I will admit to being terrified of the dentist so am overdue for an appointment there! I need valium just thinking about it!


Kimble

Eye exam

I can see, so there seems to be no point, but I was told that due to being on Prednisone I may have some "occular risks" - hmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Tortuga, yes, you are at increased risk for glaucoma and I think cataracts from prednisone. (See, I take my kids to the doc all the time! Just got back from the lab with one of them. But haven't seen a doctor for myself in longer than I'll admit to you all.)

I made an appt for May 8, and have to get bloodwork for that a few days before. Thanks to you, BAP. I know I'll need a colonoscopy and some other unpleasant tests.

Dentist - that gets done, except that our dentist just dumped our insurance, and there's no one else on our plan that we want to see. And dh broke a tooth . . . aargh. And ds needs all her wisom teeth out this summer.

good work BAP.

Get checked out people. I enjoy bantering with you here on the B+B, so take care of yourselves...

I have been reasonably good about keeping up with all of this, and as a result I've amassed a nice collection of things I'm now "at risk of".

1) risk of breast cancer, due to family history and an atypical hyperplasia lump removed in 2003. Diagnostic mammogram once per year, clinical exam twice per year with follow-up ultrasounds if anything looks funny. Just to drive me nuts. I'm 4 years into a 5 year course of Tamoxifen (which has its own risks). Maybe MRIs now too?

2) risk of colon cancer, due to family history. Had my first colonoscopy last December. Whoo hoo. Follow-up in 5 years.

3) risk of glaucoma, due to increased ocular pressure noted a couple years ago at a regular checkup and an abnormally thin retinal layer. Followup with glaucoma specialist at Johns Hopkins once per year.

4) risk of osteoporosis - i'm at the Osteopenia level now (got that call from the doctor's office yesterday after my DEXA scan last month). 14% bone loss in femoral neck compared to DEXA scan two years ago, plus lesser bone loss in other areas too. Sheesh. The nurse told me to exercise more. I told her that was hardly the problem.


On the plus side:
- I haven't had a cavity in 22 years, and see the dentist every six months.
- My blood pressure is low
- My weight, cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar are all fine
- I had a dermatologist screening a few years ago and all was OK. Probably time for another one. I'm fair-skinned and have had my share of sunburns, so that's one worth staying on top of.
- I pretty much never get sick. Haven't even had a cold in over a year.
- I'm blessed with a generally sunny disposition, and feel very fortunate about that.

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Predawnrunner[/URL" target="_blank">, aka mrs W.R.F. Beer

Last time I took my mom in for her colonoscopy - 2 months ago - the Dr. was talking about how next time she might be able to benefit from the new pill camera. Evidentally there will soon be a pill with a little camera in it - all you do is swallow the pill and let the camera do all the work. I still imagine you have to do the "cleaning out" the night before though - and to me that is the worst part of the whole thing.

Bone Density test . . . I haven't had one, but I think it is a very simple test. Didn't TomWhite do this a while back??