Category Archives: Health

Have You Had Your Mammogram?

Gentlemen, you may still want to read this, but I’ll understand if its too ‘squicky’ for you. (I’ll also try to refrain from rolling my eyes.)

Ladies: If you are over 40, I certainly hope you’ve had your mammogram. I just did and I’m going to tell you all about it. Think of it as a kind of public service announcement. One that may allay any fears.

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Strength, Preparation, and Muay Thai

(this is sparked by a colleague’s LJ post — it’s locked, or I would share).

I think just about everyone should take classes in Muay Thai — particularly anyone who believes they are weak, or helpless. MT is a dynamic, strength-building, flexibility-enhancing sport that builds mental and physical capability. Participants end up with the cardio workout of an aerobics or high-energy dance class and the strength-building of lifting weights. Moreover, you learn what fighting feels like in a safe environment. Bruised knuckles, aching jaw, sore elbows, and aching muscles all over — sounds like a typical post-MT feeling, even if you’re using pads and protection. It just happens.

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Having A Headache

It started on Wednesday, and I have it still. That seems like a long time for a band of iron to be tightly wrapped around my forehead, doesn’t it? It got intensely bad last night, closely resembling what others have told me a migraine feels like. Nausea, throbbing head, light hurts my eyes. . . Ritual had to be rescheduled at the last second, and I hate that.

To be clear: if I get a single headache a year, that’s a lot. I’ve had caffeine, lots of water, food, aspirin, and sleep. Wintergreen (because peppermint gives me a headache) has scented my office. All in an effort to relieve the ache. Today I’m looking into deeper causes, and I’ll be at the doctor’s on Monday if it continues.

The National Headache Foundation (I didn’t know there was one, http://www.headaches.org/) defines a migraine symptoms as:

a dull ache and then develops into a constant throbbing and pulsating pain that you may feel at the temples, as well as the front or back of one or both sides of the head. The pain is usually accompanied by a combination of nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and noise.

Um. Well. That’s it in a nutshell. Neat, something else to talk with my doctor about.