I cannot tell you how many people say to me “Just wait until you are 50..” or, once you are over 50, “Just wait until you are 55…” It actually annoys me a little bit because it makes me feel like I am going to wake up on my birthday and just be a physical mess. Well, I really do not want to feel that way and I don’t want you to feel that way either! Nevertheless, I have experienced a few minor physical ailments where I asked myself “why did I wake up with this?” and, while the answer may be chalked up to getting older, it doesn’t mean you have to live with it forever!
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Why Did I Wake Up With These Eye Conditions?
Lately, I have been getting irritations on my right eye. I first got a tiny bump on my eyelid that grew larger and redder each day. Through my own research, I realized it was a chalazion. Although it is not a serious condition, it is not an attractive look. Now, I am someone who can’t even look at my daughter put in her contact lenses so going to the eye doctor is always a nerve-wracking experience for me. But, of course, to the eye doctor I went.
My ophthalmologist confirmed my diagnosis. She suggested periodic hot compresses and said that it will go away in time. And it did. However, a few weeks later, it reappeared. I followed the same treatment and it was gone after a few days. However, soon after I woke up with a small bump on the same eye but inside the lower eyelid. This one was more irritating (and more unattractive) than the chalazion since it affected my vision a bit. Back to the ophthalmologist! Now I had a stye and needed an antibiotic along with the hot compresses. She also suggested that I start taking fish oil supplements especially since I am not a seafood eater. Of course, I asked why I was getting them and, alas, it seems to be related to getting older!
What Can I Do About It?
I am not a doctor and would not presume to give anyone medical advice but I believe one of the causes was my not taking all of my eye makeup off as well as I should. I recently purchased this eyelid and facial cleanser and have been washing my face every night with this, especially around the eye area. Whenever I wear extra eye makeup or if my eye area feels sensitive, I follow it up with a swipe of these eyelid cleanser towelettes which really helps to get the last bit of makeup off my eyes. I also keep a bottle of Johnson’s Tear-Free Baby Shampoo in the shower to wash my eyelids before I wash the rest of my face.
I am happy to report that since adding these changes to my routine I have not had a recurrence since. Fingers crossed as I am turning 54 soon!
Why Did I Wake Up With Foot Pain?
I have spent the entire summer with fairly bad foot pain on my left foot. I assume the pain started because we walked a lot during our vacation this summer and I have been exercising more frequently. The strange thing about the pain is that, on any given day, the pain could be in my ankle, on the top of my foot, or where the toes bend.
What Can I Do About It?
Honestly, I was not willing to stick to the usual RICE treatment plan of Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Recently my husband told me that he met a 70-year old man at the gym who is in incredible shape. He is in great health and exercises often and hard via weight lifting, running, and spinning. He told my husband that he eats nine gin-soaked raisins every morning and that it does wonders for joint pain and inflammation.
While it seems ridiculous, I decided to try it. Every morning for the past ten days I have eaten nine gin-soaked golden raisins. No lies, my foot pain has virtually disappeared! I wanted to understand why this home remedy may be working and this is what I found. Here is the recipe for gin-soaked raisins:
Gin-Soaked Raisins
Ingredients
- 1 cup golden raisins
gin distilled with juniper berries
Instructions
- Put golden raisins in a glass container and pour enough gin in to just cover the raisins.
- Cover the container and allow to stand overnight.
Please note that if you are considering trying this home remedy, it is best to discuss it with your doctor first! While I experienced no ill effects, it does not mean that it is entirely safe for everyone due to allergies, interactions with medications, etc.
In general, staying active, getting adequate sleep, and eating healthy food should help with inflammation. Many spices, including ginger, cinnamon, clove, black pepper, and turmeric are also touted as an anti-inflammatory. But I intend to keep on eating these “drunken raisins” every day!
Moral Of The Story
Getting older definitely causes unexpected body changes but better skin care, trying some natural remedies, and adopting healthier lifestyle changes will do a lot towards keeping minor ailments at bay!
