Did you ever wonder why more mature folks talk about their meds?

When I was young, I always wondered why when older folks got together, the topic ALWAYS turned to their ailments, medicines, and Doctor's visits.  Now I know!   It is because their pain, they disease, their schedule of medicines, is always with them, in the forefront of their lives.

In my case, my LBD rules my life.  I am now in constant pain from the Parkinson's portion of my disease.  My short term memory is "Shot" according to my Neurologist and that is a direct quote.  Seems funny to me that someone with 8 years or more of college and 20 plus years of medical practice could not come up with a better term than "Shot"!  But the point is, I am always dealing with the effects of LBD.

When I was younger, the Navy, women, cars, beer, NASCAR, the next liberty port, were the first thoughts in my mind.  Then, I did not take 23 prescription drug pills a day.   Then I could take over the counter cold remedies, now I can't.  I used to remember when I took that over the counter cold remedy, now I can't remember when I took my medicines.  I used to remember my wife's name, now, sometimes I forget it.   Then my legs only hurt when I worked out too much, now, they hurt all the time.  Get the idea, LBD has taken over my life!

Another interesting revelation, those of us with a long term or degenerative disease want to connect with others who suffer from the same issues.  Why, good question.  It is my theory that we want to learn more about our condition from someone suffering the same issues.  Additionally, we want to learn what is next from those who are further into the journey than us.  And finally, we want to feel normal.  And since our new normal is the disease, we want to connect with fellow sufferers.   If I tell my Grandsons what I am feeling, they are concerned but not empathetic.  They have no point of reference.  Even my wife cannot fully appreciate how I feel.  Just like I have no idea ow difficult or painful child birth is.  Now you are starting to get it!

So, don't get angry wit us if we are excited to find someone taking the same meds.  And don't roll your eyes when we break out our pill charts to compare.   Lastly, remember that we are always on the lookout for someone, just like us, to commiserate with.  That connection make us feel normal.