I walked into the Conway Regional Women’s Health Fair feeling pretty darn good. I walked out feeling like a decrepit old woman who might not make it through the weekend.
Free health fairs are awesome, and I love the free tests, not to mention a free pen, if it’s a good one. I don’t sign up for door prizes if I’m working at an event, but I decided to take advantage of some of the screenings and just take a few photos while I was there.
My biggest interests were in a bone-density test and InBody test, which is a brand-new machine that breaks down your body composition. While I waited on those two screenings, I decided to get looked at for skin cancer. The sweet, friendly nurse had one of those machines where you stick your head in the curtain and look into a mirror with black lights.
My bonded veneers glowed eerily white, and I could see where I’d missed putting makeup on my face.
I’ve looked at my face under these lights before, and it is frightening. But, thanks to my makeup, it wasn’t so bad.
My neck and hands actually looked pretty good, the nurse said. “Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it,” she said.
I’ve long since quit tanning, except for what comes out of a bottle or a spray booth. I don’t go to the beach — or even the mailbox — without my makeup, which has sunscreen in it. While growing up, I was never as much of a sun worshipper as some of my friends.
The bone-density test is the easiest on Earth. You stick your foot on this thing (sort of reminds me of when you get your foot measured for shoes), and it spits out a report. Mine said osteopenia, which is the stage before osteoporosis. The friendly, fun nurse told me to take my report to my doctor.
I was surprised because I’ve been taking Vitamin D with calcium already.
Next, I went to the body scanner. I was happy about my weight, based on what I’d weighed before, but the dietitian went over my results. She said I needed to build more skeletal muscle. I think that’s what she said, anyway. She suggested lifting weights. That’s just about all I do when I go to the gym, but my husband said I need to add more weight to the machines. But then I might sweat.
Then I went to get my blood pressure checked. “I will probably flunk this,” I said. “I’ve flunked just about every other test I’ve taken.”
She laughed, until she got my blood pressure. It was 145/97. I used to have great blood pressure, but lately, it seems to be creeping up. I tried to blame it on the coffee I’d had two hours before, but I researched it, and that won’t make such a difference. Goody.
I made an appointment with my primary-care physician to talk about how I’m falling apart at 54.
My takeaway from this: Eat more ice cream, chill out, and work out harder.
It was unnerving to find out I’m not in as good of shape as I thought. But I got a really good pen and some free Band-Aids, so all in all, it was a good day.
Senior writer Tammy Keith can be reached at (501) 327-0370 or tkeith@arkansasonline.com.