The joys of ageing - or not! What are your experiences? What could we do differently?

Desmond1979 said:

only

Remove that word from your dictionary, Desmond1979! I can do 10 sit to stands - for me that's a record.

ArchaeC said:

Exercising this way has already helped reduce my pain and has made me feel better, so in this respect, it’s never too late. 

Totally agree - look at this 88 year old weight lifter who only took up this sport three years ago. I feel better after 8 of my 24 week NHS fitness for the over 55's course. I can already prune high branches and I couldn't even lift my arm 2 years ago, after a gardening accident. 

Preventative measures should have been prioritised years ago. 

I would like to see diet, exercise and opportunities for healthy leisure activities prioritised. Government budget constraints have led to cuts in many existing services because they are not considered a priority. I wish we could get away from this idea of everything being framed in terms of immediate measurable productivity and profit. 

My physiotherapist recommended that I exercise with weights to strengthen my joints and muscles. Exercising this way has already helped reduce my pain and has made me feel better, so in this respect, it’s never too late. 

15 secs is a solid start, Desmond, and you can build up the time gently with practice. That progress, if noted, will encourage you.

I began practicing a sit-on-the-wall exercise, to lower blood pressure. Meant to be for two minutes, at a time. But could only manage fifteen seconds, a time, now. Needs perseverance.

Desmond1979 said:

One obsession, at this age, is the reality of ones we knew well dying.

I lost my only childhood friend - I've learned you need to say nice things you meant to say when you think of them, don't wait until it's too late. 'Enemies' and those who've done me harm have also died - with that, old feelings melt away.

With ageing, I no longer worrry about things that used to bother me a lot. 

I used the London Underground yesterday, I got through the automatic barrier but my suitcase didn’t. It was thoroughly jammed in the gates, the guard had to come with keys and unlock it. 

I'm getting out of buses slower, than before, and stepping off an escalator makes me feel light-headed. Also stepping off trains, with a gap between the platform, can be a forced exercise. Our underlying fears, imposed on us from others.

I'm grateful, however, to be almost optimum age musically. Growing up with the halcyon era of the Early Nineties, to discovering the Bands of the Sixties and Seventies via Oasis, Blur and Paul Weller, then witnessing every Post-2000 fad crash and burn.

One obsession, at this age, is the reality of ones we knew well dying. Hard enough, with the Bohemian Artist I befriended passing away at the end of October.

Plus, being a Bloke, old Age brings a sense of Spiritual Belonging. The World no longer appeals to us.

Sorry I was using the generic you rather than meaning it personally I will try and remember to make it obvious when I'm talking to you and when I'm talking more generically

It's not the content but the semantics. Sharing your experiences is very welcome, but don't use personally critical phraseology like, 'you need to..' For example, you might begin, 'in my experience'. The former is a direct criticism, challenging the writer's views; the latter is simply an expression of personal experience. That's all I meant. Saying you don't reply because you're, 'afraid of upsetting' me casts me in the role of bully and you as victim - which is not the case. I only know you from what you write and vv.

You've been a lot more positive of late, which is a very good thing. I'm sure I'm not the only one who when,'out of sorts,' feels even more down on logging in and seeing challenges and criticisms that belong in the mental health thread, where people [including me] ask for help and express their pain. 

Thank you! I needed to hear this. I'll hibernate with you - lots of warm blankets, tea, chocolate, ginger wine and whatever goodies you enjoy in the Autumn.

I'm sorry you feel that way, I'm not trying to diss your ideas, but share my own experiences. This is why I stopped responding to your threads because I was afraid of upsetting you and you told me not to be.

Marianne72 said:

I need positivity too, having endured a lot in my life. I come on here to hopefully spread my ideas, a bit of cheer and support people.

I for one appreciate you, your kindness and positivity and your threads.

Some people appear to enjoy conflict.

That is why I am hibernating. 

