Tuesday, May 3, 2016

A Thousand Little Pestilences



That's what ageing is - a plague of a thousand little pestilences. 

Since the beginning of this year, I seem to be plagued with one little thing after another. First it was an inflammation of my right upper eyelid. Dr. Google confirmed it was a clogged oil gland, such as we have at the base of our eyelashes. At my vision screening the eye doc confirmed the diagnosis, and I treated it with an antibiotic ointment and warm compresses. In fact, in looking through his microscopic lens, he saw that most of the eye lid glands were clogged, and recommended that I make warm compresses a part of my daily routine. It seems it's not unusual in older people. 

I did this for a while and then stopped, not wanting to bother. So now I have an inflation on the edge of my lower eyelid. I am back to warm compresses daily and using the antibiotic ointment. However the ointment gets into my eye and causes the vision in my right eye to be blurry. So much fun. One good thing, though.  I use a kitchen timer set for five minutes for the compress. The cat hears this and comes to find me, sits on my chest, sticks her nose under the towel covering the warm washcloth, and purrs.  Thank you, Josy. 

About the same time, the mole on my face just under my nose got all swollen and angry. Dr. Google assured me it wasn't serious, so I rode it out and it settled down in about a week. But then for the second time in about three months, it became inflamed again. I called the doc and I have an appointment next week to have it looked at. It's settled down again now, but I need to see if it should be removed. 

Appointments. Seems like I am now going into the Capitol Hill Group Health Medical Center all too often. That's where the specialist clinics are, and where I go to have my hearing aids checked and adjusted. I go again on Wednesday. I'm still having adjustment issues. Everyone is lisping. More on that later. 

It's easy to put on weight as an older person. The pounds just sneak on. To fight that, we walk. Because of the big bunion on my right foot (thanks, Mom, for those genes!) I have to buy wide walking shoes. I try to find something that works, but I guess my last try wasn't  a very good choice. I developed a corn on the outside edge of my left foot. I tried to ignore it for a while, but then went to the Dr. Scholls  section of the grocery store and bought corn pads and liquid corn remover. Of course I can't bend my leg to see the bottom of my own foot, so Tom has to apply this stuff for me. Meanwhile, I am just putting up with that irritation too.

Walking has always been my exercise of choice. In the last year and a half, Tom has joined me. We try to do 3 to 3.75 miles a day five days a week, unless we are doing heavy gardening all day. Today we walked 3.7 miles and then spent over four hours working in the yard, with a break for lunch. 

Up until lately all was good. But now I am having trouble recovering from that walking. I can still do it, but then my legs hurt most of the day afterward. After today's work out, when I get out of my chair to cook dinner, I will be hobbling until I get by legs going again. It makes me feel like an old woman. My arthritic right knee is twinging a lot more and there are flashes of instability as it seems to buckle for an instant. Believe me, I hang on tight to stair rails. But I keep on walking. 

I am not about to give in to these minor pestilences. Hopefully anything more serious is still a long way off in the future. We are both fortunate to be in good health, and I count my blessings.

But getting old is irritating!



19 comments:

  1. I most definitely agree with you that getting old is irritating. For some reason I'm having a year very like yours, one thing after another. Hope you feel better soon!

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  2. I agree. I have a list of aches and pains and they rotate to see who gets to be the biggest pain. I guess I'm just thankful they are only pains and nothing serious. I do have to wear socks the majority of the time with whatever shoes I wear. I really feel like an old person wearing socks with shoes not thought to require them. However, since I wear the skin off my feet I don't really have a choice. And heaven forbid if I ever got to squat again I might think it was the second coming.

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  3. Oh I totally understand where you're coming from. All the stupid things one never thought of now pop up almost weekly. For the past year at least I've had to apply hot compresses on my eyes a morning ritual. I've come to actually enjoy it. Recently I developed Plantar fasciitis and have various inserts in all my shoes. Still, we're thankful it's not worse, right?

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  4. It is so adorable how your cat comforts you. I see that we rely on the same main doctor--Dr. Google.
    My doctor made comments when I listed gardening as an exercise during a physical a few years ago--obviously NOT a gardener herself. Don't let the minor aches and pains stop your routines, but also listen to persistent and major ones. I am confident you know that already though.

