Saturday Seed No. 2

Hello Dearies.

How are you feeling? No, no, no. Don't brush over the answer to my question. I really want to know. Most importantly, I want you to know as well. This week's seed is to assess your health. Take some time to check in with your bod and say hello. Give it a squish. When's the last time you sat down for a chat together? Take a while to check yourself out from head to toe. It can be in the shower or in front of a mirror. Whatever, babes. It's your body.

Have you been feeling any aches and pains? Have any suspicious lumps or bumps? How's your energy level? Have you been feeling down so long you don't remember when you smiled last? Can you sleep? Has your weight plummeted or skyrocketed? Are you self medicating with wine or pills?

Maybe you feel pretty awesome. You eat well and exercise. Good for you. I'd like to join your club. Can you direct me to the membership office ?

Either way, when is the last time you had a checkup? Have you been putting an important health screening on the back burner because you claim you are too busy? No more of this "if it ain't broke, don't fix it business."  This isn't the Antique Roadshow, sister. It's your life. That patina you're working up on your arteries is not going to improve your value later on.

This week, I want you to really think about your health. If it's been a while since you've been checked out, get out your phone book and give the little guy with the stethescope a jingle. If you don't have a doctor, ask around for some suggestions. If you think you can't afford medical attention, look into a clinic that operates out of a local hospital.

Start your year out feeling as good as you can. You've got alot of cool things to do this year. Can't be feeling crappy now. If you know you have an ailment, stop skirting the issue and deal with it. We all have are stuff to deal with. People I love have diabetes, anxiety attacks, sluggish thyroids, bipolar disorder, chronic pain, high cholesterol and all sorts of other things. These are all conditions that can be managed. There is no need to suffer. We need to be honest with ourselves, first and foremost, about what we're up against. So, you got a crappy hand in DNA poker. You can still win the game. But it sure isn't going to be by bluffing. You really need to know what cards you are holding and how to play them well.

I knew I was way overdue for some routine exams at the end of last year. Would you believe that it had been two years since my last eye exam? I learned I wasn't crazy, I really was having trouble focusing and it was because the sight in my right eye has actually improved a smidgen. The doctor said sometimes that happend when you get older. Gee, thanks. My new prescription has me seeing like a hawk. Going to the dentist and at home dental hygiene is probably one rung lower than Chinese water torture on my list of things to do. I'd gotten through life with no cavities until I was 30. And then it was just one. A fluke, I thought. Last month I found myself in the chair being gently scolded by the hygienist and given the news that after not coming in for a check up for a year and a half, I now needed three cavities filled. For months before, I'd been having pain around my ear. I thought it was my sinuses. Turns out my chompers were the problemo. Did I mention the shocking revelations after a mandatory health screening at the office. Evidently, my good cholesterol level is really good. The bad cholesterol is pretty bad.  Now aware of this, I'm making some dietary changes to get it under control.

Here's some suggestions from the U.S. Health and Human Services on how frequently and at what age you should consider a variety of  Preventative Health Screenings and Immunizations. There are four tabs there. Make sure you look at all of them to learn if you are overdue for an important screening like a mammogram, a  blood glucose test, thyroid test etc.

One last thought I want to leave you with today. You deserve a health practitioner that you feel comfortable talking to about your health. One that does not seem rushed and uninterested or dismissive about your concerns. If you feel your doctor is not serving you, even if you've been seeing the same one for a very long time, it is okay for you to find someone else that treats you better. There is more to being a good doctor than getting out that little blue pad and writing our problems away with something we can swallow. I've found that a doctor will discuss diet and exercise or alternatives to pharmaceuticals only if you inquire. Find a doctor willing to work with you on a treatment plan that you will actually follow. Sometimes you may get more relief from a natural practice like acupuncture, chiropractic care or reflexology than the pills doctors like to push. Other times the pills may be the only thing that helps.

As I said when Saturday Seeds launched last week, each seed is going to be personally subjective. Only you will know how this seed is meant for you. I look forward to hearing about what you're doing about your health this week. If you write your own post on this week's seed, let me know and I'll add you to a list of participants.

Be well this week. I promise next week's seed will be something less serious.

Comments

[joan]

Rachel... This was GOOD!!!

not only the seed, and all of the information you shared... but I just love your candor and the way you write.
God girl! You ARE a writer!!!

About the health? I'm happy to report that I have an appt. scheduled for 2/11 .

Have to see about getting my fibro flareups under control, and my doc says there is a possiblity of some bipolarity as well.... isn't that marvey??? sheesh.

I'll be certain to blog about this seed and let you know.
And can you believe my ribbon is still NOT in the mail?
Cripes... it was one of those weeks.
Monday, for certain.
I wouldn't miss any of this for the world!

have a beautiful weekend magpie :)
xoxoxoxo

[Melissa]

Thanks for that... I think it will hit home for a lot of folks.
Of course, as I sit here feeling like I have one foot in the grave, not having been this sick in a LONG time, it makes me aware that I should have gone to the DR WAY before I finally did. If I had I am sure I would not be feeling this terrible right now.
This is also a great mesage for our children. What a great thing to teach them, but to take care of themselves, and that prevention is the key to better health. As young as mine are in the grand scheme of things, they need to start thinking about some of these things NOW to avoid things happening in the future. High cholesterol is a big problem with the youth of today.. HOW NUTS IS THAT???
Keep blogging Rachel, my girls and I love to read it and always get something great out of it!
Kudos....

[kristen]

this is perfect for me, as i've been assessing myself with the new year. thank you for the information, be well this week.

[susanna]

Wow! You've been reading my mind - and apparently talking with my husband 'cause he's been on my case for finding a new doctor for a while now! Gotta do it, gotta do it...

[bella]

Wonderful.
Thank-you for this.
I've been doing a lot of checking in with my body lately.
and you know what, it feels GOOD.
Even when my body is not feeling good, it opens like a flower just to be given such care and attention and be truly listened to.
I found you through Daisy at Pluck the Petal.
so happy I did.

[gkgirl]

wow.
this is too weird...
i have been journaling and talking
alot this past week about needing
to schedule an appt for a physical
but mainly to get my iron levels checked...
keeping a food diary,
marking my headaches and tired swings...

it felt like you were talking
directly
to me in this post...
heehee.

:)

[gkgirl]

wow.
this is too weird...
i have been journaling and talking
alot this past week about needing
to schedule an appt for a physical
but mainly to get my iron levels checked...
keeping a food diary,
marking my headaches and tired swings...

it felt like you were talking
directly
to me in this post...
heehee.

:)

[daisies]

i eat right, am vegan and exercise on a regular basis. i recently went and hooked myself up with an eye appointment and a new pair of glasses. that said, i have been having some health issues and this was a timely read for me this weekend and a good impetus for me to deal with some stuff ... thank you. xox

[Carmen]

I promise myself and you.
Thank you! great post!

[PixieDust]

Have you any idea how guilty I felt reading this? LOL! But thank you so much for reminding me what I should already know, and should already be doing! I have a very bad habit of pushing through any type of physical pain without thinking twice, blah!

Wonderful post, Beautiful...

:-)

(((HUGS))),
Love,
Me

[caroline]

:) Oh yes, very good. I had my teeth checked a few weeks ago. They're my only real thing that needs regular attention. I have acupuncture treatments monthly which I'm very pleased about, I like having that routine. I have just started a system for getting into the habit of having green leafy veg every day - something encouraging and inspiring to get me to it. I haven't walked every day for a while now though, that's my guilty confession... Thanks for this lovely post, me too I love listening to you! Love xoxo