I wish you wouldn't keep dissing my experiences and ideas. After all, I worked professionally in the NHS over 3 decades, so hopefully know what I'm talking about. I also worked in the private sector, alternative medicine, so I have a very rounded view. Your experiences dont seem to tally with many patients and colleagues I've talked with over many years. You have said that you have a lot of difficulties and I appreciate that, but I do feel 'downed' by you  a lot and I am not the first to say this - out of exasperation. I need positivity too, having endured a lot in my life. I come on here to hopefully spread my ideas, a bit of cheer and support people. You really need to think more, before posting replies - and I mean that from the heart, because I do like other aspects you demonstrate on here.

I think you need to look at it in the round, if more people had osteopathy then they'd be mobile quicker, be less prone to weight gain and the problems that causes as well as the mental harm caused by being in long term pain. They'd also be back to work in a couple of months, meaning less incapacity benefits etc.

I'm dubious about a lot of physios having had one who didn't know what core strength was or why it was important and another who complained that my grip was to strong and hurt her hand, I had one who was good. He did actually give me some helpful exercises to do for my shoulder, but he's been less good with my knee.

I think some of us would benefit from more personalised exercise regimes, I did yoga for many years and some martial arts too, the first two physios thought I couldn't possibly have any problems because I was still to flexible and strong, having been trained in massage means my hands are still strong, even though my fingers are still and the joints hypermobile. All I'm allowed to do in gyms is the exercise bike and the treadmill, they won't let me do anything else because of various slkeletal problems, then I'd have to come home and walk Fearn, so I just do my daily walks with her, out in the fresh air and beautiful countryside.

Most physios in my experience have very low ambitions for thier patients, if you can dress, feed yourself and wipe you're own bum they seem happy.

TheCatWoman said:

alternative health practices to be offered, such as osteopathy and massage, osteopathy really helps to keep again joints mobile and to decrease pain.

I've had osteopathy for my neck in the past and found it really beneficial. I agree these would be ideal adjuncts but the cost would be too high for the NHS; these are for individual treatments, whereas exercise programmes can cater for groups of 10 or more would be cost effective, especially if they used, for example, physio trainees.

But the whole thing of preventative measures would surely save a huge amount on painful and expensive operations and procedures. There needs to be far more research into the cost benefits.

Older people have told me for years to not get old, like the alternative's better!

I think a lot of it is to do with genetics, my Mums side of the family is long lived with reasonable health, she's 92 and quite sprightly. She's always eaten a good diet with lots of fruit and veg and she's always kept mentally active too, doing puzzles, reading and until recently embroidery, she's such a brilliant embroiderer, shame she never taught me.

My Dads side seems to be what I've inherited, all the aches and pains and varicose veins. Although he was very active, with a strong interest in history.

When he went to hospital the doctor said she thought they lost his medication list and was amazed that he wasn't on any and that at 85 he didn't need any. Mums not on any medication either and I don't have any for things like blood pressure or heart problems which apparently makes me unusual for my age.

I think my Mum's living proof of the old adage,"An apple a day keeps the doctor away", she has an apple every day, plus other fruit.

I think one of the hardest parts for me has been the advances in tech and the subtle things its changed, like writing letters, at school I was taught to indent the first word of a paragraph, to indent addresses, the correct use of faithfully and sincerely. I really struggled to learn these things and to have them negated by a piece of machinery, feels like an afront, especially when told its how the computer does it and it dosen't matter. Well it mattered to me! I find the world a far more confusing place to be, less helpful and understanding, we have food from all over the world which is great, but why do we have so many clothes that look like they've been made by people who've never seen a human before? In many ways life feels more restricted than it did when you had to physically trudge round the shops to buy anything, the internet has given us access to a world wide market place, as long as you want the same half a dozen things in any catagory.

A list or script is handy. As I have to book online, my GP effectively gets detailed prep notes from me  which helps her.

Another useful adjustment in a group practice is to ask for continuity of care with one GP. That lead GP now knows me really well and supported me through my most recent burnout. Two other GPs in the practice know me well so I have contingency built in. 

Bunny said:

mine often otherwise overrun. 

I'm well known for overrunning and they know this! It's my communication method. Yes, ask them - it is a necessary adjustment. I often write a list, so when I do get in, I know what I want to sort out.