For those older than 55.... (1 Viewer)

[rockaction]

Existential dread is real at 48. It doesn't have to be 55. There's a dread there already. Like, when I go, do I just stop being? Where are my parents going? 

IS HELL REAL AND IF GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING WON'T HE OR SHE MAKE IT AS TERRIFYING AS POSSIBLE IF YOU'VE BEEN BAD OR SELFISH OR EVEN IF YOU JUST COULDN'T FIT THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE AND DOESN'T EXISTENTIAL DREAD SOUND MORE APPEALING NOW THAN THE POSSIBILITY OF A HEAVEN OR A HELL? 

Aw ####, I haven't even gotten to the good part...

 

[Mjolnirs]

I learned to do my own eyedrops when I had cataract/lens replacement surgery last year.  Surprisingly, it wasn't all that bad.  If it comes down to it, let me know, and I'll walk you through what I did.  Before that, it was a nightmare.

And I am NEVER getting contact lenses.   Just the thought of them gives me the heebie jeebies.

Ditto.  I can't do eyedrops for myself.  My wife has to do them .. "open your eye!  open your eye!"
Contacts, not a chance.
 

Nobody needs to be terrible with names. 

Yet, we are.  The repeat the name and association tricks can work.  But, names just don't stick for the most part.

Dude…same age, same kinda thing. If I have one phobia it’s losing my mind to Parkinson’s or dementia. 
I notice I get distracted easily and go off on a rabbit trail and wonder how I got there. 
I try to do things to keep my brain engaged, things like playing Angry Birds and Wordle plus lots of reading. 

I program for a living, and will be retiring soon.  The reduction in "thinking" will have to be compensated for.
I do read, but will pick up the pace.
I do a couple of Sudoku puzzles a day.   I've learned the algorithm for determining the day of the week for any date.  It takes math in the head, and when I hear a date, like on a tv show, I pause and try and run it.

 

[On The Rocks]

58.

Everything negative I deal with is rooted in my weight.  I'm 5.11.  When my weight is 210 or less, I'm golden.  My cognitive skills are above average.  I basically have zero aches.  

If it starts creeping over 225 everything goes to trash.  Memory skills are terrible, everything aches. 

That window between 210 and 225 there are good days and bad days.  If it's going up through that window, red flag alarms are screaming at me to get back to eating right and exercising consistently.  If' the numbers are trending down through that window, I can feel a noticeable difference feeling better each day.

 

[beer 30]

Existential dread is real at 48. It doesn't have to be 55. There's a dread there already. Like, when I go, do I just stop being? Where are my parents going? 

IS HELL REAL AND IF GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING WON'T HE OR SHE MAKE IT AS TERRIFYING AS POSSIBLE IF YOU'VE BEEN BAD OR SELFISH OR EVEN IF YOU JUST COULDN'T FIT THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE AND DOESN'T EXISTENTIAL DREAD SOUND MORE APPEALING NOW THAN THE POSSIBILITY OF A HEAVEN OR A HELL? 

Aw ####, I haven't even gotten to the good part...

Meh, I don't think about it but I'm not afraid of it. I'm also a practicing Christian so maybe that's part of it but even if I am wrong in my beliefs and it just ends, so be it. No sense getting your panties in a twist over something you have absolutely no control over. Sure you can take care of yourself and add a few years but for the most part, if your time is up, your time is up. I have a million other things I'm more worried about right now than if I'm getting in a car wreck on the way to lunch and dying.

 

[ZADO]

I no longer leap over hand rails in a single bound
Now i go all the way around to the opening

My first instinct is to just go over the rail and go on my way ,now i literally say in my head '' are you nuts ...those days are over ''
I`m strangely ok with that 

 

[Pipes]

Well it's confirmed I have an inguinal hernia.  Not in a ton of pain but can definitely feel it especially after strenuous activity.  I'm looking at surgery sometime this fall, no chance I'm going to be laid up during the summer. 

 

[jimmy b]

Clipping my toenails is becoming a real pain in the ####.

 

[BeTheMatch]

Clipping my toenails is becoming a real pain in the ####.

Kind of like not wearing socks for two weeks leading up to an important golf trip with your buddies because you don't want to risk it.

 

[beer 30]

I no longer leap over hand rails in a single bound
Now i go all the way around to the opening

My first instinct is to just go over the rail and go on my way ,now i literally say in my head '' are you nuts ...those days are over ''
I`m strangely ok with that 

I find my internal self checking myself a lot like this too.

Me: "Let's take those steps two at a time!!!"

Internal Me: "Optimistically when the paramedics finally load you on the gurney, give me the over-under on broken bones and torn cartilage. How's about we do one at a time, k Skippy?"

