AM I PERHAPS TOO OLD TO DEAL WITH EVERYTHING

I always do try to keep the glass half full the same way Kakka does but there are times when it takes so much effort and I am beginning to wonder if I am perhaps too old to deal with being this old and all the problems it is bringing with it.

I should be used to arthritic problems as they first presented themselves when I was just 22 years old and before I had my two children. I've had two total hip replacements and they work pretty well but the rest of me just hurts so much at times. I sometimes can't believe that pain in my hands can be so intense, even when I am actually not doing anything. My arthritis begins in my head and neck and spreads right through my body now although (touch wood) I have no problems in my elbows..wonder why that is? I suppose I need to have just one part of me that doesn't hurt (yet). Fortunately my gout is fairly well controlled although there is still the occasional twinge but only a twinge thank goodness.

Now my diabetes has really taken a turn for the worse and nearly two weeks on insulin doesn't seem to be having any impression on my readings. Am I perhaps being too impatient and expecting miracles. Why after 16 years has this happened. You are told 'it happens". Big help.

I have put up with the tinnitus for about 15-20 years or more and it has now become an expected background type of noise that I can live with but still wish it wasn't there. That is a minor problem compared with the rest.

For some years it was MOH I looked after, watching what he ate when his cholesterol went too high and putting drops in his eyes every night for his glaucoma (he does that now and I look after the little timer for him..he has to wait for 2 minutes after each drop goes in holding his finger in the corner of his eye to stop the fluid going anywhere than in the eye). I still do remind him to do his insulin injections and also ask that he has remembered to take his tablets but it is he that is now looking after me more than me looking after him.

I've never been a person who wants to be the centre of attention and I am not taking to kindly to being so dependent on MOH as I am now. We share household chores and that is OK but he puts my pressure stockings on for me each day (they are SO tight that it is quite a job for him)and we do the lympathic massage on my legs each day (I do the thighs and he does the calves and feet). He rubs Dencorub and the like on my aching back a couple of times a day as I can't reach now and if he hears me cry out any time he is always there to see if all is OK. Now he is doing the insulin injection for me each night when we are ready to go to bed. He is not a demonstrative man but I do know what I mean to him and we to each other.

Another thing I find is not really being needed much any more after being there for folks in the past. I know MOH still needs me (as much as I need him really) and my little cat needs me as she is a one and a half person cat (she shares herself with MOH but she is usually in the same room I am in). All older members of my family and my close friends have left this mortal coil and my family are now self-sufficient so I am not needed there any more.

I knew of two ladies who at about my age decided their lives meant nothing to them any more and I hope I will never begin to feel like that. Perhaps it was because they were both widows and their grown up families had made their own lives they felt there were no longer needed. When I was told this several years ago by their daughters I found it hard to believe but I am beginning to understand what they felt and they were quite happy to die when their time came.

I am so thankful to have MOH and our cat and while I still have them I hope that the glass will most times remain at least half full if not even fuller at times.

MORE EYE NEWS

Well everything is progressing well albeit slowly but at least I now know the schedule is all set.

18 July....eye measurements to be taken so they know the size lenses to use
15 September....cataract op of right eye
13 October....cataract op of left eye
About mid-november....back to my optomertrist for new specs and then hopefully the world be a clearer, brighter place.
Just wish I could get rid of the 'floaters' in my left eye but guess I must be thankful for what can be done and put up with the little flock of thingies that I can see whenever I look at the computer screen. Just one of those little things that come to try us as we age I guess.

HAS ANYTHING REALLY CHANGED IN 20 YEARS?

I am not sure if this will be of any interest to others but I always enjoy finding old newpapers and checking out some of the articles they contained. I was turning out a cupboard today and came across a newspaper cutting I had kept and on the reverse side was the following article:

The West Australian..Friday 22 November, 1991.

"Cigarettes up 90 cents and Beer up 5 cents....

A packet of 25 cigarettes would go up from $3.65 to $4.53 and a middy of beer would cost 5 cents more.

An Opposition health spokesman said that 25 per cent increase in tobacco excise was the most effective way to curb smoking among young Australians and reduce tobacco-related disease.

Tobacco Institute chief executive officer John Welch said the proposed increase was a callous grab at the 3.5 million adult smokers.

Alcohol would go up even though the excise on liquor would remain the same and indexation would be abolished. A 140ml glass of wine would cost 5 cents more and a nip of spirits would be 10 cents dearer.

The decision to abolish fuel excise would save motorists almost 19 cents a litre for petrol and diesel and a business user almost 26 cents a litre.

That should save the average family travelling 20,000km a year $11.40 for a 60 litre tank, or $390 a year."

When you think of how much it costs these days to fill your petrol tank we could do with some price reductions as well.

I am not sure that the large increase in the price of cigarettes really reduced the number of young people smoking as I see quite a few today that smoke. It didn't affect MOH and myself back in 1991 as we had become non-smokers way back in 1971 but I am sure we were glad of the saving in fuel.

