Hallo to you all, I have just discovered your website and have been laughing at all the lovely comments, and feeling for those who feel so lonely. I am going through investigations for various problems, but all too often the doctors are bemused and want to put it all down to 'your age'. I don't think that this is necessarily true, and would love to know just how 81 year olds are treated in the US and Australia. Do we have to be labelled by our age?
Greetings from Letchworth, England. Are health problems always just labelled as 'it's your age'?
- Thread starter Janet
- Start date
mike4lorie
SF VIP
- Location
- Brockville, Ontario, Canada
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
Well I can't tell you how people are treated in the USA and Australia, Janet, because I'm in the same county as you..and probably use the same doctors and hospitals.
. so I'll just say , great to have you on board.. and
. so I'll just say , great to have you on board.. and
terry123
Well-known Member
- Location
- Houston, Tx.
Welcome from Houston!
IrisSenior
Senior Member
- Location
- Ontario, Canada
Welcome and I can't speak for US and Australia but I do have a good doctor. I am not your age yet but I find that I need to be pro-active and searching different treatments and options for myself as well as consulting with the doctor. You are only as old as you feel and keeping active and a positive outlook is the best advice I can give you.
Lc jones
Senior Member
No if anything my doctor treats me respectfully and listens to my concerns without putting me in a category, America so far is one of those countries where people generally are treated as individuals and not lumped into categories which I’m thankful for! I pray that it remains so 
moviequeen1
SF VIP
- Location
- Buffalo,NY
Hi Janet,welcome aboard,glad you found us
You'll meet some wonderful people from around the world here at SF
Sue in Buffalo,NY
You'll meet some wonderful people from around the world here at SF
Sue in Buffalo,NY
Welcome..... I had used the same doc for years, he knew my health records and told me he was surprised I had lived this long. Then he dies in a plane crash, go figure. I tried a lady doctor and she was just not my cup of tea, (too cute) now I have a doctor that I can not understand when he speaks and he is all about test results, looks at me and just says, you are the healthiest person I have seen all week. If he knew how I really feel I bet he would say, IT"S JUST YOUR AGE...
RadishRose
SF VIP
- Location
- Connecticut, USA
Welcome to the forum!
I'm not your age, Jan but my doctor has never said anything like that to me. I'm in the US.
AnnieA
Well-known Member
- Location
- Down South
Welcome to the forum!
I think the "it's just your age" depends a lot on the perspective and experiences of the practitioner. My sister is a geriatric nurse practitioner who has worked solely in long-term care for the past 15 years. She's more of that mindset you describe because she's seen people for so long nearing the end. I worked nine years in dialysis and saw nephrologists start patients on dialysis in their 90s because other than their kidney failure, they were in mentally sharp and in pretty good shape physically and chose to do dialysis. My sister would probably give you her often used, "It's caused by birthdays" explanation for an illness (which is in many cases true and all there is to say--esp in her work), but a specialist in the US who knows there are options for age related issues in otherwise fairly healthy patients will present those regardless of age.
I think the "it's just your age" depends a lot on the perspective and experiences of the practitioner. My sister is a geriatric nurse practitioner who has worked solely in long-term care for the past 15 years. She's more of that mindset you describe because she's seen people for so long nearing the end. I worked nine years in dialysis and saw nephrologists start patients on dialysis in their 90s because other than their kidney failure, they were in mentally sharp and in pretty good shape physically and chose to do dialysis. My sister would probably give you her often used, "It's caused by birthdays" explanation for an illness (which is in many cases true and all there is to say--esp in her work), but a specialist in the US who knows there are options for age related issues in otherwise fairly healthy patients will present those regardless of age.
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StarSong
Awkward is my Superpower
- Location
- Los Angeles Suburbs
Hi Janet,
I've heard that from an eye doctor regarding the need for reading glasses and developing a cataract, and from a GYN who told me that I don't need any more pap smears after age 65.
Welcome from sunny Southern California!
I've heard that from an eye doctor regarding the need for reading glasses and developing a cataract, and from a GYN who told me that I don't need any more pap smears after age 65.
Welcome from sunny Southern California!
Pecos
Well-known Member
- Location
- Washington State
I have certainly heard that age thing several times. When I talked to one Doctor about a problem I was having with my left leg he told me that it was because I was getting older. But he had no explanation as to why the other leg, which is presumably the same age, did not have the same problem.
Warrigal
SF VIP
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
I remember being told by a doctor some years ago that the cause of whatever was concerning me was caused by 'longevity'. I loved that response and stopped worrying immediately. Better that than some very nasty disease.
