Good As New

I am beginning to understand a change that is occurring as I age, related to how I feel about my health status. When I was younger and felt sick or had a health problem, I went to my doctor, was treated, and was cured. Afterwards, I felt as though I had returned to my prior state of general good health. Sometimes I didn’t even need any health care- just a few days of rest and I was “good as new.”

But as I get older, there have been changes in my overall health status— new muscle aches, periodic memory lapses, and lowered energy— things that will not be cured.  I have learned that they are not serious or life-threatening conditions, but just part of getting older. I can reduce the impact of some of these changes, like taking ibuprofen for muscle aches, keeping a note pad handy to jot down things I want to make sure to remember, or planning rest times in-between activities likely to make me tired. Reversal of these conditions is not likely, but with a healthy diet and regular exercise, I hope I can slow down the speed of decline.

And for certain health conditions that often emerge with aging—like knee or hip pains, skin growths or tumors, declines in hearing— there are multiple successful treatment options,  like knee replacements, Mohs surgery, and hearing aids. Some of them require periodic doctors’ visits and tests to determine if conditions are worsening. I realize that I will never again be “good as new,” nor ever again free of thinking about some of these health concerns. Perhaps the biggest change for me is the realization that I am vulnerable to many of the conditions that always belonged to older people I knew, and I thought did not apply to me.

I have entered a new era of how I perceive my health status. I have some chronic and emerging health issues and concerns, none serious. For the most part they have stabilized, primarily with the aid of treatments, and some require periodic doctors’ visits for monitoring.  A friend told me of someone who never goes to the doctor, her motto being “don’t go- don’t know” – but that’s not a route I want to take. When a health concern emerges, I seek out medical opinions as to the best treatments. I don’t like spending time in doctor’s offices or undergoing imaging procedures, but I go when it is recommended.

And I conclude that there is little to be gained from bemoaning the loss of a state that probably never was. Changes in health status and needs occur throughout life, with more conditions to be addressed as I age.  I am basically healthy, and am fortunate to have no serious genetic diseases (that I know of). Most importantly, I have lots to do in the years ahead. And though I may never again be “good as new,” maybe that is really not so desirable, as it implies a loss of all I have learned and accomplished over the years. I will take care of my health so that for each stage of my life I can keep it “as good as it gets.”