Today was something of a health care today. I spent all afternoon with two of the linchpin in my health care, Dr. Jacob Merryman (below) in Schuylerville, and Amy Eldridge (above), the primary nurse. She oversees the expanding medical empire that monitors my health.
First, the unwanted news: I need some dental work done.
As one ages, their gums tend to decide, and as the gums decide, food particles get caught between the tooth and the gums. I might need work done on as many as five teeth, but it can be done in an hour or two, which will cost a lot of money.
Aging is much about maintenance, and maintenance keeps me healthy and active.
I’m doing maintenance on other parts of my body, from my heart to my feet, so it was perhaps inevitable I needed to do some on my teeth. The good news is that I should keep all of my teeth and, with regular visits, keep my mouth healthy. I won’t complain about it.
My illness might have accelerated this issue, says Dr. Merryman.
I’m in good hands with him as a dentist; he assured me he can handle this work; it just might take two visits. I didn’t even ask him what it would cost; I’ll know soon enough.
The dental work will happen next Wednesday, we hope to get it done in one visit, but it most likely will take two. I want to get it over with.
I wasn’t expecting this; I’ve been taking excellent care of my teeth as recommended. I am switching to prescription toothpaste, another regular medicine, another cost.
The X-rays found three and five cavities in my mouth, which is more than I’ve had in some years.
As a result, I am using only prescription Flouride toothpaste and will spend a couple of thousand dollars getting those teeth in shape.
The cavities can be treated; I don’t lose any teeth or need any root canal or other surgical work done on my mouth.
That is excellent news. I practice radical acceptance. I reject old talk or lament. I won’t speak poorly of my life.
This is what it means to be 75; it is not a shock or a devastating blow to me. I’m lucky to have such a whole and healthy life as I approach 75. Thank you once again, Rev. Graham, for cautioning me against speaking poorly of my life or complaining about young people today or the cost of things or my aches and pains.
I’m nothing but lucky. I write and take photos every single day more than once and have the sweetest love in my life that I ever imagined.
(Dr. Merryman.)
On the other side of my health day, I met for more than an hour with Amy Eldridge, my nurse practitioner and the overseer of my health care. She asked me again if she could look at my feet (I balked the first time or two), and I said sure.
I trust Amy and love our talks and visits. She said this was a good thing. Family practitioners always want to look at a diabetic’s foot. She told me the pulse was strong, and my feet looked great. Thank you, Dr. Daly.
We reviewed my blood work and vital signs, which were excellent. As a suspected, I’m in better shape than I’ve been in decades, despite the illness that messed up my month.
My cholesterol was low, my AIC blood was fine, my blood pressure was something to brag about, and my heartbeat was strong.
The blood clot on my leg, which had swollen and become painful during my mysterious illness, is slowly disappearing, as expected. It poses no threat to my heart, and the heat pads she recommended work to eliminate it. Just keep on doing what you are doing, she said.
I asked Amy how long this illness would take to be healed entirely; she said the important thing was that it was continuing to get better. She said it was getting better; she could see that I looked good to her. And she had some bloodwork and tests to back that up, as she always does.
One of the things I love about being Amy’s patient is that she knows me and even likes me.
She had taken the trouble to do that, which few medical people have the time or the will to do. My pulmonologist, the only male doctor who treats me now apart from Dr. Merryman, knows nothing about me – where I live, what I do, what I’m like. I doubt he knows my name. I am simply a data point on his charts and tests.
Amy is very different from most medical people.
I feel I leave knowing what is happening to my body and what I can and can’t do about it. Her goodwill and gentleness are infectious. As long as I’m getting better, she said, I’m fine.
I did let off some steam.
I told her this was the sickest I had ever been; this virus attacked every part of my body, from my diabetes to my breathing to my eyes and joints. I was weary of it. Every day, it recedes a bit. I have had no hives for two or three days and am sleeping better.
She said I would get stronger every day, continue to lose weight, and get even healthier.
