When it comes to fessing up about the little discomforts of my aging physical self, I am resistant. Keeping my head in the clouds, refusing to admit that mileage matters, I imagine that age doesn’t apply to me. Until it does. Full confession: I got a hip replacement two years ago. The good news is that I was able to build back most of my strength and flexibility – not too bad for a 68 year old.

On other fronts, my innards don’t work like they used to. Diverticulitis has haunted me. Me! Genes count for something, but I can’t blame it all on my family of origin. Now I’m even more mindful of what I eat. However, in a recent CT scan to assess the previous issues, although the radiologist saw no more “itis”, he found fat on my liver instead.

A fatty liver? The indignity!

Granted, others have it worse. Brave are those who have fought serious illness. But me being me, I fixated on myself, thinking how my whole adult life has been about staying healthy and trim. Plus I stopped drinking alcohol years ago, so to call my liver fat was quite demoralizing.

In the next appointment, as I filled out forms about my health history, I bemoaned the fact that in addition to numerous bone breaks from my free-wheeling past, I was forced to circle more words than I wanted. “At least I don’t take any medication yet,” I offered as a kind technician led me down a hallway. He performed a FibroScan to measure my liver and give numbers to my fattiness.

An hour later I received great news! The doctor told me the radiologist was wrong, that sometimes they wee a blur and take a guess. In fact she said that my liver is lovely and the numbers don’t lie. That I am a healthy specimen for a senior citizen. Then she schooled me on the importance of diet and exercise. Ugh!

The whole journey gives me pause, though. Why am I shy about sharing my limitations and imperfections? Perhaps my experience can help someone. So here it is…Feet first. High time I was honest with you all. Arthritis is really a thing, and the state of our innards is worth watching. No more head in the clouds!