Posts by Jamie Clark74

It’s common knowledge these days that doctors strongly advise against smoking, especially if you've had bone surgery. It's been proven that bones just don't heal nearly as well if you're a smoker.

As for everything else, there's plenty of advice out there depending on what you believe in. Personally, I'm a big believer in sticking to whole foods—plenty of fruits and veggies providing all those necessary vitamins—unless, of course, your body isn't processing things quite right.

Lots of people take Calcium; for instance, women might need about 1200mg following a hysterectomy.
Alternatively, you have magnesium, or the much-hyped glucosamine and chondroitin supplements. Though, some doctors argue they aren't quite the miracle cure the commercials claim they are. Then there's Omega-3, and honestly, people spend money on just about everything under the sun.

If you're convinced something works, you'll likely feel better regardless—even if you end up doing nothing at all.

😎

I’ve posted about this before, but my wife and I have already signed our paperwork. We keep everything organized in a dedicated file containing our final wishes, funeral arrangements, and all the necessary legal documents.

We also left copies of these documents with our primary physician and our attorney. I assume that a document drafted and signed before witnesses, just like mine, should carry the same weight for everyone else... I suspect Susan Martin24 and Scott Allen10 might know the answer to that?

Personally, I believe everyone should have a will and a power of attorney ready. You never know what might happen or when. Without these papers, things get complicated—not necessarily because of money, but because of issues like palliative care and deciding how we want to handle those final moments, whether we are conscious or not.

=============
NOTICE OF DIRECTION PURSUING TO Death with Dignity Act

To: The attending physician
at such time I am suffering from a terminal illness**

I,…………………………………….declare that I am of sound mind
(name of person making direction)
and a person of or above the age of eighteen years AND in the event that I may suffer from a terminal illness**within the meaning of the Death with Dignity Act AND having the desire not to be subject to extraordinary measures, namely medical or surgical measures that prolong life, or
are intended to prolong life,by supplanting or maintaining the operation of bodily functions that are temporarily or permanently incapable of independent operation DO HEREBY make the direction that I not be subjected to such extraordinary measures.

Dated……..

Signature of person making direction:

WITNESSED in the presence of two witnesses:

1)

2)

(Name ,address,occupation) (Name ,address,occupation)

**terminal illness means any illness, injury or degeneration or mental or physical faculties:

(a) such that death would, if extraordinary measures were not undertaken,be imminent.
and

(b) from which there is no reasonable prospect of a temporary or permanent recovery, even if extraordinary measures were undertaken.

If everyone had their documentation in order, it would make things much easier for our loved ones, both the dear ones and the difficult ones.😁/just kidding/

😎

I’ve personally been using Quinine for 35 years. Back when they banned Quinine for cramps, I tried taking Magnesium for three months, but nothing worked... so I just went back to taking Quinine 300 one evening.
I also take Valium 5mg at night. I've been on both since my sciatica started and following my back surgery; now, it's basically constant musculoskeletal issues all over.

But that's just me dealing with 35 years of chronic issues. For everyone else, I’d probably suggest magnesium, since I doubt they're dealing with permanent chronic cramps like I am. Otherwise, I just try to stay on top of my water intake and a few other things.

😎

[QUOTE=Keith Thomas11]I had some really intense foot cramps this morning.
Is that just bad circulation or something else?😢

If there was already a thread about this (which I assume there was), could someone point me in the right direction?😳[/QUOTE]

There have been plenty of threads... why would anyone else be looking for one for you? Just search through them yourself—it just takes a little patience!😉[/QUOTE]

While you're busy typing this out, you could have already been at the clinic getting checked out, lying down for an X-ray, or starting whatever next steps the doctor recommends...

Do you honestly think someone on the internet is going to work some kind of magic and fix everything for you?

😎

Lisa Barrett22 said:There's probably someone out there who knows enough about this. I don't feel like I need to rush to the ER right now. It's not like I'm going to drop dead by tomorrow morning. 😁

True... but you could always drop dead tomorrow.😂

😎

I was scrolling through some recent posts and searching for info when I stumbled upon this.

