MINI OUTING & BEAUTIFUL RAINS & EYE EXAMS

By OLIVENE GODFREY

Last Sunday was a perfect October day with its bright blue sky and plenty of sunshine here in northwest Georgia. I woke up feeling better than I had in a while. My health problems had kept me from having a Sunday outing with son Barry for weeks, and we decided the day was perfect for a mini outing.

I topped my black outfit with my red jacket which always lifts
my spirits. We ate an early lunch at the Village in Chatsworth. We couldn't find a parking space near the cafeteria so I walked more than I was used to and I was a bit tired but still in good spirits when we left the Village. We went to Wallgreens and I bought some makeup items. And then we went home via the scenic route and enjoyed looking at the colorful foliage among the still green trees. Our drought an warm temperatures have kept the leaves from turning to scarlet, golden and burgundy.

And then the first of the week, the beautiful rains came and stayed with us several days bringing some relief to our drought stricken area, but not enough. The situation is critical.
I pray every day that we'll have enough rain to end this drought.

Yesterday, Barry and I had our eye exams at the eye clinic in Dalton. Our appointments were for three in the afternoon. I have had an awful flare-up the past few days with arthritis in my right hip and leg so I wasn't feeling chipper and in the future I'll ask for a morning appointment.

Barry got a good report on his exam. He still has 20/20 vision and his eyes are healthy. He wears drugstore glasses to read and for close work. A couple of years ago, the eye doctor told him the strength to buy which are still working fine. He doesn't have to return to the clinic for an exam for two years.

My report wasn't as rosy as Barry's. Last November,I had cataract surgery on my left eye. Since then, the cataract on my right eye has grown, the doctor said. But, the doctor said my vision with my glasses wasn't bad but he does want to see me in six months. I didn't need to change my glasses and my eyes are healthy. My diabetes hasn't affected my vision, thank God. I may be ready for surgery on the right eye in the spring but if so, it isn't an unpleasant experience.

When we left the clinic, we hit the rush hour traffic and we were both exhausted when we returned home. Our eyes were still dilated and we didn't feel up to cooking supper so we ate snacks. As soon as possible, I went to bed and was asleep almost instantly and felt some better today except for my arthritis pain.

See you next time.

MEDICAL UPDATE & SHORT TOPICS

By OLIVENE GODFREY

Son Barry did some research on the Internet recently about iron pills. I have been taking the iron pills for my anemia about three weeks now and they make me feel bad, to put it mildly Barry says everyone he knows who have taken the iron pills say the same thing. The pills cam cause stomach upset, heartburn and constipations. I already had these ailments and the pills seem to have made them worse.

On a discouraging note, I read in one of the research articles that it may take close to four months before recovering from the anemia. Iron is necessary to the formation of
hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to red blood cells. When the iron levels get low, a person feels tired and lacks energy to do everyday tasks due to lack of oxygen delivery to organs and tissues.

On a brighter note, Bary had his annual physical exam last week and received a good report from the doctor. He does have a sinus infection and the doctor gave him some samples of medicine to take. He found out last year that he has arthritis in one hip. Barry and I both are able to forecast when rain is on the way and when the weather is changing by our arthritis pains.

I still haven't felt up to eating out on Sundays. But we did take a quick trip to the Dalton mall last Sunday to get haircuts at Master Cuts. We took my wheelchair and we were only in the mall a short time.

Barry and I both have appointments next week for complete exams of our eyes in Dalton. It has been nearly a year since I had cataract surgery on my left eye and I need to have that eye checked.

I have read several articles lately about studies that claim to show that diet soda' such as Diet Coke can be harmful to your health. The most recent article I have read is in AARP
newsletter, October. 2007 issue. I go along with the cardiologist and nutrition expert, Dean Ornish. M.D. who said this last study failed to "demonstrate this (link) which clearly they have not done". Also, the AHA notes that diet soda doesn't cause heart disease and is preferable to sugar-sweetened soda. I have given up so much in my old age, including my beloved Classic Coke and I 'm not about to give up Diet Coke at this time in my life.

QUOTE: "It takes an experienced married man to tell when a woman comes to the end of one argument, and the beginning of another." Earl Wilson column.

