Slowing down, what is it?

NorthernLight said:
I guess this is what they call slowing down. But I don't understand it. Any insights or tips will be appreciated.
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Someone mentioned iron which reminded me of B12. A few years ago I started feeling weak and what has worked for me has been increasing my salt, taking B12, and taking a little bit of iron.
And don't depend too much on a doctor being helpful. When I was having the weakness problem I went to the doctor and got put on an antacid, which I've since learned interferes with B12 absorption (in addition to not being at all useful for my problem, I feel like doctors just prescribe whatever they think they won't have any liability for, such as antacids and depression medicine, regardless of whether it makes sense or is useful, and in my experience they do not follow up at all to see if it helped).
 

First of all
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Then, I can relate to your feelings about turning 70. My life has been totally disrupted/changed in the past 6 months so much that it like I have been born again into a new world. I am not functional in the afternoons because of fatigue, that is brought on by an unknown neuropathic disease that suddenly attached my body. I have to find new ways of doing my chores, of exercising, eating, how to sleep, and trying to live as normal a life as possible. Mainly to enjoy all the aspects of life with the time I have left OR be depressed and focus on my "illnesses and losses ". I am trying to choose the first one. It is a challenge. But as a mentor has told me. Don't give up!
 
Welcome. I'll be 80 in a couple months and I've certainly slowed but still try to do what I used to do. Try fighting back and avoid being sedentary as much as you can. Sometimes cussing and swearing can help. PM me if you want some choice examples.
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Thank you all for the welcome, and for the insights and suggestions.

I don't think I'm exactly depressed. My need for adventure is frustrated. I feel constrained by finances, Covid restrictions, and the place where I live. Almost everything here is physical/manual, from hunting to knitting. Even the library's book club is a "cook book club"!

Anything I might be interested in (e.g., Toastmasters) has been canceled by Covid. I did go to a great deal of trouble to organize two ongoing activities (a class an a Spanish conversation group), each of which garnered only 3 members and eventually dwindled away.

This town is probably the wrong place for me, but it is literally the only place I can afford. Unless I move to a poor country, which I was going to do, until my flight was canceled (Covid). Now, 2.5 years later, I'm not sure I could even try that again.

Good advice to "Forget about how it used to be." Yes, I've had to say goodbye to various hopes and dreams. I'm trying to be realistic and put things back together a new way. As one of you said, "I have been born again into a new world." Adjusting is hard work!

"Think of something completely daft to do and then do it." That sounds like me all right. I've been trying to behave myself (being responsible and organized, etc.), but maybe it's time to go the other way again.

Life coach might also be a good idea.
 
For me, it has all been downhill since 70 (now 72). This was largely due to the pandemic and then recent, long-lasting Covid19. I am very slowly starting to do a bit more, but what I really feel the need for is sleep - and more sleep. I've tried the B-12 route, but just learned from reading this thread that my antacid may be neutralizing its effects. Welcome to the forum! Enough said, I need a nap!
 
NorthernLight said:
Thank you all for the welcome, and for the insights and suggestions.

I don't think I'm exactly depressed. My need for adventure is frustrated. I feel constrained by finances, Covid restrictions, and the place where I live. Almost everything here is physical/manual, from hunting to knitting. Even the library's book club is a "cook book club"!

Anything I might be interested in (e.g., Toastmasters) has been canceled by Covid. I did go to a great deal of trouble to organize two ongoing activities (a class an a Spanish conversation group), each of which garnered only 3 members and eventually dwindled away.

This town is probably the wrong place for me, but it is literally the only place I can afford. Unless I move to a poor country, which I was going to do, until my flight was canceled (Covid). Now, 2.5 years later, I'm not sure I could even try that again.

Good advice to "Forget about how it used to be." Yes, I've had to say goodbye to various hopes and dreams. I'm trying to be realistic and put things back together a new way. As one of you said, "I have been born again into a new world." Adjusting is hard work!

