STAY HEALTHY

HEALTH

I have had five major surgeries. Thyroidectomy (1/2) and upper bowel re-connection. Replacements of my left hip, right and left knee. I had pneumonia, a stroke and have Atrial Fibrillation.

I have seldom been frightened by these bouts of surgery and illness.

I think of each procedure and illness as an adventure. I want to see what happens in an escapee  into the unknown. I am thankful that I do not have real fear, heart palpitations or anxiety. Of course I worry that I am in denial or inured to my feelings. Maybe so.

I am curious about the result and not the process. My doctor the late Sanford Lazar asked me if I would like to a see a video of the surgery on one of my knees. I assured him that I was such a sissie that I’d pass out and be nauseated watching a knife cutting open the flesh around the knee. I certainly wanted to be reassured that I could walk again without pain. The results have been very good. But I skipped the video.

I am happy to called myself bionic man because I have a lot of hardware in my body to heal me and keep me functioning. I am grateful that there is the technology available to diagnose, treat do surgery for my ills and the pains of so many others. How lucky we are that so many people who become doctors learn the skills to treat and cure so many sicknesses that befall us.

I do resent that doctors and insurance companies make such huge profits from human pain. I believe all people should have access to full medical and surgical care. Only government can assure that. I am happy to label it socialism so long as all people have adequate medical care. 

Comparing what medical professionals earn to what teachers, nurses and social workers make shows this absurd discrepancy. It is a major reason that medical care is so expensive and not available to so many Americans. 

I am also grateful to the hand-son caregivers, like nurses who keep patients comfortable. Then there are  janitors and maintenance people who make medical offices and hospital clean and sanitary.

I do worry about pain. After the orthopaedic surgeries there is considerable pain and discomfort. I note that the pain eases off thanks to drugs and time. So many people I have known have had chronic and lingering pain. Their suffering is awful and I fear having such myself. I am all for a careful process of euthanasia for people with unbearable pain who have no hope for any cure. People need to have the right to die.

People also must take responsibility for their own health. Newspaper and magazines are full of articles about eating healthy foods, cutting down on salt and fat, keeping one’s weight down and taking on exercise. The information is available to most people. The food industry must take responsibility for peddling sugar sodas and salt and fat laden chips which, contribute to much bad health in many people’s lives. Exercise, movement and walking help keep us healthy.

Being healthy is a  serious life long quest. It is a vocation worthy of us all.