Seek medical truth, enjoy your life

Does your doctor make you feel good?

Does he or she tell you what you want to hear just to make you happy? If so, you probably should look for another doctor.

No one enjoys leaving the doctor’s office feeling bad. We don’t want to hear, “You need to change your lifestyle.” We don’t want to hear, “You need to cut way back on your sugar intake.” We enjoy our habits. Habits are hard to break. My wife’s grandfather loved smoking. He wouldn’t give it up even after numerous cancer surgeries. He died at age 65.

A friend died recently. She died from what is often called fatty liver disease. Six months before she died, she told me she was terminal. She said, “I guess I drank too much alcohol throughout my lifetime.” She went on to tell me that her family doctor two years prior had said her issue wasn’t severe and that she didn’t have to worry.” She was very displeased with her doctor’s passive attitude about her condition that would soon take her life.

Another friend of mine was diagnosed with prostate cancer. His doctor’s approach to his condition was that, “They would watch it. When it became worse, they would do something about the cancer.” They watched it and they watched it kill my friend. Within a year it was out of control and had spread outside his prostate. The doctor’s relaxed attitude about a serious situation did not go well for my friend.

Many doctors want to make you feel good. Of course, we don’t want a doctor whose goal is to make us feel bad. Typically, they don’t want to lose you as a patient. Still, they should diplomatically tell you what you may not want to hear.

Keep in mind the doctor ordinarily knows more than we do. However, YOU do know how you feel. Be aware of your family history. In this information age you have to do some self-study. There is a lot of information on-line about most conditions you are facing. You have to research thoroughly though because often you can find whatever response you want on the Internet. Ask your doctor questions about your research. Tell him or her that you want to make good choices. Be willing to travel to another town if your doctor refers you to do so, or to seek out someone who might be able to provide the care you need.

The bottom line is we have to take personal responsibility for our health and do the best we can. Even when we do everything we can think of to do, these bodies – our bodies – are subject to disease and death.

Richard Thousand is with the Taussig Cancer Center at Cleveland Clinic. He was recently talking to me about the many medical advances made in recent years and noted more are on the way. He then said something I had only heard my dad say many times, “Glenn, we aren’t going to get out of this world alive. From the moment we are born, there is something that is trying to kill us. Eventually, it’s going to happen.”

The bottom line is do the best we can with the information we have. Be diligent. Be thorough. Seek the truth from your doctor. Finally, enjoy your life.

After all… we all only get one.

I know what you’re thinking right about now. It’s probably along the lines of, “Say Powell! Why in heaven’s name

Sadly, at the age I am right now and where I am in my life, so far as enjoying things as they stand, what would be the fun if I couldn’t hang on to at least one horrendous habit (overeating)? I mean, I have sworn off so many vices that I can barely remember what my life was like when I was a young man of 25 or 30-ish; not that I was a wild and crazy guy, like Steve Martin likes to say, even then. Oh well! Anyway. Truth of the matter, when you step on a scale to weigh and you can’t see the numbers because of, well… just because, then you do need to make some changes. Which I am looking into. Honest! I am! Really…

And, I will do my best to keep all y’all updated on how all that progresses. Seriously. I will. Really... Just as soon as I finish this sandwich! Grow old gracefully, and healthfully, y’all!

As a retired teacher now working as a substitute teacher and tutor it is not a secret that I love summer. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love being retired, but I also love being in the education field on a parttime basis and have my summers free. To me it is the best of both worlds.

By Anne S. Haynes

Summer has always been special to me even when years ago I had to help work in the garden and assist my mom in the kitchen to can the vegetables. I would always help her, and it was a good feeling when I grew older to work beside her in such a special way. I also loved being able to stay up longer and get up later that was allowed in the summer when school was not in session.

When I was growing up I always wanted my mom to read to me. She had such a good reading voice, and I could imagine what was happening as she read with such expression. She would read to me later in the afternoon in the summer when her many chores were finished and before she started our evening meal.

Summer was also a good time for me to follow my two older brothers around. As typical teenagers they weren’t thrilled to have a younger sister following them, but they did look after me every day.

I was very close to them, and I realized later how good they actually were to me. They put up with a little sister tagging after them many days without complaints. They have both been in heaven for years, along with my parents, and I miss all of them so much. These summer days have been very good now. My husband, Tommy loves to have a garden, and he does a fantastic job raising vegetables for us to enjoy. I admire the hard work he puts into growing a garden, and he never complains about it. He loves to plant the seeds and water them and watch them sprout through the ground. I think it makes him feel closer to God, watching a garden grow. Of course, many people take their vacations in the summer and journey to the beaches or the mountains for fun and relaxation. It does a person good to rest and relax and take a break for a while. I encourage students to get some rest and relax because school is right around the corner and will be here before we realize it.