Many of you know about my health journey. This month is full of news.

My hernia is repaired and completely healed.

I am still cancer free! Two-and-a-half years and counting.

I've lost 90 pounds.

I had cataract surgery and replace the lenses with light adjustable lenses. I was really nearsighted and had astigmatism. The first thing I noticed is things went from having a dingy orange tint to bright colors. Then I started being able to read things at arms' length instead of hands' length. The only downside was having to wear glasses that blocked UV light. I had to do that because UV light adjusts the lenses, and we'd rather a doctor did that rather than random sunlight. Today is the first day since I was 16 that I don't have to wear any glasses! I have at least 20/20 vision. While we could maybe chase down the astigmatism some, my eyes are working together to wipe out those effects, so we left that alone.

Al is at week 5 for his hip replacement, so he is far more able to care for himself and get to his appointments. That frees me up some for getting back to my regular schedule at ADB and the gym. Time to start strengthening those muscles again! (I never, ever thought I would say I missed going to the gym and to yoga.)

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Friday, August 02, 2024 - 05:22 pm: Edit

Jean - I'm so proud and happy for you! Amazing news!

By Lawrence Bergen (Lar) on Friday, August 02, 2024 - 05:23 pm: Edit

Oh man I could actually here Kirk saying "what is working around here?" and then that inspirational Trek music kicks in as the ships crew gets crackin' to get things back in ship shape to face Khan.

That's all great news Jean. Keep it up!!

By Dal Downing (Rambler) on Friday, August 02, 2024 - 10:20 pm: Edit

Jean do not take this wrong. You ADB staffers must have traces of Cockroach DNA. Every time there is a plague or disasters you guys get up shake yourselves off and keep going.😀

By Mike Erickson (Mike_Erickson) on Saturday, August 03, 2024 - 12:34 am: Edit

"It's just a flesh wound!"

--Mike

By Jean Sexton Beddow (Jsexton) on Monday, August 05, 2024 - 06:03 pm: Edit

Dal, I have no clue what you are talking about.


(Scurries back to her office to hide)

By Jeff Anderson (Jga) on Monday, August 05, 2024 - 10:15 pm: Edit

Some say the cockroach is a pest
But that's the insect I like best.
I love the way they run in fright
When I turn on the kitchen light
And when I squish them on the ground
They make a pleasant, crunching sound.

-The Cockroach, from "Carnival of the Animals, Part II," by "Weird Al" Yankovic and Wendy Carlos.

By Dal Downing (Rambler) on Monday, August 05, 2024 - 10:52 pm: Edit

Jean, it is said if we managed to extinct ourselves, plauge, nukes or even zombies the only thing possibly left on earth will be the cockroach. It has survived already million of years so it is a proven survivor and radiation doesn't look like a problem it can't work around.

By Terry O'Carroll (Terryoc) on Tuesday, August 06, 2024 - 02:43 am: Edit

Jean, congratulations on the weight loss and being cancer free for 2.5 years. I've been cancer-free for 30 years, but I started much earlier than you.

By Mike Grafton (Mike_Grafton) on Tuesday, August 06, 2024 - 07:46 am: Edit

IIRC Ants out mass cockroaches by a considerable margin.

I saw years ago an estimate of total mass of each "animal" species and Ants were big winners.

By Kevin Howard (Jarawara) on Tuesday, August 06, 2024 - 09:29 am: Edit

After a very tense crisis, of which we were all unsure of what condition I would emerge, I have in fact pulled through relatively intact.

I am feeling somewhat steady on my feet, though still a little short of breath. My doctor says my vitals seem stable. Even my friends say I'm looking better than ever, though I see a hint of doubt and concern behind their eyes. Still, with every breath I draw hope.

My crisis?

I GOT MARRIED!!!!!!

By Jessica Orsini (Jessica_Orsini) on Tuesday, August 06, 2024 - 03:02 pm: Edit

Just got home from a no-notice 900-mile trip to western NY; my 82-year old father had a transient ischemic attack (that's what is sometimes referred to as a mini-stroke). Happily, his MRI and EEG show no damage. He's absurdly healthy for his age, despite the cancer he had a couple decades back (courtesy of the tainted water at Camp Lejeune during his time there as a Marine).

