P. S. Health Update

Better living through chemistry.

Okay, several friends contacted me concerned about my health, sparked by one sentence in the previous blog. A case of less is more. If you don’t want to read about an aging woman’s health problems, you can skip this. Be assured, there is NO talk of bowels except to say that a recent colonoscopy cleaned me out, good for five years.

First, Mike has no health concerns. He inherited his father’s hearty genes. Mike’s movements are stiff after hiking or hard work or getting out of bed. His eyesight is diminishing but uses readers for close up and me for distance. His hearing is going but like many people, blames any miscommunication on the speaker.

I have arthritis in the hands but can still type and play piano, avoiding intricate technique. Arthritis in the knees forces me to adapt exercises to avoid being down on all fours. I can still get up off the floor, thanks to knowing how to do the downward facing dog. Stairs are tedious but not a problem unless I must use them repeatedly, like at my daughter’s in Chicago.

Briefly, I am on medication for cholesterol, managing chronic kidney disease (a maternal and paternal blessing), low thyroid per the endocrinologist (I have no idea what those symptoms are), and thyroid nodules monitored regularly. The nephrologist and endocrinologist want me to lose weight. So do I. The loss of twenty pounds last year took a lot of work which I seem unable to master at this time. Dr. Kidney wants me to try medication. Really? My PCP refers me to the endocrinologist for that. I’ll see.

Trigeminal neuralgia (facial pain, feels like toothache) is always present at some level but rarely stops me except the other day when I took the medication for it, causing drowsiness and missing some outdoor concerts. One must choose their battles.

My PCP also referred me to psychiatry. Not for therapy but for management of depression/anxiety meds. Melancholy got the better of me in middle age. Lexapro was a miracle but its magic waned after several years. Effexor makes little impact on the anxiety produced by natural tendencies, life transitions, and the big one, politics. However, one cannot just discontinue these meds without serious side effects. I already have wild and crazy dreams. I prefer to discontinue the meds to manage my moods with lifestyle (again, exercise and diet) and occasional gummies.

So, not life-threatening. I am touched by everyone’s concerns and have no cause for complaint. This age makes one aware of body parts previously unknown. For the many who are suffering from chronic disease and pain, recurring health events, and serious disability, I empathize. Every day moving is a good one.

Everyone, take care, stay well, go with God, whatever that means for you.