How is your day Today? Chat about your plans and achievements 2025....
- Thread starter hollydolly
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packleader
Member
- Location
- Southern California
I don't know whether a discussion of causes that lead to a natural death belongs in this forum. If you disagree, then I would prefer a private message. I am merely bringing up this topic because much of our discussions are about health issues.
Being just under 90, I noticed three items of concern to me.
About two years ago, I had a swallowing study at Kaiser Permanente that showed my mechanism of transporting food from the mouth to the stomach does no longer work as efficiently as it should. After eating certain foods, I have to drink something to force the food down.
My body becomes lazy in lifting up my feet. I caught myself dragging my feet pretty much along the ground level that causes me to fall when I hit an object. I am now forcing myself to lift up my feet a few inches for every step I am taking. Actually, I am now becoming again better at walking properly.
My body becomes lazy in breathing correctly, meaning I caught myself in "shallow" breathing that decreases my blood oxygen. At its worst, low blood oxygen could become dangerous. I have now ten pieces of paper in the house to remind me to breath correctly.
I read and believe that a natural death does not happen overnight, but it is a gradual process of different body parts slowly breaking down till eventually the body can't handle anymore all of the erosion and falls asleep permanently.
What are your experiences?
Being just under 90, I noticed three items of concern to me.
About two years ago, I had a swallowing study at Kaiser Permanente that showed my mechanism of transporting food from the mouth to the stomach does no longer work as efficiently as it should. After eating certain foods, I have to drink something to force the food down.
My body becomes lazy in lifting up my feet. I caught myself dragging my feet pretty much along the ground level that causes me to fall when I hit an object. I am now forcing myself to lift up my feet a few inches for every step I am taking. Actually, I am now becoming again better at walking properly.
My body becomes lazy in breathing correctly, meaning I caught myself in "shallow" breathing that decreases my blood oxygen. At its worst, low blood oxygen could become dangerous. I have now ten pieces of paper in the house to remind me to breath correctly.
I read and believe that a natural death does not happen overnight, but it is a gradual process of different body parts slowly breaking down till eventually the body can't handle anymore all of the erosion and falls asleep permanently.
What are your experiences?
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hearlady
Basic Member
- Location
- N Carolina
None so far. @packleader you have taken very good care of yourself and so it goes to show that you are the person all the body/health space people talk about. A person who is not dying slowly but is living a full life until you do die.
I'm sure it's frustrating to see your body break down. Talk to Mitch86. He's been talking about death since he was, well, 86!
He has found happiness in his video games. You find happiness in your home environment, family, and your precious pups.
Keep your reminder notes around and keep breathing!
Sliverfox
Well-known Member
Hubby & I are 83,,, he's 3 months older than me.
He's always been a worker,, raised on a farm,,in the forest to help his father when he was 12.
Learned how to operate a power saw,, worked in saw mills,, later became a steel worker.
For several months I noticed him breathe through his mouth.
Shoulders had lot of surgeries,, back injuries,,,, noticed him his dragging feet.
Than was told Harding of arteries in left leg,, been going through lots of exams to see if his 2 accidents he had last year is the cause of leg pain.
His memory was never good,, but is worst now.
I watched my grandfather go through when I was a teen.
Helped my mil when hubby's father was failing.
My memory is slowly get worst, I tend to catch my left foot wanting to drag.
So yes,I think we are on that path we all follow .
Keeping active helps,, reading or math or spelling problems to make us think help.
He's always been a worker,, raised on a farm,,in the forest to help his father when he was 12.
Learned how to operate a power saw,, worked in saw mills,, later became a steel worker.
For several months I noticed him breathe through his mouth.
Shoulders had lot of surgeries,, back injuries,,,, noticed him his dragging feet.
Than was told Harding of arteries in left leg,, been going through lots of exams to see if his 2 accidents he had last year is the cause of leg pain.
His memory was never good,, but is worst now.
I watched my grandfather go through when I was a teen.
Helped my mil when hubby's father was failing.
My memory is slowly get worst, I tend to catch my left foot wanting to drag.
So yes,I think we are on that path we all follow .
Keeping active helps,, reading or math or spelling problems to make us think help.
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
don't talk to mitch he'll have you wanting to kill yourself... after he lists all his ailments..lolNone so far. @packleader you have taken very good care of yourself and so it goes to show that you are the person all the body/health space people talk about. A person who is not dying slowly but is living a full life until you do die.
