Should I get long term health care? Should my wife?
I'm 47, have epilepsy (32 yrs), UC (30 yrs) and one ear hearing loss (10 yrs). As a child I was diagnosed with hypoglycemia so I've combatted that by eating less simple sugars, staying active; I eat more protein in my meals. Yearly physicals (blood/urine work/treadmill/lung capacity/eyes...) show me as "very healthy" says doctors every year; I am not overweight and cholesterol, cadio, lungs, blood sugar, prostate, CBC all look great. My blood sugar doesn't show concerns but I realize I need to eat less sugar than others; I'll shake and get anxiety if I don't watch this.
I'm fair skinned and burned a lot over the years so am starting to get things removed. First basil cells were removed last year so I get complete head to feet checks every year. It's late but I'm taking care of the skin.
Because of my health issues (I've been hospitalized several times for several flares) my wife is encouraging me to get long term health care. My epilepsy is controlled with medication; grand mal (last in '91 and occurred only if I didn't take medication); I get complex partial after loss of sleep combined with too much sugar or forgetting a dose of medication (I'll not lose consciousness but get a frightening aura; for that I take Xanax as necessary).
I never took pain medication until hospitalized in Dec 2009 with several (complete colon) flare; colon almost removed but a recent sigmoidoscopy showed complete remission and only scar tissue. I get years colonoscopy's. Since 2010 I take up to 40 mg oxycodone (now mostly just to control urgency as I found it works to slow things down and allows me freedom to travel, work; it completely changed my life for the better). If I had a bucket of it I would take between 20-60mg/day depending on what I had to do that day but abuse by others keeps me at 40 max and I get brow beat for using it. I digress...
Here are my medications:
Remicade every 10 weeks
Imuran 50 mg/day
Apriso 375 mg, 4 tab/day
Oxycodone 10mg, up to 4/day (as needed)
Valium 5 mg, up to 3/day (as needed, more used when I was on prednisone)
Carbatrol XR 200 mg, 2 tab/day
Xanax 1 mg, up to 3/day (as necessary)
I have tried many alternative treatments but they neither prevent onset of my flares nor help them. Not saying they don't work for others.
I recently realized that I tend to get flares after being well for a long time then get this eagerness to work out hard to get in great physical shape. It weakens me, I get chills and flares start. I did this last month so instead of ignoring it (not connecting the dots; I immediately called the nurse and got a 15 day supply of 10 mg prednisone and rested; I worked as I'm normal (whew!). I just need to accept the fact that I cannot press my fitness to extremes (I'm competitive and have the discipline to train hard but my body won't allow it I guess).
My wife's maternal grandmother suffered Alzheimer's/dementia; none of that in my family.
I don't smoke or drink (rarely 1-2 at holidays).
I told my wife she probably needed long term care as much or more than I did and she was insulted at the idea since she doesn't take medications, eats relatively healthy and exercises. But, I believe her blood line has more propensity than mine to require assisted living
If I get colon cancer I get the colon removed, I can't see the epilepsy being a big deal as my seizures are controlled with the meds. But, the questions on the Long Term policies ask if you have, among other, Colitis and Epilepsy so my wife is keyed in on that.
I looked online to see why I might need long term care and really don't understand me needing it over my wife (her father also has history of cardiac disease). She was insulted that I thought she should get it to protect our children but believes it best for me to not drain the family resources. I would get it if I were presented logic: I certainly don't want to be a financial and stress burden should I get sick for an extended time.
Please advise.