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Getting old is not for sissies, so says Bette Davis. I think she may be right.
I have passed the three-quarter century mark, but I never thought of myself as old until now. I'm fighting the thought, but some days are tough.
A couple years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I wasn't worried. I had a very early diagnosis and an excellent surgeon. Two and a half years later, having dutifully taken the pill prescribed for follow-up, I find I've been shrinking, a side-effect of the medication. It may help prevent further cancer, but it for sure increases bone loss. Bone loss sets us old-timers up for broken hips, among other fun things, that put us in nursing homes.
I don't like the potential complications of the bone-building drugs, so being the proactive person I am, I decided to take a bone-strengthening exercise class.
My third session in, I fell off the rowing machine. Go ahead and laugh. Even I thought it was funny when I could catch my breath. It hurt - a lot! But I assumed it was just a bad fall and would bruise.
It didn't bruise. After a week of pain, I finally saw a doctor. Ex-rays. A broken rib. Weeks of shallow breathing because it hurt so badly.
Approximately six weeks later, after walking the dogs, I was so out of breath I could hardly walk back to my door. Gasping for air I let the dogs in and sat on the step trying to breathe. It was 10 o'clock in the morning. I had a 10:30 hair appointment. What to do? What to do? Could I make the appointment? Could I even drive? So I did the only logical things to do - I called and cancelled my hair appointment first, then I called 911.
Three and a half days in the hospital I found out I didn't break just one rib; I had broken four of them! The shallow breathing contributed to blood clots in both lungs and I was also diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension. Life-threatening sh** ... stuff! (I wanted to use a stronger word, but I restrained myself.)
I am booked through December with "ologists;" pulmonologists, hematologists, cardiologists, oncologists, so if you want to invite me for the holidays, please schedule early.
Stay safe, be healthy, think young.
Robyn Near Albright is a Ripley resident. Send comments to editorial@observertoday.com