Health & Insurance

While out getting our 5th wheel insurance we were also prompted to get our insurance in order too.  So we had called up Mr Moo’s insurance guy to come see us one afternoon.  Premium for Mr Moo is only about $25 a month and he would have no trouble getting his – in fact – we received the papers yesterday.  As for me – it would be harder to insure me – why?  i have diabetes – high blood pressure – cholesterol and now on anti-depressant.  Sure they will insure me – but at a higher premium and i needed to go for a medical.  So lesson to be learned here – don’t wait till you are 45 before you try and get insurance – else it would be a lot harder.  And insurance is a must – those especially with family – and kids.  Those with no kids – also must get insurance – why?  parents – siblings that need to take care of your funeral and stuff.  So think about it – your RV needs insurance – your house needs insurance – why not you?  you are afterall the biggest asset to your entire family right?

Music & Entertainment Good For Health

The girlfriends from New York  are going to get their Wicked tickets for the hottest broadway show  and trying to entice me to visit them – this summer  by offering me a free ticket.  I sure wished I could go for  I used to go for shows or concerts  to de-stress and to have a fun night with the girls.

It’s not only the dressing up that pumps my adrenalin up but the anticipation of a good Broadway show – can make one go giddy.   My girlfriends said that the raving and the reviews for Wicked the Musical were very good and that this Tony award winning show is almost always sold out.  I’m really tempted to go – afterall, New York is not too far from me – and I do miss my girlfriends very much – time for a short break perhaps?

Children’s Wish Foundation

The town is currently celebrating summer with Seafest for the last couple of weeks and today – we see the Children’s Wish Foundation at the waterfront too.  For those who are not aware of what the Children’s Wish Foundation does -  they grant wishes to children who are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.  And how can one not donate right?  and i applaud the girls who were manning the counter – to collect and raise money for the Children’s Wish Foundation – and I would have recommended them to a good online printing services for doing their brochures and even their Spin A Wheel game.  I’m not saying they are not good enough – but had I known earlier – I would definitely contact one of my many sponsors and work something out for them – and make it even more impressive.  That’s alright though – Missy Moo and I played some games and did our part – maybe next year eh.

Keeping Cool In The Summer

Or should i say staying hydrated in the summer?  Missy Moo is in summer camp and she refused to drink her water even though every time she comes back either for lunch or for the day – she is dripping wet.   But we all know we need to keep the kids hydrated else they have get a heat stroke.   So now i offer her fruit juices freshly squeezed from home and in a thermal bottle instead.  Not the best alternative – but if you asked me anything is better than nothing and fruit juices freshly squeezed at home – has gotta be the second best – although i prefer if she drinks water.

Aging Gracefully

At 45 – one wonders if one can age gracefully in the West – had i been back home – i would say no problem – but over here – crash diets that work is what i constantly look for.  I’m not used to the facials and hair treatments here therefore, I seriously wonder if i can age gracefully without the help of these wonderful hair stylist and estheticians that I am so used to before. Plus my idea of aging gracefully, certainly isn’t going under the knife – but each time i looked at the car mirror while waiting for the spouse to run his errands – i tell him i need a face lift – hahahah!!   So how do one preserved – or somewhat try to – look youthful – despite the fact that the body isn’t obeying you no more?

Exercise, exercise and exercise – is what one who is aging – must do – and do not be afraid to see a doctor – if you don’t feel so well – or if you find that you are always tired.  But in the meantime, I hear retinolds, and AHAs Acid can help with some antioxidants.  But I think by eating right and exercising would most definitely boost one egos when you are energetic – so here I am – hitting the gym again. Wish me luck eh.

Smoking

Everyone knows smoking can kill but i wonder if it is the smell that bothers us more or just that the person will die…???  everyone dies sooner or later.. and some have lung cancer even though they never drink or smoke at all in their entire life.  My  grandparents smoke a lot too – but if only they  knew about e-cigarettes i think they not only save more they might not have us reeking in smoke when we leave to go home nor  need to worry about washing our hair each time visited them.  Honestly, i don’t mind them smoking and they are beyond the advice to quit because of health but like my mother said -no light, no burning and no tar nor real smoke – now that would have been nice – during the good old days.