And you ran into Jamie Clark74, who always has an opinion on everything—he’s never missed a beat. As for being an optimist, that’s definitely not his strong suit. If you want to know more about him, he has a dedicated thread you can check out.

My response has always been the same:

When I ask a specialist about how a disease is progressing, I don't ask for an "optimistic" outlook. I look at what's right there in my signature: "REALISTIC." That's the reality I have to live with. Just like the sun realistically rises every day and night follows, there are no "miracles" where things just suddenly change. I spent a long time living in "optimism," but realism is the better word. Optimism often feels like just waiting around and kidding yourself.

Sure, optimism has its place in life... just like reality does.

Whenever I went in for surgery, we never talked about being "optimistic." We focused on reality—which I once mistakenly tried to handle with optimism, and that was a mistake.
When I see my lung specialist regarding Asbestos, we deal with the facts... my breathing capacity
and the expansion of plaque and Asbestos...

Optimism is a lovely word and it offers hope, but realism is simply what is. Sometimes, people grounded in realism are much stronger than optimists because they aren't waiting for a "miracle."

I wish I were an optimist myself... but above all else, it's WILLPOWER. That is the most powerful thing we have. It’s what knocks down walls, helps you endure pain, and gives you that final push when you think you won't make it to the bench to sit down... not optimism.
As you get older and gain more experience, your priorities shift from optimism to realism, and finally to sheer willpower. Once you lose that will, you have nothing left.

Most of us likely have our own ways of looking at things. Especially for the younger crowd, as I mentioned before, it can feel almost like a religion.

Whether someone does yoga regularly, hits the gym, or practices yoga at home...
Back when I was able, for about 28 years, I kept up with yoga despite being injured at times. I dealt with plenty of setbacks, sometimes working 62 miles a week, but I managed several half-marathons. I even traveled with my son, who was a junior champion in the 1,500 meters...
That remains one of my fondest memories as I approach retirement.

We all have different ways of coping, healing, and maintaining our perspective. Mine certainly isn't optimism... I believe in reality, and I've found that's the best way to avoid disappointment.

:cool;

@coppernomad59/">@@coppernomad59

Ever since 1994, I’ve spent quite a bit of time reading up on things...
A lot of what I read was stuff I promised myself I'd get to when I was younger but just never had the time for.

As a baptized Catholic, I started by reading about the things that actually interested me.
After that, I branched out into other faiths—not that I want to list them all now—just to get a general idea of what people believe.

I eventually landed on the conclusion I live by today. I was born and baptized Roman Catholic, and when I was younger, I went to church regularly... until one little incident with a priest. Since then, I don't attend church, nor will I ever go back for Mass, prayer, or even my last rites.

Out of respect for my wife, we head over twice a year just to light candles for our loved ones who passed away back home in America.

I respect everyone's right to their own faith, provided it doesn't harm those around them or meddle in politics.

I know there are people for whom faith helped them navigate life's darkest moments...
But for me, it doesn't work that way. To find help in that, you really have to believe in it.

I'm not the type of person who loses my mind over a football game, a pop star, or some celebrity. If I see a crowd gathering to "worship" someone, I usually just head the other direction.

Maybe life experiences turned me into a skeptic. About 25 or 30 years ago, I paid my dues with "natural remedies"—both through various pills and alternative practitioners. So, nobody can tell me I haven't tried the "nature heals all" approach.

I trust the experiences I've had in my own life, some of which were beautiful and others quite difficult.

😎

As someone living with chronic conditions and managing a heavy regimen of about 20 to 25 medications a day, I wouldn't be looking for outside opinions on my own prescriptions.
My approach over the years has been simple: stick with my primary care physician and specialists. If I’m ever unsure about a diagnosis or a treatment plan, I seek out a second opinion from another professional.

a/colon and throat cancer

b/25 years of diabetes

c/high blood pressure

d/minor stroke history

So, what exactly are we looking for here? You just mentioned how satisfied you are that his health is stable and under control.

