At midlife, sometimes I feel like a car that’s out of warranty – that point at which things inevitably start to go awry. You know – leaks, lubrication problems, excessive overheating, smoke from the tailpipe, wear and tear (and I’m not talking about my Subaru).
Let’s face it: as we get older, our bodies start having issues. Thankfully, my husband and I haven’t had any life-threatening problems. But we have had some annoying – and scary – situations. What’s helped put them in perspective is our ability to laugh.
Case in point: Donald stood up from a chair recently and almost fell to the floor with severe pain in his left ankle. It came out of nowhere and was so excruciating that he could barely walk. After hobbling around over the weekend doing the stoic guy thing, he finally agreed to see his doctor. An x-ray revealed that he had what’s called a joint mouse – a loose fragment of bone or cartilage that floats in the joint.
He was referred to an orthopedic surgeon; of course, by the time he saw him, the pain had pretty much subsided. The upshot was that surgery to remove the mouse might be necessary down the road, but for now, Donald should just go about his life.
Since he was feeling better and surgery wasn’t imminent, I couldn’t resist: when Donald got back from seeing the surgeon, I tucked one of our cats’ toy mice in my sock and limped into the living room. When he asked why I was limping, I pulled out the fake mouse and said, “Oh, look – I have an ankle mouse, too!”
At first, he acted all tight-lipped, we-are-not-amused pissy (while I was laughing so hard I almost wet my pants). Then he cracked up, too – and took a picture of the mouse sticking out of my sock and posted it on his Facebook page.
A few years ago, the shoe (mouse?) was on the other foot. I had a weird episode during which I lost my short-term memory for a few hours. I started feeling strangely fuzzy-brained during a business call in my home office, so when I hung up, I sought out Donald and said, “My brain isn’t working right. I think I’m having a stroke. Maybe you should call 9-1-1.”
I don’t remember what happened over the next six hours or so. Donald later told me that while we sat in the hospital waiting room after I’d had an MRI to rule out stroke (which it did, thank God), I asked him how we’d gotten to the hospital; he explained that he’d driven me.
But since I couldn’t retain what he said, I kept asking that same question every few minutes, like an annoying two-year-old or someone with dementia. After the first few queries he started answering with whatever popped into his head (“By spaceship.” “On horseback.” “In a limo.”). Anyone who overheard our conversation probably thought he was being an insensitive prick – and/or that I was being incredibly obtuse.
He also told me that I kept lifting up my hospital gown and asking, “What am I wearing under here?” (Answer: yoga pants). Why I felt compelled to know that, I have no idea.
Long story short, it turned out I’d had an episode of transient global amnesia (TGA). The neurologist explained that it has no known cause, but can be triggered by extreme stress or physical activity, immersion in cold water, acute pain or sex (none of which I was involved in at the time). The recurrence rate is less than 5%. He also reassured me that TGA appears to be a benign condition that requires no further treatment and isn’t a risk factor for stroke. Whew.
Now we simply refer to it as my brain fart, and relating our hospital waiting room conversation is a great hit at parties (where these days the conversation invariably turns to health matters, and TGA is a real crowd-pleaser).
The fact is, at our age most of us are or will be facing health issues. They can be a source of frustration, fear, anger and sadness, and justifiably so. But at some point, we can also try to find the humor in a situation. It’s not about being a Pollyanna; there’s actually scientific evidence that humor has health benefits. For example, laughter’s been shown to:
- Improve blood flow
- Strengthen the immune system
- Burn calories
- Boost brain power
- Connect us with others
Which inspires this boomer haiku:
Laughter is the best
medicine, even if it
makes you pee your pants.
I also think that laughter is life affirming. It says that you’re able to find a soupcon (I always wanted to use that word) of joy at even the darkest of times – like when my sister and I got the giggles, remembering happier times while we sat at my mother’s bedside as she lay dying.
