Caregiver Health Checklist

DrMary

Have you had a physical in the last year? Have you been to your dentist in the last 6 months and your OB/Gyn (if you are female) in the last 2 years? Are you over 50? Have you had a colonoscopy? Had your prostate levels checked (if you are male)in the last year? Had your eyes checked lately?

If you answered no to any of the above, let us know. We'll keep reminding you to make the appointment - we are all good at getting other folks to the doctor and following treatment plans, but not so good at doing it for ourselves. Perhaps an extra nudge from a fellow caregiver will help.

Other suggestions for the checklist are welcome.

mswijiknyc

Also
if your doctor doesn't check and/or you are fair skinned like me, have you been once overed by a dermatologist to check for anything odd?

Thanks for the reminder boss lady (loves!) I think my tattoo artist has seen more of me than a doctor looking at me.

Would it help when I let you know when I actually go?

DrMary

mswijiknyc said:

Also
if your doctor doesn't check and/or you are fair skinned like me, have you been once overed by a dermatologist to check for anything odd?

Thanks for the reminder boss lady (loves!) I think my tattoo artist has seen more of me than a doctor looking at me.

Would it help when I let you know when I actually go?

so right
how could I forget the dermo? I made an appointment for Doug for next week, as the radiation really got his freckles going. I haven't been in a few years, though.

Yes, tell us when you go, or else I will bug you and bug you - it is one of the few things I do well.

Don't dismiss getting looked at by the tat man/woman. The only ones I've ever met know (and care) a lot about skin.

cb girl

DrMary said:

so right
how could I forget the dermo? I made an appointment for Doug for next week, as the radiation really got his freckles going. I haven't been in a few years, though.

Yes, tell us when you go, or else I will bug you and bug you - it is one of the few things I do well.

Don't dismiss getting looked at by the tat man/woman. The only ones I've ever met know (and care) a lot about skin.

Thanks for the Reminder
Have had the mammo, need to see dermo, eyes have been checked, need a pap. need a crown, but dentist says not an emergency, had the cleaning, though. all will have to wait until hubby is out of hospital from 2nd surgery for lung cancer lobectomy-we live 2 hrs away from the hospital and I am staying in a hotel- with good intentions to use the treadmill here at the gym. But you know what they say about good intentions. Thanks for the reminders since hubby can't nag me right now and he is excellent at the chore. You all give me strength on this adventure.

UKLady

Ticking the boxes, even if a little late
Hi!

Can I update from the original thread and ask a question? :-)

Dermo check? I know what it is, but in the UK that was not run of the mill for me. How do I get this? PCP? he never mentioned it.

As to thyroid cancer, ongoing but looking good as my previous tests were done only last July so I am not so far off the road to be back on track soonish. Going without meds for a month was pure hell though as sole caregiver.

Had annual physical which is when thyroid problem discovered, BMI is good, etc etc. had mammo, and since I was in the UK not long ago, and a UK citizen still, colon check is the latest national campaign for mature citizens. Soooooo not enjoyable........Eyes checked too, wow

Now for those that hate the dentist,......compared with my UK experiences, I regard dental work here as off time. Me my iPod, and wow, it's like being on the starship Enterprise in comparison to a man pedaling a bicycle in the back room!! I suppose one has to have the bad experiences to appreciate how great dental treatment is here or maybe I just have been lucky in my choice? I used to be a gibbering idiot in the UK at the dentist but I kid you not, the words "duck" and "water" come to mind !

Is there anything else that should be on the to do list? since I am the stranger in town so to speak?

Homeland Security requires all vaccinations up to date btw for Permenent Residency- that was far worse than the dentist Dr Mary - I swear I should have been an octopus that day, I seem to recall Lucy is a gardener too, so tetanus should be on the list? I can't think many would need MMR And TB all over again like me?

Best wishes to all

Lyndsey on daily run for Steve's radiation pain management treatment - too hectic for words

poppop57

Thanks DrMary...
...for the reminder. Passed the half-century mark in October and I've been using my wife's treatments as an excuse to put off checkups that I shouldn't. I see the dentist in May and I've made an appt. with the dermatologist. Now, back to the phones to schedule the eye exam, physical and the colonoscopy.

Pennymac02

Dentist!
Has anyone mentioned the dentist? If not, please go. I have an abscessed tooth, that according to my dentist, is not save-able. I have to go in for a deep scraping/cleaning after going thru a round of antibiotics and another extraction. I knew I had problems, but they are far worse now because I didn't make the time for my annual checks.
Penny

luz del lago

UKLady said:

Ticking the boxes, even if a little late
Hi!

