Oops, I Did It Again

Having acquired a figure 8 resistance band recently, I tested it out on my upper body even though I'd bought it to replace the resistance band that I used for my leg exercises. It turned out to be not that suitable for this purpose and I was tempted into using for strengthening my upper body.

This turned out to be a mistake because I quickly aggravated my internal problems in the area behind the breastbone. The pressure increased on my lungs and esophagus and possibly even my heart and the damage may be irreversible. I simply don't know and once again my fragility in the area of the thymus gland is exposed. 

I cannot apply any more stress to that area or the results may be fatal. If I do have a thymic cyst than its rupture could well lead to septicemia. I have to proceed with far more caution. This can well be my New Year's resolution or I may not see another. It is New Year's Eve so I won't make any unrealistic resolutions about exercise regimes.

Exercise Video

Overall my physical activity has focused mainly on working around the house which is demanding enough on my diminishing strength. I go for the occasional walk but should do this more regularly, although I've noticed that there are indoor walking in place activities that might be more suitable to my situation. The exercise video link above is a good as any to start. I've downloaded it so I can play it on my phone which will make it easier.

Vitamin B12 Dangers

I came across an interesting tweet recently that concerned Vitamin B12 supplements. Here's the content:

Dr. Dennis Walker
@drdenwalker

URGENT: Go to your medicine cabinet right now and look at the type of B12 you are taking. If it says “cyanocobalamin,” any where on the label, then throw it in the trash immediately. Although it the most common form of B12 in the world, cyanocobalamin is a synthetic, man-made form of B12, which includes “hydrogen cyanide." Look for vitamin B12 supplements in the form of adenosylcobalamin, methylcobalamin, & hydroxycobalamin.

RT for others awareness
Last edited 5:17 AM Nov 25, 2023 1.3M Views

This was interesting because there's a popular B12 supplement that I've taken over the years that has cyanocobalamin in it.

Just another reason not to trust BIG PHARMA, even when vitamin supplements are involved. Here is a link to a YouTube video that discusses the problems associated with cyanocobalamin and that recommends supplements that contain methylcobalamin instead. Many energy drinks contain cyanocobalamin in high amounts as do fortified grains. Here is an excerpt from his comments to the video:

The best form of vitamin B12 is the natural version called methylcobalamin. This version is the active form of vitamin B12 and stays in the body longer than the synthetic versions.

Potential benefits of methylcobalamin:

• It may help improve sleep

• It can decrease the need for sleep

• It can help you wake up feeling alert and refreshed

• It can help you fall asleep faster

• It's great for the nervous system (especially the myelin sheath)

• It supports healthy eyes

• It increases melatonin

• It decreases homocysteine

• It can help regulate cortisol

• It supports the red blood cells

Causes of vitamin B12 deficiency:

• Not consuming foods high in vitamin B12

• Stomach inflammation

• H. pylori

• Low stomach acid

• Gastric bypass

• Inflammation in the intestines

The Benefits of Tapping

I watched a reel on Instagram by @mikechangofficial in which he expounds on the benefits of tapping. Here is a link to the reel.

I tried it out briefly tonight and it felt good. I should incorporate into my daily exercise regime which is pretty much non-existent at the moment. First thing in the morning would be a good time to get myself kick-started. I have been doing a reasonable amount of gardening which I've found is an inadvertent way of exercising. The constant crouching down and getting up is equivalent to doing full squats and the pushing, pulling and digging is all beneficial. It's important that I keep doing that.

I've been applying a steroid cream to the persistent sore on my lower right back. It's troubled me for well over a year and I usually cover it with a band-aid and forget about it but I happened upon it as a possible remedy. So far I've been applying it for a few days and it's certainly become less sensitive. Here are some details regarding it (courtesy of Bard):

Mometasone furoate cream is a steroid cream that is used to treat a variety of skin conditions, including eczema, psoriasis, and allergic dermatitis. It works by reducing inflammation, itching, and redness.

Mometasone furoate cream is available in a variety of strengths, and the strength that is right for you will depend on the severity of your skin condition. It is important to use mometasone furoate cream as directed by your doctor, and to not use it for longer than you are prescribed.

Some of the common side effects of mometasone furoate cream include burning, stinging, itching, and dryness of the skin. These side effects are usually mild and go away on their own. However, if you experience any serious side effects, such as skin thinning, skin discoloration, or blistering, stop using the cream and contact your doctor.

Mometasone furoate cream is a safe and effective treatment for a variety of skin conditions. However, it is important to use it as directed by your doctor and to be aware of the potential side effects.

Mometasone furoate cream is usually applied once a day to the affected area of skin. The amount of cream you will need to use depends on the size of the affected area. A pea-sized amount is usually enough to treat an area the size of an adult hand.

You should wash your hands before and after applying the cream. Apply a thin layer of cream to the affected area and rub it in gently until it is completely absorbed. Do not cover the treated area with a bandage or wrap.

Mometasone furoate cream is usually used for 2 to 4 weeks. However, if your skin condition does not improve after 2 weeks, or if it worsens, you should see your doctor.

Here are some additional tips for using mometasone furoate cream:

• Do not use more cream than you need. Using too much cream can increase your risk of side effects.
• Do not apply the cream to your eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Do not cover the treated area with a bandage or wrap unless your doctor tells you to.
• Do not use the cream for more than 4 weeks without talking to your doctor.

