be off again.  

[shapeshifter]

3 hours ago, Yeah No said:

Also, this may or may not have any relevance, but I had my implants done at a medical school, and not by students either, but by regular dentists. The students were just there to observe.

I think that is relevant, because they have more resources than a small, private practice.

3 hours ago, Yeah No said:

I found this site most like what I remember. For me the entire process took about 6 months, but I didn't need bone grafts and my healing time after the two teeth were extracted was only 3 months because my gums were in good shape, then the posts were implanted. Then I waited another 3 months for that to heal, then the fake teeth were attached.

Thanks. I'm concerned because there was no mention of a CT Scan at my brief appointment the day after I phoned in with my dental emergency:

Quote

…Dental Implants Phase 1 – Evaluation and Preparation
This includes everything from tooth extraction to bone grafting (if needed.) A CT Scan is performed and the doctor will evaluate the existing dentition along with the bone structure at the dental implant site. If no grafting is needed, we can go right into Phase 2; if bone grafting is necessary, Phase 1 will take 3 to 6 months… (https://benchmarkdentalcare.com/how-long-does-the-dental-implant-process-take/).

Do you (or anyone else) recall when the CT was performed? Before or after the extraction?
I'm going to call or text Monday and ask if they will be doing a CT scan.
My daughter had the bone grafting. 
There was no mention of this possibility either.

The soonest they could schedule the extraction was 3 weeks because the dentist who did the initial root canal just started paternity leave, and I guess his partner didn't want to take it on since I was surprised the crown had gone bad for no apparent reason in 3 years and that the hygienist and dentist hadn't noticed anything amiss at even the last cleaning and xray on Dec. 11?

I keep noticing how professionals in Rochester tend to leave a lot of stuff unsaid. I guess I'm supposed to ask more questions than I even know to ask?
Like bone grafting???

[PRgal]

@Yeah No The waitress absolutely should have been wearing a mask if she HAD to go to work.  As for looking older, I was 42 when my son turned 3, so not too unusual.  And she may have another job and is waiting tables to help make ends meet because the main job doesn't pay enough to support her family.  

[shapeshifter]

47 minutes ago, PRgal said:

As for looking older, I was 42 when my son turned 3, so not too unusual. 

My boss was 37 when her first child was born and 41 when her second child was born.
I was 35 when my last child was born.

[SoMuchTV]

54 minutes ago, PRgal said:

@Yeah No The waitress absolutely should have been wearing a mask if she HAD to go to work.  As for looking older, I was 42 when my son turned 3, so not too unusual.  And she may have another job and is waiting tables to help make ends meet because the main job doesn't pay enough to support her family.  

 

5 minutes ago, shapeshifter said:

My boss was 37 when her first child was born and 41 when her second child was born.
I was 35 when my last child was born.

@Yeah No you definitely have a legitimate peeve here, but maybe don’t focus on the age of the waitress or her child or who’s taking care of said child. The issue as you rightly pointed out is spreading of germs, and secondarily, why she had to be working under those circumstances. 

[Absolom]

4 hours ago, StatisticalOutlier said:

The two visits were at different urgent care clinics. 

My cough this year was nowhere near as bad as last year, but maybe because I went to the clinic just as soon as it started.  Last year, my cough was much worse, and I brought a paper towel full of the thick green globs I'd coughed up in just the previous couple of hours.  I was coughing so much and so hard it started coming out of my eyes!  But no codeine for me!

I don't think it matters about two different offices.  Not everyone in all the places is authorized to prescribe opioids.  She may not have been or your condition on paper didn't meet their list.  For instance a grade 3 sprain doesn't make the list for opioid pain relief, but a tiny bone chip broken off does as it's a "broken bone."  A cold might not be on the list no matter how severe the cough, but RSV probably is.  