Gas aka Wind

Remember I complained about bad tummy pain for the last one week?  yes ! and it happened again yesterday !  I’m now wondering if it was the banana that caused me to be in such bad pain because it’s definitely not because i was hungry.  How do I know?  I was looking for  security cameras and had just eaten before doing my window shopping for it – when it struck – it didn’t even occured to me why till this morning.

This morning I had a really late breakfast – and after breakfast – i was expecting the wind and bloatiness again but nope – it didn’t happen – now that set me thinking – because i always blamed my irregular eating hours .. for the pain that the gas caused – so why not today?  i continued half the day – and still nothing – so what did i eat or not eat that made the difference?  I then figured it could be the banana – now i’m not sure yet but i’m gonna stop eating banana for now.. and see what happens and will update on a later date.  Wish me luck everyone.

Getting Pregnant

For those who are not aware of this – I only got pregnant at a very late age – I was not a young mother like i tell everyone and truth be told, I never thought I would have Missy Moo.  But those who are thinking of getting pregnant or planning to – i strongly advice that you really planned ahead because taking care of your body in order to give the best to the baby is very important.  If i could turned the clock back i would have taken all sorts of  prenatal vitamins before and after I got pregnant.  But my best advice for anyone trying to have a baby is to relax and take it easy  – the more you stress about it – the unlikelihood of getting one is rather high.   The body is really funny and for your body to be the vessel for your child – you have to take care of yourself now.

My New Doctors

First off .. you have to congratulate me for having what i called one of the best doctors I’ve seen in my 11 years here in Canada.  And nope he didn’t ask me what kind of fitness equipment i was using nor did he said i was obese but he did say – a wee bit of activity will go a long way – now isn’t that a nice change from the previous doctor I had now?

Not only that – the new doctors were very encouraging and they explained in detail about my health report and my blood test – they were very thorough and it was definitely a totally different experience.  They were also very understanding and took Missy Moo in immediately when she threw up the same day. Keeping our fingers crossed that’s for sure.

Alcohol & Diabetes

Christmas is over .. and the New Year celebration is round the corner.  Many of you are wondering, when you are doing your new year’s party..  are you gonna be able to have your bubblies (champagne toast) right?  Talking about champagne..  i need new  kitchen faucets but that’s another story for another day.

Ok.. into more serious talks now..  so can one drink alcohol..??  According to what i know.. please don’t quote me .. it’s ok.. to have the occasional drink.  Now what do you mean by occasional drink..??  well.. during celebration.. like the new year.. and christmases.. but no more than 3 glasses .. i would say.  But if you are not into drinking.. don’t just go drinking..and burnt out your liver.. just because you think .. it will help with your blood sugar.

Cinnamon Can Lower Blood Glucose

I was out shopping for candle sconces when i met an old friend of mine and she looked so healthy .. and slim.  I had to ask right..??? hahahha!!! what was the secret.  Well, she has diabetic too.. and swears by cinnamom and peanut butter .. if she needed a snack.   But we all know that cinnamon can help a little.. but it’s not everything, even my family doctor insisted he never heard of something like that.

So can cinnamon lower one’s blood glucose..??  i came to this conclusion that it works with different people and not everyone is the same.. so our body reacts to things different.  Just like my friend who swears by it.. and i can see that it worked for her.  So for those like myself.. who has diabetes.. it’s a continuous trial and error for us eh.

T-Zone Vibration

They claimed that 10 mins on this is equivalent to an hour exercise..??  is it true.. can it be as effective..?? we currently have one here in our small town.  At first.. i thought it was a a car factory.. with that name.. hahahahha!!!  on the website it doesn’t say too too much.. says it’s under construction .. in a lot of pages.  So i’ll have to wait.. and report back.  At $5 per day membership.. it’s definitely worth trying eh..?

Pap Smear After Hysterectomy

I went to visit my family doctor about my blood sugar the other day.. and we had started talking about my other health issues.. and what i had been doing to make sure i live a good long life. I had also mentioned about my pap smear.. with the new gynae.. and my family doctor then told me i didn’t need a pap smear no more.  I was kinda shocked.. because no one told me that..  and neither did my new gynae.  Then I was told that I didn’t need one.. if i had my cervic removed.. but i donch really know if my cervic was removed.. because i know the old gynae removed my uterus.. and left my ovaries.. so did he take the cervic as well..??  Well, i guess i’ll have to write to my old gynae or call my new one eh.  More on it.. when i find out.