I'm sure it's frustrating to see your body break down. Talk to Mitch86. He's been talking about death since he was, well, 86!
He has found happiness in his video games. You find happiness in your home environment, family, and your precious pups.
Keep your reminder notes around and keep breathing!
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hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
@packleader ..you are an amazing almost 90 year old... I only ever knew one man who was in his 90's similar to you.. he would walk 20 miles every day to his favourite bar for one drink and back home again.. he was amazingly fit...but that was 20 years ago... he didn't have a wife or kids...or dogs...
Today 90 is the new 80... far more people who are taking care of themselves are becoming Nonagenarians.. including several very smart cookies on this forum, my friends @Sunny and @Lewkat just to name 2...
Physically your body is starting to break down as would be expected with any machine that's being going full pelt for 90 years... but your mind is as sharp as a tack... and you know exactly what to do to stave off those physical erosions where possible.. . The fact that you have not only yourself watching out for you but a younger wife will keep you going until your 100 plus IMO..
Today 90 is the new 80... far more people who are taking care of themselves are becoming Nonagenarians.. including several very smart cookies on this forum, my friends @Sunny and @Lewkat just to name 2...
Physically your body is starting to break down as would be expected with any machine that's being going full pelt for 90 years... but your mind is as sharp as a tack... and you know exactly what to do to stave off those physical erosions where possible.. . The fact that you have not only yourself watching out for you but a younger wife will keep you going until your 100 plus IMO..
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OneEyedDiva
SF VIP
- Location
- New Jersey
Packleader, You are in amazing shape for your age; I admire your energy and stamina. I pray that your biopsy will come back benign!
Lewkat
Senior Member
- Location
- New Jersey, USA
Took another early spin around the campus again today, Holly, Getting these legs strengthened. Then my son came for a visit and we were off again. Beginning to feel human once again.
I certainly hope those ribs of yours are much improved as well.
By the way, I'll be taking a look at a new dog in the early part of the week. I simply need that companionship, as I have always had a dog at my side with very few exceptions. Hugs.
"Woof, woof"
OneEyedDiva
SF VIP
- Location
- New Jersey
Today I cleaned the bathroom. In a rare move, I baked chicken. It came out almost like barbecue chicken, which I'm not crazy about, but I tend to overcook poultry and fish to make sure they are safe to eat. I made it work though. I don't eat the skin, so I removed that, added more BBQ sauce and heated one piece in the microwave for 30 seconds. After that I had to clean out our toaster-oven-air fryer thingy, spraying both it and the pan with Easy Off oven cleaner. Next time I'm going to cover the pan with foil...but I was afraid if I did that, the chicken wouldn't cook thoroughly. I'm sure my OCD has something to do with that thought. 
After doing those things, I loaded and ran the dishwasher early (I hope not to make more dishes tonight). I also refilled three pill cases, including one for emergency/vacation, sorted laundry and refilled my laundry supply containers. Now I have lots of catching up to do: emails, Facebook and SF posts because I had internet connectivity issues for the last two days.
@Pepper I'm glad to read that you don't have Parkinson's!!
After doing those things, I loaded and ran the dishwasher early (I hope not to make more dishes tonight). I also refilled three pill cases, including one for emergency/vacation, sorted laundry and refilled my laundry supply containers. Now I have lots of catching up to do: emails, Facebook and SF posts because I had internet connectivity issues for the last two days.
@Pepper I'm glad to read that you don't have Parkinson's!!
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hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
brilliant new Lois... very pleased that you're getting your strength back after the latest set back...and wonderful news that you're thinking of having a new furry companion. Will it be a foster or adopted dog, ?..I'm presuming it won't be a puppy
Lewkat
Senior Member
- Location
- New Jersey, USA
It will be a fostered dog that I am considering. He is just over 1 yr. old and that's about when I like to begin the serious training of any dog. After age 3, can be far more challenging, but I did it with Marley and she turned out to be my best of all dream dogs.
I missed posting it yesterday, but we went to see a local black acting troupe perform The Color Purple on stage. The acting and singing were great! I will have to say it was funny being one of the few white men there with mostly black women. They were a hoot and dressed to the Nines. I'm glad I "dressed" because they put the usual audience to shame!
