Your present essay and commentary on both coping with stress-Yoga as an accessible and usually doable practice, and your comment about Bill experiencing medical symptoms-provide an unfortunate (for me) segue to briefly share about my recent medical revelations.
Beth had taken notice of my increased forgetfulness over about the last 6 months. Hunting for my phone, car keys, and remembering to stay on schedule with my few meds…all easily attributable to nearing 77 in April.
As a result of Beth setting appointments with practitioners, old and new, I learned last Friday that the flaky memory is actually the result of pre-dementia. Full blown symptoms now expected in 3-4 years. I didn’t see that coming!
Add to that learning I’ve had a stroke (they don’t have AirTags), there is shrinkage of my temporal lobes, and a “marble” looking spot in my left hemisphere. No raggedy margins, usually indicative of a benign tumor.
My increased key-fumbling may coincide with the stroke. My walking is stable, using a simple Walgreen’s walking cane. No gross outward stroke signs. I have an upcoming 3 1/2 to 4 hour complex evaluation in late April. Mapping current conditions and developing guidelines for diet, exercise (Yoga!), and memory exercises.
I have chosen to share this with you out of respect for your breadth of intelligence and for the length of time we’ve been in touch. I choose not to just disappear, leaving my correspondents not knowing why I’ve been so taciturn. I’ve provided Beth post mortem access to my iPhone. 1 year unlock once a death certificate is shared with APPLE. I’ve prepared a list of people as well that I’d like her to notify of my passing. A temptation I’ll avoid is writing my own email notifications. Font types and sizes. Background and character colors. Signatures along with “See you over here!” Purposeful ambiguity.
I’ll turn off my silliness. The topic is not really a laughing matter. And please pass along my best wishes to Bill for a return to good health. For you? I’d offer a hug but the distance separating us is no small matter! 🫂 An electronic hug, then. Hoping to read you soon.
I so appreciate this update, Gary, although I’m sorry the news isn’t better for you and Beth. Getting older is not for the faint of heart! Bill is in day 2 of tests at the hospital and will likely be there at least another night. I had no idea so many tests even existed—and this from someone who used to work in hospitals and doctors' offices, many moons ago!
I hope your April evaluation goes well and proves helpful. In the meantime, I look forward to hearing from you anytime you are up to it!
Thank you Lenora. Another cranial MRI has been ordered, with contrast dye this time. I’m curious about what findings this will reveal vs. the previous ones without dye. And yes, I’ll share these findings once I know them.
Breathing…….
Breathe in, breathe out.
We do it every minute.
Just focus on it for a few minutes every day.
Good afternoon, Lenora. 😊
Your present essay and commentary on both coping with stress-Yoga as an accessible and usually doable practice, and your comment about Bill experiencing medical symptoms-provide an unfortunate (for me) segue to briefly share about my recent medical revelations.
Beth had taken notice of my increased forgetfulness over about the last 6 months. Hunting for my phone, car keys, and remembering to stay on schedule with my few meds…all easily attributable to nearing 77 in April.
As a result of Beth setting appointments with practitioners, old and new, I learned last Friday that the flaky memory is actually the result of pre-dementia. Full blown symptoms now expected in 3-4 years. I didn’t see that coming!
Add to that learning I’ve had a stroke (they don’t have AirTags), there is shrinkage of my temporal lobes, and a “marble” looking spot in my left hemisphere. No raggedy margins, usually indicative of a benign tumor.
My increased key-fumbling may coincide with the stroke. My walking is stable, using a simple Walgreen’s walking cane. No gross outward stroke signs. I have an upcoming 3 1/2 to 4 hour complex evaluation in late April. Mapping current conditions and developing guidelines for diet, exercise (Yoga!), and memory exercises.
I have chosen to share this with you out of respect for your breadth of intelligence and for the length of time we’ve been in touch. I choose not to just disappear, leaving my correspondents not knowing why I’ve been so taciturn. I’ve provided Beth post mortem access to my iPhone. 1 year unlock once a death certificate is shared with APPLE. I’ve prepared a list of people as well that I’d like her to notify of my passing. A temptation I’ll avoid is writing my own email notifications. Font types and sizes. Background and character colors. Signatures along with “See you over here!” Purposeful ambiguity.
I’ll turn off my silliness. The topic is not really a laughing matter. And please pass along my best wishes to Bill for a return to good health. For you? I’d offer a hug but the distance separating us is no small matter! 🫂 An electronic hug, then. Hoping to read you soon.
I so appreciate this update, Gary, although I’m sorry the news isn’t better for you and Beth. Getting older is not for the faint of heart! Bill is in day 2 of tests at the hospital and will likely be there at least another night. I had no idea so many tests even existed—and this from someone who used to work in hospitals and doctors' offices, many moons ago!
I hope your April evaluation goes well and proves helpful. In the meantime, I look forward to hearing from you anytime you are up to it!
Thank you Lenora. Another cranial MRI has been ordered, with contrast dye this time. I’m curious about what findings this will reveal vs. the previous ones without dye. And yes, I’ll share these findings once I know them.