How It Went

Let me start this off by stating I have a wonderful doctor. Not only is she easy to get along with, but I definitely feel comfortable in her office. That most certainly helped me get through and survive the dreaded physical which included testing that all women go through. It was my first time getting a particular test, which again for a woman my age is unusual. All well, I was told everything looked good (though test results aren’t in yet) and that I did very well for someone who hadn’t had it done before. I got to admit, I mentally gave myself a little pat on the back for not flying off the exam table and freaking out. I just breathed through the discomfort and joked with my doctor and the nurse.

It was overall a very informative appointment. I got the results of my blood work and it turns out, I’m “pre-diabetic”. Which basically means while my sugar and other levels all are in the normal range; it does appear I’m headed down the path to being diagnosed diabetic if I don’t do something about it. I got information to read up on and it’s definitely time to start making more changes to my diet…and definitely time to get off my butt and start working out regularly again! I don’t want to become diabetic and unfortunately, my chances are quite high. So it’s definitely time to continue this proactivity with my health and take all the steps I can to adjust my lifestyle to a healthier one.

Now the downfall to the appointment had to go to the lab in the same building, to get more blood work done. That’s three Friday’s in a row of having to get poked with a needle! My doctor was at least sympathetic, but given I brought up an ongoing issue with my left ankle she wants to cover all the bases of what it could be. So I did also find myself getting an X-Ray done for my ankle as well. I’ve been dealing with a lot of on again, off again odd pains and swelling in my left ankle for months now and hopefully I’ll be able to get some answers once all the results are in. Overall though I got to say my afternoon at the doctor’s wasn’t the nightmare my over-dramatic subconscious made it out to be. LOL!

On a final note, I did also have it recommended that I take a Vitamin D supplement. Something over the counter will work, but as it turns out while my potassium level did read out normal, my Vitamin D level did read as being a little low. It’s nothing terribly uncommon from what my doctor said, especially for a Michigander. Maybe it would be more alarming if I lived in a sunnier state. Though I have to say even on our sunny days, going outside in the sun isn’t exactly my personal idea of a good time. Maybe that though is more due to having had a heatstroke in the past. The sun and I are not buddies to say the least, LOL! So step 1, get myself some Vitamin D and step 2, get off my butt and workout!

Thank you for all the wishes of luck I received over my appointment yesterday!

--XOXO, Jane

Can't Sleep Blues

Perhaps I’m extremely weird, but whenever I have a night where I can’t sleep I always think of an episode of The Simpsons where it flashes back to Bart being little. I think it was an episode focused on Lisa’s birth story. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen the episode. In it though, the one thing that always comes to mind when I can’t sleep is when toddler Bart is having trouble sleeping in the clown bed. He’s absolutely terrified rocking back and forth and repeating, “Can’t sleep, clown will eat me.” Now while I don’t have a fear of clowns or them eating me by any means, that scene just happens to pretty much always pop into my head on a night like tonight.

Here it is after 3:00AM and I feel practically wide awake. Naturally this has to happen after spending a good portion of my day with a drowsiness feeling. Maybe it’s my subconscious playing with me, as I know I’m having difficulty relaxing due to my building anxiety about tomorrow. Or well…later today as it were. See I’m going to my new doctor for the second time to get a physical done. I know it seems silly to be worked up about getting something so routine done, but it’s been a handful of years (over six at least) since I’ve had one done. Unfortunately (as embarrassing as it is to admit) there are some bonus routine tests this time around for me, that do seem to just add to anxiousness.

Most women get certain kinds of tests done at least a few times by my age. I went a number of years without insurance and even longer without a doctor bringing it up to me. The first time it was brought up I was too young to worry about it, but now here I am going for it when most women my age have already done this. All logic tells me is that I’ll be fine. It’s all routine stuff and I kind of know what to expect thanks to conversations with some ladies in my life. Nonetheless though, nerves are in place and I’m just awake dreading it. I tell myself though, it’s important. I need to do this. I need to get all these routine tests done like I needed to get the blood work done.

Good health is important, regardless if you are a woman or man. I come from a family with a long list of bad stuff in the medical history department. I know this could come off wrong, but I just don’t want to end up having to deal and go through some of the things I’ve witnessed my loved ones suffer through. That alone keeps me feeling brave enough to actually show up for my appointment. I want to make sure my health is okay and I want to get myself healthier. I know it’s important to take care of myself and stop neglecting my health like I did for a number of years. No longer do I choose to live in the dark with the thought “what I don’t know can’t hurt me” in regards to my health.

No matter the worries of what could be found. No matter the anxieties of having to undergo medical tests (even just the basic stuff). No matter how much I would love to say I’m “too sick to go to the doctor” - I know I need to do this. I know it’s important. I feel it’s the first step for me in really take a stand for my health. It’s just one uncomfortable moment that will pass in a matter of minutes. In the long run I know I’ll be thankful I did it, regardless of the outcome. Sure I stress and worry that something will be found wrong with me, but I don’t feel ill or anything, so I’m not too worried of it. I just got to keep reminding myself I’m okay and I can get through this.

--XOXO, Jane