Can I update from the original thread and ask a question? :-)

Dermo check? I know what it is, but in the UK that was not run of the mill for me. How do I get this? PCP? he never mentioned it.

As to thyroid cancer, ongoing but looking good as my previous tests were done only last July so I am not so far off the road to be back on track soonish. Going without meds for a month was pure hell though as sole caregiver.

Had annual physical which is when thyroid problem discovered, BMI is good, etc etc. had mammo, and since I was in the UK not long ago, and a UK citizen still, colon check is the latest national campaign for mature citizens. Soooooo not enjoyable........Eyes checked too, wow

Now for those that hate the dentist,......compared with my UK experiences, I regard dental work here as off time. Me my iPod, and wow, it's like being on the starship Enterprise in comparison to a man pedaling a bicycle in the back room!! I suppose one has to have the bad experiences to appreciate how great dental treatment is here or maybe I just have been lucky in my choice? I used to be a gibbering idiot in the UK at the dentist but I kid you not, the words "duck" and "water" come to mind !

Is there anything else that should be on the to do list? since I am the stranger in town so to speak?

Homeland Security requires all vaccinations up to date btw for Permenent Residency- that was far worse than the dentist Dr Mary - I swear I should have been an octopus that day, I seem to recall Lucy is a gardener too, so tetanus should be on the list? I can't think many would need MMR And TB all over again like me?

Best wishes to all

Lyndsey on daily run for Steve's radiation pain management treatment - too hectic for words

One more thing to do...
Yes, Lyndsey, there is one more thing for you to do. Make a cup of your favorite tea, make one for Steve and sit and sip! You are doing awesome!

To the best of my knowledge, once you are an adult, tetanus is only given if you have been injured and it has been a very long time since you received it. As a matter of fact, the last time I had a tetanus shot was because we had been cutting a rather large tree that was leaning against the house. At some point it was time to move the monster, so a friend of ours and I, as my love was manning the chain saw, studied the entire situation, discussed all the possibilities of how to shift it off the house, came to a very good and thought through plan. No accidents out here! Well, all was working as planned, until it came down to the time of release. He said, at the count of three, we will both drop our end. I give the nod of approval, and boy did I get it! The one thing we did not figure into the equation was our height difference. I'm 5', he 5'8". Can you picture a "see-saw"? When one end goes down, the other goes up. My end came up and gave me a right jab that would have KO'd Ali! Bit my tongue, busted open my chin and barely missed my jugular! To the ER, yes, before anything, tetanus shot! Of course, this is not the regular gardening I do, but do mow and trim and use all sorts of clippers and sheers.

I've enjoyed getting back to doing some of that the last week. And in Texas, my hummingbirds have returned and are as precious and amusing as ever! In the late afternoon is when I make a cup of tea and sit on the porch and enjoy. In eight months I experienced pain, anxiety, distress, fear and ultimately deep sadness and sorrow. It just goes to show that life does continue, it does go on. In seeing the hummingbirds return, it reminded me that I am still here, I have to continue, I need to go on, and I will be given the gift of joy, even in the smallest of ways once again!

Best wishes,

Lucy

UKLady

luz del lago said:

One more thing to do...
Yes, Lyndsey, there is one more thing for you to do. Make a cup of your favorite tea, make one for Steve and sit and sip! You are doing awesome!

To the best of my knowledge, once you are an adult, tetanus is only given if you have been injured and it has been a very long time since you received it. As a matter of fact, the last time I had a tetanus shot was because we had been cutting a rather large tree that was leaning against the house. At some point it was time to move the monster, so a friend of ours and I, as my love was manning the chain saw, studied the entire situation, discussed all the possibilities of how to shift it off the house, came to a very good and thought through plan. No accidents out here! Well, all was working as planned, until it came down to the time of release. He said, at the count of three, we will both drop our end. I give the nod of approval, and boy did I get it! The one thing we did not figure into the equation was our height difference. I'm 5', he 5'8". Can you picture a "see-saw"? When one end goes down, the other goes up. My end came up and gave me a right jab that would have KO'd Ali! Bit my tongue, busted open my chin and barely missed my jugular! To the ER, yes, before anything, tetanus shot! Of course, this is not the regular gardening I do, but do mow and trim and use all sorts of clippers and sheers.

I've enjoyed getting back to doing some of that the last week. And in Texas, my hummingbirds have returned and are as precious and amusing as ever! In the late afternoon is when I make a cup of tea and sit on the porch and enjoy. In eight months I experienced pain, anxiety, distress, fear and ultimately deep sadness and sorrow. It just goes to show that life does continue, it does go on. In seeing the hummingbirds return, it reminded me that I am still here, I have to continue, I need to go on, and I will be given the gift of joy, even in the smallest of ways once again!

