Hey, You're Looking Good

When looking in the mirror, at times I ask, “Who is that white haired lady, with the baggy and darkness around eyes and in other areas of my face. The one with different looking skin, that sometimes looks like alligator skin and sometimes soft, bumpy skin. The person with little fuzzies on the face, where did they come from? This weight! It surely can’t be me!”

It’s me! Sometimes I remember me as I used to be. A person who could wear makeup, especially eye make-up. A person who could wear a little bit of Ambush or other cologne. That sure dates me doesn’t it?

Reality says

“Hey, you’re getting older, you have COPD, you have allergies and other things, but you’re alive!”

I have a wonderful husband who reminds me of that, that I am getting older, that age is a big factor. He also agrees that yes, I need to lose weight, (though not as drastic as I think I do) and that yes, I have fuzzies on my face. I’m thinking they possibly came from prednisone at one time or another. Over the years he has become more and more supportive. He sees the struggles that I go through with my numerous health issues. He reminds me of why I can’t go in stores because of the candles, scent sprays etc. He reminds me that I need to shower when I get home and so much more. He even tells me I’m beautiful, no matter what. He has his own health issues now too, so we help each other.

Thinking about others, their health and support, things that they are feeling or going through, always touches me. Maybe one of them was you.

We do go through physical changes with COPD, emotional and spiritual as well.

Some of that happens with chronic illnesses. We know our struggles and they might seem constant. However, we have some better days and some worst ones. It’s important to treasure those better days, where we can do a little bit more. Maybe we can exercise, even walk inside the house or someplace else. Yesterday my husband took me for a ride. It was fun to look at the river and the sites, to see open areas under the bridge, among all the ice. Then to see the ice fishermen not too far away, wondering if they were a bit crazy. But it was so pretty to see the sites.

Do you take vitamins? My doctor put me on a multivitamin. That was a good idea as I don’t always eat the healthiest because of allergies. I think that has made a difference. I also take Calcium with Vitamin D. That was recommended after an osteoporosis test. Thankfully mine was okay, but I know so many aren’t. It’s important to be on top of everything. If you feel that you aren’t getting enough vitamins, do talk to your doctor. As with any prescription medications, over the counter medications, herbs, etc. you should talk with your doctor. If you can’t get a hold of your doctor, talk to the nurse.

These are things that most of us know about. There are things we may be able to change. However, with everything you are going through and the steroids you may have been on, the sickness you may feel, or just the normal tired… know that “You are looking good!" You can’t control how medications may make you look, or like the reddish-purple marks we get on our skin, your cough or other. So know, you are the very best you can be and again, “you are looking good.” Put on that smile and look in the mirror and know that you are being the best you can be.