WITH AGE...

In my mid-late 40's, I think, I was first diagnosed with "borderline" high blood pressure.  I was shocked.  I went on meds, was advised to lose weight, and exercise more, de-stress.  The usual.  When asking why my BP was suddenly a problem, I was told for the first time, "Well, with age...."

This phrase has prefaced so many medical discussions over the ensuing 20 or so years, I've come to anticipate it.

Cholesterol:  "Well, with age...."
Keratosis:  "Well, with age..."
Osteopenia:  "Well, with age...."
Weight settling around the mid-region:  "Well, with age..."
Knees aching on occasion:  "Well, with age...."
Dry skin, age spots, dull complexion, wrinkles:  "Well, with age...."
Interrupted sleep/waking early: "Well, with age...."
Blurred vision/cataracts:  "Well, with age...."
Hearing impairment: "Well, with age...."

You probably have a list too.

As 2019 comes to a close,  I feel like it's a full time job to keep my body going.  There are only so many hours in the day to do all I want/need to do, and physical care is taking up more and more of my time.  Age is only a number, but well, with age....the only way to manipulate that number is to attend to age-related changes in our physical health.

I do not believe in using age as an excuse -- we have a lot of control over how we age by attending to what we can to mitigate some of the limiting aspects of age and health.  But age is an explanation for why I'm suddenly at the clinic for things that weren't an issue a few years ago.

I had my annual physical in October and went on a higher dose statin for cholesterol and have to do home BP checks to see if my BP meds are keeping that under control....borderline for increasing the doseage.  I've lost weight and get more exercise than in my 40's but, well, with age...

A couple of weeks ago I had my annual dermatology visit for a full body check. I've had a couple of basal cell carcinoma thingies removed and one squamous cell spot, so I'm a candidate for constantly checking the vast expanse of northern European/Scandinavian white skin that I foolishly thought would "tan" in my 20's and 30's.  The minimal tan and maximal sunburns of those years have now come back to haunt me.  Once again I'll be applying topical chemical therapies to my hands and a couple spots on my face to keep the damaged cells there from freaking out and becoming something ominous.  This will be my third round of such treatment.  We also talked about a better skin care regimen for my face. (I'm notoriously lax in that area -- wash, slap on some drugstore moisturizer, call it good.)

This fall I had two cataract surgeries.  I am so incredibly amazed and delighted to be able to see clearly again, even at night, even when driving in the rain!  I had curtailed my nighttime driving to basically emergencies only and it was very limiting.  Now I am confident that on the off chance I have an evening activity (Well, with age... I actually prefer to be home most nights) I can see where I'm going and not be a danger to myself or others.  I hope this miracle lasts, even with advancing age.

Last week I also went in for my first-ever hearing test.  I have tinnitus (that annoying ringing in the ears) and had also noticed I can't hear a thing in noisy restaurants with all the echoing, clanging, music, etc in the background.  I also noticed I used to be able to hear my husband talking to me from a couple rooms away, but now it's just a mumbling muddle.  I was told both of these scenarios are very common, so I was reassured.

Then I had the tests.  I now have a new "with age..." diagnosis:  mild to moderate hearing loss.  This is mostly in the very upper registers of tone.  (I think they were employing a dog whistle and admonishing me for not hearing it.  I am not a Poodle!)  Not time for hearing aides, but something to re-test in a year.  Sheesh!

In the meantime, I'm to adjust my environment by avoiding those noisy restaurants, which I mostly do anyway; by talking to my "communication partners" about talking to me face to face; by using hearing protection any time I am around noise that is loud and repetitive for any length of time:  concerts, sporting events, generators, lawn equipment like hedge trimmers, lawnmowers, power washers, etc, even hairdryers, and blenders in the kitchen.  I've ordered the type of ear plugs musicians use that fit inside the ear and reduce decibels without reducing the ability to hear what one wants to hear.

What I'm noticing is that humility comes "with age..." as well.  I used to be so impatient with my mom about all the doctor visits, diagnoses, limitations, and adaptations.  My arrogance was such that there were times when I felt she just wasn't trying hard enough.  OMG!  As she started to age, maybe mentioning the changes she saw in her 50s and onward, that woman ate well, went for daily walks, did Yoga Sun Salutation every morning, strength trained with exercise bands, had annual physicals, took all her meds, did not drink or smoke, quit driving when she started to feel insecure behind the wheel, wore hearing aides and glasses....she did all she could and still ended up with vascular dementia in her later years and died a month shy of 88 of stroke, so at a certain point something will get ya.

But now she is my role model for taking responsibility for my physical body for as long as I have it.  No one gets out alive, but how we age can often be within our control.  It takes commitment, diligence, and an inordinate amount of time.  I'm looking at my calendar and figuring out how I can fit in my yoga practice, classes at the new YMCA, and walks in the 'hood into my already sort of jammed social and "work" (meetings, household duties, childcare dates, writing, etc.) schedule.  More and more time goes to the body, leaving less for other activities.  I also suspect I can be more efficient with my time and probably find a new schedule that doesn't feel like I'm sacrificing for my health.

With age one is better able to discern what is truly important (maybe not scrolling Facebook) and how best to live in health -- with acceptance, adaptation, grace, and humility.

At least, that's the view from here...©