Family Doctors

I met my family doctor and his family at the mall the other day.  He made not attempt to make small talk with me even though i got Missy Moo to great him.  His daughter.. was too shy to say anything.. and he never introduced us.  A little further strolling.. we met him and his entire family .. and this time.. he never even look up .. lol.

My family doctors back home.. we are promptly introduced and they know my entire family too.  When one is getting married.. we also bring our spouses to see our family doctor.. so that he can give us some advice.  It kinda make me pretty sad.. realizing.. the differences.. not only in culture.. food and everything else .. i kinda miss home even more.  My family doctor – one of them.. actually watched me grow up .. and when i was living in Singapore. i would visit him at least once a year.  Dr Wong, I miss you so much.

More Info On NS Family Pharmacare

Just for those who wants some more info about the above program, i really think that everyone who REALLY needs it should apply.  It’s just like looking into some laptop deals and you get what is best for you and your family.

Nova Scotia Family Pharmacare is a provincial drug plan designed to help Nova Scotians with the cost of prescription drugs. The program offers protection against drug costs for families who have no drug coverage; or, if the cost of the prescription drugs becomes a financial burden to them.

The program is available to all Nova Scotians with a valid health card and there is no premium or fee to join the program. The annual out-of-pocket cost is capped at a percentage of family income. Specific questions about individual situations can be answered by calling toll-free 1-877-330-0323.

Nova Scotia Family Pharmacare Program

Nova Scotia Family Pharmacare Program  is for those who needs help with paying for their prescription and are of lower income.  No you need not be on welfare or any disability, although i guess if you are .. you should automatically be in this program..??  Well, as far as I have been in Canada, I know that there are people who are abusing this system.  Knowing that they can afford to pay $150 to do their hair or to go for a huge feast everytime they get their checks, makes me wanna puke.  But yes, these people are on some kinda of program that allows them to pay nothing for medication and dental care.  Lucky them you would think – so for those who are working part time or not earning alot, you too can apply for it and save the application on a flash drive if you can’t print the forms out in the office.

Suppositories

Since Missy Moo had been haviing fever on and off.. we had told her that we will need to give her some suppositories.. if she didn’t wanna take her medication.  She calls it bum medication.. and had asked if it would  hurt..  just yesterday.. and i had tried to explain it to her.  Even though we would hate to stick it up her bum.. we know it doesn’t hurt.

While many parents like myself.. shudder at the very thougt of suppositories, this is actually the best alternative if a child is very sick.. especially with high fever, throwing up .. or refusing any kind of medication.  The discomfort is very temporary .. and it is usually .. the parents who feels the discomfort more than the kid.. so they say.

One way .. that can help .. or tip.. when you are administrating suppositories .. for your kid.. is to ask them to blow imagineary bubbles.. it  helps to relax and distract them.  And it also helps to bring the suppository to room temperature and to warm your fingers under warm water.  Avoid using Vaseline, which creates a barrier to the drug.

The Good Fats

So what is the good fat you asked..?? or so many of my friends asked.

Monounsaturated fats are said to improve blood cholestrol levels.  And here are some of the sources, olive oil, canola oil, peanut oil, non-hydrogenated margarine, avocados, almond, pistachios, cashews, pecans and hazelnut.  Outta the so many i’ve mentioned above.. i only take like 5 .. but that’s ok.. including any one of the above is great.

Polyunsaturated Fat also known as (omega-3) can be found in mackeral, sardine, herring, rainbow trout and salmon.  Canola and soybean oil and Omega 3 eggs, flaxseed, walnuts, pecans and pine nuts.  So if you haven’t incorporated these into your diet.. please start now.

Polyunsaturated Fat also known as (omega 6) can be found in safflower, sunflower and corn oil, non hydrogenated margarin, almonds, pecans, brazil nuts and sun flower seeds.

Ok.. what about the bad.. i hear you asked.. to be cont’d.. in the next post.

Fats 101

So i hear that there are the good and bad fats in our diet .. well..! these dietician sure makes one go on a merry go round sometimes eh. We all know that we need a certain amount of fat .. in our diet for good health.  Oils and fats supply calories the essential fats to help our bodies absorb fat soluble vitamins, like the Vitamins A, D, E and even K .. although i rarely hear about the K.  But i was told that both type of fats and the amount one consumes are a very important factor for health.

The good and the bad .. later.