Health

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November 11

Monday, November 11th, 2024

Today is the day…the day I have been waiting for!!

If I was doing a wedding I might add: “the day you have been waiting for all your life.”

But I’m not doing a wedding. And I can’t say I have been waiting for this all my life. 🙂 Since the shape of my legs is genetic (I take after my grandfather and his side of the family), I should have known it was coming. I can remember sitting with the grandfather during his knee replacement surgery around age 75 (I am 72) since my mom had to work. But when you are in your 30s and healthy, you just never think, “Oh that is going to be me in a number of years.” But here I am.

I abused my body at times. I played baseball from the time I was 8 years old until high school graduation. In 9th grade I picked up a basketball and could not chew gum and walk at the same time, let alone dribble and run at the same time. Multiple hours were spent on the sidelines learning to do just that. I was ignored in high school but when I hit college and was in full stride. I’ll not bore you with by-gone accomplishments. Trouble was the older I got I thought I could play like I used to. Aging bodies are not made to take the pounding I gave my legs. It was a matter of time until my back and legs complained. 1992 was the year when basketball went bye-bye, as did softball. Cycling, however, was a constant. No impact (except if you get hit by a car or go over the handlebars. I might know someone who had that happen to him). But still that did not factor into knee issues. Slightly bowed legs and genetics did. I had meniscus surgery at 61. At 62 I was unable to stand on my bike to pedal up a hill and a visit to the knee doctor revealed arthur had visited. He sent me to a knee replacement specialist who told me I had some arthur but not enough to warrant having a new knee at my age. “Let’s put it off as long we can” were his words and he has. Three steroid injections and one hyaluronic acid injection later, he was able to delay it 10 years. The last steroid injection lasted 1 month. Yeah…it was time.

So, here I am. I have tried religiously to do all the required pre-surgery stuff. Breathing. Antibiotics. Exercises. Protein drinks (theirs and mine). Stopping my vitamin regiment when told. The nasty nose ointment twice a day to help clean out all bacteria. All that is left is the trip to the surgery center and, oh yeah, the surgery. I have a lot of people praying for me, so even though I know it will be a somewhat painful recovery, I know in WHOSE hands I rest. People have asked me if I’m nervous or scared. The answer is No.  I don’t relish the rehab, but being able to walk without pain will be a big plus. The greatest part of this is knowing I have a God about whom King David wrote: “Trust in the Lord and do good. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. COMMIT EVERYTHING YOU DO TO THE LORD. TRUST HIM AND HE WILL HELP YOU.” (emphasis mine). (Psalm 37:3-4 NLT)

I’m not sure about what I will be able to post, nor how often. I do have a guest post planned for Wednesday that I believe you will not want to miss. I had someone tell me at church yesterday that she was working on one. Gail is having trouble keeping her words few. 🙂  Lord willing, I will be back soon. Maybe tomorrow with a report. By the time many of you read this my surgery will be over (it is at 8:45 a.m.). Please pray for my recovery and please pray for Jo, Tami and Janna. Thanks. See you on the flip side.

July 10

Monday, July 10th, 2023

I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know: 1) We are inundated with commercials; and 2) they are getting more and more bold (and annoying) in their message and display. I think you might also agree that commercials are best watched or listened to or even ignored with the mute button in use.

Furthermore, I think you might agree that most commercials seem to focus on the outward. Take this pill and you will lose weight. Wear this and certain parts of your anatomy will be enhanced or more comfortable.  Cold sculpting will help you get rid of the “pooch.” I could go on ad infinitum ad nauseum.

We worry a lot about the way we look. At 70, I am very aware-even though I tried through the years to stay in shape by riding a bike or lifting weights or watching what I ate (I seldom missed my mouth 🙂 )- that time hits all of us and plays havoc with our body. Skin gets thin. I have a small brown spot by my thumb on each hand. “Arthur” visits way too frequently. I can’t say hair loss happens because that ship sailed l-o-o-o-o-n-g time ago. 🙂

I thought of the effects of aging as I read 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 this morning. “So we don’t lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (ESV) Note particularly that phrase “though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” That verse pushes us to the realization that our most important efforts should not be spent on the physical but the spiritual. I remember one health guru who thought he was going to live forever. Even if he lived to be 100, he would still die. IT. IS. INEVITABLE.

And so is judgment. I realize that there are some who might read this who don’t believe in an afterlife, or even God, but trust me when I say you don’t want to be wrong about this.

Outward or inward? One is temporary. One is eternal. You choose.