This was the message I needed to hear. The teeth thing is a disappointment, a pain in the ass. But no tragedy or trauma.
That is the deal; that is the price I pay for staying healthy, active, and engaged with the world. I left her office feeling good and strong.
My writing has never been stronger, at least in my mind. I’ve found my voice.
My blog has never looked better; I’m learning to take good pictures.
I love my work at the Mansion and am eager to move with the refugees and Sue Silverstein to their new school. I have much to live for and much to look forward to. My raised garden beds are a true blessing. I’m a gardener now; gardeners are asking for my advice!
Rev. Graham would be proud of me. I haven’t said anything about rising gas prices or inflation or about one conspiracy theory. Donald Trump will soon do what he always does, find a way to shoot himself in the foot. I think he does this because he is unwell and loves to show his power by returning.
Sociopaths don’t know they are vulnerable until they are, and even then, they don’t believe it is possible.
Trump is like one of my hives. He will fade away, one way or the other, and no matter what he does, he will not get to dominate or shape my life, hope, and emotions. We will clean up his poison and his shit for the rest of my life and beyond.
I won’t give my emotional life away to anyone, not him or his acolytes or successors or imitators.
Tonight, I planted six more begonia bulbs in my raised garden beds. I can’t wait to see them pop up.
Hey Jon. Long time reader. I related quite a bit to this post. I will turn 70 this year. I recently had my 3rd temporary crown put in place, and am waiting for the permanent one to come in. When it does, that will be the 6th visit to the dentist in the last few months. I am having quite a good time telling my friends that soon, I will be a triple crown winner. ??? Humor for the win! Thanks for all the many, many times you have made me smile, laugh, cry a little and share just being a human. I appreciate you.
Hey Jon. I’ll be 69 next month and in the past few years I’ve had to have a lot of dental work – so I fell your pain (old age and teeth don’t mix well). I recently had to have a 4-tooth bridge put in $$$$$. However, I have Care Credit. It’s a great credit card to use at the dentist and I use it for vet appointments also. Look into it. It doesn’t have any fees and you gain reward points where you can turn them in for gift cards and other items. The benefit of the card (if your dentist takes it), is that you have at least 6 months to pay back with no interest (could be longer – usually depends on the cost). I have used it for years – as long as the bill in over $200, you can use it. No hidden catches. Check it out!
Jon…
At some age, virtually all of our body parts will require some kind of maintenance or treatment. The trick is to discover these needs before they become too serious. But, with all of the medical events that accelerate with age, it’s difficult to prioritize dental care. There’s an old joke, “your teeth are fine, but your gums have to go.” With time, that advice becomes less humorous.
Due to childhood experiences, my wife had a fear of dentists. That’s no longer a problem. By the time she reached 40, her teeth began falling out. Periodontal neglect had taken its toll.
I currently supplement daily brushing and flossing with a dental visit every 3 – 4 months, including periodontal checkups and cleanings. This includes the measurement of periodontal pockets. The depths of these pockets that form between teeth and gums is a periodontal red flag. As these pockets become deeper, the gum’s grip on the teeth loosens. At some point, dental scaling/deep cleaning is needed to slow or reverse this process. Pre-2000, this was done manually. Now, professionals increasingly use ultrasonic equipment that produces only minor discomfort.
Periodontal procedures can get expensive, as does dental insurance. But over time, the cost of neglect is greater. The easiest avoidance measure is proper, regular self-care at home.
Nevertheless, with respect to Rev. Graham, dealing with these inconveniences beats the alternative.
I have had trouble with my teeth all of my life. I read about an ancient treatment called “pulling”, although I call it swishing. Every morning I put about 1 teaspoon of coconut oil in my mouth an swish for 15 minutes. At first it was hard but I read various things on my computer and the time quickly passes. It is then spit out but not in toilet or sink as it can clog them. I’ve been doing this for several years and barely even need my teeth cleaned. I did have one cavity, the first in years. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t done it.