[Yeah No]

5 hours ago, Absolom said:

My parents did the Mexican dentist thing and it worked out well for them.  It saved them thousands of dollars.  I can't travel any more for very long for many of the reasons you listed.  It's a good thing I didn't save my trips for after retirement.  That's one thing I've learned.  If you want something or to do something and it's really important to you, do it now.  Don't put anything off with the when I retire I'll get around to it.  I only know one couple who is off doing cruises and tours and everyone who knows them thinks they're nuts.  He's in bad shape and was medevac lifted off their latest cruise a couple weeks ago.  Last year he spent a cruise in sick bay.  Yet I bet in a few months, they'll be off again.  

My husband has gotten "cruise crazy" in his semi-retirement. He went on his first cruise with his sister in 2023 (I had just had vertigo and wasn't up to it - then later found out a water pill was making me feel dizzy). So in 2024 I went on 2 cruises with him. I was amazed at how many people in rough physical shape go on cruises. I have to hand it to them, coming on board in wheelchairs with oxygen, or barely able to walk unassisted, etc. My husband and I felt young on the QM2. One of my female friends' relatives was coincidentally on that cruise with us and he was almost 90. We met up with him and he joked with us about how he takes that cruise every year and calls it "his last cruise". The cruise companies cater to them too - they offer assistance and even less intensive shore excursions for people with disabilities. It made me stop thinking about my relatively minor issues.

We didn't see so much of that on Royal Caribbean, though. The range of ages was wider and there were fewer people that looked like they were on their last legs.

I have to say that anyone like you describe above shouldn't be cruising. The quality of medical attention is limited when you're at sea and you put out a whole lot of people if the ship has to be delayed or diverted while you are airlifted. Given some of what I saw on the QM2, it's amazing we didn't end up in that situation!

[Yeah No]

4 hours ago, PRgal said:

@Yeah No The waitress absolutely should have been wearing a mask if she HAD to go to work.  As for looking older, I was 42 when my son turned 3, so not too unusual.  And she may have another job and is waiting tables to help make ends meet because the main job doesn't pay enough to support her family.  

Yes, that's what I was thinking. And she was acting like I don't understand that. I DO understand that. If you have to work, you have to work, but that wasn't the point. It wasn't personal and I'm not without sympathy for her situation, I just didn't want to get sick and she should have taken some precautions if she HAD to go to work. 

It always amazes me how people make presumptions about me, especially since I've lived in CT. Like because I live in a certain town and look OK that I haven't been through some shit myself. If they only knew. I've had to have two jobs, one very stressful full time job and one part time job at a gas station. I did that for a few years when I needed the money and it wasn't easy. I think people look at me and assume that I've lead the life of Riley or something. So believe me, I get it and I sympathize but again my own health is my priority and it isn't personal if I apologize and excuse myself.

[Yeah No]

3 hours ago, SoMuchTV said:

@Yeah No you definitely have a legitimate peeve here, but maybe don’t focus on the age of the waitress or her child or who’s taking care of said child. The issue as you rightly pointed out is spreading of germs, and secondarily, why she had to be working under those circumstances. 

Oh I only brought up her possible age because when my girlfriend and I were discussing this later we thought she looked old enough to know better than to be serving food to people while so obviously sick. That's the only reason her possible age entered into our discussion. Maybe I would be more inclined to shake my head and say "kids today!" if she looked like she was in her early 20s.

And we wondered about her financial situation because neither of us could imagine that this was her only source of income if she has a toddler in daycare. We were just trying to figure out her situation and why she might HAVE to work. I don't really know if she absolutely has to work but I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt on that. And I didn't think she looked too old to have a 3 year old. I know a lot of women that have had kids in their 30s. My mother was 34 when she had me!

[Yeah No]

5 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

Do you (or anyone else) recall when the CT was performed? Before or after the extraction?
I'm going to call or text Monday and ask if they will be doing a CT scan.

There probably was a CT scan done - I know I had to go for a bunch of imaging both before and after the extraction but I don't remember if one of those tests was a CT scan. It might have been but that was 15 years ago and I don't remember.