So what about you…have you had a health-related or other serious issue that you’ve been able to laugh about? Please share…
– See more at: http://boomerhaiku.com/midlife-maladies-youve-gotta-laugh/#sthash.hM57Bcn2.dpuf
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Join our Guerrilla Aging Community! Send your post to Renee at lifeintheboomerlane@gmail.com. Renee can’t promise you fame and fortune (she is still chasing after that, herself), but she can promise you that all of her oh-so-intelligent and highly discriminating readers will see it. That’s a close second to fame and fortune, right?
NN Bartley
January 30, 2015
Two years ago my husband’s colon ruptured. He was VERY sick, rushed to the operating room (30 minutes from death the surgeon said) and remained hospitalized for 3+ weeks. I finally was able to say without any hesitation or fear of being corrected that he really was full of sh*t as I had always suspected. Somehow he didn’t think that was as funny as I did…but then he got to hang out in bed with pain meds for a solid month while I got to be his nursemaid along with keeping a house running and three teenage kids in line.
A temporary colostomy for him truly required lots of laughter for both of us. Otherwise he would have done himself in and I would have left.
Yes, if you don’t laugh about some of these aging symptoms….well, might as well be dead.
Roxanne Jones
January 30, 2015
Holy crap (you should pardon the expression) – that was quite an experience! That you and – eventually – your husband could laugh about it is a testament to your connection and commitment, not to mention your sense of humor. Thank you for sharing your story here.
Rebecca Latson Photography
January 30, 2015
“By spaceship” That’s my favorite and I chuckle loudly everytime I think of your husband telling you that. And my ex bro-in-law experienced TGA. Great post! As we age we can either laugh or cry over things. I much prefer to laugh.
Roxanne Jones
January 30, 2015
I’m with you on the laughter thing! Thanks so much for commenting.
btg5885
January 30, 2015
I am past the warranty, but not the pee in the pants area. Although, I do measure my nights based on how many times I had to get up to pee. I just need to avoid thinking of anything funny on the way.
Roxanne Jones
January 30, 2015
I totally understand. Gotta head for the bathroom as soon as the urge strikes! Thanks for commenting.
Eileen Adickes
January 30, 2015
This was absolutely the best thing I read today and just the thing I needed, too!
Roxanne Jones
January 30, 2015
Thanks so much for your positive comments – I appreciate it!
Sunshinebright
January 31, 2015
Same here. This “aging” thingy has got me stumped sometimes. Can’t always remember why I came into the room. Sometimes, I want to go into one room and wind up in another one instead. Just have to laugh it off and chalk it up to getting older. (Note that I didn’t say “old.”)
Roxanne Jones
February 1, 2015
Yes, older. Not old! And I’ve lost count of the times i’ve walked into the pantry and uttered, “Now why did I come in here?” Thanks for commenting!
OneHotMess
February 1, 2015
Sometimes I enter my small, apartment, kitchen and literally start spinning around. This spinning is apparently my way of looking everywhere to try to remember why I went in there in the first place. I have spinal arthritis that seemingly developed over one night, and I have seven children so laughing, sneezing, coughing, running, and the trampoline are all risky behaviors. I loved this post. Thank you.
Roxanne Jones
February 1, 2015
Love your “handle!” Thanks for taking the time to comment. And seven children – wow! I can see why laughing and other activities can be a challenge. But do keep laughing, OK?
Life in the Boomer Lane
February 2, 2015
Thanks for this great post, Roxanne, and thanks to all of you who commented! –Renee
Roxanne Jones
February 2, 2015
Thanks again, Renee, for the opportunity to share with your followers!
Paula Karlberg
February 2, 2015
I recently underwent a total hip replacement and if you go to http://retirementisblessingorcurse.blogspot.com, you can read about my great idea for a reality show…the result of the “Walker Wars” between myself and my husband. Hope you enjoy.
Roxanne Jones
February 2, 2015
Thanks for sharing, Paula.