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Denial is a force to be reckoned with

By Joe Pellicer | For The Olympian • Published December 08, 2008

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Sometimes, we fool ourselves. It is a rather common reaction when something is wrong with our bodies.

Not wanting to believe there is a problem, we ignore small (and sometimes not so small) hints our bodies give, trying to alert us that something is awry.

It is called denial. Denial is not a question of intelligence, nor a matter of education. Though definitely augmented by a lack of access to health care, it occurs frequently among those who are well insured. Denial is that very human tendency to gamble with fate.

My patient had signed up for one of those research projects drug companies offer to test their products before releasing them to the public. As is common, the potential candidates underwent initial blood studies to make sure there were no unforeseen problems prior to administering the medicine.

Later that evening, she received an unexpected call saying she needed to talk to her doctor right away or go to the emergency department because she was very anemic.

And so we met. She told me what had happened and said she was a bit mystified about the whole business because she felt fine. I asked to have the blood tests repeated to verify just how serious the situation was.

Then we talked. Often, the clues to a situation like this are found in a person's history — the picture painted by the answers to all of those tedious questions doctors ask that seem to have nothing to do with why you're there.

I learned she had been a remarkably healthy woman for her 70 years. She was still an avid skier in spite of fairly severe arthritis that led to having both her knees replaced several years ago.

Like many people with arthritis, she used a daily dose of an anti-inflammatory medicine to keep the aching in her joints tolerable. To keep in shape, she walked several miles to work and back home.

She told me this in a matter-of-fact manner that suggested not working and not walking daily just were not options to consider.

I love hearing this kind of attitude from the elderly. I am inspired by it.