"Think of something completely daft to do and then do it." That sounds like me all right. I've been trying to behave myself (being responsible and organized, etc.), but maybe it's time to go the other way again.

Life coach might also be a good idea.
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win231 said:
I'll be 70 in 4 months & I hate it; I have to rest after everything.
Up to 60, a typical day was, do laundry, wash the car, exercise on elliptical, lift weights, shoot 400 rounds in competition, go on a date that evening, then more........exercise after the date.
Now, it's "Pick one, then rest."
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Shopping is killer for me anymore. Last time I went to Walmart I thought I was gonna die. I missed the salad dressing and decided it wasn't worth the trip back for it. LOL!
 
PS. I didn't respond to any of the medical suggestions. Medical services here are limited. The nearest larger center (pop. 20,000) is several hours away by car. Yes, I live in northern Canada. A plane to the nearest real city costs $1000. So if they send me somewhere for tests or specialists, it isn't happening.

And the truth is, the doctor situation anywhere is problematic -- in Canada anyway. So moving to a larger place wouldn't work (also I'd be homeless because $$$).

Anyway, my experience with doctors is that they aren't very useful for vague conditions like mine. Dr. Google has been helpful.

I'm not trying to be negative. I really do want to understand the aging process and be happy!
 
NorthernLight said:
This town is probably the wrong place for me, but it is literally the only place I can afford. Unless I move to a poor country, which I was going to do, until my flight was canceled (Covid). Now, 2.5 years later, I'm not sure I could even try that again.
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One thing I do, about being in a situation I never thought I'd be in, is accept that I can't change it. I think the situation can change, but I have no idea how.

Thus, I do not dwell on the situation, or allow myself (well, hardly ever) to think negative thoughts about it. That just brings me down. I try to live in the moment and to be appreciative of those moments. I am fully aware of the reality of my life, not in denial.

This is not a positive thinking approach. It is a feed myself with thoughts and actions that enhance me, not bring me down. If something happens that is bad, I figure out how to make it work, I don't think, "Wow! This bad thing happened. Let's party! Here are all the reasons it is actually a good thing!"I feel my feelings as they occur.

Also, anti-depressants have helped me a lot.

My vitamin levels for B-12 and vitamin D have also been tested and found to be low. I know that low levels of each of those can cause problems.

“Hope” is the thing with feathers​


By Emily Dickinson

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -
And sore must be the storm -
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -
And on the strangest Sea -
Yet - never - in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of me.
 
Welcome to the forum, NorthernLight......wow...so many of us relate to what you said, I'm 81 and I've always been a type A, high energy, work hard person and when the limitations start piling on year after year it certainly does affect us. Others have already gave you lots of good advice, so I'll just say, we're glad you are here, lots of good people here and we hope you'll hang around...we can all compare notes...🤗
 
Welcome to the forum, from Toronto @NorthernLight
I grew up in Vancouver .. my brother still lives there, but I haven't been out west for some years.

In the past few years, I've noticed myself slowing down too. It's a natural progression. All we can do, is, keep on doing what we still can, for as long as we can.

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NorthernLight said:
The nearest larger center (pop. 20,000) is several hours away by car. Yes, I live in northern Canada.
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Sounds like the kind of place I would like, I really appreciate isolation. However you make a good point in dealing with medical needs.

I would have been fine up until about 2 years ago, around age 68. I started needing medical attention for the first time in my life. I have since then had prostate (non-cancerous) surgery, hernia surgery, and surgery on my hand for arthritis. And I now have knee replacement surgery scheduled. First surgeries of my life. Don't know how I would have done it where you are. None of this was or is immediately life threatening, but it sure makes life easier.

Hope you can find a way to get what you need. And I hope you don't need the surgeries I have had. You are probably safe on the prostrate one, LOL!

I was fishing in Port Hardy last month, is that anywhere near you? It was my first real trip to BC, I was quite impressed!
 
