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

For urgent and obvious things like strokes, heart attacks and broken bones, the NHS is good, but for more complex and insidious things I have found that self diagnosis is quicker. I had 6 months of chest problems before suggesting to my GP that I give asthma inhalers a try, they worked, I had rather atypical asthma with a productive cough, I was investigated for a possible stomach ulcer and an endoscopy found nothing, I eventually worked out that I had an intolerance of baker's yeast (and brewers - no beer ) so cut out leavened bread and recovered completely. I had a plethora of horrible symptoms for many months, repeated GP visits to no effect, then worked out that the statin I was taking was essentially poisoning me. Finally, I self-diagnosed with autism, before getting it clinically confirmed.

What could we do differently is a good question, and I suspect you asked rhetorically.  

When we emigrated from the UK to Spain, many friends asked, 'What about health care?'  It turns out that health care here is just fine, better in many respects than the NHS in the UK, not perfect, for sure, as it is under-resourced as well.  Today I visited the GP, having made the appointment online on Tuesday afternoon (I could have had an appointment yesterday but was otherwise occupied), and we knocked off three issues in that visit, including me notifying him of my recent autism diagnosis.  Spain's medical system is run by the autonomous regions; Andalucia does spend a lot of time promoting 'wellness', especially for the 'oldies'.  However, demand outstrips supply, and the medics here feel undervalued and have just launched a nationwide strike!

So, like the UK, there are issues for us in Spain, just different ones.  A year ago I was admitted for emergency surgery, which saved my life and for which I am only now getting back to almost full physical health.  So, like the UK's NHS, when the need is urgent, the system works, and I'm still here and very grateful to the men and women who worked so hard for me.  Getting an autism diagnosis from the health service proved impossible though, and I paid to get it done with the private sector.

There are many documented examples of health education having positive outcomes across populations around the world, yet the British seem unable to learn from 'Johny Foreigner'!  Perhaps unwilling would be a better way of saying it.  Personally, I do not subscribe to 'alternative medicine/remedies, but that doesn't mean I would prevent others from using those. Whatever does the job for the individual, I think, but whether scientifically unproven remedies should be provided by an already stretched health system is a thorny question.

Over the last several months, I have learnt so much about autism, including about related conditions.  Autism and autoimmune conditions are commonly associated I see, and arthritis is an example.  Poor diet amongst the ND cohort can't be good in the grand scheme, yet the health professionals are so stretched that education is seldom offered by the frontline staff because of time constraints. 

So, we are left to fend for ourselves.  In a way that can be good as we learn more about ND issues and comorbid conditions, such that we become experts in our own care.  The problem then becomes that so many health practitioners can't accept that the patient is as, or indeed more, knowledgeable about their own condition than the doctor.  

Since I turned 60 I've had shoulder problems, skin problems (scalp eczema/psoriasis & recurring intertrigo) & occasionally "dry eye". However my IBS and high blood pressure have pretty much cleared up since I retired, and I haven't had a cold since I stopped working. I too am glad for the free prescriptions.

I wonder how many people are aware of the significance of vitamin D for health, particularly older people. Many of us on the spectrum have limited diets and also don't get out in the sunlight much in summer so it can be a good idea to discuss vitamin supplements with a health professional. Here is some info about bone & joint health from the NHS:

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/bone-health/keep-your-bones-strong-over-65/

I'd like for some alternative health practices to be offered, such as osteopathy and massage, osteopathy really helps to keep again joints mobile and to decrease pain. Massage is good as it keeps one generally mobile and in less pain. 

There are a few herbal remedies that doctors know work, but can't prescribe, either because of lack of testing or for legal reasons in the case of medical cannabis.

It would also be good if doctors and different depts actually talked to each other and consultants refered you to a collegue who maybe able to help you too, instead of having to go back to your GP and go through all the referal process again.

I think most of all respecting that although you might be getting older, you're still a human being and you should be talked to and not at

Marianne72 said:

That's a strange rule! The only reason I could think would be time. I ask , and am given, a double appointment.

It's definitely time-related; they're horribly under-resourced. But I did finally summon the courage to ask for a double slot for my last appointment, as a reasonable adjustment.

Having actually done it once, I'll hopefully feel less nervous about doing so again in future (when I think it's needed), as mine often otherwise overrun. 

A lot of people I know have been affected in some way because of their incompetence. 

In terms of saving lives and keeping people alive, their numbers will look good. I would argue the numbers wouldn't look so great if we were to factor in quality of life.

No palpitations - at least, not yet. I'm glad they sorted yours out as it must have been worrying.

Also frequent, or much reduced, urination!

Bunny said:

Our GP practice has a rule - which is generally enforced - of allowing only one issue to be discussed per appointment. 

That's a strange rule! The only reason I could think would be time. I ask , and am given, a double appointment.

NotLikeThemButICanPretend said:

They also failed to intervene in time when I had appendicitis and it burst, resulting in me having to have a very invasive open surgery and develop sepsis, but that's another story.  

I'm really sorry to hear that but sadly it really doesn't surprise me. 

Ok, I won't copy and paste as I know people on here don't like AI, but I Googled, 'physical problems associated with autism.'

Tummiy issues

Epilepsy and seizures

joint hypermobility

Very high or low pain threasholds

Immune and metabolic conditions including autoimmune problems

Unfortunately our NHS takes a reactive approach, rather than a proactive one and uses many outdated methods.

I've had issues with silent reflux for years and it affects my breathing, among other things. I'd underwent an endoscopy and no obvious cause was found. They had taken my height and weight at the GP simply attributed it to the fact my BMI put me in the overweight category. The issue with this is, I've been lifting heavily consistently since I was a teenager. 100kg or so in weight isn't that out of the ordinary for someone who has been training for 15+ years. I said you can see that I don't have a significant amount of fat on me only for them to respond "I'm just going by by the numbers".

They also failed to intervene in time when I had appendicitis and it burst, resulting in me having to have a very invasive open surgery and develop sepsis, but that's another story.  

Marianne72 said:

As a result of visiting to my GP with a list of ailments [I save them up to have less appointments]

I feel jealous! [wink]

Our GP practice has a rule - which is generally enforced - of allowing only one issue to be discussed per appointment. 

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.

LateToTheAlphaQuadrant said:

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.

LateToTheAlphaQuadrant said:

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!

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!  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.