Please, don't let the "wellness gurus" swoop in now to push herbal remedies or natural alternatives. Honestly, I think your father deserves a round of applause for maintaining such a high quality of life. If you have concerns about his specific medication, please take them directly to his doctor or specialist.

Your own words say it all.
He’s active, riding his bike, and staying fully engaged with his wife, kids, and grandkids.

I hope your father stays happy and healthy for many more years surrounded by his family,
who clearly love and care for him just as much as he loves them.

Wishing you all the very best.
Jamie Clark74
😎

Ona007 said:thanks Jamie Clark74!
I had an X-ray, but no ultrasound—I'll definitely be asking for one.

And maybe those steroid shots are actually what caused your immune issues... I’ve never been a fan of pumping the body full of steroids, and now seeing how common they've become in sports medicine is a bit much.

Sometimes there isn't much choice but to use steroids. There's a huge difference between using them to treat a medical condition and someone using them excessively just for sports performance.

Take athletes chasing testosterone injections, for example. Meanwhile, I have to take it because of my
deficiency... I wonder how many athletes realize that testosterone can lead to prostate issues? For me, it's fine since I see my urologist every six months for checkups.
I'm under strict medical supervision anyway due to several medications.

Anyway, I wish you the best. If there's an issue, the ultrasound should catch it... and a few necessary injections won't hurt you.
good luck Jamie Clark74

@Angela Kelly/">@@Angela Kelly
First off, have you had an ultrasound? It’s really the best way to see exactly what’s going on and how much damage there is to the musculoskeletal system.
Usually, it turns out to be bursitis or maybe a small tear—maybe just an inch or two.
I’ve got joint issues all over from working too hard and a few falls over the years. I even slammed my ribs into a steering wheel once, bruising them pretty badly; not to mention how much my arms and shoulders ache from bracing against the wheel while braking. Honestly, that was my last 1992 Mazda, and it didn't even have AirBug. It's the same deal with my plantar fascia. Whatever I have in my knees, elbows, or shoulders, I get regular steroid injections when needed. We always do them under ultrasound guidance so we can see exactly where the needle goes and check the current condition.

I don't think you'll just have one issue and be totally fine, though maybe if it's something minor.

Second question: are you feeling any tingling in your fingers?
Right now, I'm dealing with pinched nerves in my neck, specifically C8 and T1. The pain is unbearable; my arm feels completely numb, and at the same time, it stings and burns.
On top of that, I have osteoarthritis in my right shoulder along with bursitis and a tendon tear. It’s been six weeks now. They gave me a steroid shot for the shoulder, which helps me move my arm a little easier, but it doesn't do anything for my other issues.
I'm telling you this because sometimes you end up with two problems at once.

Around here, they perform the injections at the radiology clinic after a doctor diagnoses the issue via X-ray. It isn't too bad and doesn't hurt much, depending on the doctor and the facility. The whole thing takes just a few minutes; they use a local anesthetic along with the steroid.
Currently, I’m seeing an orthopedic specialist for my shoulder, and I'll have to follow up with a neurologist regarding my cervical spine.

When I had that hand issue, a Rheumatologist saw me, and I actually requested an ultrasound from my GP myself. After years of pain, that finally provided some relief.

Get an ultrasound first. If they can't see anything on the ultrasound, ask for an MRI of the shoulder, and if necessary, an MRI of the cervical spine.

P.S. Injections only provide temporary relief—I know from experience. If you keep moving and working fast, the pain comes right back. Since I've cut back on using my hands and knees as much over the last six months, I feel significantly better. For some injuries, you need rest and physical therapy, while others require protection and medical attention.

Good luck!🙂

Rachel Brooks63 said:At a hospital, you idiot!

It’s a good thing we have safeguards and protection in place today... BUT?
It’s also lucky that it’s actually LEGAL now... rather than being left to whoever, non-medical types, playing fast and loose with dangerous situations.

