Check Up On It!

When you are running around with work, travel, etc. it is hard to remember to take care of your body. In addition to exercising and eating well, check ups are essential.

So in an effort to keep my life in balance and maker sure that everything is working well, I had two count them two appointments over the last week. Do you want the bad news or the bad news?

First I headed to the ENT (ear/nose/throat) doctor. For a while I have felt like my voice hasn't been 100%. My symptoms:
- It physically hurts to talk when I am out in noisy areas.
- Loss of my upper singing range. (I am becoming an alto!)
- Gut feeling that something is wrong.

Unfortunately, my gut was right. I have nods aka nodules on my vocal chords. Nods are like callouses caused by vocal abuse. Basically I haven't been speaking correctly. I haven't been using my diaphragm.

I am on the path to repair by consciously using my voice properly, avoiding smoky areas, and getting a more thorough review of my conditions. My goal is to avoid surgery! Thus far the only surgery I have had was for my wisdom teeth.

Now for the other bad news. My second appointment was for my teeth cleaning. I have always prided myself on not having cavities. Twenty-eight and cavity-less! My sisters and I have always had great hygiene, but Rhonda and Rochelle both fell prey to cavities years ago. Not I! I was the victorious one.

Well...until now. My new dentist tells me that I need two fillings. The x-rays don't show cavities, but she is certain that the exist. All I can day is darnit! I tried to be upbeat as my dentist was telling me this. I told her that I was hoping to make it to fifty without cavities. She laughed and said that twenty-eight was impressive. I had a lot of questions because I am a newbie to the whole thing. I asked her if I could get silver or gold in my teeth. She looked at me mortified and I just started laughing. KIDDING!!

By the way, it is awesome that my new dentist is a woman! I love it.

All my dad could say to me when I told him was, (in his island accent) "Well Roxanne, look on the bright side...once you have a filling, those particular teeth can never get cavities again." Excellent. Dad. Thanks!

Bottom line: I know this isn't the happiest blog ever, but the moral of the story is...get yourself checked out. If you don't feel great physically it probably means something isn't right. Don't make excuses, just do it.
Cheers.

How old were you when you got your first cavity...and if you say you still haven't and you are older than twenty-eight, then I don't want to hear it!

- RXW