Tag: Health

ICING: on healing

36 Comments

NOTE:  When I mentioned my new posting schedule I said Wed and Fri,  and that anything other than those days would be icing.  Today’s post is icing.  😉

~*~*~*~

I have been working out on my Pilates reformer to try to gain strength and mobility.  It is working!

stottpilatesspx-2T

I have been riding my bicycle several times a week and this morning managed 4.5 miles using the full range of gearing!  Only 8 speeds, but I felt like a champ when I got home.  (Tom, this will certainly be a baby step to you!)  😉

dewdeluxe

(Mine is Blue with several city commuter mods)

Then I got off and tried to walk on our little street to cool off.  I made it to the neighbors mailbox (150 ft + or – ) and had to turn back.

I am finding it strange to be able to perform Pilates, with a reformer assist, and to be able to ride with no noticeable pain during the ride, and yet I am still unable to walk or stand for too long.   Or at least, in the case of standing, for as long as I would like.   And although sitting is much improved…  is that really a plus?

Frustration.

Then I think:  Several weeks ago I was in the lightest gear and only able to make my legs move up and down with the pedals for a simple circuit of my street, and any walking was with a cane.  Today I was able to use all 8 speeds and no longer require a cane.

I went inside, showered, iced down my knee and now feel fine.

I persevere.

 

 

Blogging: what we often hesitate to share

48 Comments

Sometimes things happen and we feel as though we don’t want to talk about them.  I really wasn’t intending to share this, but then thought,

If I do will it help someone else out there?   Could my experience actually make a difference? 

Perhaps, perhaps not, but on the small chance that it may help, I have decided to share.

~*~*~*~

Recently I found what I thought was a scab on the top of my head.  I tried to think what I could have bumped my head on, but came up blank.  I didn’t give it another thought.  Then, a month later I noticed the same scab and thought it was weird that it was still there, but was not overly concerned.

Maybe it’s a wart I told myself.

Three months later it is still there, and thinking it was psoriasis, or some form of creeping-crud, I made an appointment with my GP.  She thought it was nothing much, but made me an appointment with the dermatologist.

I told the dermatologist how long it had been there, and that I thought it felt like a scab, but that it felt like it went deep into my scalp, and never went away.

He took one look at it and said,

It’s Skin Cancer

Apparently, this kind is a fast grower, but does not start out evil.  Ignoring it will cause it to continue to morph into something awful that will command more intensive treatment and may cause serious harm.  The following information is quoted directly from the American Academy of Dermatology.

actinic keratoses Symptoms

Most people who get AKs do not have any symptoms. They only notice changes to their skin. Symptoms can occur. A few symptoms to watch for are:

  • Rough-feeling patch on skin that cannot be seen.

  • Rough patch or growth that feels painful when rubbed.

  • Itching or burning.

  • Lips feel constantly dry.

(Clicking on this link will take you directly to the page for more information on Actinic Keratoses)

I have very fair skin and my hair is sparse on the top of my head.  Hence as an adult I never work outside without a wide-brimmed hat.  And while I have never been a sun worshiper, simply because I have always burned so easily, I have nevertheless had some extreme sun exposures in my youth.  Knowing my predisposition, and as an adult taking all the precautions, I still have incurred skin damage.  Hence this post and my encouragement to you to do the following:

No matter your skin type, please take care:

  • Limit sun exposure.
  • Wear your sun screen and a hat!
  • Don’t ignore changes in your skin’s appearance.
  • If you do notice changes in your skin, then go to the Doctor and get them checked.

~*~

Thankfully, I got my condition checked early.  I had an easy in office procedure and a sample was sent off to the lab.  Because of this, I will most likely never have serious trouble.

The consequences of ignoring this condition could have been very serious.

~*~

My friends, please be wise and stay healthy!

~*~

UPDATE!

Sometimes the idiocy of the bureaucracy can only astound you.

A school has outlawed the use of sunscreen on field trips?  Yes, they did!  See the video HERE  (SORRY FOR THE ADD)

 

Photo Friday: a hint or two of spring

46 Comments

Last Sunday on the Mountain Farmlet

 

Well, I had intended for this post to go out on Monday, and for it to be a bit more polished, but there never seemed to be an opportune moment to get it done.  Then on Tuesday I had my knee surgery, and you can guess the rest!  I am just this evening able to sit comfortably at my computer.

I have more pictures now that the look and feel of spring have officially arrived, and I will post them later, but I wanted to share with you that I am OK, and now on the road to recovery!

I’m so glad I didn’t wait any longer to schedule or I might have been waiting til mid summer for the surgery.  😳

Pictures, news, and more

44 Comments

First the pictures!

I have been working on a project and forgot to ask if it was OK to share it here, but I will tell you this much…

I have been given the rare honor to repair some vintage quilts for a dear friend.  I am applying bindings to both, and replacing some lost stitching and a couple of disintegrated patches on the other!

This one is a basket design, but I haven’t located its name yet!

Basket-quiltThis one needs binding only and will be finished quickly.

~*~

A simple Dresden design called Sunflower is below.

Sunflower-patchHowever, this one, in addition to binding needs more extensive work

~*~

Such trust in my nouveau abilities has inspired me to work on a project I had long wanted to do, but did not have faith in my abilities to accomplish!  Needless to say, the fabric has been flying fast and furious here in my studio.

See!

And here it is, my log cabin blocks to be made into a table mat.  This will need quilting and binding and will be for sale on my Etsy site.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

And now the news…

The Little Dog is out of his trusses and Lederhosen!  His bite is healed and now the fur needs to grow back in.

Free-at-last!We are  ALL  very happy about that!

And me?  Well, I had my MRI on my knee on Wednesday.  Today the Doctor mentioned a torn meniscus, a cyst, and surgery.  I think I will be putting this off for a few weeks so I can make preparations here.  I will be packing, sorting and prepping for another yard sale, the grand opening of my Etsy shop (yes, really this time) and… reducing my livestock.  Which, by the way, does not include my GEESE!

These were all practical considerations in our preparation to *move, I am just deciding to take care of them NOW instead of later.  It will make my life and healing more copacetic and also mean that I won’t have to pile one more thing onto Bob’s already busy daily routine.

~*~*~*~

*Move?  Did I actually mention moving?  Well, yes I did…  but it will still be a while.  You think the summer’s end is a good goal to shoot for?  Yes?

Well, so do we, but we’ll see about that!