Just Old and Wearing Out Fast

I live life .... one day at a time. I'd be deathly sick if I worried ~ more about my health. My two sisters have no clue as to how I have managed to go thru surgeries and hospitalizations without any family support around me. My husband is finally retired... I am so thankful that I'll have someone with me if I am to get sick again. Who knows what the future holds.
 

Last edited:
hollydolly said:
What are your illnesses and ailments Ruthanne ?... do you have to get around on a scooter or wheelchair ? :(
Click to expand...
End stage liver disease, diabetes, overweight, lung nodules, enlarged spleen, mental health problems, going to have mammogram diagostic type for possible breast malignancy, cataracts, peripheral nueropathy, chronic arthritis, heart murmur, fatigue all the time, walking problems but not in wheelchair. Can't recall if I've missed anything-some memory and thinking issues. I guess that's enough. I feel overwhelmed just listing most of them....
 
hollydolly said:
What are your illnesses and ailments Ruthanne ?... do you have to get around on a scooter or wheelchair ? :(
Click to expand...
Ruthanne said:
End stage liver disease, diabetes, overweight, lung nodules, enlarged spleen, mental health problems, going to have mammogram diagostic type for possible breast malignancy, cataracts, peripheral nueropathy, chronic arthritis, heart murmur, fatigue all the time, walking problems but not in wheelchair. Can't recall if I've missed anything-some memory and thinking issues. I guess that's enough. I feel overwhelmed just listing most of them...
Click to expand...

That is enough, I share a lot on your list, 🤗
 
PamfromTx said:
I live life .... one day at a time. I'd be deathly sick if I worried ~ more about my health. My two sisters have no clue as to how I have managed to go thru surgeries and hospitalizations without any family support around me. My husband is finally retired... I am so thankful that I'll have someone with me if I am to get sick.
Click to expand...
Thanks, sorry did not see your post till now. One day at a time helps and it's good you have your husband and sisters, too.
 
Ruthanne said:
I have listed mine to you and now feel kind of vulnerable. My question to you for this thread was How do you deal with all your pains and illnesses and I kind of meant it in the way of what kind of mindset do you have for this?
Click to expand...
I'm sorry you're going through things which are affecting you so much !!

My sister had a heart murmur it eventually came to nothing...hope yours eventually goes away by itself ..

All of us worry every time we have a mammogram that it will be positive, and so I hope yours is clear too..

I can sympathise with the arthritis..I have that too.. worked far too long tbh.. should have taken retirement sooner, .. I have Osteoarthritis in my hands...

I have a knee problem which causes me to be walking fine one minute and lose balance and severe pain another minute .. I have to wear a brace when I go out walking ( fortunately hidden under my jeans..) No PT can repair it, they say it's wear and tear!!

I have lumber problems.. 5 herniated lumber discs... I have a list of the numbers somewhere, tried to find it but can't at the moment... but I'm never out of Pain with my lower back.. it's constant!!

I have lung issues, having suffered Pneumonia twice..and C-19 in March last year!.. I have intestinal problems... ..and several other issues which I won't name here.....

..but I deal with it in the way I can... and that's to just get up, do my exercises for my back , some are painful to do due to the knee so I just do what I can.. and I pretty much live as if I don't have these issues ..

I take the odd painkiller when things get bad but I don't rely on them... . I just take one medication every morning.. and then some Vitamins, and that's my lot.

I'm as active as I can be at 66 with these problems , and more active than most my age, but I do pay for any activity on one day by being in pain the second.. so I just rest on that da,y and go about my business with re-newed energy on the 3rd or 4th... I refuse to allow the pain to make me older while I can still be active.. and always very relieved that I'm not in any way, as ill as so many others..
 
Last edited:
Ruthanne said:
I have listed mine to you and now feel kind of vulnerable. My question to you for this thread was How do you deal with all your pains and illnesses and I kind of meant it in the way of what kind of mindset do you have for this?
Click to expand...
Why do you feel vulnerable for listing your medical issues? I will list mind if it will make you feel less vulnerable, if you want. Let me know.
 
I do my best to stay positive. I never in a million years thought I'd be crippled and not able to walk. I read a lot, probably every book I can find to improve my health. I write every morning in a journal I have on my computer (I used to write by hand but no more). I focus on goals and things I must do to improve. If I am in extreme pain will resort to taking Tylenol (the arthritis formula) but not very often.

