I am writing this entry on the day before I have back surgery that will (hopefully) fix the herniated lumbar disc that has been making my life pretty miserable for the last seven weeks. Being the patient as opposed to being the doctor certainly provides different insights into health situations. These bullet-pointed thoughts are not listed in any particular order of importance. Here goes:
- Health is the most important thing in the world. We all worry about the stock market, angst about how our favorite sports teams are doing, get mad about politics and politicians etc. However, without good health, our lives could be truly miserable or terminated early. I am quoting from the late Steve Jobs, the Founder of Apple, shortly before his death:
“As we grow older, and hence wiser, we slowly realize that —
wearing a $300 or $30 watch – they both tell the same time…
Whether we carry a $300 or $30 wallet/handbag – the amount of money inside is the same;
Whether we drive a $150,000 car or a $30,000 car, the road and distance is the same, and we get to the same destination.
Whether we drink a bottle of $300 or $10 wine – the hangover is the same;
Whether the house we live in is 300 or 3000 sq ft – loneliness is the same.”
- I am incredibly fortunate to have a wonderfully supportive network of people that have offered help in many ways as I recover. Not just my family and close friends but also YOU, my patients. I have received so many offers of help and prayers from my incredibly wonderful patients. THANK YOU.
- Being a doctor and still “doctoring” while unable to exercise on the elliptical (my daily routine was 90 minutes a day) or even walk for more than 5 minutes has been my salvation and kept my sanity. Being able to (try) to help others has allowed me to not focus as much on my “woes” (which are far less than many people out there with much more serious health issues than a simple herniated back disc.). THANK YOU for helping me keep my sanity!
- I have been more invigorated than ever in wanting to help overweight/obese people shed the weight. When I go into the spine surgeons waiting room, I am seeing over 90% of the patients being overweight/obese. I know their recoveries will be far more complicated and lengthier due to the weight situation. I urge ALL OF YOU reading this post to truly commit yourselves to losing the weight. It is not a question whether “IF”, but rather “WHEN” we will have medical events that will require recuperation. Being at a healthier weight will make the process be more speedy and better effective.
I will be back to writing these posts right away and I promise the entries going forward will not be narcissistic in nature as this one!
And I will be getting better very soon…Here is Sir Paul McCartney helping all of us recover!