Now our Federal government in their wisdom want cigarettes to come in plain packaging that shows large health warnings. Wonder what the next big idea will be?

WELL THAT WAS QUITE AN EXPERIENCE

I saw an optometrist last week who said he felt it was time I had my cataracts attended to as they were quite seriously affecting my vision. When I arrived home that day I rang the specialist's rooms and was fortunate they had a cancellation for this morning at 11.10a.m.

MOH and I set off and arrived in plenty of time so I 'signed in' and was given a form to complete and asked to take a seat. I saw two friends of ours who had both had cataracts ops in the past few months and she was I think waiting to get the all clear to to get herself new specs. I will see them tomorrow and find out how she got on.

After about 50 minutes a young man called me in and did some tests and also put drops in my eyes which makes one's vision go all blurry and allergic to bright light. "OK I thought. Now we are getting somewhere." But no, I was wrong. I lost count of how many people saw the specialist before me but it was well after 1pm when my name was called.

"Yes" said the specialist "your cataracts are quite advanced and I'd like to do the right one first followed by the left eye about a month later". "Fine with me" said I "it would be great to be able to see properly again." I was given a form to take to the reception area as apparently my eye as to be measured so they know what size the replacement lens needs to be when they remove mine.

The receptionist said she wasn't sure if the measurement could be done 'this morning' Bear in mind it was already well into the afternoon. No, it couldn't be done today but an appointment would be made for me to come back. I ventured to say that I hoped I wouldn't have to wait two hours next time. (I said it quite politely...really I did). I was told I'd not have a long wait so hope she knows what she's talking about.

Appointment for measuring my eyes.....18th July....not June but July. Oh well I guess these things take a while. I believe I will also receive advice when the first op will take place and hope it will be this year. Oh dear sarcasm is not a good thing!!! It is only a half day stay in the day surgery part of the hospital and I am told one has to keep still for 20 minutes while the procedure takes place and it is NOT painful so fingers crossed all will be well when it is eventually done.

I've written before about having confidence in one's medical team and I did really like this specialist and think he will do a good job. He gave me a pamphlet explaining the procedure which of course contained a list of things that could go wrong but I was assured that this type of procedure has a 99% success rate so who am I to worry.

Hopefully about next August I'll be able to give a running commentary on what it is like to have cataract surgery.

TWO BEAUTIFUL CATS

I just wanted to share Precious with my friends. She will be 10 years old in October and we love her so much and we know she loves us as she always wants to be with us. She does go outside in the daytime but usually sleeps up on the pergola or sits on the carport roof keeping out of the way of other cats that sometimes cause trouble in our garden. Why they choose to come here to air their differences is beyond me but Precious keeps well and truly out of their way whenever she can.

Precious is, and always been, a very timid cat and it is only in the past year or two that she has begun to come into the living room when anyone other than MOH and I are there.

Going on 10 years ago Kakka and I went to the Cat Haven with the idea of getting ONE cat as our dear old black cat had succumbed to cancer several months before. We saw this very lively white and grey kitten climbing and jumping everywhere in the very large 'room' where the kittens were and decided he would be great friend to have. As we were deciding this I noticed this tiny face peeking out from under a blanket watching the other kittens frolicking about and I asked the attendant if she would bring her our for me. This she did and once I held this wee tiny kitten in my arms I just knew I had to take her home.....so, we went home with two kittens.

These two kittens played together and would curl up and sleep together but as Henry grew he got a little bossy and if Precious found a nice place to curl up and sleep, the next thing you would see Henry had taken over that spot. They still played but he was sometimes a little rough and I don't think he knew his own strength as occasionally you'd hear Precious give a little growl to tell him to cut it out.

A strange thing happened about 5 years ago. MOH and I decided to buy twin beds as we felt we would both get a better night's sleep in separate beds. Now, the cats used to sleep between us on the queen size bed but the twin beds caused all sorts of confusion and it was as though they thought MOH and I had fallen out as the two of them just didn't seem to get on so well from then on. It was quite weird. You'd still see them playing chasy out in the garden at times but there just wasn't the same camaraderie between them as before.

We lost our Henry in August of 2009. He and Precious were lying close to each on the carpet by my feet (in front of the little fan heater) when suddenly Henry gave a great 'sigh' and I just knew that at that moment he had left us. Previous knew too as she got up and began to wash him. I said to MOH "Henry just died" and poor man thought I was joking but it didn't take him long to realise I was serious about it. Henry lies out in our back garden and a cairn of stones has been built over his grave and a plant I have put there I hope will grow and cover it up nicely. We do miss that big cat and often have a laugh about the funny things he would do.

Precious in the picture is in her winter finery. She loses all the fluffy hair before summer and becomes quite a short-haired cat. I have never before seen any cat I've had or known lose so much hair as the weather warms and then grow it all back each year. MOH always reckons when he empties the vacuum cleaner bag that there is enough hair in their to cover a complete cat.

