Medical Stuff: After 40, It All Goes Downhill

[notquiteisraeli]

I hate venting about all the ways my body is dysfunctional, but hey, that's what blogging is for.

In addition to impatiently awaiting my cardiologist appointment to find out just how much I'm screwed when it comes to my cardiac issues, I'm really hoping the doctor clears me for exercise and refers me to a nutritionist. I am not terribly keen on losing weight, though I'm not not keen on losing weight. Honestly, I just want to keep myself together, and eating better and exercising are the way to do that. So is quitting smoking, which I'm also doing. Yeah, that's a thing. I am finishing out my (not inconsiderable) stash, which could take another month or so. After that I'll go on the patch, which has helped me in the past.

So, the cardiac issues: I still tire easily. I still lack energy. It bleeds into my psychiatric stuff. Am I depressed because of bipolar disorder? Reeling emotionally because I had a fucking heart attack aged only 44? Does it matter, as long as I do something about it?

There are other issues, too. I'm very much perimenopausal. I've managed to get the hair loss managed. But I still get hot flashes. And again, am I cranky because I'm hormonal? Is it bipolar disorder? Again, does it matter, as long as I manage it?

I still have seizures occasionally. Eyal manages them well. And migraines. Fun stuff. Not to mention recurrent digestive issues, which are the perennial side effect of psych meds.

Topping all this off, I just don't recover from even minor injuries as quickly as I did. I banged my back against the kitchen island almost a week ago. Only today have I been able to go without ibuprofen. It still aches, but I can live with it.

And that's enough for now.

Comments

[rubian77]

Good luck on quitting smoking!! It will be hard, but it's worth it. My mom started quitting by not inhaling, maybe you can try that? Also, while you have a stash, start cutting down. Smoking is one part nicotine addiction and ten parts habit. You will need to figure out when you smoke and why (stress, boredom, after meals, etc), and consciously redirect yourself to do something different at those times. Plus there's the hand-to-mouth habit, which is also hard to break. But if you know it's there, it's easier to fight.

Ron quit by switching to the Blu e-cig, then it stopped appealing to him when vaping became 'cool' and they also changed the formula, so he stopped. That's been over 10 years ago!