I avoid stress as much as possible and if things, events or people cause me stress or to be uncomfortable I stop that immediately. I find coloring in the adult coloring books while I watch television is very soothing for me. Music is a big thing for me also. I always put it on if I am depressed about anything or cleaning my apartment. Sometimes I have to make myself leave my apartment (after having been inside for days) and check my mail, do laundry and go to the dumpster. Once I do that, I find it is nice to get out and take a walk outside. It is just I need to push myself to get outside to get started.

I am working on adding a bit of exercise that I can do from my chair. Long ago, I used to do a lot of exercise, two being race walking and weight work-outs, and they made me feel so good about myself. I know I will never be able to do them like that again, but I am thinking of using exercise to improve my mindset. I am focusing on my health and have to stay positive. I had a depressing week-end and yesterday felt like what is the use? But today, I am moving on......
 
katlupe said:
I do my best to stay positive. I never in a million years thought I'd be crippled and not able to walk. I read a lot, probably every book I can find to improve my health. I write every morning in a journal I have on my computer (I used to write by hand but no more). I focus on goals and things I must do to improve. If I am in extreme pain will resort to taking Tylenol (the arthritis formula) but not very often.

I avoid stress as much as possible and if things, events or people cause me stress or to be uncomfortable I stop that immediately. I find coloring in the adult coloring books while I watch television is very soothing for me. Music is a big thing for me also. I always put it on if I am depressed about anything or cleaning my apartment. Sometimes I have to make myself leave my apartment (after having been inside for days) and check my mail, do laundry and go to the dumpster. Once I do that, I find it is nice to get out and take a walk outside. It is just I need to push myself to get outside to get started.

I am working on adding a bit of exercise that I can do from my chair. Long ago, I used to do a lot of exercise, two being race walking and weight work-outs, and they made me feel so good about myself. I know I will never be able to do them like that again, but I am thinking of using exercise to improve my mindset. I am focusing on my health and have to stay positive. I had a depressing week-end and yesterday felt like what is the use? But today, I am moving on......
Click to expand...


With all due respect , [and i truly mean that] ............

If you can go for a walk, clean your apartment , etc . Now is the time IMO to look for a doctor & or therapist that can MAYBE help you !! I cannot do those things, and i have just started yet a new approach/therapy , very expensive and [@ this point] painful [just the action of going there every day].

Pick an approach that you feel is a reasonable attempt for you. {Doctor, Holistic therapist, etc} Again [opinion] but it sounds to me like it might be early enough to perhaps slow the progression, and find some relief.

I wish for you the very best of luck, may you find relief somewhere !!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Gary O' said:
I miss chopping wood
Its more aerobic than some folks think
Click to expand...

I worked a small farm for 20 years, built and installed kitchen cabinets, was a laborer for a year, and moving van warehouse supervisor (grunt).

I have countless injuries from those jobs, plus now I have chronic health issues.

I loved splitting wood. It is an art! :) I was 6' and about 160lbs. Splitting a large round of snarled oak is real fun. (n) Splitting a straight round of Walnut is heaven. 😇

split-walnut-003.jpg
 
Paco Dennis said:
I worked a small farm for 20 years, built and installed kitchen cabinets, was a laborer for a year, and moving van warehouse supervisor (grunt).

I have countless injuries from those jobs, plus now I have chronic health issues.

I loved splitting wood. It is an art! :) I was 6' and about 160lbs. Splitting a large round of snarled oak is real fun. (n) Splitting a straight round of Walnut is heaven. 😇

split-walnut-003.jpg
Click to expand...
Don't want to sound sexist or anything, but I loved watching a man splitting wood. Something about it.
 
The very worst thing in life, IMO, is spending it mostly alone. I fight this feeling every day and try not to give into despair. And by alone I don't mean that chatting with acquaintances counting as company. I remember walking on the beach. A sting ray washed up dead. I wanted to say to my companion, "Oh, isn't this an unusual sight. Wow." But wait, no companion. Not even strangers walking along that I could point this wonder of the deep out to. It was a really sad moment for me. The sight I was excited to see and the emptiness of seeing it alone. I would have settled for an acquaintance. It was extended illness and the death of my significant others that led me down this path.