I have had many cats through my life but these two have been so very special and Precious still is to both of us. We know we are too fond of her but just hope she will be with us for many more years to come,

EVERYTHING IS RELATIVE

A short while ago the following conversation took place between me and MOH:

MOH "Meant to tell you that James Arness (of Gunsmoke fame) has died"

ME "Oh right, how old was he?"

MOH "He was 88"

ME "Oh, not that old then!!"

What??? The man WAS 88. Strange thing though when you yourself are approaching the 80 mark and MOH is already 81 that 88 doesn't seem all that old at all. I guess when I was about 50 I'd have said "Oh well, he's had a good innings" and left it at that.
Perhaps we all consider ourselves immortal but underneath know we are not and thus my reaction.

I am not sure if others will see the humour in the above but it did strike me as really very funny. I am just so glad MOH and I could both laugh about it. You have to laugh or otherwise at times you might shed a few tears instead and that would never do.

HOW GOOD IT IS TO HAVE A GOOD MEDICAL TEAM

Approaching the age of 80 as I am brings with it (in my case anyway) various medical problems and I have always felt that one must feel at ease with, and confident in, any medical people one has to deal with about any medical problems.

I have had some really good GPs over the year and if I've found one I am not comfortable with then I change to another that works. The one MOH and I have right now is a fantastic fellow with whom we both feel very comfortable and in my case he is good because he does have a great understanding of muscles, tendons and joints. He is a doctor with an AFL (Aussie Rules)football club here in W.A. so deals each week with those type of problems. He also deals with other problems we have and tries his hardest to solve any of those problems for us. He was wonderful when I had shingles on my face last year.

Our endocrinologist is a professor but there is nothing lardie dah about him and he is just so easy to talk to and you feel that you can ask questions and receive straightforward answers. My diabetes (after 15 years) had decided the tablets I was taking were not doing there job any more so when I saw the professor last Wednesday I heard the dreaded words "It's time for insulin". Coming from him it didn't sound all that bad!! Fortunately MOH has been using insulin (3 times a day) for nearly 18 months now so I didn't need any instructions from a diabetes educator as I have at home with me someone who wields a pretty good needle. I only have to have the insulin on retiring and it's great not having to do it myself. That man of mine is so good to me and I love him so much for all the things he does to help me.

Our podiatrist is a good chap too (MOH only goes once a year to have his feet checked) but I go every 8 weeks cos I can't reach my toenails..not just my size but my joints won't let me do it... but John is very thorough and when he massages my feet at the end of the visit with Sorbolene...mmm it is a great feeling.

We also have a terrific dermatologist we visit each year as this being a very sunny country can play havoc with our skins. MOH and I are fortunate in not having much in the way of skin problems although MOH did have a small skin cancer cut from his ear a year or so back. I have had a type of laser treatment to stop my face having that rosy glow and it has done the trick very well (I must admit it hurts a bit....feels like an elastic band snapping on the skin). We see him again in July and are quite looking forward to it.

Now..about eyes. MOH has glaucoma and see his opthamologist every 6 months for testing and they get on well together without any problems. Me? I too have visited him several times and I just don't feel confident with him. I rang recently to see when I was due to see him next and they didn't even have a bring up for me which I thought was bad. He had sent me to an optician who was very good but the spectacle firm for whom he worked did not perform very well at all. I had to go back 4 times for the lenses to be changed and they are still not right. My daughter (Kakka) recommended an optometrist she and her family have been seeing for 20 years or more so I made an appointment to see him last Thursday. He was an absolute delight but was full of surprises. I have cataracts and the fellow MOH and I see when asked what was the prognosis about my cataracts said in a flippant manner "Oh we may have to do something in one or ten years". That did not go down well with me. I know these things are unpredictable but...really. On Thursday I was asked if I was averse to having a cataract operation to which I said "No of course not. Why?" The reponse was that both my eyes needed to be done and I have been referred to an opthamologist who I will be seeing next Tuesday. I just hope I find him as reassuring as my visit to Mr P last week. I am interested to know what this doctor will have to say about it all.

I know this has been a little longwinded but I feel very strongly about the medical care we receive. We must feel comfortable with those that care for us and we must always ask questions and receive reassuring answers and not be fobbed off in any way. I know doctors have hard decisions to make and it must be unbelievably bad to have to tell someone they don't have long to live so I feel for them about that. Nevertheless whether it is an ingrown toenail or something more serioius like diabetes etc., we patients need to know what is going on (after all they are OUR bodies) so never hesitate to ask appropriate questions.

P.S. I forgot my wonderful physios....one lady in particular who manages to keep me mobile most of the time and the other who has set up this lymphatic massage which has stopped my feet being waterlogged following my 2 hip replacement ops. MOH and I do this massage between us each evening and with the use of pressure knee highs it has been magic. I takes a while and can be a little tiring but well worth it. It's only leg and foot massage so nothing compicated.

We don't get out and about much these days so I guess a lot of our outings are to medical appointments etc but it always pays to feel good about anyone in that field you are about to see. I now feel confident about all who care for me and MOH for which I am very thankful and grateful.