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  5. I hear you! I have been complaining about all these aches and pains in my blogs lately that I'm trying to change my focus to something more positive. I have many of the same pestilences, except for the hearing loss, and that might be worse than I realize. I have a bunion on one foot but not the other, and lately it's been hurting. But I too want to walk and hike and won't give it up until I just have to! Sending you lots of commiseration, Linda. :-)

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  6. You're right, getting old is irritating! Sore feet, buckly knee, deteriorating vision, next-day-aches, it all sounds very familiar. Don't give in!

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  7. And I thought your pesstilences were mosquitoes...lol. I love to walk and it bothered my knee so I'm slowing down, walking less and using a pedometer which helps me keep motivated. Old age is not for sissies takes on new meaning as I have to go every 5 weeks for injections in my left eye for a macular edema or stroke in my retina. It's getting better but the treatment continues...

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  8. It's too bad you have these problems, but keep going!

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  9. I can so relate. Sometimes I feel like an old beater car. Still running but missing on a few cylinders, tires worn, paint job pealing and shocks worn. Ahh aging is such a challenge but with a bit of adjusting, still OK.

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  10. Well, getting old is a bummer but keep on living an active lifestyle. Now, today you've had your complaint so go about your day and try to forget about it. Now that's hard irrational medicine.

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  11. As long as you keep up with your 3,000 mile oil change, lube and filter appointments, tire rotation, and occasional spark plug changes, you'll have a lot more miles left! Sorry to hear about your pain and irritations but admire how you power through.

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  12. So, it's not just me! Keep moving as it gets worse when we slow down. I choose swimming as my exercise of choice, but it's not without it's perils too. I hate swimming in the gym in crowds of people in water I'm a little suspicious of - but lake swimming can be very cold. I walk and garden when I can't swim, but that definitely causes my knees (and back) to hurt. But many of my classmates from high school are in wheelchairs or walking with walkers and canes or are dead, so I try to keep moving and keep counting my blessings.

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  13. The wisteria on your header is beyond beautiful! It's reassuring to me that both you and Jan are having pestilences. I didn't think one would dare jump on either one of you. My heart goes out to anyone that has feet problems. What a bummer. When your feet hurt you hurt all over. I don't have that. I do have that knee that wants to cave at the most inconvenient times. I'm not excited about using a cane because sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn't. Besides, canes make you look so old. Our daughter suggest I get a stick or pole or whatever you call it. I would love to have one made of manzanita wood (red). I suppose it would also be handy for killing snakes except we don't have snakes around here. I do not have arthritis, that I know of, but lately every joint in my body has been sore and made me wonder if I could be developing it. I've taken Naproxen for a few days now and it is much better so I'm hoping I have it on the run. Most of my stiffness would be greatly helped by more exercise. Not as much as you and DJan do but more than what I do. Hang in there, the alternative is not good.

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  14. Boy, yes it is. So nice to stop in here and find I'm not alone.

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  15. Bless the kitty comforter. My favorite exercise is walking and like you my faithful feet & one knee are starting to complain about it. Keep on truckin' Linda.

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  16. We had some young people from Chicago staying with us and told them this exact same thing. We said how when we were younger we'd listen to older people constantly talking about their health and ailments. Now we are older and we are enjoying doing the same thing.

    It's so wonderful being able to visit with you tonight. We've been up to our ears lately. We should have a bit more free time now until our daughter and family arrive in a month or so.

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  17. I have decided that we cannot prepare for getting old. I thought I knew but no. You would think this generation would be in better shape but it isn't. I have hearing aids too but it is rough. Good luck.

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  18. Linda..I have the same eye issues and there is a new product by RX called Avenova. It is a spray that cleans the lids and those clogged areas. I have been using it for 2 months now and it is helping.. Ask about it... Regarding a garden. Your garden is a garden tour first class garden, not like me or many others who have home gardens. I was quoting Doug Tallamy in that post.. I am sitting here with a knee brace on and will have to direct my hubby in the garden...sigh..did my back and knee in...again...Michelle

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  19. Just today I said to my husband, "I am falling apart". It started a couple years ago when I found out that I have osteoporosis, then thyroid problem and a little arthritis. Then the aching teeth and dental surgery and now three herniated disks. Good grief! I can sure relate. You do more than just about anybody I know. Sure hope your eye problem goes away and you feel good again.

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