Junk Food Deficiency Syndrome
So I went to the doctor for a routine check up a couple of days ago. I always feel vaguely guilty that I have nothing interesting to report.
But I did finally get Covid two months ago! I didn't feel like eating or drinking and got so dehydrated I had to call 911. Well, I could no longer stand up, so I thought it was time. It took a long time to recover, too-about six weeks.
What else? I quit smoking my occassional pipe but don't notice any difference, except I'm saving a little money.
My blood pressure was perfect-just a tad low and I had lost eight pounds. I eat healthy and take a walk every day. I don't believe in diets, but I do believe in gradual life style changes for the better. Gradual is the only kind of change we can stand, really. We are creatures of habit.
Hmm, blood pressure a tad low?Lost weight? Obviously I have the dreaded Junk Food Deficiency Syndrome. It's been...a year? since I had any junk food. So I went to Sonic for lunch.
The Arrogance of Good Health
Ever hear of long covid? There must be millions of people suffering from it by now. I spent ten months going downhill, but I'm pretty old, so I thought of that old TV show Sanford and Sons, "This is the big one Elizabeth!" I made end of life arrangements.
The official diagnosis was orthostatic hypotension. That's a nice big word, isn't it? It just means when you stand up, your blood pressure goes down through the floor, so you get dizzy or pass out. I was chronically fatigued, too, and it was getting worse and worse. So, of course, I went to the doctor.
Our current expectations are that the doctor will give you a diagnosis, prescribe a pill (or surgery) and you'll get better. But what if, after all the tests, nothing is broken? What if your "check oil" comes on but the oil if fine? What if the sensor is broken? Then you and your doctor will get very frustrated. The internet said no cure (same for chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, post treatment Lyme disease.) I got a walker, because you've got to keep moving and I wanted to at least make it outside. The walker scared people who knew me to be healthy and energetic.
Then I found Raelen Agle on Youtube, hundreds of recovery videos. After watching three I had a wild thought, "Maybe I could recover!" I remember the moment hope returned. What if my central nervous system is screwed up? How do you reach that mysterious thing? I applied some techniques in the videos and found exercise did not make me worse and felt joy. It still took a few months to reach peace and recovery. I've been good for five months-no symptoms. I'm keeping my walker as a souvenir reminder. I thought I would need an electric wheelchair but did not so instead I got a rowing machine. Good workout. Painted some happy pictures, too.
Hope, joy, and peace. I appreciate my doctor but he can't give me a prescription for those.
Freakishly Healthy
So I'm 74 and freakishly healthy; healthier than when I was twenty-five. I'll offer some suggestions for why this may be, perhaps it could help you.
Last week I went for my annual checkup, feeling a bit sorry for the nice young doctor who I was going to bore yet again. I knew he would ask for symptoms of something.
I know! Shortness of breath! That could be a symptom of heart trouble.
Blood pressure, weight, vitals, all good...
Doctor: Do you have any problems?
Me: Sometimes I'm short of breath. He perked up.
When does this happen?
When I walk up a steep hill.
When else?
Well, I had a panic attack* in the Philadelphia airport six months ago, that entails shortness of breath.*
He: But everyone can have shortness of breath when they walk up a steep hill.
Yes, I guess that's true.
I told him what I did about the panic attack, which he found interesting, then we chatted about shite airports, like the one in Philadelphia.
See you next year doc.
How I Slew the Panic Attack
TSA woman was acting like she hated me (Philly airport is terrible) I started feeling out of breath and heart thumping-you know, panic attack. I was passing out when a cop asked if I was all right. I said I needed to sit down. So he got me a chair.
I deliberately relaxed my muscles-been practicing that for years-progressive relaxation. (several videos on Youtube) I breathed in slowly for count of five, held it for five, breathed out for five.
I did this for 20 minutes and then was fine. Funny thing about breathing-we do it automatically and can do it deliberately. One of the few bodily functions we can control. Maybe that's why it helps when we feel out of control?