2013 Colon Cancer Awareness

Colon Cancer Awareness

 

 

     I have read some very touching stories around the web of how colon cancer has affected families around the world.  Colon cancer kills a little more than 50,000 people a year, chances of death can be reduced by having regular colonoscopy screenings.  These people are unsuspecting, not so old but not so young...mothers, daughters, sisters, fathers, etc.  You do not want to end up being told you have stage four colon cancer with a few months to live.  At stage four, the cancer starts to spread to other organs in the body, which decreases the chances of survival even more.

 

If polyps are found, you will want to follow up when your Gastroenterologist says.  Keeping an eye on things like that could mean a longer life.

 

Schedule for a colonoscopy screening:

• If you have a family history of colon cancer or polyps.
• If you are having gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea
• If you are having rectal bleeding.
• If you have really bad stomach pains or rectal pain that is almost unbearable, as in, definitely not just gas.

Colon Prep

The worst thing about the colonoscopy is actually the prep, if you are not sure what a prep would entail for a colonoscopy then follow this link

 

http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/preparing-for-a-colonoscopy.shtml. 

 

Please do not let this deter you from having this life saving procedure done and redone every 5 years or as needed due to family history and past exam results.  Suck it up, in the long run it is worth it.  If colon cancer is caught in time, it could mean saving your life!

 

Additional Information and Resources

Please go to the following link and read this amazing story about a woman younger than 50 who did not let her diagnosis of advanced colon cancer kill her spirit....she made it her mission to spread the word...she passed on because of the cancer, but her devoted family will not let her struggle die with her.

 

http://www.coloncancerfoundation.org/  Please read her story and realize the extent of how serious getting a colonoscopy screening is.

 

Want to get involved and learn more about Colon Cancer, please visit the following link and check out the Fight Colorectal Cancer group.

http://fightcolorectalcancer.org/

 

Take a look at a really great hospital that has dedicated so much to colon cancer related issues.

http://hopkinscoloncancercenter.org/

 



Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Wisdom Teeth Extraction

• You will need extra gauze.
• You will need salt, one cup of water, and a teaspoon.
• You will need your meds prescribed my the doctor.
• Cold compress
• Be sure to elevate your head while you rest, try not to lay flat for the first 24 hours.
• A cloth for possible drooling until the numbness wears off.
• Don't smoke or suck through a straw (first few days) to prevent dry socket.
• Get plenty of rest and eat soft foods such as instant mashed potatoes in small bites, apple sauce, pudding, soup, ect.
• Be prepared to be down for atleast 4-5 days, depending on the person and tolerance.

My Experience:

     I recently got my wisdom teeth taken out...all four of them on 6/3/13.  I got the anesthesia through the IV and was out for about 15 minutes and waalaa....all wisdom teeth are out, and the Dentist stitched up the holes.  When I came to, my face was packed with gauze and I was quite disoriented.  I was then given an excuse to get off work for 4 days.  I could not believe that it was going to take that long to heal!  I had not planned on the procedure being that big of a deal, based on stories from other people such as family, friends, and co-workers.  I had assumed I could return to work the next day...soooo not the case.  It all depends on how deep the teeth are and what the Dentist has to do to get to them.  One of my teeth happened to be down below the gums pretty deep, so that part of my face was extremely swollen...four times it's normal size, as where, the other size was about three times the normal size.

     I had a 3 hour drive back to my home (my mom was driving me...I am 30)  so I was not able to get my scripts filled right away...somewhere around the last hour the numbing started to wear off and I started to feel the throbbing pain all throughout my jaw and teeth.  Throughout the whole ride I was changing my gauze every half hour or so.  When I got home I took my meds and put ice packs on my face which felt really good.  During the night it was horrible...I could not close my mouth due to the gauze and I had to keep them in (changing every 30 minutes) until the bleeding stopped.  I had a bucket next to the couch that I kind of leaned over and let the drool drop into because there were so many nasty tastes in my mouth I did not want to swallow sometimes. 

     The next day my face was triple the size it normally was and I could barely open my mouth, not even enough to fit a tooth brush in.  I ate instant mashed potatoes because it was soft yet pasty so I could control it going straight down my tongue and down my throat without touching anything it shouldn't.  I medicated the pain for a few days and religiously took my antibiotics.  I also swish my mouth out with salt water all the time, especially after I eat or smoke a cigarette...which I try not to do often because smoking can cause other issues.  The ice packs stopped working on the swelling so I decided to use hot cloths...this worked.  In 24 hours the swelling went down considerably and continued to slowly go back to normal...not all the way back to normal yet though. 

     It will be a week tomorrow since I had my wisdom teeth taken out.  I can open my mouth enough to brush my teeth but I cannot eat everything yet, I am still kind of nursing that part because I am still healing and do not want to get food anywhere it should not be.  There is no pain where my teeth were taken out...my jaw is a bit sore and stiff but nothing serious.  The thing that is bothering me the most is this throbbing sensation in my front teeth...or gums rather.  I have no idea why these teeth are being affected...but for the past 3-4 days this throbbing has been constant.  The pain medication does nothing for this area at all.  Ice nor heat aid this throbbing either.  I am calling the Dentist tomorrow to see what can be done about this because at night and at work this becomes extremely bothersome.  It seems to dull when I am too preoccupied to pay attention to it...just the oddest thing.  I also got a few cold sores on my bottom lip because my immune system is weakened as it concentrates on my teeth. 