While I'm reluctant to use medications like this, I'm sure that this is what a doctor would have prescribed for me and fortunately I was able to obtain it over the counter at a local pharmacy. The sore is located in a site that is impossible to view and so I'm reliant on an outside observer to report on changes in its appearance.

Overall I'm feeling stronger than I when I first returned to Jakarta about three weeks ago. Soon after my arrival, I began cleaning up the back garden but found the heat and humidity very tiring. Perhaps I worked too hard for too long too soon. I've scaled back my efforts now and do a little each day.

The lifting of pots however, has irritated my  umbilicus but it's not too bad. I haven't done much walking but I don't want to overdo things. Gardening is enough at the moment. Once the garden has been tamed, I can resume some walking - ideally of a morning. I haven't weighed myself in a while but I feel "heavy" so I should begin monitoring it again.

Otitis Media Effusion

Otitis Media Effusion (OME) or middle ear fluid is the most common cause of hearing loss in children. It affects approximately 2.2 million children in the United States each year and can result from a blocked or malfunctioning Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the back of the throat. OME can cause discomfort, fullness in the ear, and temporary hearing loss. It is often diagnosed by the presence of fluid behind the tympanic membrane without signs of inflammation or infection. 

Figure 1

A visit to an audiologist yesterday confirmed that this is the problem currently affecting my left ear. For quite a few months now I've noticed the hearing in that ear was diminished and it felt blocked. However, some simple external massage of the eustachian tube seems to have improved the condition and I'm now able to pop my ear drum on the left side, which I couldn't do before. I'm confident that with repeated massage sessions the condition will improve even further.

It's interesting that the audiologist's only suggestion was to visit a GP in order to arrange an appointment to see an ENT specialist. No self help suggestions at all, even though the Internet abounds in them. Another name for OME is "glue ear" and there was a popular procedure for children in the 1980's which involved inserting so-called grommets (little tubes) into the tympanic membrane in order to drain away the fluid (glue).

Disintegrating Teeth

Somewhat disconcertingly, the incisor with the hole in it on the upper right side of my mouth, totally disintegrated during the night. I only realised the loss when I was having a coffee and croissant at a local cafe this morning. Presumably, I swallowed the fragments and fortunately didn't choke to death.

While I still have enough teeth to get by, I can't help but speculate how many more will disintegrate in the coming months or years. Anyway, tomorrow I turn 74.5 years old. On that day, I'll be exactly 27214 days old and I'm beginning to feel very old.

Something Amiss

Figure 1 shows a record of my activity over the past few days generated by a pedometer app:

Figure 1

As can be seen, Thursday marked the day when I overextended myself and I spent the following three days (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) recovering. I did not go for an intentional walk on any of those days. Today, Monday the 2nd October 2023, I did go for an intentional walk although at a very leisurely path. I even rested for awhile on two park benches.

Despite the slow walk, I found that toward the end of my journey my left arm was becoming quite numb. This is not due to an impending heart attack because I've often noticed this before on my walks but never to such a severe degree. On my return home, I promptly took myself to bed for a couple of hours and just rested, lapsing briefly into a dream state. I'd had a good night's sleep and wouldn't normally have been fatigued after such a walk.

In bed, the joint in the pinkie on my right hand began to pain me for a while. Once I got up, I had some lunch and because I was chewing on the right side, I began to experience a dull ache in the teeth there that fortunately subsided quickly. My teeth and gums have almost returned to normal, which is to say I still have a gaping hole where a molar had been on my left side and a hole in one of the incisors on my right side. SNAFU as one might say.

It seems clear that even mild activity is a little much for my body to bear at the moment. My chest discomfort has returned a week or more ago. I'm coming up to the fifth anniversary of when I first noticed the problem. Getting back to being quickly overcome by fatigue, the issue is whether the normal deterioration caused by age is the culprit or whether some other factor is at work. Much as I dislike any medical scrutiny, it might be wise to have a blood test. We'll see. I'll continue to monitor my condition.

Teeth Trouble

There is a hole in one of my upper teeth on the right side. Up until recently it hadn't caused me any trouble but a few days ago it started up in the middle of the night and worsened over the next day or so. I needed to take some Panadol to ease the discomfort. At the same time, the gaping hole where a tooth used to be on the upper left side of my mouth also become inflamed. I was having difficulty eating.

I suspect I walked too far on the day preceding my oral woes but I can't remember the exact chronology. Nowadays, when I push my body too far, I seem to suffer a general collapse. Today, after a couple of days of not walking, my teeth troubles have largely subsided. I have to accept that my body is not what it used to be and I have to "exercise" more caution.

Now that I'm 74 years old, in fact 74.5 years old on October 6th, I have to change my ways and exercise in smaller "chunks". I've written about this before but not really practised it. I need to view the entire day as an exercise opportunity and find what works and what doesn't. I need to be more in touch with my body and view it as something to be bullied into doing my bidding.

This approach worked when I was younger but not anymore. I need to be kind to my body. The discomfort induced by overexertion is a strong motivator. Of course, I worry sometimes that I'm being overtaken by some insidious disease and eventually I may well be. However, the more I listen to my body, the less likely this is to happen.