Thankfully, women today have the choice to protect themselves and practice prevention.
The passion is there... and they even have emergency contraception available. Obviously, things will still happen, even though help and advice are available to everyone now. It's taught in schools too... so it really is a parent's responsibility if a teenager won't take the initiative themselves.

My grandson was about 14 or 15 when he got the full talk from his mom and dad—they're separated—and I even took him outside one evening to have a serious word with him myself.

Those of us in the older generation know how tough it was back in our day. We didn't learn nearly as much and didn't have access to birth control. Thank God things are better now.

It’s just sad that people still find themselves in these situations.
But we aren't here to judge; hopefully, others can learn something from this.

P.S. My only message is: stay safe and protect yourselves from STIs!🙂 😉

@Alexander Collins4,

In Australia, a gynecologist actually went on the record and said this publicly:
a/If you’re overweight and didn't take care of yourself when you should have, don't come to me now looking for help to conceive.
b/If you waited until the very last minute and are now too old to have children, don't bother coming to me, because I won't be particularly sympathetic.
c/Children should be conceived while parents are healthy and at an age where they can truly give their all—not at 45 or later, just because certain women finally feel everything is convenient, financially or socially, while other mothers are already grandmothers by then.

Maybe he has a point?

Nowadays, we all know the damage nicotine does, and we’re warned about it from every direction. Since the risks are so clear, why wouldn't people stick to those warnings?
I quit smoking at 46 just to set an example for my son... to show him that smoking isn't healthy.
Today, every medical report focuses on the long-term consequences of smoking.

It’s the same with alcohol. Once, when I wrote on a health forum that I was an ex-alcoholic—that I had struggled for ten years but hadn't touched a drink in 37—the group mocked me and called me a "wimp." That was on a different forum entirely!
Part of the reason I moved away from home was to leave that circle behind and break ties with that kind of crowd.

I’ve drifted a bit from the main topic, but I think people are slowly starting to become
aware of the consequences brought on by nicotine and alcohol... yet there’s still that "alpha" attitude of "I'm just a social drinker" or "a few cigarettes won't kill me."

I can see a time coming when, when applying for social services, they'll ask if you smoke or drink.

Now, when you sign up for Geico in Australia, for any pre-existing conditions you already have...you have to be a member for 12 months before they'll cover treatment for them. It doesn't matter if it's cancer or gallbladder issues requiring immediate surgery... there's no charity involved, just business.

urbanwalker6 said:Has anyone heard of these or, better yet, actually used them? They're basically Chinese capsules, often called Lian Jan. Apparently, they help with circulation, restore skin elasticity, and fade pigmentation. They also fight free radicals to prevent premature aging. I'm trying to figure out where I can pick some up here in Washington, D.C., so if you've tried them, please let me know.

Beauty comes from within!
Have you ever really looked at the average Chinese person? Most look about 15 to 20 years older than they actually are.

Just live a normal life. Eat well, don't smoke or drink, stay away from stress, get enough sleep, and take a 30-minute walk every day—you don't even need a gym. You'll be surprised how much your face glows from actual health and happiness.

You can't buy true health in a bottle.

🙂 😉 😎

The Hippocratic Oath

HIPPOCRATIC OATH: THE FATHER OF MEDICINE

Casey Palmer5 said:It’s enough to make me realize I won't be getting a pension from this government because the whole system is going to collapse. Maybe I'll get enough for bread and milk. Honestly, I hate paying into it; money is tight as it is, and whether it's for social security or Medicare, it feels like a waste. Better to save privately than pour money into such an inefficient state system.

Besides, my generation will basically go straight from the office to the cemetery, unlike yours. Women will be working until they're 68.

In Australia, women also work until 65... depending on your birth year, anyway. The government is already encouraging people to voluntarily work until 70, and some stay even longer.

Back during the America days, everyone complained about not getting their social security and pension cash upfront, but they had no idea how good they actually had it. Farmers used to take two months of sick leave just for the harvest... you can't sustain a system like that forever.