Me: shouting in my head at me: #### YOU MOM...taking one step at a time 

I have past experience in this category so it actually started a while ago. I was at a trade show about 8 years ago. Have always had bad knees. I turned to go to a booth and my foot caught in the faux carpet. I twisted, foot stayed in place, heard/felt audible pop and shooting pain in the really bad knee. Figured I just tore the meniscus again but by the end of the day the knee looked like a grapefruit and the next day I could barely walk. About two weeks later after swelling had gone down got an MRI, expected the doc to tell me he was going to have to go in and clean it up again.

Doc: "Good news! We don't have to clean up your meniscus! You don't have any left to clean up."

 

[Binky The Doormat]

Clipping my toenails is becoming a real pain in the ####.

Kind of like not wearing socks for two weeks leading up to an important golf trip with your buddies because you don't want to risk it.

 

[cosjobs]

I'm getting a knee replacement in a few days. Tore my meniscus50 years ago, so the doc just cut it all out. I can no longer stand the pain. I tried PRP, Stem cells, etc. Lately I've been cycling between Zilretta and gel injections every six weeks. I was going to do the deed last year, but my doc left we waiting in the exam room for over an hour and I got pissed and walked out and never came back. But I learned all the pre-op exercises and have been doing them for a year now, so I have high hopes for a successful surgery and recovery.

Sitting in a hospital room now, about 3-4 hours post surgery. No pain so far.  This is a breeze. 

 

[BeTheMatch]

The act of putting on socks is risky business these days.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

I can't do eyedrops for myself.  My wife has to do them .. "open your eye!  open your eye!"

Not necessary.  I learned to put the drops in the inside corner of the eye and blink them in.  And I've been avoiding drops since I was about two.  It can be done.  It's way easier if you do it yourself.

 

[cosjobs]

When the alarm on your vital hookup machine keeps beeping, you need to pee and are not supposed to go alone and you're starting to feel some pain and want to head it off with some meds, isn't 15 minutes too long to wait?

I've restarted the machine 4x and peed in a cup over the sink because that was as far as my IV tube would go. 

 

[cosjobs]

Not necessary.  I learned to put the drops in the inside corner of the eye and blink them in.  And I've been avoiding drops since I was about two.  It can be done.  It's way easier if you do it yourself.

just make sure the tip is sterile.

 

[Tom Servo]

When the alarm on your vital hookup machine keeps beeping, you need to pee and are not supposed to go alone and you're starting to feel some pain and want to head it off with some meds, isn't 15 minutes too long to wait?

I've restarted the machine 4x and peed in a cup over the sink because that was as far as my IV tube would go. 

Dude, when I had open heart surgery, they gave me something akin to a netty pot to pee in - the "spout" has a larger hole.  There was one night I felt like I had to go every five minutes; whip out the pot, dribble a little into the pot, and set it back on the table. 

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

just make sure the tip is sterile.

You don't ever touch the dropper to your eye or any other body part.

 

[Mjolnirs]

Not necessary.  I learned to put the drops in the inside corner of the eye and blink them in.  And I've been avoiding drops since I was about two.  It can be done.  It's way easier if you do it yourself.

May have to try this.

Along these lines, I’ve been going for eye exams yearly. Pre glaucoma indicators. 
Went this afternoon, and now going every six months. No diagnosis of glaucoma, but indicators picking up. Sigh. 

 

[Joe Mammy]

Leaping hand rails? Our pickleball courts have a 4' fence around the perimeter. Balls go over all the time. Young guys leap over easily and retrieve. Old guys (me) walk to the gate and use the time to plan our next shot. I leaped it once early on the new courts and had to seriously ask myself, "is this worth risking the nutsack?'

 

[cosjobs]

Checked out and on my way home. 

 

[Joe Mammy]

Checked out and on my way home. 

Wheelchair? Hell no, where's my whipping cane.

Congrats for you and glad it went well!

 

[cosjobs]

Wheelchair? Hell no, where's my whipping cane.

Congrats for you and glad it went well!

I did decline the wheelchair,  but they made me use a walker.  It's actually been useful fending off the poodles when I got home.

 

[DallasDMac]

Not necessary.  I learned to put the drops in the inside corner of the eye and blink them in.  And I've been avoiding drops since I was about two.  It can be done.  It's way easier if you do it yourself.

This! Learned it from my grandkids who, being kids, hate eye drops.

 

[Beef Ravioli]

Remembering names is a skill that has to be developed. I watched a professional speaker walk in, meet 70 people in the room before a talk, and then before she started her talk went right down each row reciting everyone’s name. Unreal. Then she taught us. Most people pay zero attention when somebody tells us their name. They are focused on what they are going to say next vs just listening. The trick? Repeat the name multiple times then play word association, hopefully with a visual. Example. Gal with red hair in our neighborhood meets us while we are walking our dogs. She introduces herself.  Hi - I’m Patty. First thing you do, repeat her name multiple times. Hi Patty, nice to meet you. I’m Don. Where do you live Patty? (Say her name 2-3X out loud). Then - repeat in your head with word association. Patty. Patty. Peppermint Patty (first thing that came to mind with her red hair). Now - I couldn’t forget Peppermint Patty if I tried. Nobody needs to be terrible with names. 

