An Ever-grateful Heart

Good morning.

 I think there comes a time in the lives of most of us, if we live long enough, that we discover that we are gradually falling apart.  We find that we have to see our medical providers more often.  We are going to the dentist more often.  We are taking more pills.  We are more careful about what we eat or drink.  We are more diligent to find time to do some sort of physical exercise.  Mentally and emotionally, we begin to prepare for the inevitable time when we will no longer be functional.  That’s just the way it is, it seems.

It is the very unusual person who has very few if any older age ailments.  Once in a while someone will be featured on social media or the news who, at age 100 ran a 5K race.  Or they climbed some mountain.  Or maybe they still are working at some job that requires physical exertion.  But that’s not the norm.  That’s the, shall we say, abnormal.

Normal is what I described a minute or so ago.  The pills.  The doctor visits.  The exercise regimens.  And so on.

At my stage in life, these things are happening to me as well.  These past few years have consisted of meeting new medical specialists, having some extensive dental work done, working with therapists on chronic aches and pains, and taking more pills than I think I ever have in the past.

Now, don’t misunderstand.  The pill thing isn’t something to be concerned about.  My medical provider knows about each one, and we regularly review whether or not they are needed.  Some of those pills are supplements…vitamins…that my provider has suggested would be good for me to take.  He has made those suggestions because of bloodwork that has come back which was less than very favorable.  It isn’t some thing where I just decide based on some TV or social media ad that I need this or that latest version of what someone is selling.

And I know that teeth don’t last forever, and that implants are sort of the thing now rather than a mouth void of a decent mechanism of chewing up food.  The problem is they’re expensive.  And they take time to bring to completion.  And did I mention that they are expensive?

There are always things that insurance…in my case Medicare…doesn’t cover which would be beneficial and result in a better state of health.  Most of us don’t have millions of dollars squirreled away somewhere, so we have to carefully consider the options and do what we think is best, given the resources we have.  Sometimes, we have to advocate for ourselves…and do so rather vigorously at times…in order to arrive at the place we think we need to be in our health care.  Most folks, I think, don’t do much in terms of self-advocacy.  They pretty much accept what the medical provider says and just goes with it.

I agree that we go to the professionals for advice on how to treat or deal with a certain condition.  However, their advice isn’t always perfect, nor is it always in your best interest, because the provider can’t possibly know all that you know about yourself.  And sometimes a provider will suggest treatment that insurance will pay for, and disregard any treatment not covered by insurance.  But if you dig a little deeper and have the means to pay out of pocket, sometimes a better alternative can be had.  It sometimes pays to ask questions.

We also sometimes listen too intently when a friend tells us some horror tale of a medical procedure or plan gone wrong.  Or we jump on social media and find all sorts of people who have had either wonderful or horrible experiences with some procedure of treatment.

Listen.  Gathering information…good information from reliable sources…is a good thing to do.  We need to have good background information in order to make an informed decision on our care and treatment.  However, hearing about a brother-in-law who had a botched implant procedure because of what he was sure was the fault of the medical professional involved isn’t necessarily productive or helpful in knowing how to best make one’s decision for care and treatment.  Just visiting with the provider, or perhaps getting a second opinion, researching reliable sources, and considering one’s own life and lifestyle are much more productive in making an informed decision.  And that word “informed.”  That’s the key.  Making an informed decision.

I don’t know where you are in life.  You may already be one of those who has more medical appointments than you ever thought possible just a few years ago.  You may be one of those very few who can still run a marathon at age 88 and only take a vitamin pill once a day.  But whatever your lot in life, remember one thing in it all.

A healthy life is a blessing from God.  Good medical and dental professionals and the interventions they can provide are blessings from God.  Old age medical insurance, or any kind of help to pay a medical bill, whether insurance, funds set aside to help those who can’t pay a bill, or any other kind of help is a blessing from God.  Transportation to and from those medical appointments is a blessing from God.  Modern medications that can do wondrous things are a blessing from God.  Modern methods of anesthesia are a blessing from God.  And I could go on and on.

An attitude of thanksgiving and an ever-grateful heart…the best medicine there is.

 

Blessings.