Health Matters

[John King]

Current thinking is that raw milk, butter, and cheese are all actually good for you (well, for most people that is).

Exactly. Specifically, my Doctor both approves of and recommends that I eat a lot of dairy produce to help with my osteoporosis.

I need to eat a lot of full cream ice cream to assist with the problems associated with not having a colon. Also extra cheese and extra calcium plus vitamin D supplements every day.

My arteries are in excellent condition, but my skeleton is not ...

The first question my Doctor asked when I mentioned that I was losing weight was "Is that deliberate, John?". I said "Yes, I am trying to get back to the weight I was in my mid twenties". He was OK with that.

I've now lost over 8 kgs, and have been stable for over a month, at approximately my weight when I was 26 y.o., which was 11.5 stone, or 73 kilos. I intend to try to lose another kilo, taking me down to 75 kgs.

I really advise people to talk to their Doctor before engaging in the "diet of the month". Any major changes to one's diet needs to take one's own specific dietary requirements into account.

If you are more than about 10% overweight, you should probably talk to a dietician as well.

Fad diets are usually very bad for your body, and also usually unsuccessful in the long term.

 

[MountainMan79]

Let's drill down further. It's butter really isn't it. One of the top top ingredients there is and there's no way I'm ever going to stop consuming that at any time. My policy is to enjoy it in (that dreaded word) moderation. Seems to be working for me at the moment. Psychologically I manage to deal with it by knowing I'm having some each day at least once, so I enjoy it when I have it. No bingeing.

For me, nothing to do with butter. My keto diet would let me eat that by the stick. It’s the carbs that are my weakness. Although I agree with the overall sentiment…everything in moderation.

 

[John King]

A medically approved/recommended diet: the FODMAPS diet. Particularly for GORD/GERD, but also generally. Only short term, and usually for diagnostic purposes. Please read links carefully!

 

[rayvonn]

Ah, the dreaded sinus cold and the feeling of set cement blocking the nasal passage preventing proper breathing and certainly preventing sleep, causing headaches all along. Never suffered it to that extent before the last fun week so if that's been you, you have my sympathies. This was no ordinary man cold and I'm not seeking sympathy, no, I'm here to help as I'm guessing there must be at least one fellow member whose going to be suffering the same symptoms at some stage, so if that ever happens to you, these are the top tips I learned; Lemsip is not an old wives tale it does help, so does drinking tons of water and (especially important), cleaning inside the nose with salt water. Do these things and I promise, it will eventually go away. Because, as anyone who's ever had to go through this knows, it can feel as if it never will.

 

[John King]

Ah, the dreaded sinus cold and the feeling of set cement blocking the nasal passage preventing proper breathing and certainly preventing sleep, causing headaches all along. Never suffered it to that extent before the last fun week so if that's been you, you have my sympathies. This was no ordinary man cold and I'm not seeking sympathy, no, I'm here to help as I'm guessing there must be at least one fellow member whose going to be suffering the same symptoms at some stage, so if that ever happens to you, these are the top tips I learned; Lemsip is not an old wives tale it does help, so does drinking tons of water and (especially important), cleaning inside the nose with salt water. Do these things and I promise, it will eventually go away. Because, as anyone who's ever had to go through this knows, it can feel as if it never will.

My sympathy, Tim.

I suffered from severe chronic sinusitis (box of 300 Kleenex a night, at its worst) until I had a bilateral radical antrostomy in the mid 1970s. That dramatically improved things.
These days, a twice daily saline flush before showering seems to be all I need, and a cetirizine daily during the hay fever season.

 

[rayvonn]

Welcome to my world. Well over the last 5 days at least.

 

[Bill in Texas]

Well, I'll chime in on this one. 2011 diagnosed as diabetic and with advanced prostate cancer. I took the usual drugs for diabetes and weighed the options for the cancer.

Diabetes, Type 2 - I moved along on Metformin for several years, watching what I ate and controlling it. Several years ago I discovered the Keto lifestyle and began following it in a hardcore way. My wife and I still live it but much more relaxed now. Numerous products over the years have come along that make some things available again. Bread is one but only occasionally. We have learned to make foods we used to enjoy but in a keto way. We are used to it after years and physically feel bad if we eat the old way. We do cheat once in a while though. I have been off of any diabetes meds for at least four years now due to the lifestyle.

Cancer - I was floored by the diagnosis obviously. It hadn't metastasized. I weighed options and did a lot of online research. The doctor told me I needed to act quickly due to it being an 8 on the Gleason scale. She told me due to the advanced case that robotic surgery wouldn't be possible. I decided to see a Dr. in Houston at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. He was willing to do the surgery with the robot and downgraded my case to a 7 on the Gleason. Somehow, I still had an uneasy feeling about it all. I decided to try a number of supplements I had read about and asked the original doctor. if she would help keep an eye on it. She would much to her dismay. Nothing changed much until late 2014 and it became apparent that I would need to do something. My wife had been communicating with an oncologist in Houston at the UT Med/Memorial Hermann Cancer Center who was involved with research and clinical trials. I went to see him and in March of 2015, started on his program which would end with surgery in the summer by a leading urologist/surgeon at Methodist Hospital. The oncologist was a Godsend. I'm here to say, I am alive by going a different route than originally proposed in the beginning. I just received another blood work report showing to be still cancer-free.

