My Bedazzled Pillbox

A sassy pillbox from Luckie Street. It says:
"Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most."

For my birthday this year I got an unusual gift—a lifetime supply of thyroid medication. Yippy.

It seems I’ve reached the age where my body is changing (eh hem, deteriorating) and I need supplements to continue functioning at an optimum level.

Talking with my physician I was both relieved and horrified about my new health status. Relieved because my fatigue, cold sensitivity and other symptoms were not in fact a psychosomatic disorder, but an actual physical condition, but also horrified at the realization that I’m now closer to resembling my grandmother than ever before. I now own a pillbox and must travel with medicine bottles tucked in my toiletries bag. Elaborately embroidered Christmas sweaters and reading glasses dangling from a gold chain around my neck must be imminent.

At first, I deplored taking my medication. Not because the pill was foul tasting or difficult to swallow but because I disliked what it represented—aging. Then, a funny thing happened. I started to feel better. The miracle of modern medicine kicked in. A tiny little pill once a day and—bam—more energy. That got me thinking. What else should I be taking? What other little gems have I been missing out on? Maybe I should really load up my pillbox and see what happens?

Specifically, I wondered what vitamins to take. The store shelves are lined with options from A to Zinc and the media is constantly touting the health benefits of various dietary supplements. Do I really need all of them?

For guidance, I asked the doctors at The Advanced Wellness Centre. Their recommendation, which is also supported by Dr. Oz and the Mayo Clinic, is that everyone should consider taking three supplements daily:

1) A multivitamin

The Advanced Wellness Centre recommends Metagenics PhytoMulti. Produced using strict manufacturing and safety standards and formulas backed by scientific research, Metagenics products are premium quality products. They are only sold through licensed health care offices such as the Advanced Wellness Centre. Click here for more information on PhytoMulti. 

2) A fish oil supplement

According to the Mayo Clinic, fish oil is most beneficial for people who have high triglyceride levels and those with heart disease. For others it hasn’t been conclusively proven to be beneficial, but it hasn’t been proven to be risky either. Fish oil is thought to help keep your brain, heart and eyes healthy. The recommended daily dosage for women is 1000 mg; for men, the dosage is 600 mg.

3) Extra Vitamin D

Vitamin D has many health benefits including: promoting absorption of calcium and bone health, boosting immune function, reducing inflammation and possibly protecting against some forms of cancer.

Vitamin D is one that is not readily available in food, so it’s tougher to get through diet alone. It is however, the sunshine vitamin. In lieu of taking a supplement, you can spend 10-15 minutes outside in the sun.

If you do decide on a Vitamin D supplement, the recommended daily allowance is: for those 1-70 years of age, 600 IU daily; for those 71 years and older, 800 IU daily; and for pregnant and lactating women, 600 IU daily.

As always, before taking any supplements talk to your doctor. It is possible to have too much of a good thing. Follow their advice on the proper dosage for you.

Now that I’m finally on board with this pill-popping mentality, I need a fancier pillbox. One that doesn’t make me feel so old and dowdy. Maybe I’ll “Bedazzle” mine or get one of these from Luckie Street. Click here to see some more sassy pillboxes from Luckie Street at Amazon. 

It says: "It's such a beautiful day I think I'll surprise everyone and skip
my medication."

It says: "I'm still hot ... it just comes in flashes now!"

It says: "Sanity is the playground of the unimaginative."

 

Aging, Schmaging

“With age comes wisdom”
                                          — Oscar Wilde

“...and crappy eyesight, weight gain, menopause and a pillbox that looks like a candy store.”
                                         — Dianna Stiles


This November I’ll have a milestone birthday, 45, and honestly, I’m kind of freaking out. Up until now I could say, “I’m 40-ish” or “early 40s.” But now, 50 is looming.

I try and rationalize with myself. “Remember how young, inexperienced and scared you were in your 20s (and 30s), Dianna? You’re so much stronger now, more confident, more in control.” I reassure myself.

Yes, I definitely wouldn’t want to go back there mentally, but physically…you betcha!

Just last week I told my personal trainer Will, “I would love to go back to my 20s but with the mind of my 40s.”

That, my friends, would be something.

Of course it’s just a fantasy. My time travel machine isn’t up and running yet. (I’m having trouble procuring enriched uranium from my Iranian contacts.) So I’m stuck here, with my almost 45-year-old brain and body. And I swear, I’m deteriorating at the speed of light.

You know how kids grow in spurts? I’m wondering, do we degenerate in spurts too?

Since last year, I can’t read the dosage requirements on a medicine bottle unless there’s so much light in the room you’d think I was standing on the sun. My Lasik surgery that I had years ago is starting to wane as I need glasses to drive at night. Even though my eating and exercise habits have been stable over the last 12 months I put on a couple of pounds. And I’m always, always cold. I’m going to be one of those old ladies that wears a down parka in Florida.

You’d think that all of this would get me down. And sometimes it does. There are days when I want to throw in the towel, plop down on the couch with a Costco-sized bag of Cheetos, a box of Kleenex and a dozen chick flicks. But I don't. 

I’ve decided that my new motto is: “With age comes belligerence.”

If aging wants to try and bring me down, then fine, give it your best shot.

I’ve just loaded up my yellow pillbox with a multi-vitamin. I’m stepping up my number of weekly workouts. I’ve got a 32 oz cup of water next to my desk to remind me to hydrate. And I’m thinking about getting one of those big, bouncy exercise balls to sit on instead of my desk chair.

I will not go quietly into the night. I might be almost-45, but I’m still full of energy, and anger, yeah, mostly anger. But that rage fuels me.

If you’re struggling to maintain your healthy habits, if the process of aging makes you feel like you can’t win, don’t give up. Just get belligerent. You can do this. You can kick aging’s butt too.