By Ryan Opel (Ryan) on Tuesday, August 06, 2024 - 03:30 pm: Edit

Jessica,

Glad your father is ok. Has he made his claim for time at Camp Lejeune?

By Jessica Orsini (Jessica_Orsini) on Tuesday, August 06, 2024 - 08:44 pm: Edit

Ryan: he most assuredly has done so, yes.

By Jean Sexton Beddow (Jsexton) on Thursday, August 08, 2024 - 03:35 pm: Edit

I taped an old key to my toe last week.

(heavy sigh)

I haven't lost a pound on this key-toe diet.

By Mike Erickson (Mike_Erickson) on Thursday, August 08, 2024 - 03:50 pm: Edit

ba da bing!

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Wednesday, September 04, 2024 - 11:34 pm: Edit

My older brother has been dealing with severe health issues for a while. He's lost so much weight over the past year, we all thought he had cancer and wasn't telling anyone. A few weeks ago, he was in for more tests and exams. A new doctor (or medical student, my brother wasn't sure which) had reviewed his records and said, "You know, you've had some of these symptoms for many years. And nobody ran these tests." The resident doctor rebuffed him and said, "Not the same thing. And we're so far past those basic tests, they won't tell us anything. But wheat they heck, knock yourself out. Go ahead and run them." Well, turns out that basic test revealed a major part of the problem (but not the underlying cause). After a change of diet and new meds, he's put 12 pounds back on in three weeks. Major progress after dropping from 155 to 90 pounds. He still might need surgery but they won't until he's back up to 120+. Oh, and they totally ruled out cancer.


Garth L. Getgen

By Kevin Howard (Jarawara) on Thursday, September 05, 2024 - 09:37 am: Edit

Excellent on the no cancer, but what was it?

When dad got the pancreatic cancer, he also got a blocked bile duct which was causing him to not digest properly. He could eat fine, but he was losing weight fast (and the cancer added to that).

They put in a stent in his bile duct and by summer he was walking around without his walker, weight back on, energy and strength up.

Didn't change the cancer, but it made him way more comfortable and he lasted till after Thanksgiving.

Too many doctors focus on the big thing, but it's the little things that can matter sometimes.

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Thursday, September 05, 2024 - 05:35 pm: Edit

Two things. One is his stomach isn't producing enough acid to break food down. They don't know why. And back ten-plus years ago when he first started having problems, they thought it was acid reflux and so they gave him meds to reduce acid production .... the exact opposite of what he needed.

The other issue, what the brand-new doctor tested for, is his esophagus muscles aren't working in sync to push food down, and there's a narrowing like a funnel where it enters the stomach. So they have him on a liquid diet. He can eat very soft / mashed up food, but nothing chewy.

They wouldn't let the young doctor run the tests at first, so he had my brother drink some water while he listened with a stethoscope. That was enough to convince the supervisor doctor to run the full tests, including pushing a camera down his throat.

Moral of the story: just because someone is young and inexperienced, right out of school, doesn't mean you can simply discard every idea they suggest. Also, just because a test is simple and cheap doesn't mean it's worthless.


Garth L. Getgen

By Jean Sexton Beddow (Jsexton) on Wednesday, February 26, 2025 - 05:19 pm: Edit

Way back in 2015, we figured out something wasn't quite right with my body. Later in 2015, we discovered it was endometrial cancer. Today, Dr. Farzan checked on my now-gone cancer. Everything is perfectly normal! That makes 10 years. Happy dancing!

By F Michael Miller (Fmm) on Wednesday, February 26, 2025 - 07:09 pm: Edit

Congratulations!

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Thursday, February 27, 2025 - 10:26 am: Edit

Yay!

By Jean Sexton Beddow (Jsexton) on Monday, July 28, 2025 - 03:40 pm: Edit

Three-and-a-half years cancer free!

Happy dancing!

By Mike Erickson (Mike_Erickson) on Monday, July 28, 2025 - 05:13 pm: Edit

Congrats!

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 - 10:10 am: Edit

Praise be!

By Sean Schoonmaker (Schoon) on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 - 12:23 pm: Edit

Congratulations!

By Lawrence Bergen (Lar) on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 - 04:48 pm: Edit

Great News Jean!!

By Dal Downing (Rambler) on Wednesday, July 30, 2025 - 04:52 am: Edit

Smiles, tips his head and raises a toast to your continued good health.