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

As a result of visiting to my GP with a list of ailments [I save them up to have less appointments], I need yet another blood test, another appointment and an eye test. I was also diagnosed with arthritis in my thumb. PIty there isn't a book about ageing and how to prevent it or at least lessen its effects Rolling eyes. I am grateful for the NHS, because pills and eye drops I need would cost a fortune.

I wish the Government would focus on preventative measures, rather than giving medication or leaving mechanical problems until operations are necessary. For example, my free NHS exercise class holds many benefits -

  • chatting with people my age and older with similar difficulties
  • my arthritis pains reducing in intensity and frequency,
  • learning the proper exercises for different problem areas.
  • the incentive to continue the exercises at home

Similarly, I wish my former GP had informed me how to prevent diabetes 2 decades ago, instead of not giving information before its onset. If only there were exercise classes in care homes and for the over 70's, for example, this might trigger huge savings on pills, appointments and operations. Would you agree? What do you think might ease these issues? Do you think there is enough spent on researching ageing?

Parents
  • I so agree with you. I think I frightened the Tesco delivery driver the other day, he asked if I had a  good weekend and I said yes as I have new pills and they are working. I looked at him and said, it's true, everything falls apart as you get older. He looked at me horrified and changed the subject! Joy I was never informed about how to prevent my diabetes either. It's only in the last few years I even heard of prediabetes (I was diagnosed in 2019.)  I also find once one thing goes, it's like dominos. I have a severe vitamin D deficency and at the weekend started medication for overactive thyroid and beta blockers to help with the symptoms of overactive thyroid whilst the medication to treat it kicks in.

    I'm sorry you have aliments too. I used to hear about doctors being atonished when they heard of older people not on medication. That used to perplex me. USED to, lol, bitter experrience. 

  • I think I frightened the Tesco delivery driver

    It reminds me of a film I saw once, where teens were harrying an aged person, because they were horrified when she told them they too would age one day.

    started medication for overactive thyroid and beta blockers

    That's on the cards for me, too!  Wish decent doctors like the Van Tulleken brothers would write more about ageing!

  • That's on the cards for me, too! 

    I'm so sorry to hear that, it's not fun is it! I found one of the most frustraiting parts is, I have suffered from anxiety since I was a child but I always get triggered by the feelings in my belly. Never have I had a problem with breathing or chest problems. For the last few weeks I've been having crazy chest thumping heartbeats and shortness of breath, it's been waking me up at night too. The doctor insisted it's my anxiety. Luckily I had a blood test necause it's actually a classic symptom of overactive thyroid! Hence gettiing the beta blockers. They have helped a lot. It's also lucky I was under the endocrinologist already as I had to phone them for the medication as I couldn't get in touch with my doctore till the 15th of this month!

    I hope you're not experriencing such symptoms? I did read a wwhile ago about a lot of physical ailments they are connecting to autism now and thyroid was one of them. I'll have a Google and see what I can fiind.

Reply
  • That's on the cards for me, too! 

    I'm so sorry to hear that, it's not fun is it! I found one of the most frustraiting parts is, I have suffered from anxiety since I was a child but I always get triggered by the feelings in my belly. Never have I had a problem with breathing or chest problems. For the last few weeks I've been having crazy chest thumping heartbeats and shortness of breath, it's been waking me up at night too. The doctor insisted it's my anxiety. Luckily I had a blood test necause it's actually a classic symptom of overactive thyroid! Hence gettiing the beta blockers. They have helped a lot. It's also lucky I was under the endocrinologist already as I had to phone them for the medication as I couldn't get in touch with my doctore till the 15th of this month!

    I hope you're not experriencing such symptoms? I did read a wwhile ago about a lot of physical ailments they are connecting to autism now and thyroid was one of them. I'll have a Google and see what I can fiind.

Children