Pathetic.
 
Paco Dennis said:
I worked a small farm for 20 years, built and installed kitchen cabinets, was a laborer for a year, and moving van warehouse supervisor (grunt).

I have countless injuries from those jobs, plus now I have chronic health issues.

I loved splitting wood. It is an art! :) I was 6' and about 160lbs. Splitting a large round of snarled oak is real fun. (n) Splitting a straight round of Walnut is heaven. 😇

split-walnut-003.jpg
Click to expand...

I loved being out in my woods when the fall air was crisp, along with the different smells of fall. I always looked forward to it. It was good exercise for sure. I split everything by hand until I got to be 58-60 when I borrowed my buddy's splitter -- seen below.

I heated with wood starting in 1975. In 1990, after more than doubling the size of my house, I started using coal during the coldest months. I quit cutting and splitting my own wood in 2011 after neck surgery, so I buy what I need now -- 3 face cords takes me into winter and out of it in the spring.

Pix are from 2010, never measured, just filled the porch up. I would drag the logs home and saw and split them right next to the porch:


Oct 2010 003.JPG


Oct 2010 004.JPG
 
Pepper said:
The very worst thing in life, IMO, is spending it mostly alone. I fight this feeling every day and try not to give into despair. And by alone I don't mean that chatting with acquaintances counting as company. I remember walking on the beach. A sting ray washed up dead. I wanted to say to my companion, "Oh, isn't this an unusual sight. Wow." But wait, no companion. Not even strangers walking along that I could point this wonder of the deep out to. It was a really sad moment for me. The sight I was excited to see and the emptiness of seeing it alone. I would have settled for an acquaintance. It was extended illness and the death of my significant others that led me down this path.

Pathetic.
Click to expand...
Which is worst, being alone with no companion or having a companion who never listens, likes to argue about every little thing, is non supportive, who does his best to cause you problems, and who is only happy when you are upset?

Idk @Pepper. it seems the worst thing in MY life is being around my husband almost 24/7. Sad.
 
Murrmurr said:
I turn on some meditative music and set a teapot onto a little single burner propane stove. While that heats, I slowly spoon some loose-leaf tea into a small wooden cup and focus on something positive; my kids or grandkids, something nice that happened recently, the weather or the birds...whatever comes to mind. I keep that train of thought while I pour hot water over the tea, and while I sip at it (through a straw with a little strainer at the bottom end). Then I pour another, and another. Usually after 3 or 4 cups, I feel really good. Sometimes I even feel totally awesome.

Seriously, it's a great ritual. Something I picked up from a Brazilian-Portuguese lady I went with for a few years.
Click to expand...
What tea do you use? Have you tried Kava tea?
 
Aneeda72 said:
Which is worst, being alone with no companion or having a companion who never listens, likes to argue about every little thing, is non supportive, who does his best to cause you problems, and who is only happy when you are upset?

Idk @Pepper. it seems the worst thing in MY life is being around my husband almost 24/7. Sad.
Click to expand...
@Aneeda72 .. sounds like my 2nd husband. I'd rather be on my own.
 
I am younger than many on here, only in my early 60's. The thing is, I can't BELIEVE how the last couple of years have impacted my body. Not really any major problems, just starting to FEEL old and slow. Harder to stand up, harder to sit down, feel tired all the time, don't have the energy to want to do things I loved just a couple of years ago.

This makes me wish I had retired a couple of years ago. I have only a few months left of working. When I am free, I'll do more exercise, healthy eating, sitting on my back deck in the swing. Always grateful for what I have.
 
Uptosnuff said:
I am younger than many on here, only in my early 60's. The thing is, I can't BELIEVE how the last couple of years have impacted my body. Not really any major problems, just starting to FEEL old and slow. Harder to stand up, harder to sit down, feel tired all the time, don't have the energy to want to do things I loved just a couple of years ago.

This makes me wish I had retired a couple of years ago. I have only a few months left of working. When I am free, I'll do more exercise, healthy eating, sitting on my back deck in the swing. Always grateful for what I have.
Click to expand...
This is my secret weapon for that problem:
b 12.jpg
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top