Those forty or so folks who wander by and read my
scribbles will most likely find this post even more boring. The intent, by
sharing my story, is to encourage others to take steps to improve their health.
First, I’ve taken seventy seven trips around the sun
thanks to modern medicine. Circa 1995, after tests, a physician told me I had
the worst case of obstructive sleep apnea he had ever seen. Recognizing he was
dealing with a stubborn patient, he said something along these lines,
“I can guarantee, within the next six months, you will
have a major medical episode. It may be tomorrow, or next week, or next month
but with six months it will happen. If you are lucky it will kill you. If not,
you will be severely disabled. You do have someone that can give you 24/7/365
personal care, don’t you?”
Immediately, I became interested in my options. Since
then, I’ve been sleeping with a CPAP.
In 2014 I face planted, twice, and ended up in the Emergency
Room. Soon, I had a pacemaker. My condition causes my heart beat too slowly to supply enough blood to my brain. Per the memory function of the
pacemaker I rarely have an episode, and the period is brief, but they happen.
COVID destroyed most routine medical procedures. Last
month I was able to have a mundane prostrate procedure (NO CANCER, thankfully)
and soon after a visit with my primary care physician. I mentioned my concern
that I’m no longer able to get to my feet without using my arms to pull me up.
I’m now doing physical therapy weekly and a few simple
exercises daily. Slowly I am getting closer to standing without pulling up with
my arms. Surprising me, my chronic knee pain is diminishing and my walking improved.
My medical chart now reads obese, rather than morbidly
obese, and I’m down to two prescription drugs from seven. The dosages are very
small compared to when I started many years ago.
As stated in the first paragraph, I encourage you to look
after your health. My “reward” is not living out my years confined to a care
facility. As always, YMMV.
15 comments:
Graduating High School I got a job carrying a 35-pound chain saw up hill and down, cutting shrub trees from underneath an electric High Tension line. Exercise? Ha!
And over the ensuing years I have gotten more and more sedentary jobs, requiring extracurricular activity to (attempt to) keep my weight under control.
Now? Mrs. and I walk at least two miles daily, and try to walk 4 when we can. This endeavor takes 45 to 90+ minutes daily, making it always tempting on these hot summer days to ask, "Do we REALLY want to do this?"
But I am now in better shape than I have been in years. I have less acid reflux. I don't get out of breath climbing stairs. But I now need a belt to hold up my trousers.
Glad you are on this path. As one of the 40 readers, I look forward to your blurbs.
I turn 50 in September of this year and my health and those around me are definitely at the forefront of everything we do now. I have gained and lost weight too many times over and over - and I keep saying after I lose it and get more fit never again will I let myself go - and then I end up back overweight and lethargic. This last time, it was a struggle to start but came off much easier as I just ate less, moved more, stopped KETO or any other way of eating that eliminated food groups that are part and parcel of the things I love. I now just tell myself - losing slow is fine, the journey as important as the end goal - and now I am below even my service weight was which was lowest since high school.
My wife who has lost weight is even on board walking more and riding a bike (which she hadn't in over three decades!) Proud of her
All that to say - as you get older it becomes tougher to do so there is never a better time than right now cause you will never be any younger than you are right now
Best wishes on many more healthy years!
I hit "Three Score and Ten" this week, and it's really stating to take it's toll.
Would have received a new hip last year, but with Teh Plague, they gave me PT instead. It worked great.
Now I'm having some shoulder issues, and doing PT again.
I lost almost 50 pounds since we moved here, my a1C is down to "Pre-Diabetic" levels, and one of my heart meds has been cut to one-quarter of what I was taking before.
Now I'm having low BP problems, and have apparently developed arrhythmia. Had to wear a mini-EKG unit for two weeks, and waiting for the results from that.
GB
Age. I now use a jack to change a tire instead of picking up the vehicle and setting it on the jack. Glad you enjoy my blurbs.
Pluto71
Welcome. I think this is your first comment if memory serves. Diet wise I try to avoid foods with lectin. Early days I lost 60 lbs but now stabilised so I need to find something to restart the process. For too many years my workaholic 16-18 hour days turned me into a blob. Kudos to you and the wife for your progress.
DRJIM
For a long time I looked askance at physical therapy. No good reason. My only issue with the pacemaker was too short leads. My chest expands like a Peruvian Inca and they opened me up to put in longer leads. Truly, I seldom notice it - just a lump and a scar. Do you think some of your health improvement is getting away from the Cali rat race?
Glad to hear that. Yes, we have to change... or die... Our choice.
Oh, I'm sure getting out of that pressure-cooker has helped. My son's been here a week now, and he's starting to decompress. I pray it helps him as much as it helped me.
OldNFO
Well said!
DRJIM
Perhaps a son report soon?
The upside of your health journey is that I am not stuck taking care of you.
Sisty
There is that.
Congrats on the weight loss, I know from experience that it's really hard after a certain age (snicker, I'm there too). You have a smart doc who understands the foibles of certain cantankerous men.
cantankerous men
I represent that!
What we have seen so far if Biden’s Major Screw Up (and I’ll putting that lightly)..Actually this is reminiscent of what happened in Saigon, Vietnam. And besides that, it shows, and proves the dishonestly and the lack of accountability on Joe Biden’s part. And no one should really be surprised, as this is exactly what displayed over his half century in public office.
So far “Fearless Joe’s” response has been exactly what I has thought it would be... “IT’S TRUMP’S FAULT!” although his Self-Centered speech started by his saying “I take all responsibility for this” , “and I stick by it” Well the Finger Pointed was not exactly his taking responsibility for this Epic Mess. Well maybe we should be happy that he didn’t tell us how “Racist” we are!
Anyway, now his pullout of the remaining 2500 US Troops and the tens of thousands of American workers who are there training the Afghan Forces seem to be stuck without a way out, and can’t even get to the Airport safely.
Joey is simply a maroon, he and his close friends decided this would be a perfect time to take a vacation, so he can be reached at his sanctuary of the Camp David Basement where he watches the news on TV. I guess on CNN.
You can bet that if this had happened under Donald Trump, he would have been IMPEACHED for incompetence by Fancy Nancy if she’s not in her High Tech Kitchen eating her Gourmet Ice-Cream.
For almost 50 years this Delusional, Stuttering Zombi was a Senator, and Vice President for 8 of those years focusing on his self-enrichment, as he clearly demonstrated by his dealings with his Son in the Ukraine .
Yes, yesterday he made a self-service speech mumbling about “THE BUCK Stops” with Him, as if he was Harry Truman. But that was clearly written for him by somebody else and reminiscent of Hillary’s Non-apology for the Benghazi .bagoggle
This “Man” is the most Incompetent, and the worst excuse for an American President that this Country has ever seen.
He is dangerous, corrupt, immoral, crooked, and irresponsible. He should be known as Saigon Joe, or the Kabul Killer. He screwed up this evacuation like he SCREWED UP the US Southern Border.
Hey, Joey it’s time to go, and take Camala with you, preferably out of this Country.
Malcontent
Off topic and you are close to spam (see the same remark elsewhere) but your message is valid so I left your remark.
Be careful! And congrats on losing weight. Many more years, please. And I echo the wisdom of NFO -- we have to change or die. I'm facing up to that because I do like to smoke. Hmmmmm. Not so fun in a chest ward.
LSP
All smokers have tried methods and failed. For instance, I tried hypnosis. In 1984 I was smoking my last cigarettes. My wife asked me if I wanted her to get another carton when she went shopping. I declined her offer and haven't touched any form of tobacco since. My method? As Brits might say, "Bloody minded stubbornness". The craving has never gone away but is greatly diminished.
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