Best wishes,

Lucy

Lucy and Texas gardens :-)
Gosh- we are both gardeners in Texas :-) now where I am-its a bit of a challenge just outside Dallas and having so many trees and having to plant shade.

Tetanus is about every 10 years I believe but Homeland Security doctor appointed would not accept my records so they gave me *everything* and I do mean everything that one already had of course including TB shot!
I have a tree trimming man coming tomorrow- so glad I read your post in case I had second thoughts about doing it myself- I *am* the person who goes up on the roof occasionally- yes I know at my age I should not be thinking about that let alone doing it- but I like a nice real fire and some branches were against the chimney last autumn.

I have a hummingbird feeder but its too cool here for them yet-red cardinals are nesting though. Steve is having daily radiation treatment-so its hectic as sole caregiver- but I promise to make a cup of gold tipped Darjeeling or some white tea on the weekend :-) And of course your lovely pic from February if I recall- reminds me I need to stop and smell the roses occasionally!

best wishes to you

Lyndsey

UKLady

Pennymac02 said:

Dentist!
Has anyone mentioned the dentist? If not, please go. I have an abscessed tooth, that according to my dentist, is not save-able. I have to go in for a deep scraping/cleaning after going thru a round of antibiotics and another extraction. I knew I had problems, but they are far worse now because I didn't make the time for my annual checks.
Penny

Dentist
Posted up there somewhere that I *love* going to the dentist here in the USA-yes I know that is weird- but you have to be a Brit in this case and know just how bad dental work in the UK can be!

best wishes


Lyndsey

mswijiknyc

UKLady said:

Ticking the boxes, even if a little late
Hi!

Can I update from the original thread and ask a question? :-)

Dermo check? I know what it is, but in the UK that was not run of the mill for me. How do I get this? PCP? he never mentioned it.

As to thyroid cancer, ongoing but looking good as my previous tests were done only last July so I am not so far off the road to be back on track soonish. Going without meds for a month was pure hell though as sole caregiver.

Had annual physical which is when thyroid problem discovered, BMI is good, etc etc. had mammo, and since I was in the UK not long ago, and a UK citizen still, colon check is the latest national campaign for mature citizens. Soooooo not enjoyable........Eyes checked too, wow

Now for those that hate the dentist,......compared with my UK experiences, I regard dental work here as off time. Me my iPod, and wow, it's like being on the starship Enterprise in comparison to a man pedaling a bicycle in the back room!! I suppose one has to have the bad experiences to appreciate how great dental treatment is here or maybe I just have been lucky in my choice? I used to be a gibbering idiot in the UK at the dentist but I kid you not, the words "duck" and "water" come to mind !

Is there anything else that should be on the to do list? since I am the stranger in town so to speak?

Homeland Security requires all vaccinations up to date btw for Permenent Residency- that was far worse than the dentist Dr Mary - I swear I should have been an octopus that day, I seem to recall Lucy is a gardener too, so tetanus should be on the list? I can't think many would need MMR And TB all over again like me?

Best wishes to all

Lyndsey on daily run for Steve's radiation pain management treatment - too hectic for words

dermatologist
you can ask for a referral to a derm from your PCP. This way you get seen sometime this year

ketziah35

Just got my eyes checked!
Just got my eyes checked! Amazing that my eyesight hasn't changes especially since I usually use my blackberry to do most of my internet "research" and communications.

DrMary

ketziah35 said:

Just got my eyes checked!
Just got my eyes checked! Amazing that my eyesight hasn't changes especially since I usually use my blackberry to do most of my internet "research" and communications.

Another reason to do the checkups
I'm glad your eyes are OK - doesn't it make you feel good to know that something is right with you? I think that's another good reason to have us all make time to see our doctors - it can be reassuring to know what's right, what's wrong and what needs watching. I know that, as much as I hate going to the doctor, I hate the uncertainty more.

Of course, I still haven't scheduled the suggested bone density, mammogram or colonoscopy; I hope that if I haven't done this in a few days, you will all bug me.

here4lfe

DrMary said:

Another reason to do the checkups
I'm glad your eyes are OK - doesn't it make you feel good to know that something is right with you? I think that's another good reason to have us all make time to see our doctors - it can be reassuring to know what's right, what's wrong and what needs watching. I know that, as much as I hate going to the doctor, I hate the uncertainty more.

Of course, I still haven't scheduled the suggested bone density, mammogram or colonoscopy; I hope that if I haven't done this in a few days, you will all bug me.

OK. Doctor, dentist, now scheduling the colonoscopy.

Keep it going gang!

Best