The only reason I remember how long the process took and the different stages is because I still have paperwork on that in my files and I run across it every now and then. Also, I was laid off in the middle of the process and was worried that my insurance wouldn't last long enough to give me the 50% coverage. As it turned out, the timing worked out and my insurance was still in effect by the end of the process. I didn't elect to get Cobra and I don't even think dental was included in that anyway. My husband had also been laid off (this was during the recession at that time) and we had a rare lapse in our medical coverage for a while. I usually got better coverage than he did if he got anything. I remember our premiums were very high for a while until I got another job with good medical coverage. I was unemployed for 2 years that time! It was really rough getting a job post 50 and in that recession. That was when my husband decided to drive a limo. and he ended up eventually buying his own car and going out on his own. 

Edited Sunday at 07:31 AM by Yeah No

[Browncoat]

11 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

Do you (or anyone else) recall when the CT was performed? Before or after the extraction?

I don't recall a CT scan at all.  I think they went by my most recent dental X-rays.  I also did not require bone grafting.

[shapeshifter]

One more question about my tooth:
The dentist who saw me Friday expecting to re-cement a crown onto a root canal but discovered there was not enough tooth left to do that also said there was "a lot of decay." He ran the drill over the area briefly (numb because of the previous root canal) and said that he got rid of "most of the decay." 
So.
That means there's still open decay below the bone line.
Is waiting for 3 weeks to extract the tooth likely to cause the decay to spread?

[Browncoat]

7 minutes ago, shapeshifter said:

Is waiting for 3 weeks to extract the tooth likely to cause the decay to spread?

Probably not.  Maybe a little on that specific tooth, but it's going to be extracted anyway, right?  The decay likely happened because of the crown -- hard to get the underlying tooth clean (another vote for an implant!).  It shouldn't spread to other teeth.

[Yeah No]

59 minutes ago, shapeshifter said:

That means there's still open decay below the bone line.
Is waiting for 3 weeks to extract the tooth likely to cause the decay to spread?

Probably not enough in that time to harm other teeth if that's what you mean, but I'd call their office to ask that question. Maybe they can get you in sooner if there's any worry about that. If not I'd just keep the area as clean as possible, if that means flossing, picking and using a Sonicare water flosser or Water Pik.

[Absolom]

10 hours ago, Yeah No said:

I have to say that anyone like you describe above shouldn't be cruising. The quality of medical attention is limited when you're at sea and you put out a whole lot of people if the ship has to be delayed or diverted while you are airlifted. Given some of what I saw on the QM2, it's amazing we didn't end up in that situation!

I absolutely agree with you as would probably everyone in the family except his wife.  They also spend a small fortune on trip insurance so his air lifts are covered and they are reimbursed for their failed trips.  So the natural consequence of paying for something you don't get is removed.  I finally figured out why she at least is so cruise gung ho.  All the household tasks are handled. There's no grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, etc.  She has assistance at the tip of her fingers to lift him if he falls or has some minor medical problem.  Plus she has entertainment and can leave him in the cabin knowing he can call for help.  It isn't right or fair to the other passengers though and I don't think it's fair to him.  Maybe he enjoys the cruises where he isn't sick, but I've never heard him talk about enjoying any cruise.  She does all the time.

[shapeshifter]

1 hour ago, Absolom said:

I absolutely agree with you as would probably everyone in the family except his wife.  They also spend a small fortune on trip insurance so his air lifts are covered and they are reimbursed for their failed trips.  So the natural consequence of paying for something you don't get is removed.  I finally figured out why she at least is so cruise gung ho.  All the household tasks are handled. There's no grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, etc.  She has assistance at the tip of her fingers to lift him if he falls or has some minor medical problem.  Plus she has entertainment and can leave him in the cabin knowing he can call for help.  It isn't right or fair to the other passengers though and I don't think it's fair to him.  Maybe he enjoys the cruises where he isn't sick, but I've never heard him talk about enjoying any cruise.  She does all the time.

And she might just love being on the water. I can relate, although I've never been on a cruise.

[Absolom]

Not the water.  She also likes all inclusive train trips.

