All said and done, I guess I am going to live for a few more years. Not without some issues though...
The physical exam went fine. Blood pressure normal, and everything else looking like it should. Still slowly losing weight though. Down to 155 lbs.
Now, to give perspective, I weighed 145 lbs at age 22 when we got married. Always been a tall skinny guy. And the most I ever weighed in my life was 175 lbs when I actively increased my caloric intake for about three years and also worked out with weights every day. That was twelve years ago in 2003.
Only one issue came up with the physical exam. What is the most common problem in men over the age of 50?
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. Or as it is more commonly known, slightly enlarged prostate gland. He had done the standard PSA test, and that came back within normal range, but he did say it's something that I'll need to watch closely in coming years,
After the poking and prodding, we sat down to discuss the blood and urine test results. The two things I thought might show a problem were cholesterol and blood sugar, but both appeared to be within normal range as well. Kidneys and liver values all showing normal, so I guess my winter alcohol intake hasn't done any harm.
However, iron levels were above normal, and so was thyroid hyperactivity. He said this may be why the slow weight loss, but provided I still had a good appetite he didn't seem worried by it. He's a little concerned about the high iron level though, and has ordered another blood test of some kind.
So, not really anything I can do much about. Keep eating lots of green veggies, and try and intake more good calories where I can. Try to eat less cow and pig, and more chicken and fish!
ECG came back normal as well, and that's a good thing because both my grandfathers died in their 60's of heart attacks. He did suggest and recommend that I should be taking one baby aspirin every day. The last time I had a physical done (10 years ago?) I remember the doctor at the time saying the same thing. So I guess I'll look into that.
Other than that, it's all good!
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We bought a new camera! In preparation for our Colombia trip where we want to do the five day hike through the jungle rainforest to the Lost City, we wanted a rugged little pocket camera. Plus, the little camera that Ruth has been using has been starting to act up. So, time for a replacement. We chose the Fuji Finepix XP-80, and we got it at a great price. Currently on sale at Amazon both in the U.S. and in Canada!
Fujifilm FinePix XP80 Waterproof Digital Camera - U.S.A.
It's waterproof up to 50 feet and shock proof, dust proof, and drop proof. Here's the Canadian Amazon price...at $198 and with free shipping and only 5% tax it's the cheapest I could find. A great deal...
I don't know about the aspirin, I have read some doctor's don't like it, and some do. Up to you of course! You live a very active lifestyle so it doesn't surprise me that you are getting good health grades.
ReplyDeleteNice camera!!!!
Kevin has read up on it and he's not sure that he is going to take them either. He started taking them after his last physical 10 years ago or so when that doctor also told him to take them and then he stopped before he even finished one bottle of them, probably for the same reason that he won't do it this time.
DeleteIt's all sounding pretty good :-)
ReplyDeleteThe doctor thinks so too and so do we. :-)
DeleteSounding good, just keep an eye on that prostrate early detection in the trick.
ReplyDeleteRight on less cow and pig, more chicken, turkey and fishes very good for you. We don't miss beef at all.
We actually don't eat very much beef and when we do for the most part it is ground beef that is in spaghetti sauce that makes 3 or 4 meals so really the amount of beef in each serving doesn't add up to much. The only time it is more concentrated is if I make hamburgers or meatloaf with it. We definitely eat more chicken than any other meat.
Deletegreat check up. I'm with Karyn I am confused about the aspirin. I have one artery totally blocked and 5 stents and cardiologist took me off daily aspirin
ReplyDeleteI don't get it either!
DeleteYou had a great exam. Most people are trying desperately to lose weight, so eat away!!
ReplyDeleteI know, he is lucky to have this problem. I on the other hand have to really watch that I don't eat too much!
DeleteYes, the aspirin is controversial as are a lot of drugs. Did he say anything else about the thyroid? Did you tell him the build of your parents?
ReplyDeleteWe agree with you about the aspirin and other drugs being controversial, sometimes getting execrise and eating the correct foods can do away with many of the drugs out there at least for a number of people. No, he didn't say anything else about the thyroid, just that they will have to keep an eye on it. Yes, I am pretty sure that he mentioned that he has his parents genes!
DeleteCongrats on the mostly good checkup! I may have to become a Saskatchewanderer myself, if I am ever going to get affordable health care during my lifetime.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dugg! Yes, Saskatchewan seems to include more in their system than some of the other provinces. Both Ontario and British Columbia charge for the PSA test but here you don't have too, same with the celiac test, in Ontario they charge you extra for that. Sometimes we just don't get the "system"!
DeleteKevin read the warranty and Besides I think you need to do a quality control test on that fancy new camera if you take it and put it on the end of a good fishing line flip it out in the lake let it go to the bottom drag it across the bottom and see if it works
ReplyDeleteAnd if it's got video on it all that much better put that on YouTube under camera review
And one good thing if it doesn't work you at least have a great warranty
Last year when flying my kite over the lake with my Smart phone on the end of it
it landed in the lake,, warranty didn't cover that but he did cover the loss of the phone you got a love warranties
Have a great day
Nope we aren't going to do quality control on the new camera that way, we will just put it to the test with our normal every day type of travel that we do which we think will definitely give it a work out.
DeleteSounds pretty good for an "old" man like you. LOL They told me the aspirin thing too and I did it and immediately started bruising every time I touched anything so I quit. So if I die of a heart attack beware.
ReplyDeleteYou and Kevin can then keep an eye on each other, if one of you conks out then the other can start taking the baby asprins! ;-)
DeleteI have never heard of a person having high iron level. I will have to look that one up.
ReplyDeletePlease share with us how a camera is drop proof? I need to share that one with Paul....lol
Well now you have. Kevin is going to have to look at what he can do to lower it now!
DeleteKevin has had a problem as well with dropping cameras, especially new ones, like 2 years ago with the new one that we had gotten for Africa! ;-)
LOL, Ruth. I remember that incident very well. In my minds eye I can still hear that dull thud as his camera hit the rock as well as see the look of horror on Kevin's face. Yikes!
DeleteYep, it is one that we will never forget! So glad for the insurance on that credit card that allowed us to get a new one!
DeleteGood to know we'll be reading your blog for many years to come! :c)
ReplyDelete:-)
DeleteMy son-in-law has high iron content in his blood and to treat it they bleed him. So maybe you could donate some good blood. Many people that need blood are anemic.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that suggestion, Kevin may just do that. Still the question stands, as to why is his iron content high?
DeleteI take my half a tab for blood pressure, I tried everything from diet to exercise to a vegetarian diet. No change. I still try sticking to the vegan diet just because I like it. I'm on the "firm believers" side of the baby aspirin a day.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it is just a genetic thing and that your body just has a tendency to have higher than normal blood pressure without it being a health risk. I think diet and exercise make the most difference.
DeleteGoogle hemochromatosis if you have high iron.
ReplyDeleteAlready done, thanks! I was in yesterday to give another blood donation for further analysis.
Delete