freqflyer Asked November 2022
For those of us who are seniors, what was the one thing that surprised you the most about getting older?
Follow
Share
Read More Close
138 Answers
Popular Questions
Related Questions
- What do you do when your parent in independent living won't use her emergency help bracelet but keeps falling? She says she can call out.
- Wearing a housecoat all day, every day. Lazy, tired or giving up?
- I will be 73 in a couple months. I was a hiker for many years but now, besides having 2 hip replacements, the meniscus is worn off my right knee. Any advice?
- What does the doctor mean by, "Should consider placement given polypharmacy?"
Ask a Question
Well done us!! 😁😁
Yet my earlier life seems eons ago. I am very fortunate in not having arthritis, can still do squats, not on many meds, haven't had any surgeries other than tonsils as a preschooler and episiotomies when giving birth. I don't like the changes in my skin, the decreased strength and stamina, increased digestive issues and such.
I hear you ff about knowing were the restrooms are. More of my time is taken up with looking after myself and making adjustments. But I am better at dealing with life and relationships and wouldn't trade that for anything!
I am finally downsizing to a smaller more convenient home and still hope/plan to have some adventures and new experiences.
That is inspiring.
I am definitely not of Viking Heritage but who knows, European nevertheless, reading lots on longevity lately and Italians of course do much better, so do French, partially to Mediterranean diet. And they drink lots of vino!
Just going to order Great Age Reboot as you recommended it will be interesting to share opinions.
The Mediterranean diet is considered to be very healthy as is drinking a moderate amount of wine. I do neither. I eat low carb and rarely drink alcohol. I can't remember the last time I had an alcoholic drink. I have nothing against it, but prefer my carbs/calories in other forms. I think we each have to find our own way according to what works for us. Good genes help, but I believe that lifestyle is more important. Keep moving even if you don't "exercise" as such.
You are so right. I am really sticking to Mediterranean way of eating, I simply like it, cannot stand anything processed etc.
I don’t drink much, I am glass of champagne/ wine on occasion type.
But it is all about moving, how we keep flexibility. I am on the run most days doing all the chores, I refuse any help as it keeps me busy and I find cleaning great stress reliever.
Talk about shovelling snow with our Canadian winters!
Now I still have to clear all the leaves.
I do exercise but I am not so consistent, my husband was 2 hours a day exercise type, now sadly Parkinson makes it almost impossible to do any exercise. Have to accept that with too much pain there is not much one can do.
I can't believe how many times the thumb gets a workout. Writing isn't easy, there goes my draftman's type of printing. unless I use pain cream on my thumb area.
And forget the cellphone. It was hard enough to pick up without hitting the Alert button, and now almost impossible. Forget texting on it, the thumb gets very grumpy.
I can do email with ease, but the younger generation rarely uses it. If one doesn't text or use the social media they are on, you don't hear from them.... [sigh].
Helloall - join the crowd. Seniors looking after senior seniors is becoming more and more common. It doesn't work well for us.
I think I am surprised at 85 that it isn't worse . Not that there aren't some problems I could do without, but life is reasonably manageable. So far I have managed to not get the big ones - cardiovascular disease, diabetes type 2 and cancer. My lab tests are normal. I haven't needed any surgery and I haven't broken anything. I feel good about all that. Counting my blessings each day that I am OK.
We always had pizza for Sundays, but the pizza now taste like the box it comes in.... [sigh].
Now I understand why my parents had so many sweet items on their grocery list !!
SO GLAD I do not have to care or worry about someone at this stage of my life. Yes, I have my 33yr old nephew, but he is competent to make his own decisions so nothing I can do there. But would like some of that "get up and go" I used to have.
But certainly my energy is going down hill with age. At 85 I do jobs in bits - a bit here and a bit there. Once in a while I am able to do more.
Hep C lays dormant for decades, as long as you don't drink alcohol. Alcohol is like throwing flame on a fire.
My DH had a liver transplant 16+ years ago due to liver cancer caused by HCV and the golden question that we'll never have answered is "Where did he GET it?" The men who served in basic training at a specific Fort have sky high HCV #s. Can we prove it? No, but it's damning to see a much higher level of HCV among these particular soldiers.
SUPPOSEDLY HCV is considered an STD---but not really. I have 5 kids with my hubby, so living as intimately as possible with someone. I used his razor, I used his toothbrush--all the normal things of a marital relationship.
Neither I nor any of our kids have it. I never worried that we did b/c there was never a time when we were sick enough to have warranted the worry-and also they did not screen for it until about 20 yrs ago.
Glad you're free from this virus. DH did a chemo TX for 84 weeks after the transplant. Then he relapsed, but by then there were real and total cures for this disease.
2) The fact that all of the rock bands and TV shows that I loved as a teenager are now classic rock and retro TV. And that all of those musicians and actors that were so young and hip are now either dead or senior citizens themselves.
Something I heard once:
When you are in your twenties and thirties you worry what people think of you.
When you are in your forties you don't give a sh*t what people think of you.
When you are in your fifties and beyond you realize nobody was thinking about you at all.
Also, if you think someone is giving you a dirty look they're probably just constipated.
‘This started 6-7 years ago so I was in early 60’s and really having a nice life.
No hope - of course. He has about 2-3 years left. And help? Nope. Soooo expensive and adult sons all live on West Coast (I’m on East Coast). I’ve looked into skilled nursing for next year as this might get ugly - $15,000/month!! And people don’t understand the anger/depression/anxiety.
Oh! And did I mention his mother is 100? She’s in a retirement home living her best life and driving me nuts with requests. My doctor told me to learn the word “NO” - husband is 1st priority!