You actually learned that from Michael Scott and The Office.

 

[Wingnut]

Im 52 and recently my knees seem to be a little loose, like my ligaments are stretched. Just noticed it recently. I feel like I'm gonna pop an ACL any day.

 

[The Man With No Name]

57 and nothing wrong, besides being diabetic for 52 years 7 months. I'm still in excellent physical shape, am very flexible, still work a physical job (and move around faster than anyone), look way younger, can walk or jog many miles if I have to, still hike in State and National Parks, still pull way younger babes. 

 

[Chaos Commish]

57 and nothing wrong, besides being diabetic for 52 years 7 months. I'm still in excellent physical shape, am very flexible, still work a physical job, look way younger, can walk or jog many miles if I have to, still hike in State and National Parks, still pull way younger babes. 

I've been keeping my mouth shut cuz sure as you just jinxed yourself so am I. 60. Never had surgery except for dental. Feet, ankles, knees, hips, back, shoulders all trouble free. Walk jog five miles a day. If weather makes that a no go, I use a vertical climber for hiit workouts. Been eating low cal and healthy for 15 years. Eyes are great for fine print, need a little help for distance but that goes back to college when things got blurry. Prescription hasn't changed in almost 20 years. Shoot a little hoops every day. All good here, but I'm sure I'll be circling the drain soon like most of you.

 

[Terminalxylem]

I've been keeping my mouth shut cuz sure as you just jinxed yourself so am I. 60. Never had surgery except for dental. Feet, ankles, knees, hips, back, shoulders all trouble free. Walk jog five miles a day. If weather makes that a no go, I use a vertical climber for hiit workouts. Been eating low cal and healthy for 15 years. Eyes are great for fine print, need a little help for distance but that goes back to college when things got blurry. Prescription hasn't changed in almost 20 years. Shoot a little hoops every day. All good here, but I'm sure I'll be circling the drain soon like most of you.

Sounds like you’re taking care of yourself better than most. While that's no guarantee for perfect health, eating well/maintaining one’s weight and regular exercise go a long way.

I’m only 50, but basically in the same boat as you. While I was just diagnosed with my first medical problem last year, I’m hoping most things hold up at least another couple decades.

 

[Chaos Commish]

Sounds like you’re taking care of yourself better than most. While that's no guarantee for perfect health, eating well/maintaining one’s weight and regular exercise go a long way.

I’m only 50, but basically in the same boat as you. While I was just diagnosed with my first medical problem last year, I’m hoping most things hold up at least another couple decades.

Yeah, being pretty athletic most of my life and then letting a brutal divorce turn me depressed and morbidly obese with a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome led to a wake up call. Back then I would walk by store windows and not recognize the fat man in the reflection. It took 6 years of rollercoaster losses and gains before I just crashed off the weight with fasting and ketosis. 100 pounds in 8 months and then the gout we discussed. I've read those of us who were once obese have done irreversible damage even though we've lost the weight. Keeping it off was harder than losing it, but now I got this. I just need be low cal for life, I guess. 

edit: i chuckled when i read you're only 50. when i was 40 i felt old around here. 

 

[DallasDMac]

57 and nothing wrong, besides being diabetic for 52 years 7 months. I'm still in excellent physical shape, am very flexible, still work a physical job (and move around faster than anyone), look way younger, can walk or jog many miles if I have to, still hike in State and National Parks, still pull way younger babes. 

I'm convinced that genetics plays a HUGE part. I have always exercised. Never smoked. BMI in the zone. Eat healthy. None of that prevented my being in the ICU for the embolism, which was characterized as undiagnosed. The doc that put me on statins said he was doing so because everything he tells people to do to naturally lower cholesterol, I already do. Went through tons of testing for anemia. The result? Unknown. Etc. and so on. Lots of folks do everything right and #### still happens.

 

[Zegras11]

I'm convinced that genetics plays a HUGE part. I have always exercised. Never smoked. BMI in the zone. Eat healthy. None of that prevented my being in the ICU for the embolism, which was characterized as undiagnosed. The doc that put me on statins said he was doing so because everything he tells people to do to naturally lower cholesterol, I already do. Went through tons of testing for anemia. The result? Unknown. Etc. and so on. Lots of folks do everything right and #### still happens.

yep, my blood clots were a hereditary thing and I have to take thinners the rest of my life. We're pretty confident that we now know why my dad's mom died in 1945. He was 17. She was 44. At the time, they had no idea what happened.