Welcome to SF, @NorthernLight! I can relate to the slowing down that you and everyone else here are experiencing. I've learned to pace myself and use the times of day where my energy is the highest (morning to mid-afternoon) to do the work that needs to get done. Making lists have helped me a lot because they give me goals and each time I finish a goal, I cross it off and the feeling is a good feeling. I use the evenings for resting/reading/watching movies, etc. Although you live in an area where there's clean air and it's affordable, not being close to medical care can be detrimental in the future. As we age, medical care becomes a very important part of our daily lives. You might reconsider relocating closer to a medical facility at a later date. These are my thoughts.
 
Thanks again, everyone. @Nathan, I'm sorry for your loss. It does take time to put your life together again. After my fiance died, I tried to get back to "normal" within a few weeks, but I ended up in the hospital as a result.

@palides2021 Yes, I am learning to be really organized, and to plan my days carefully.

As I mentioned, even living in a city, access to medical care was still a problem. I really can't afford to live anywhere else in Canada, unless I put up with some other problem. I was in a roommate situation that became intolerable. I considered living with my sister, but the traffic/parking/public transport situation in her area was untenable. (And she has just a 1-bedroom apartment). We all make our choices. And we all have to die, sooner or later.

I do worry about what will happen when even shopping and cleaning become too much for me, as I can't afford help. The realities of being poor....

@Alligatorob Port Hardy is not north! I'm glad you enjoyed your trip. BC is beautiful.
 
Hello. Perhaps a visit to the doctor and get some blood work done. I sometimes wonder how I'll feel in 10 years. I'm 62 and still work part time but my job is hard on me physically and mentally.

But it seems your change has happened kind of suddenly. I'd go to your doctor and let him/her know.
 
My prospective on the older years, as I'm closing in on 80 years myself ...

I don't feel like I'm slowing down at all - really! ... what I feel .. it seems like the days are not 24 hours long anymore ... lol
... one day turns into the next so quickly -- I don't even have to do much of anything and it's the next day!
I always feel busy.

Taking a long walk is wonderful for your mental state.
 
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Thanks, @Remy . No, it isn't sudden. I could already feel the effects in my late 50s. At the time, whenever I tried to talk about it, overachieving older people said I was way too young, age is just a number, etc. At least now, more people are willing to admit that I might be getting old.

Meanwhile, my next door neighbor is one of those "amazing" octogenarians. She still works (at a physical job), and at every birthday and holiday she cooks meals for a dozen people. Etc. But I'm not her.

@Bonnie Well put. I can still do almost everything, but the days are so much shorter!
 
Well, as we age, our bodies automatically slow us down. Our metabolic rate drops, and so does our energy level. Since I am about to turn 90, I was at first frustrated at both my inability, and desire to do a lot of things I normally did. Now, I rather enjoy kicking back and reading my books, taking life nice and easy, and letting this old world get on with important things. Relax and enjoy what you can. Welcome to the forum and don't sweat the samll things.
 
Mizmo said:
C'mon all you seventy year olds......you are making me feel depressed for you.
Sure , things have to be taken a little slower but just get your mind around it and tackle head on.

I am about to hit 90 and have had many health problems which have curtailed a lot of activity in my life but my goodness at your ages of 60/70 you still have a LOT of living to do. At this age now I am mainly house bound. So get out there and do it while you can .
Forget about how it used to be.

I would love to be even 80 again when I was involved in volunteer work. I started that in my late 60's . You can always find something to be useful at in that area and meet lots of new people.


So , Northern Light......
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@Mizmo, thank you for your post. I love you zest for life.
 
NorthernLight said:
@Lewkat Thank you. Part of it is a personality problem. I often feel I should contribute, participate, etc., even when it's inconvenient, or when others don't do their part. I have to learn to let the world go on without me.
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You'll get there NorthernLight, and no guilt feelings whatsoever. Most of us who are older have gone through it all and, it seems so simple now in hindsight. ;)
 

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