[Dimity]

3 hours ago, Absolom said:

I finally figured out why she at least is so cruise gung ho.  All the household tasks are handled. There's no grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, etc.  She has assistance at the tip of her fingers to lift him if he falls or has some minor medical problem.  Plus she has entertainment and can leave him in the cabin knowing he can call for help.  It isn't right or fair to the other passengers though and I don't think it's fair to him.  Maybe he enjoys the cruises where he isn't sick, but I've never heard him talk about enjoying any cruise.  She does all the time.

I guess if someone who has fallen into the role of caregiver to their spouse has the money to do this I can't say I don't understand it.  I've know people who are wearing themselves out - and some have died before their spouse because of that.  Maybe if the money is there it would make more sense to pay for more help in the home and with the spouse but I dunno, I get the need to sometimes feel like you are the one being pampered.

That said it sounds like your friend is taking this to an extreme if her spouse is experiencing medical events that require him to be medevacced!

[Absolom]

Oh she isn't a friend for sure.  She's a distant relative by marriage.  She is much gossiped about in the family.  She's always had delusions of grandeur.  I think she suffers from boredom without a trip to plan and dream about. They are no more back a week and she's talking about the next one.  Then there's the bonus benefit of no chores just play time all day.  

[BooksRule]

I had my annual wellness visit to my NP this morning. Hopefully, everything's okay, but I won't know details until I get results of the blood work back.  Anyway, I've reached the age where they start to ask me to remember three words as soon as I get there and then to repeat the words back to them before they leave the room at the end.  I guess my memory isn't too bad, because not only did I remember the words (banana, sunrise, chair), I remembered that those were the same three words they asked me last year! 

[Yeah No]

That's so funny, @BooksRule, I just had my annual wellness check and it was actually my first one because last year my primary was on maternity leave. I was not prepared for how comprehensive it was. I even had an EKG, a hearing test and an eye exam! All of them were OK but I too have to go for blood tests, which I haven't yet because I have to fast for it so I'm going to pick a day when I'm ready for that.

I am worried about a couple of things, though. My BP has risen a lot over the past few years, mostly over the past year to the point that I now have high BP at 182/80. This is shocking and scary because most of my life my BP was 110/70. It started creeping up after menopause but never got over 150 until this past year. Then I realized that I had been taking Spironolactone as a water pill for years and had to stop taking it almost a year ago because it started dehydrating me and making me dizzy, and that drug is known for lowering blood pressure. I think the ultimate causes of my high BP are my weight and Hashimoto's, which are both known to raise BP. My doctor has ordered BP meds. for me which I will get in the mail but with my history of being too sensitive to take most drugs, I am not looking forward to it. She says there are many more choices if that one doesn't work out, but in my case it's the rare exception that ever works out. I am THAT sensitive to drugs.

This is what I have been dreading for YEARS. I knew that eventually I would have to start taking meds. and it would be very difficult for me. I have high cholesterol too (another thing possibly caused by Hashimoto's and my weight), but can't take statins and despite asking to take other things I have as yet gotten nowhere. It's like doctors can only handle a couple of things at a time. Well I guess I can't handle starting more than one drug at a time anyway. I am supposed to have a follow up with her after my tests so I can address that then.

I also have an annual with my thyroid doctor in Feb. and I'm dreading that too because my thyroid numbers have been getting close to the border between normal and too low and I might end up having to take thyroid hormone. I know from prior experience that I am unable to take natural thyroid hormone without very bad side effects. I took it years ago when it was prescribed by a holistic doctor who thought I could benefit from it (my numbers were not low then though). I am told that Synthroid is tolerated more easily by most people than natural thyroid hormone so I am going to hope for that. What else can I do? I have been worried that I'd die at 77 of a stroke like my mother did because of just these same issues, although she was quite a bit heavier than I am.

[Absolom]

On the good news front I have zero effect from Synthroid except I have enough energy to move.  There is an older cholesterol drug called cholesteramine.  I may have spelled it wrong, but it's close.  You might tolerate that perhaps.  It works differently from statins that can cause heart problems.

My doctor does almost none of those tests during the wellness visit.  She goes through the Medicare questionnaire which is more about how much I exercise and do I have enough food in the house.  That's very interesting.

Edited 6 hours ago by Absolom