That time when I wrote my bucket list because I thought I won’t make it. Adulting with Insurance

A weird Confession of a hypochondriac.

Last year, I was going through some pain and loads of tests with doctors. For months I didn’t know what was going on with me. I started writing my bucket list, and I was worried about my health. I went through several check-ups, from blood tests, and gastroscopy to neck scan and biopsy. When you hit a certain age, you start worrying a little more about everything.

Basic checkups are important, not just typical blood tests but it’s very vital to keep your health on board. We start thinking about our absolute basic needs from hearing to sight as well as walking and breathing. You start worrying about your organs like your heart or liver. I have personally gone through enormous amounts of tests just to make sure everything is in order. I did several blood tests despite that I hate needles. I was having a blurred vision and I heard sounds in my ears. Like an annoying sound that wouldn’t go away.

I did my eye tests and bought a pair of new glasses. I got a new prescription for contact lenses at Vision Express. I also needed to check my ears. I noticed how many times I said ‘pardon’ because I wasn’t hearing properly. So with both, I was suggested Auris Ear care ear clinic first by doctors as they suspected build-up wax.

I went to Salford Royal Hospital in Manchester (the staff there was absolutely fantastic!) to do my gastroscopy which was a horrendous experience, followed by a same-day throat scan and biopsy. The stress I went through at that time was unbelievable. Tests after tests, hospitals, and clinics. I feared the worst. I thought it was my time.

As I was full of worrying about what would happen with my life at this stage, I realised a few things. I am 39 years old, I live with 2 cats ( yes, a cat lady full on!) and if anything happens to me- what will happen after that? What if I need to pay for expensive medical treatments? How I will pay for my home, food, or cats if something happens and I lose the ability to work? I started thinking more seriously about it.

I decided that I needed instant life insurance. I searched the internet and compared several offers. After reading rather a funny article about weird and wonderful funeral requests at SunLife, I decided to find my insurance. I signed up and felt like a proper adult! I felt a bit more peaceful in my mind too. After all, I have only myself and I need to make sure my life is covered.

I started writing my own bucket list

It’s a confession of a hypochondriac, but when you suffer from anxiety the fear of losing your sight or hearing ability becomes greater when you do get to a certain age. Same when you feel your heart is not beating as it should, you feel pressure in the chest and generally weak. You get weird pains here and there. I remember, my stomach pains were so different each day, from painful cramps to throbbing pain and I couldn’t eat properly. I felt like something was stuck in my throat, and I feared the worse especially when my doctor suggested a biopsy. I searched tonnes of articles about it and started seeing similarities to other people’s painful stories. Big mistake reading them.

However, ignoring symptoms can be more damaging than being that slight hypochondriac. Often is too late to do anything and we regret we haven’t gone earlier to do so. So go and do these checkups and save yourself from stress if you suffer from anxiety.

Long story short, turns out after all my tests, that everything was fine, I was diagnosed with IBS that caused cramps. This can be treated with a proper diet and medications. Also, I was after a bad sinus infection which caused my throat to feel bad and that feeling of something stuck in it. Like a ball stuck in my throat. All my blood tests came great ( even better than expected) with no issues and the biopsy was fine too. After all, I was all healthy.

Do I regret these? Oh no, because I ended up with peace of mind, insurance, and a great bucket list! Sounds in my ears were caused by the previous infection combined with a sinus infection and blurred vision was caused by of date prescription. So, nothing was worrying. Everything was fine, this saved me so much more anxiety. Basic checkups can save you so much stress and fear.

My bucket list

Wanna see my bucket list?? I even managed to tick some out! I won’t bore you with it all but I will just show you a few 🙂 I narrowed it down to 50 as my list is far longer and I don’t want to bore you :)) I also highlighted what I’ve already done so far 🙂