 

[John King]

Well, I'll chime in on this one. 2011 diagnosed as diabetic and with advanced prostate cancer. I took the usual drugs for diabetes and weighed the options for the cancer.

Diabetes, Type 2 - I moved along on Metformin for several years, watching what I ate and controlling it. Several years ago I discovered the Keto lifestyle and began following it in a hardcore way. My wife and I still live it but much more relaxed now. Numerous products over the years have come along that make some things available again. Bread is one but only occasionally. We have learned to make foods we used to enjoy but in a keto way. We are used to it after years and physically feel bad if we eat the old way. We do cheat once in a while though. I have been off of any diabetes meds for at least four years now due to the lifestyle.

Cancer - I was floored by the diagnosis obviously. It hadn't metastasized. I weighed options and did a lot of online research. The doctor told me I needed to act quickly due to it being an 8 on the Gleason scale. She told me due to the advanced case that robotic surgery wouldn't be possible. I decided to see a Dr. in Houston at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. He was willing to do the surgery with the robot and downgraded my case to a 7 on the Gleason. Somehow, I still had an uneasy feeling about it all. I decided to try a number of supplements I had read about and asked the original doctor. if she would help keep an eye on it. She would much to her dismay. Nothing changed much until late 2014 and it became apparent that I would need to do something. My wife had been communicating with an oncologist in Houston at the UT Med/Memorial Hermann Cancer Center who was involved with research and clinical trials. I went to see him and in March of 2015, started on his program which would end with surgery in the summer by a leading urologist/surgeon at Methodist Hospital. The oncologist was a Godsend. I'm here to say, I am alive by going a different route than originally proposed in the beginning. I just received another blood work report showing to be still cancer-free.

That's very good news indeed, Bill.

A very positive outcome, so far, from being proactive in managing your health issues thoughtfully and intelligently.

Keep up the good work, mate!

 

[Bill in Texas]

That's very good news indeed, Bill.

A very positive outcome, so far, from being proactive in managing your health issues thoughtfully and intelligently.

Keep up the good work, mate!

John, thank you very much. In this day and age we have to take control and be our own advocates.

 

[John King]

John, thank you very much.

You're welcome, mate.

In this day and age we have to take control and be our own advocates.

Exactly, Bill.

Either that or survive by accident!
Many will do exactly that, of course.

The whole point of any average is that it's within two standard deviations from the mean. These are the people upon which most medical procedures are performed, and almost all medications are tested.

Anyone who falls outside of these limits (about 3% of us) needs to understand everything about themselves, and their medications, or pay the ultimate price.

 

[doady]

I lost 50lbs in 2021, but in the past year I started feeling like eating again, so I have been able to gain 20lbs back so far, so now I am at 140lbs.

 

[John King]

I lost 50lbs in 2021, but in the past year I started feeling like eating again, so I have been able to gain 20lbs back so far, so now I am at 140lbs.

May your recovery continue, David.

I've lost about 13 Kgs over the last 16 months, but that has been deliberate. I was previously overweight. I'm now back to the weight I was in my mid twenties - a healthy weight for my height and build.

And a very warm to this friendly forum, mate.

 

[doady]

Thank you, I am fine now. The neurologist allowed me to ride a bicycle again a few months ago, and when I rode found it very painful to sit and I realized I am not eating enough. Just lack of awareness, nothing serious.

Anyways, thanks for the welcome, John King. I am looking forward getting to know you and everyone else here.

 

[John King]

Thank you, I am fine now. The neurologist allowed me to ride a bicycle again a few months ago, and when I rode found it very painful to sit and I realized I am not eating enough. Just lack of awareness, nothing serious.

Anyways, thanks for the welcome, John King. I am looking forward getting to know you and everyone else here.

Ha, David 😉!
We've known each other for years, on other fora.

However, this forum is different from every other forum I have and do participate in. Good moderation by our dedicated team of moderators, nice people, lovely photos. None of the bitchiness and brand BS that I've observed almost everywhere else.

All in all, lovely, caring people who love photography - says it all, really.

 

[christilou]

The news from the Princess of Wales has been broadcast tonight. Have to say I found it extremely triggering (never understood that phrase until now). Twenty five years ago this was me. I had breast cancer and had to explain it to my children aged 7, 13 and 15. I had surgery (double mastectomy and ovary removal as it was a hormone lead cancer). Chemo and radiotherapy followed. I have nerve damage in my arms, osteoporosis and huge anxiety as a result. By far the worst thing was having to tell my children. Hopefully Catherine will be fine and I wish her all the best for her recovery.

