My Spacecraft is Suffering Mechanical Difficulties

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Stuart Wilde said we are all astronauts, imprisoned in a bony vault suspended around six feet above the earth.

Well guys, my spacecraft is experiencing some mechanical problems and if you’re around sixty years old, yours probably is too. I’d love it if you would share any helpful tips you have, physical or philosophical, for coping with this state of deepening decrepitude.

My own problems are not that bad. My health is generally good, no chronic conditions that I’m aware of. I’ve never had a life-threatening illness and have escaped almost all serious injuries. In fact, the only time I’ve even come close to real physical damage was the time I stuck a running chainsaw into my leg. Even then the results were more superficial than my stupidity warranted. Healthwise I’ve led a blessed life and I’m quite aware of that.

Still, getting old bites! My knees are always one short step away from seizing up. Makes me think of the song Too Old: I used to jump just like a deer, now I need a new landing gear. Used to jump a picket fence, now I’m lucky if I jump an inch. My sleep last night was really short because my feet insisted on cramping just when I was on the verge of falling asleep. And I have a large assortment of minor aches and pains that follow me around like a bunch of bums. They seldom all show up at once, but there is almost always at least one hanging around.

That’s one question I have for you all: how do you know when its time to go to the doctor? Most of these ailments are short-lived. One of my ankles is so painful its difficult to walk from time to time. It feels just like a bad sprain, starts hurting for no apparent reason and goes away after three or four days. Other things hang around for a month or two before disappearing. After a while I’ve gotten to know them and I don’t think they merit a trip to the doctor.

My working hypothesis right now is that as long as I’m able to function ie I can walk without falling over, not vomiting, coughing bad or in really intense pain for a long time, I’ll just keep on keeping on.

I’m not sure that’s really wise, but the alternative seems to be a large battery of inconclusive tests and usually the ailment disappears by itself without ever being diagnosed.

So how do you know when medical input is appropriate? My differentiator seems to have a lot to do with my emotional response to whatever is going on. If it scares me I’ll go see the sawbones, but if it pisses me off I’ll just stay home and mutter darkly.

So what are your thoughts, guys? Any handy tips for avoiding or feeling better about the process? How about you, Mauigirl? You have a medical blog, so chime in.

Meanwhile I’ll give thanks that the old entertainment center still works unassisted.

Posted by: swampy | 12-04-2008 | 07:12 PM
Posted in: Uncategorized