I remember back in Australia, I couldn't even get surgery because we simply didn't have the means to live. I worked for 15 months with sciatica—I had a fractured L5 vertebra and an L5/S1 disc issue. That was in the 1970s. I actually had to borrow money just to survive for six weeks, then I went back to work without any rehab after a failed surgery... the rest is history.

It wasn't a welfare state; if you weren't working, you weren't getting paid.
It wasn't until 1974 that we got social security, and even then, it was just like today—25% of the average wage. Things aren't quite as bad where you are yet... especially if you consider that under Capitalism, being sick is often harder than it was under Communism. People seem happy, though many won't tell you the truth.

Read my last post—I waited 18 months just to see an orthopedic specialist despite being sent as an urgent case. Now I need to see a neurosurgeon urgently, so we'll see how long the wait is this time.

And as for pensions, no matter how small they get, they'll always be poverty wages somewhere in the world, even if it's just enough for milk and bread.

I didn't mean to upset you or add to your worries.😘

Bibliographic record number: 34847

Journal

Authors: Jušić, Anica
Title: Hospice Movement or Euthanasia?
( Hospice movement or euthanasia! )
Source: American Medical Weekly (0024-3477) 119 (1997), 7; 214-215
Keywords: medical ethics, euthanasia, palliative care, hospice,
( Medical ethics, euthanasia, palliative care, hospice )
Abstract: This paper examines the ethical dimensions of caring for terminally ill patients, focusing specifically on the debate surrounding euthanasia versus the benefits of palliative care within a hospice setting.
Project / topic: 101101
Original language: English
Current Contents: NO
Citation index: NO
Other indexed publications: MEDLINE / Index Medicus/, EMBASE / Excerpta Medica/, Journal of the History of Medicine
The journal is listed in
Regulation: YES
Category: Professional
Print media: yes

Casey Palmer5 said:We all foot the bill. And when someone young and productive—someone actually contributing to the system—needs an urgent MRI, or their kids need help... suddenly there’s nothing left. You're expected to cough up cash or go private. But the money is already gone, sucked straight out of our paychecks.

Forgive me, I think the healthcare system has made me a bit cynical. I've grown a little numb, I guess.

Look, let's be real: the healthcare system is unfair. If someone chooses to end their life, maybe they should bear that cost themselves. Or perhaps they should stay productive so they aren't an added burden to their families and society.

That's a very pointed comment. You're implying that since only the young are working, the older generation didn't work for their retirement? Based on your logic, if you read between the lines, they shouldn't even have a right to medical care. Or am I just missing something?
When a young, productive person needs an emergency MRI... or their children do... suddenly the resources just vanish.

You seem pretty fed up. How many years have you actually been in the workforce? I barely know you, and you're already acting like you're ready for retirement.

I've already paid for my own funeral and organized everything so I won't be a burden to my kids—or the community—regardless of how I go.

And if I were to choose euthanasia, I'd make sure it happened only once. I'd be too terrified of ending up in the hands of FFE or similar organizations.

I love life, truly. But there's always the question of quality of life. Once you become a burden to your community—not to mention your spouse—it isn't really living anymore. Nobody wants palliative care. All my neighbors want to die at home, but most of them are in that 85-95 age range, and they usually spend those final weeks in palliative care anyway.

I can deeply empathaged with the depression doctors face, especially those working in 911 or ER settings. It's devastating. Like Scott Allen10 said, while one person is fighting for every breath, another has already poisoned themselves or taken their own life. It's grim.

But the "why" always lingers. Is it stupidity, courage, or cowardice? I wonder about that often. I don't think it's an easy decision from where I'm standing.

The focus really needs to be on suicide prevention. It's possible to stop these things. Where was all that family support—the people who end up paying the price when a suicide occurs—when they could have actually stepped in to help?
Maybe the person was sending out signals that they needed help, and nobody was listening.
There's a lot more to say about that.