Our health issues

*Beth* · Dec 19, 2020 at 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CalMSW

I would call the insurance company. They should be able to provide you with a dermatologist. I'm also fair-skinned, and I've had some pre-cancerous lesions on my face removed by dermatologists.

Thank you so much!

ArtleyWilkins · Dec 28, 2020 at 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BethRags

I have concerns about my skin. I baked myself in the sun from the time I was a child until I was in my 20's. I had so many blistering sunburns I couldn't possibly count them (I am fair-skinned with green eyes). Whenever I have pointed out something of concern on my skin my GP totally blows me off. I would like to get checked out by a dermatologist, but I need a referral from my GP. The situation is awkward at best, dangerous at worst. I really don't know what to do.

I have seen my dermatologist annually for a skin check for the last 4 years I guess. I'm fair-skinned, green eyed, from German ancestry, with a significant family history of skin issues including sarcomas and melanomas. I have my father's skin - he has a history of precancerous (and cancerous in his case) moles and rosacea (which I also have) as well as a rare skin condition called bullous pemphigoid, etc. I've have several precancerous places removed over the years. It's just part of my genetic lot unfortunately. I would push your GP for a referral, and if he won't write one, time for a different GP maybe? I suspect if you tell your GP that you will have to call the insurance company about a different way to get a referral, your GP will suddenly cough one up.

*Beth* · Jan 02, 2021 at 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArtleyWilkins

I have seen my dermatologist annually for a skin check for the last 4 years I guess. I'm fair-skinned, green eyed, from German ancestry, with a significant family history of skin issues including sarcomas and melanomas. I have my father's skin - he has a history of precancerous (and cancerous in his case) moles and rosacea (which I also have) as well as a rare skin condition called bullous pemphigoid, etc. I've have several precancerous places removed over the years. It's just part of my genetic lot unfortunately. I would push your GP for a referral, and if he won't write one, time for a different GP maybe? I suspect if you tell your GP that you will have to call the insurance company about a different way to get a referral, your GP will suddenly cough one up.

Thank you so much for your encouragement. I'm also fair-skinned and green-eyed. I have rosacea - which is something else I'd like to discuss with a dermatologist.

Thanks for your information about getting a referral! I am less than pleased with my GP and would love to change. The clinic where my wonderful pdoc and therapist are is also where my GP is. The way my insurance works is that I have to take all 3 together, or not at all. So I'm stuck with my sub-standard GP.

CalMSW · Jan 03, 2021 at 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BethRags

Thank you so much for your encouragement. I'm also fair-skinned and green-eyed. I have rosacea - which is something else I'd like to discuss with a dermatologist.

Thanks for your information about getting a referral! I am less than pleased with my GP and would love to change. The clinic where my wonderful pdoc and therapist are is also where my GP is. The way my insurance works is that I have to take all 3 together, or not at all. So I'm stuck with my sub-standard GP.

I suggest you tell your doctor you're concerned about your rosacea if you haven't told him yet. Here's a link to an article about rosacea and skin cancer: How Skin Conditions Can Affect Skin Cancer Detection and Treatment - The Skin Cancer Foundation. What Dr. Sandwich said was scary. I imagine if you share some of that information, the GP will make a referral. If not, I like Artley Wilkins' idea about threatening to call your insurance company. Please keep us posted. You're in my prayers.

*Beth* · Jan 06, 2021 at 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CalMSW

I suggest you tell your doctor you're concerned about your rosacea if you haven't told him yet. Here's a link to an article about rosacea and skin cancer: How Skin Conditions Can Affect Skin Cancer Detection and Treatment - The Skin Cancer Foundation. What Dr. Sandwich said was scary. I imagine if you share some of that information, the GP will make a referral. If not, I like Artley Wilkins' idea about threatening to call your insurance company. Please keep us posted. You're in my prayers.

Thank you

Skeezyks · Feb 10, 2021 at 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BethRags

I have concerns about my skin. I baked myself in the sun from the time I was a child until I was in my 20's. I had so many blistering sunburns I couldn't possibly count them (I am fair-skinned with green eyes). Whenever I have pointed out something of concern on my skin my GP totally blows me off. I would like to get checked out by a dermatologist, but I need a referral from my GP. The situation is awkward at best, dangerous at worst. I really don't know what to do.

If I were in this type of situation I would call my health insurer. Perhaps yours is different than mine. But when I was last hospitalized on one of the local hospital psych wards and wanted to get the ball rolling, so to speak, on getting discharged my wife (who was trying to help) couldn't make any headway whatsoever. But as soon as she called our health insurer things started to happen all over the place! Call it the power of the purse strings perhaps. But my health insurer was able to make things happen with just a phone call. Best wishes...

*Beth* · Feb 16, 2021 at 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skeezyks

If I were in this type of situation I would call my health insurer. Perhaps yours is different than mine. But when I was last hospitalized on one of the local hospital psych wards and wanted to get the ball rolling, so to speak, on getting discharged my wife (who was trying to help) couldn't make any headway whatsoever. But as soon as she called our health insurer things started to happen all over the place! Call it the power of the purse strings perhaps. But my health insurer was able to make things happen with just a phone call. Best wishes...

Thanks for the info, Skeezyks

Travelinglady · Feb 22, 2021 at 10:44 PM

Anyone ever have an inflamed navel? My doc has prescribed an antibiotic and then a steroid cream to no avail. I see her tomorrow. Sigh,

Travelinglady · Feb 26, 2021 at 01:26 AM

Doc says my navel trouble is due to muscle strain.

