Medical Advice

Our health directly affects our life. Physical ailments lessen quality while physical wellness increases it. Mental health is just as important. What we think correlates with how we feel. Some health issues we cannot ignore no matter how hard we try. Others may be hidden and take months or years to appear. In either case there is one important thing to remember. See a doctor for what you have and to prevent what you have not.

We are not exactly proactive people. Even if we see the problem approaching we often ignore it until it is too late. This can cause the thing we fear most to occur. High blood pressure, diabetes and other ailments are nothing new. Taking care of ourselves properly occurs sporadically. The last thing we want is a doctor to tell us what we do not wish to hear. Making changes to our lifestyle even when we are slowly killing ourselves is not on our agenda.

Think about it rationally. Would you not rather have a fighting chance to make yourself better? This is precisely why we must get help when we know we are sick. Symptoms become undeniable and our suffering grows. A few small changes or a daily medication is often all it takes to turn the tide. If we know in our heart of hearts what the doctor will say, is it not better to deal with it sooner rather than later? If we wait too long it may be too late. With this in mind one cannot seek help soon enough.

When we feel well is the best time to seek medical attention. Getting a physical exam twice a year is prudent. I would rather have a doctor work harder to find something wrong when I feel well. Let them concentrate on the basics rather than some issue I have been avoiding. Some health concerns will not be seen unless a competent medical professional does the looking. It may seem inconvenient and a damn sight uncomfortable but in the end (no pun intended) there is security in knowing. When the doctor tells you it is time for an annual test then take it. Knowledge is power.

My father-in-law did what was best. He saw a strange spot in his mouth and soon got himself examined. It was determined, after a biopsy, that he had throat cancer. He went through chemo and radiation for months. Cat and pet scans with contrast are no fun whatsoever. He endured discomfort, pain and distress on a scale I can only imagine. In the end he was declared cancer free. His family is relieved and prays that the cancer never returns. It was a painful process but he endured. He got checked out quite early and saved himself from a much worse fate.

Mental health is no less important than physical. We lead worried and harried lives. Stress affects us in more ways than I can count. Our psyches can only take so much battering. A myriad of disorders relate to the condition of our brains. All action begins with thought. Thoughts and feelings that hurt or are negative create related behaviors. Recognizing this within ourselves is difficult. Making connections and seeing patterns of behavior requires objectivity. We are rarely able to be objective when it comes to who we are inside.

Social workers and counselors exist to use as our support system. Our families are certainly part of what keeps us afloat. Our kin cannot be depended upon though as objective appraisers of our inner selves; hence the need for an outsider. The mind is the most complex organ we have. Doctors can only perform surgery on the physical. The non-corporeal is another matter entirely. It is invaluable to have someone to talk to, to get advice from or just to get things off our chest. These advisers offer a safe place free from criticism and judgment.

Finding a good match is not always easy. Christine and I have separately, and as a couple, sought help from professionals many times over the years. Some that you meet may not fully understand us or jump to conclusions. Others might prefer that we fit neatly into their predefined boxes. It takes work and patience to discover that person who can truly add value to our lives. It takes an open mind and open heart as well as multiple sessions to work out our problems. A desire to listen and communicate is the key to getting our lives back on track.

Do not let your concerns become more than you can handle. Your body and mind is more fragile than you know. Medical professionals of all kinds are there to make us well and keep us that way. Testing exists not to torture us but to save us from what may be excruciating later in life. We do not have to be alone. Get help and advice to prevent what you can and seek others to help manage what you have got. Know that your friends, family and higher power want only what is in our best interests. Make sure that you do right by them all and yourself. Do not wait for tomorrow when today can make all the difference for the rest of your life.