     I cannot wait until I can get back to normal that is for sure.  This is a long healing process...I hope to be eating burgers and pizza in a few weeks!  I will update the rest of my progress as I go along.  It has been almost 7 days and I did not get dry socket so that is a miracle...I was very nervous about that.  My husband and children have been so understanding and supportive through this process.  It is not easy dealing with someone who is dealing with a constant throbbing dull pain in their mouth. 

UPDATE 6/17/2013 (2 weeks later)

I went to my local dentist and the reason my front teeth were throbbing is because there was a pocket of infection on the side of my mouth that was still a bit swollen.  The dentist prescribed some tougher antibiotics which I took right away.  It only took a day for me to notice the pressure coming off my front teeth.  By the second or third day of taking the strong meds, my front teeth stopped their incessant throbbing.  Unfortunately I ended up with a yeast infection and like 3 cold soars but hey!  This by far has been my worst experience...it has seemed these past three weeks have been one thing after another in the line of discomfort.  When one issue is fixed another arises.  Due to the yeast infection, I stopped the antibiotics and got some Monistat 7.  Today will be day 3 of the Monistat 7 and...at first it seemed to be improving but then I woke up today and I feel like it went right back to where I started.  If the condition does not improve by tomorrow I will have to make yet another appointment, but this time with the Gyno.

Today I am making another 3 hour trip to the original Dentist who removed my wisdom teeth, to get the stitches out.  One side of my lip is still numb, so my local dentist would like me to check in with the operating Dentist to go over the numbing issue and to get the stitches removed.  This has been just insane.

Flu Season

With a new year comes new germs and apparently a Flu that is spreading across the US.  CNN reported that 41 states are being affected with a Flu virus that has claimed the lives of 18 children and double or more adults.  There have been thousands hospitalized across the US with this Flu Virus.  Studies show that this has been the worst Flu season since 2009 and Experts say the Flu seems to be spreading faster than it has in the past.

Here are a few NOT fun facts about this Flu that is going around...in PA there have been 22 Flu related deaths among people older than 65, two were younger than 50 and healthy.  In SC there were also 22 Flu related deaths.  In Michigan there were 4 pediatric deaths.  In ND a hospital reported that in a weeks time the Flu Cases went from 625 to 1,077!

Doctors are saying that people who are sleep deprived may be more prone to getting the Flu because their immune system is weakened by the lack of sleep.

If you have the Flu please get lots of rest and drink plenty of fluids.  Doctors are saying you will start feeling better within 5-7 days.

To avoid getting the Flu:

Sanitize everything, get the Flu Vaccine (which could actually induce the Flu...how does that help!)  Of course try to avoid anyone who is sneezing or coughing.....BASICALLY just stay home, go out only when you need to and don't touch anything or anyone until this crap blows over.
 

2013 Resolutions

Well...we all survived Christmas and New years was awesome.  Here are my favorite top 10 New Years Resolutions for 2013. Based on many survey's I came up with this list that pretty much sums up people's goals for the year. 


1.Work out/Lose Weight

2.Quit Smoking

3.Save Money

4.Volunteer/Help others

5.Get organized

6.Learn something new

7.Fall in love/Make new friends

8.Enjoy Life/Manage stress

9.Eat Healthy

10.Finish "To Do" List

I like the last one...I am sure somewhere, someone put on their "To Do" list to...actually DO the list.

Although this year seems to be starting off on the wrong foot...hopefully things get better as the year moves forward. 

5 days until Christmas

 The excitement is growing as the days pass.  There are 5 days until Christmas and I cannot wait to see my children's faces when they open up their gifts.  Christmas eve we will sit down and talk about the true meaning of Christmas...and the next day WOOOO HOOOO.  Merry Christmas everyone...and to those who don't celebrate Christmas...Happy Holidays!!!

In Memory of...

In Memory of the lives lost in the school shooting in Connecticut...20 children and 6 adults...

 

            

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

May they all rest in Peace...and may Peace come to those who loved them.

 

Bleeding Hearts

My heart bleeds for the families who lost their children in the school shooting yesterday.  It was a tragic, horrific nightmare that no child should have to go through...and no parent should have to face.  I cried last night as I know they all did over their loss.  I thought about all the presents waiting for their children who will never get to open them.  I thought about how every Christmas is never going to be the same for these families again.  I just hate that this happened to those beautiful babies at a place where they should have been safe.  There is really no one to blame but the person who was sick and twisted enough to walk into a school and kill children.  I pray that all of the families that were effected by the events in Connecticut, somehow find peace within themselves and the strength to move on from this most devastating loss.  I hope they can....I just don't know how...I could not even imagine what they are going through right now.  I just wish I could turn back time...as I am sure they are all wishing...I don't even know these people but who has to know a person to share their pain and wish it never happened. No one deserves to lose their child this way.  I am sure the children are peeking their little faces through the clouds and waiting for the day they can be reunited with their families again. I hope this post does not offend anyone...if it does...let me know and it will be removed.