17 Things That Can Go Wrong With Your Feet as You Age

*Beth* · Feb 26, 2021 at 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travelinglady

Doc says my navel trouble is due to muscle strain.

Could it be a hernia?

Travelinglady · Feb 27, 2021 at 12:03 AM

Thanks, but my doc felt around and concluded I have a have no hernia, but it was a good suggestion,

*Beth* · Feb 27, 2021 at 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travelinglady

Thanks, but my doc felt around and concluded I have a have no hernia, but it was a good suggestion,

That's good! I've heard that hernias can be a real hassle.

Skeezyks · Feb 28, 2021 at 04:31 PM

Speaking of hernias, I have another inguinal hernia that appeared a few weeks ago now. (I've had 2 or 3 previously, depending on how you count them, since one was a double apparently.) It's actually a reoccurrence of a very old (possibly prenatal) hernia that was surgically repaired way back when I was a teenager. Apparently, from what I've read, reoccurrences of this kind aren't all that unusual. I should probably have it attended to. But with the pandemic still in full swing, plus some other considerations, I'm not planning to do so any time soon.

*Beth* · Feb 28, 2021 at 05:25 PM

I understand, Skeezyks. There are medical tests (mammogram, for example) that I've put off because of covid. I tell myself to "just do it", then I start to worry about being in the medical environment.

Travelinglady · Mar 01, 2021 at 01:08 AM

I recommend that you go ahead and get your mammogram, BethRags. The techs wear masks, and they check temperatures and keep patients far apart. At least that's what my mammo office did. That's one appointment that can't be done by zoom!

When I can do zoom or a phone call, I definitely do.

Travelinglady · Mar 01, 2021 at 09:07 PM

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Travelinglady · Mar 04, 2021 at 11:52 PM

What Eye Color and Shape Say About Your Health

Eye color is not directly related to aging. But I thought his article was interesting.

Travelinglady · Mar 19, 2021 at 11:41 PM

The age of the ‘silver stoners’ is nigh

I'm not sure Mary Jane mixes well with the drugs most of us take, though.

Travelinglady · Mar 24, 2021 at 05:59 PM

Weight and Aging Myths: Metabolism, Sarcopenia, Menopause, and More

*Beth* · Mar 25, 2021 at 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travelinglady

I recommend that you go ahead and get your mammogram, BethRags. The techs wear masks, and they check temperatures and keep patients far apart. At least that's what my mammo office did. That's one appointment that can't be done by zoom! When I can do zoom or a phone call, I definitely do.

Thanks, Trav. I'm having my car repaired next week. I've decided after that I'll go in for a mammogram. I've been stupid about it...my sister had breast cancer.

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Travelinglady Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Sep 2010 Location: North Carolina Posts: 49,143 (SuperPoster!) 14 23.2k hugs given	Feb 22, 2021 at 10:44 PM #128 Anyone ever have an inflamed navel? My doc has prescribed an antibiotic and then a steroid cream to no avail. I see her tomorrow. Sigh,
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Travelinglady Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Sep 2010 Location: North Carolina Posts: 49,143 (SuperPoster!) 14 23.2k hugs given	Feb 26, 2021 at 01:26 AM #129 Doc says my navel trouble is due to muscle strain. 17 Things That Can Go Wrong With Your Feet as You Age
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Travelinglady Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Sep 2010 Location: North Carolina Posts: 49,143 (SuperPoster!) 14 23.2k hugs given	Feb 27, 2021 at 12:03 AM #131 Thanks, but my doc felt around and concluded I have a have no hernia, but it was a good suggestion,
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Beth catches the flowers Member Since Jul 2019 Location: Downtown Vibes, California Posts: 15,701 (SuperPoster!) 5 23.7k hugs given	Feb 28, 2021 at 05:25 PM #134 I understand, Skeezyks. There are medical tests (mammogram, for example) that I've put off because of covid. I tell myself to "just do it", then I start to worry about being in the medical environment. __________________
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Travelinglady Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Sep 2010 Location: North Carolina Posts: 49,143 (SuperPoster!) 14 23.2k hugs given	Mar 01, 2021 at 01:08 AM #135 I recommend that you go ahead and get your mammogram, BethRags. The techs wear masks, and they check temperatures and keep patients far apart. At least that's what my mammo office did. That's one appointment that can't be done by zoom! When I can do zoom or a phone call, I definitely do.
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Travelinglady Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Sep 2010 Location: North Carolina Posts: 49,143 (SuperPoster!) 14 23.2k hugs given	Mar 01, 2021 at 09:07 PM #136 Best Foods to Eat in Each Decade of Life
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Travelinglady Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Sep 2010 Location: North Carolina Posts: 49,143 (SuperPoster!) 14 23.2k hugs given	Mar 04, 2021 at 11:52 PM #137 What Eye Color and Shape Say About Your Health Eye color is not directly related to aging. But I thought his article was interesting.
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Travelinglady Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Sep 2010 Location: North Carolina Posts: 49,143 (SuperPoster!) 14 23.2k hugs given	Mar 19, 2021 at 11:41 PM #138 The age of the ‘silver stoners’ is nigh I'm not sure Mary Jane mixes well with the drugs most of us take, though.
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Travelinglady Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Sep 2010 Location: North Carolina Posts: 49,143 (SuperPoster!) 14 23.2k hugs given	Mar 24, 2021 at 05:59 PM #139 Weight and Aging Myths: Metabolism, Sarcopenia, Menopause, and More
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