See you next time.

UPDATE ON HEALTH, DROUGHT, COOLER WEATHER

By OLIVENE GODFREY

I am still taking the iron capsules my doctor prescribed for my anemia. But, I still feel real tired and weak. I guess it takes a while to feel better. Meanwhile, my Irritable Bowel Syndrome, has been acting up and I feel bad from that. I think all IBS victims experience frustration after taking all the tests and the reason for the IBS isn't found. That has happened to me three times the past ten years. We feel like everybody, including doctors, think it's "all in your mind." I hope that in my lifetime a cure will be found for IBS. I guess I'll have to live with it in the meantime.

We are having cold nights and cool and sunny days this week which has given me a chance to try out my new electric blanket. Son Barry ordered it for me from Amazon recently and it is light and pretty and cozy warm. You know that I believe ,"if it ain't broke, don't fix it", and I have had my old blanket for years.
Barry ordered a new one last year and is so pleased with it he wanted me to have one.

The drought here in North Georgia is very serious with a ban on all outside watering. We had a long, dry and hot summer and this drought is the worse one on record, according to the weather people, for Georgia and all of the southeast, U.S.A. We have a well in our yard which we used for several years after moving in our house. The pump burned out and my late husband decided to have city water installed. But, if things get too bad, I guess we could activate the well. I am praying for serious rains to come and bring our water table back up .

Quotes--"By the time a man gets to greener pastures, he can't climb the fence."--Dean Dubois

"Lack of something to feel important about is among the greatest tragedies a man can have." John Raudonis

See you next time.

ON MY MIND....

By OLIVENE GODFREY

I told you last week that I had blood tests to determine which kind of anemia I have. The tests results showed that I have low blood due to a lack of iron in my diet. So, my doctor prescribed a powerful iron capsule. I will take one a day for 60 days and then have blood tests again.

I hope this treatment will give me more energy. I have an upset stomach today and I am hoping it isn't a side effect of the iron capsules as I have to take them. I haven't been out of our house except to go to doctor office and trips to hospital in weeks. I hope I will be able to enjoy an outing with son Barry soon.

I have had good conversations with my friend, Julia, and my late husband's sister, Agnes, this past week. I told them of my recent fall when Barry called an ambulance to take me to the hospital E.R. I had always envisioned a ride in an ambulance would be as comfortable as a Cadillac. Boy! Was I wrong! Our long driveway is graveled and the ambulance ride was bumpy and rough.

The E.M.T.s are efficient and wonderful and one of them apologized for having to put a helmet like thing with a neck brace on me to protect my neck and head as I had fallen flat on my back. I couldn't move my head and you get a different perspective of your surroundings lying on a stretcher. I had another ride in the ambulance to the Dalton E.R. hospital for a cat scan. Barry followed the ambulance but couldn't find a parking space near the E.R. entrance. So, he had to park a long distance away and forgetting he isn't a youthful lad any longer he ran all the way to the E.R. Meanwhile, a lady had stopped by to get more information from me. I asked her if she knew if my son had arrived at the hospital. She looked thoughtful and said, " I think I saw him. I'll be right back." and she hurried away. A few minutes later, Barry walked up and his face was a bright red. He told me about his run and I was worried about him. He ate a quick lunch in the hospital cafeteria and looked okay when he returned. Later, he told me that he had been looking for me when a lady asked him if he was my son. He replied that he was and she said, “You look just like her and I knew you must be her son”. Barry and I are used to that happening often to us.

I had a nice e-mail from my friend and neighbor, Genevelyn, who lives on the next mountain foothill from our house. She cheered me up and said she was going to send me a sugar free cake on my 80th birthday, December 10. I sent her an e-mail and told her that was a lovely thing to do. I haven't had a birthday cake since I was a kid. And, I have a sweet tooth and being a diabetic, I have to watch the amount of sugar I eat.
I want to thank all of you who have prayed for me during the past few weeks. I pray that I will start feeling better soon.

Quotes: “A living wage always seems to be just a little more than you're making now.” and “If you ask enough people you usually find someone who'll advise you to do what you were going to do anyway.” Both from old Earl Wilson columns.

See you next time.