Aging Is Not for Sissies

Aging is not for sissies! My friends and I have agreed for some time that those words are true. Our bodies tend to age, and as they get older, as my cardiologist said last week, you 56 models have to behave, as he was telling me I could no longer have any stimulants, like coffee and chocolate. And, no alcohol is allowed either. Now that’s not a stimulant!

I don’t drink much, but do enjoy a Smirnoff Ice every now and then. It has little alcohol and is refreshing. Or I guess I should say, was refreshing. I don’t typically drink much soda and I gave up sweet tea many years ago because of the sugar. So water it is. Or maybe some juice.

I digress. I had an incident with my heart two weeks ago that landed me in the hospital, which is why the doctor told me I had to stop some of my bad habits. I typically did drink a huge cup of coffee every day. I would occasionally enjoy a Coke, but not often.

But the doc says I can have none of that. The coffee was hard to stop. The first day I yawned at least 350 times, I’m sure. It was awful. But God smiled on me and I was spared the caffeine headache I’ve heard about.

I’m going to miss chocolate a lot. I love my sweets, and I’ve long said if it’s worth the calories, it must be chocolate.

Luckily, one of my daughters brought peach cobbler for Father’s Day Sunday, so I got a sweet treat without disobeying the doctor.

The heart issue was described as an atrial flutter. Next stop is a electrophysiology doctor in Athens. Fun, fun.

I realize I am 68 years old, which many people consider old. I used to think 68 was old. But I am blessed with a number of friends who are older than me. And, most are in good shape and seem my age or younger. It seems the concept of “old” changes with age.

So back to my husband and my aging (we’re close to the same age, he is senior by eight months).

So, lo and behold, less than two weeks after I was in the hospital with pretty serious heart stuff, Jimmy woke up Monday morning and was “off.” He couldn’t walk, and felt a little “weird.”

After some debate, we called 911 to err on the side of caution. As it was his left side, I feared a stroke. Well, tests confirmed it. He is lucky…or should I say blessed, though, because it was mild, and I feel certain with therapy he can move forward from this.

In the meantime, we have to keep taking our drugs, and discussing with the insurance company. We have to have follow-ups from the hospital stay and that sort of thing.

It just so happens, I’m still trying to work full time. It’s hard to fit a work schedule in between all the doctor appointments.

I’m sure Jimmy will have physical therapy for a time . I’m just trying to figure out when I will have time for life…you know like cleaning, cooking shopping, exercise, you name it. I’m a little tired of doctor appointments (and I know I have three in August).

My optimism remains, because so many around me are older and managing to do it all. I will quit this job sometime…and that will free me up to visit all the doctors.

Somehow that doesn’t excite me.