@packleader my mother had great difficulty swallowing. In fact, when we went out to dinner she would spend 30 minutes in the restroom trying to make her food come up as it was stuck in her throat. The doctor diagnosed her as having scar tissue in her esophagus. This is typically caused from years of indigestion. He suggested we have her esophagus stretched. We did. It was an easy procedure done under anesthesia. She could immediately swallow without complications.
I have the same issue, although not as severe. I find if I eat a combination of salmon and rice the food won't go down. If I drink water quickly to get it down it can be painful but ultimately it does.
Just wondering if this is something you should look into.
OneEyedDiva
SF VIP
- Location
- New Jersey
I'm glad you enjoyed the play Doug. I would have loved to see that. It's nice to support local theater groups and local talent in general. We used to have a theater group consisting of teenagers, decades ago and they were fantastic. I know the "Sistahs" looked fabulous in their outfits.
horseless carriage
Well-known Member
Today is a public holiday (except Scotland) and we are off to The Verwood Rustic Fair where our old MG will be parked among many other classic cars.
But I bet the shirt that I am going to wear is unique. Fact is, I have never seen another and, chances are, I won't. There is a tale to tell, but let me show you the shirt.
The shirt fabric depicts many classic MG cars of different eras. Look at the buttons, my talented lady bought them from the MG car club, only they weren't buttons when she bought them. They were actually lapel badges, she shaped the securing pin into a loop and hey presto: buttons.
The story of that MG shirt goes back a while. My other half had asked me to take her to a fabric store about an hour's drive away. I just happened to be wearing the shirt with the racing cars shown above. At the store, the proprietor, whom my wife knows well, got all excited over my shirt. Turns out that his passion is for racing vintage cars, and along with his brother, they have restored a 1950's vintage car. "How cool would that look at Goodwood?" He mused. (Check out Goodwood Revival.)
The long and short of the tale, my wife had enough fabric to make him a shirt, so without telling him, she did just that. Knowing that he had no classic 1950's style trousers and that he would probably wear jeans, she made the pair in the photo. You can just make out the turned up hem. I tell you, when we went to see him with his trousers and shirt he almost wet himself with excitement, in fact, he actually shed a tear.
Getting back to the MG shirt, by way of a thank you that lucky fellow at the fabric store, knowing of our MG, surprised us by having the MG cars computer printed onto fabric, which is why I know it's unique. Today that shirt and our old MG will be at Verwood for all to see. That's not quite the end of my tale, you know that I have a passion for fedora hats, if you look at the hat ribbon you will often see an adonment like an exquisite feather, my lady came up with something far better, my turn to shed a tear.
Enjoy your day everyone.
But I bet the shirt that I am going to wear is unique. Fact is, I have never seen another and, chances are, I won't. There is a tale to tell, but let me show you the shirt.
The shirt fabric depicts many classic MG cars of different eras. Look at the buttons, my talented lady bought them from the MG car club, only they weren't buttons when she bought them. They were actually lapel badges, she shaped the securing pin into a loop and hey presto: buttons.
The story of that MG shirt goes back a while. My other half had asked me to take her to a fabric store about an hour's drive away. I just happened to be wearing the shirt with the racing cars shown above. At the store, the proprietor, whom my wife knows well, got all excited over my shirt. Turns out that his passion is for racing vintage cars, and along with his brother, they have restored a 1950's vintage car. "How cool would that look at Goodwood?" He mused. (Check out Goodwood Revival.)
The long and short of the tale, my wife had enough fabric to make him a shirt, so without telling him, she did just that. Knowing that he had no classic 1950's style trousers and that he would probably wear jeans, she made the pair in the photo. You can just make out the turned up hem. I tell you, when we went to see him with his trousers and shirt he almost wet himself with excitement, in fact, he actually shed a tear.
Getting back to the MG shirt, by way of a thank you that lucky fellow at the fabric store, knowing of our MG, surprised us by having the MG cars computer printed onto fabric, which is why I know it's unique. Today that shirt and our old MG will be at Verwood for all to see. That's not quite the end of my tale, you know that I have a passion for fedora hats, if you look at the hat ribbon you will often see an adonment like an exquisite feather, my lady came up with something far better, my turn to shed a tear.
Enjoy your day everyone.