 

[John King]

The news from the Princess of Wales has been broadcast tonight. Have to say I found it extremely triggering (never understood that phrase until now). Twenty five years ago this was me. I had breast cancer and had to explain it to my children aged 7, 13 and 15. I had surgery (double mastectomy and ovary removal as it was a hormone lead cancer). Chemo and radiotherapy followed. I have nerve damage in my arms, osteoporosis and huge anxiety as a result. By far the worst thing was having to tell my children. Hopefully Catherine will be fine and I wish her all the best for her recovery.

And for me too, Christilou.

My elder sister died from breast cancer some 40+ years ago, after a long and ghastly illness, leaving three young daughters. The youngest committed suicide, the eldest lives a life of relative seclusion, and I have only just re-engaged with the middle one, after an estrangement of some 40+ years. She came to visit me in hospital during my 6 week (total) stay for a stroke and multiple sub-dural haematomas. Since then she has visited us, and stayed overnight once.

She has done a dump of some 500 MBs of family photos from her computer to mine.

She is just as thrilled to have her estranged uncle (and aunt, by marriage) back as we are to mend our family in this way.

However, this awful news for Kate has stirred up a lot of old demons.

 

[rayvonn]

The news from the Princess of Wales has been broadcast tonight. Have to say I found it extremely triggering (never understood that phrase until now). Twenty five years ago this was me. I had breast cancer and had to explain it to my children aged 7, 13 and 15. I had surgery (double mastectomy and ovary removal as it was a hormone lead cancer). Chemo and radiotherapy followed. I have nerve damage in my arms, osteoporosis and huge anxiety as a result. By far the worst thing was having to tell my children. Hopefully Catherine will be fine and I wish her all the best for her recovery.

Sorry about the triggering, pretty awful of course but thankfully (at least from the outside looking in), that granddaughter of yours will always always be a hell of a distraction from that.

 

[christilou]

And for me too, Christilou.

My elder sister died from breast cancer some 40+ years ago, after a long and ghastly illness, leaving three young daughters. The youngest committed suicide, the eldest lives a life of relative seclusion, and I have only just re-engaged with the middle one, after an estrangement of some 40+ years. She came to visit me in hospital during my 6 week (total) stay for a stroke and multiple sub-dural haematomas. Since then she has visited us, and stayed overnight once.

She has done a dump of some 500 MBs of family photos from her computer to mine.

She is just as thrilled to have her estranged uncle (and aunt, by marriage) back as we are to mend our family in this way.

However, this awful news for Kate has stirred up a lot of old demons.

The family fallout cannot be dismissed. It had a devastating effect on each of my girls too. So nice that you have been able to reconnect and are able to share the old photos together. This was always a motivator for me

 

[John King]

Good Morning,

Now that I'm starting to feel better 3 months after my "slice & dice" and spending more time outside, the trying/testing of some new gear (at least to me) has kicked in.

Great news, Edd. Same with me, but it's taken longer. After 4 months of surgery and convalescence, I'm finally starting to feel a lot better.

The last CT scan showed both the stroke and sub-dural haematomas shrinking in size, and my INR appears stable at around 2.9-3.0.

Old film stuff; Canon P rangefinder (LTM), Canon FTb and FTbN - both black, Pentax Spotmatic Version II - black. Digital stuff; repurchased a mint 5Dsr with 348 clicks on the shutter, Canon 85mm f1.4 L IS, Canon 24-70 f4 L IS, Canon 70-200mm f4 L IS Mk II (all mint from an estate sale). Waiting on seller for a Sigma 135mm f1.8 to get back to me...my Canon 135mm f2 L focus motor finally died after nearly 15 years of a lot of sports use (AF-C). I hear the Sigma is one sharp tank of a lens.... Oh, and a bunch of 35mm, 120, and 4x5 film stock too!

Regards,
Edd

You must be feeling better if GAS is kicking in again ... .
I hope it keeps improving for you, mate.

 

[Roboticspro]

Great news, Edd. Same with me, but it's taken longer. After 4 months of surgery and convalescence, I'm finally starting to feel a lot better.

The last CT scan showed both the stroke and sub-dural haematomas shrinking in size, and my INR appears stable at around 2.9-3.0.

You must be feeling better if GAS is kicking in again ... .
I hope it keeps improving for you, mate.

Oh hell yes John, everything has finally kicked in again, thank God. I have been going to cardiac rehab three times a week (swimming and aerobics) and cognitive rehab for T.B.I. (my mini-strokes) twice a week (my wife is still the designated driver). Add to that the kayak sessions in the watershed, so things are starting to look much better, thank you...