Monday, March 10, 2014

I'm Okay, You're Okay...

Here I am at my desk, penning this post, ruminating on the harrowing time (though self inflicted) I had last week. It all started with a visit to the doctor a month back. In my case, such calls to a "Doc" happen only when it becomes utterly imperative ... this was one of those times.

Now, I might not have any faith in government systems but when it comes to hospitals I still swear by the government run ones. My reasoning is simple, nothing to beat the experience that the doctors here have, which comes from the sheer number of patients that they go through (the private ones engender no such confidence - mere gloss with little substance). At the end of the day, it is a question of faith ... the surroundings are definitely not inspiring, however rundown government hospital may look they work better particularly when it comes to diagnosis (better than the mercenary like 5 star hospitals). At least that is what I have always experienced with lot of government run services (my MTNL phone for one has not konked off even a single day in the last eight years - so that's that).

Came back from the doc pretty upbeat. Per her, I was fit as a fiddle - though she did prescribe some tests and there was a steely glint in her voice when she told me to definitely get them done (she must have realized that I was one of those careless ones who would avoid it at any cost). Sure enough the procrastinator that I am, the tests were promptly relegated as a TBD.

Having been brought up on a very healthy diet and with some good genes to boot, was able to sail through the years with minor ailments. Being under the weather for long was not something I thought could happen to me - guess one of the remnants of youthful cockiness.

It all started very innocuously, slight problem here, a little niggling ache there - did not pay much heed to it thinking it would go away. But it persisted and caused a twinge every now and then, I was slightly troubled ... cursing myself for skipping the tests.  By the end of the week the inactivity and worry had so eaten into me ... whether it was a sign of hypochondria or otherwise a significant proportion of my body ached. I was now shaken up enough to even skip the daily walk with my friend. By this time my mind was on an overdrive and I was busy researching the net. My symptoms corresponded with a lot of illnesses which did not make me feel any better. Imagining the worst I was quietly going crazy.

Then some sense got into me when I was practically at the end of my tether and all drained with the tension. Decided to take some self help measures - diligently followed them and thankfully the positive attitude helped- there was some quick relief and I felt somewhat chastened for being so self obsessed.

My daughter of course was not going to let me off so easily, her concern quickly turned to mirth at my neuroticism. Thank god for friends who still give you a patient hearing and sympathize with you even when you might be just crying wolf.

Though, all this aside it was also a wake-up call, I am more conscious than ever before of eating healthy, am not so blasé about my well being. It takes some time to come to terms with the fact that recovery would not be as quick as it was in the 20's and 30's and though my spirit would like to believe that but my body will not be in tandem with any such delusional thoughts.

So here are my takeaways and perhaps yours too, post 30's - take good care of yourself and your health- eat wisely; timely medical checkups are a must so do not miss them ; and finally understand this well ... you are your own best friend so fight off those low moments if they ever creep in.

What I gained in all this brouhaha was the hubby's attention, something to remember for the next time when he turns a complete workaholic.



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