Most of us have fairly good health care here. It may feel inadequate sometimes, or too expensive, or hard to get into the doctor we would like to see, but compared to most of the world, I am grateful for the care I have.
However, it seems I’ve been experiencing too many appointments, procedures, phone calls with questions, and stress about how much time and effort I’m spending to keep my body healthy. When do we stop? When do we just give in and let nature take its course, live with these issues, or just wither up and die?
So far my conditions have not been serious – just dermatology, some PT, and cortisone shots for various aches and pains. But along with all the eye doctor visits, hearing tests, dental checks, yearly Medicare exams, etc., it’s a lot, for me anyway. Every body part has its own doctor!
I’ve had five visits in the past three months. I realize we’re old and our parts are wearing out, but I think I never realized how much time it would take to keep things under control. And really, how much control do we have at this point? Is this our new way of life now? I certainly hope not.
And with all these sessions, it’s easy for us to become way too focused on our bodies. Talking with friends these days feels so all about medical issues. I hate that! I do not want my health stuff to become who I am!
Many of us still have active lives – walking, swimming, weight training, yoga, biking, pickleball, hiking, etc. And we’ve been mindful of what we eat and drink. We’ve taken good care of our bodies. So, it’s kind of shocking to have entered this new way of life. I remember just brushing my teeth and combing my hair were all I needed in the morning to get ready for the day. Now, it’s so much more ... yikes!
The question becomes how much medical interventions are we going to accept as we age? How much balance do we need between living our lives, and just taking care of them? When do all these interventions get in the way of really living, doing the things we love.? I’m wondering if I can get to a place of wanting to take extra care of my body now, because it’s taken care of me for so long.
The issue seems to be having no more medical procedures at all versus taking care of every little thing so we can prolong our lives. Quality vs. quantity? Or somewhere in-between?
Everyone has their own line in the sand as to what they’ll tolerate, but some of the determining factors may be: Is it life-threatening (and if so, are we ready to die)? Pain? Physical limitations? Cognitive health? Ease of taking care of it now? Affordability? Being independent? Spiritual beliefs?
Medicare data shows that people 65 and older average about 17 contacts with the health care system annually (excluding the dentist). For seniors with myriad chronic conditions (14% of seniors), contact days with the health care system rise to 30. And 11% of seniors see the doctor or some other ambulatory medical service 50 times a year.
I remember Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel’s article from the Atlantic, October 2014:
“At 75 and beyond, I will need a good reason to even visit the doctor and take any medical test or treatment, no matter how routine and painless. ... I will accept only palliative – not curative – treatments if I am suffering pain or other disability.”
His feeling is that living too long is a loss. It renders us to live in a state of deprivation, robs us of our creativity, and our ability to contribute to work, society, the world. It transforms how people experience us, relate to us and remember us. He feels that by 75, he will have lived a complete life, have loved and been loved, his kids will be grown, his projects pursued, and he will have made his contributions to the world. Interesting thoughts, but I’m not sure I’m there yet, even though I’m past 75!
May we all be blessed with good health for as long as possible, and have the inner strength, patience and judgment to care for ourselves as we go along.
Martha McClellan has lived in Durango since 1993 and has been an educator, consultant and writer. Reach her at mmm@bresnan.net.
