Beech Tree News Network

Good health is a blessing, but we tend to take it for granted – until something brings it to our attention. Writer Laurie Graham explained her thinking on health: “As one ages, eventually, no matter what regime you've followed, no matter how fiercely you've fought the fight, good health becomes harder to maintain. It may disappear overnight or simply dwindle, but with every year that passes, the odds shorten” (https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/good_health.html). Although I understand this, I still fight to be as healthy as possible.

Recently, I was surprised by a gallbladder attack. During screening, I asked the surgeon if he could just clean out the gallbladder and leave it, but he didn’t seem to think that idea would be a good option. In retrospect, I had been experiencing a distressed gallbladder for months, but it had slipped up on me, and my health dwindled because I had become accustomed to those changes. After going through diagnostic steps, I scheduled the laparoscopic removal of my gallbladder. I had the surgery almost two weeks ago and am regaining strength quickly.

Because of this unforeseen surgery, I have not walked as much as usual in recent weeks. In the fall of 2011, my doctor recommended that I change my eating and exercise habits in order to lose weight. Over time, I have changed my behavior. My daughters and I have been walking regularly for more than a year, and it has proven beneficial. Walking has definitely made me a healthier person. Since diet alone can only get a person so far, I have found that exercise is necessary for me to keep my weight within the range that my doctor recommended. I hope to walk greater distances again soon.

As I’ve mentioned before, I am also a diabetic. I joke that diabetes is in my DNA: my father was a diabetic, four of his six children are diabetics, and another one is in the pre-diabetes stage (meaning his Hemoglobin A1c test results are at an elevated level, but not yet reaching the diabetes range). Thankfully, I have learned quite a bit about eating as a diabetic – much of that from Vanderbilt educational classes (thanks to a friend who asked me to attend with her). Attending these classes helps a person learn anew as well as be reminded of things forgotten. I try to be a compliant diabetic without totally giving up any food or food group. This battle has been a hard one – and never ending; but, with medicine, my diabetes is controlled.

According to the Graham quote above, good health “may disappear overnight or simply dwindle” with age. Even though I am committed to a healthy lifestyle, only so many factors are within my control. So, I am very thankful for my generally good health.