Medical care getting older

[rettalee55]

I do not get anxious "out of the blue", but from outside influences. As I get older I find all of this arthritis, chronic back pain, plantar fasciitis pain, etc. incredibly annoying. My children don't want to hear about my physical problems, so only have hubby to talk to, which I try to cut down on. Listening to a constant complainer can be aggravating.

It is harder to find an understanding physician that is not out to "doctor" only for the money. I find most do not know anything anyway. I go to a pain clinic who keep pushing back and hip shots which do not work. Besides that they prescribe the minimum Hydrocodone, .5mg with IB 325mg. of which I am allowed up to twice a day. I try to take only if I have to in order to be able to bend or walk. I gave myself ulcers from Advil use years ago so am very limited to what I can take.

Having seen how my parents and grandparents were pretty much dismissed by doctors as they got older makes me very scared as time marches on for me and my husband, (he is 66, and next week I will be 63). We definitely cannot depend on help from our children, and need to find a way to make it legal for them not to place us in a home as long as we are of sound mind and physically able to take care of our own basic needs.

Also, as I get older, it gets harder and harder to find someone who will prescribe HRT in amounts adequate for my needs. My life stopped after a total hysterectomy. I went through major mourning after. My hubby still has a heavy sex drive, but I have none. Now that I had to have anterior and posterior mesh removed in April this year, (it had gone through my vagina), I have incredible irritation and pain after a "session" with my spouse, even though he is considerate about taking time for loads of lubrication. My last hormone blood labs were so low in pretty much all areas to be ridiculous. And the RN saw nothing wrong with them and only went up on a couple in tiny amounts after I complained and begged her to do so. The fight to have a more normal life after being castrated is getting tiresome! When my hormones are so out of balance, I have an increase in asthma problems, more eye drops usage, major dry skin with loads of flaking patches all over my body, no energy. I can't even stand myself I am so cranky. That is just scratching the surface of additional medical problems affected by lack of hormones.

Thanks for listening!

[Krn210]

I am sorry to hear that you are feeling so miserable. Are there any hormonal supplements or foods that would help with hormonal balance?

[rettalee55 in reply to Krn210]

Thank you for responding. So sorry, but I haven't gotten on the PC much. Yeah, there are some foods I am aware that help estrogen, (example, soy), however when I get blood labs done, they are also for pregnanelone, progesterone, testosterone, and the levels of Est 2 and 3. It is hard to keep all of those regulated on my own with just supplements and foods. Something I wasn't aware of but recently read, but the ovaries also make testosterone, not just estrogen. Unfortunately ovaries, I no longer have.

[justbeme]

Retalee, sorry to learn of issues you have. I too (71) have GAD

and for past 6 weeks have burning, dry mouth, tongue,throat.

Initially, I attributed to acid reflux(silent type 24/7), but it may

also be caused by Sjogren's Syndrome.....or even ANXIETY

itself. I do ruminate/catastophize too much about my health

issues, too. I'm dx'd also with fibro/cfs. My heart goes out

to the "young folks" on here (20-40) who have madical issues caused

by their anxiety! The mind DOES control our health. Good luck.