Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

question everything

(47,476 posts)
Thu Jul 29, 2021, 10:30 PM Jul 2021

Things get interesting after 70

said my spouse's former internist some years back, before we turned 70.

OK, I thought. So I will walk more and jog less. I will walk slower. At the gym, the "heavy" weight will be 8 lb, not 10.

And then at a doctor's office she showed me a chart of the lymphatic system that I have seen before. But then she added: it gets old...

At another appointment the nurse practitioner (I always prefer nurse practitioners) said this was true. She came from geriatrics and there are physiological changes at the older bodies.

And then I noticed changes: that what used to be occasional skin infections are now permanent. And old dental work need to be replaced.. Hearing aids, old cataracts need to be lasered over (YAG).

Thus, when things don't work they way they used to I have to remind myself that my body cannot do or tolerate what it used to.

Last year, before the Covid we had some very cold days. Normally I would still go to the gym, dress appropriately. But I decided that perhaps I should be more careful in these cold days. Spouse had severe cold and I did not want to bring anything home.

And so, when we are told that the booster shots should be given to people with "compromised immune response" - well, this is us.

Another change - when you got to go you got to go. Hope Depends is not around the corner.



27 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Things get interesting after 70 (Original Post) question everything Jul 2021 OP
Every word of this is true Ferrets are Cool Jul 2021 #1
I am almost 72 and KarenS Jul 2021 #2
you still have your dad? Skittles Jul 2021 #6
yes, I do,,,, KarenS Jul 2021 #9
aw man, you are indeed lucky Skittles Jul 2021 #10
Even more so after 73-74. marybourg Jul 2021 #3
And Timewas Jul 2021 #4
Amen to that! justhanginon Aug 2021 #27
Things do change as one gets older... ProudMNDemocrat Jul 2021 #5
get one of those little facial hair shaver things. Grasswire2 Jul 2021 #18
Tried those... ProudMNDemocrat Jul 2021 #23
Tried those... ProudMNDemocrat Jul 2021 #24
I'm not feeling too bad now. multigraincracker Jul 2021 #7
wow...just got a pacemaker last week.... bahboo Jul 2021 #12
Took a couple of adjustment and now multigraincracker Jul 2021 #15
thanks.... bahboo Jul 2021 #16
Sorry . Depends are around the corner. No Vested Interest Jul 2021 #8
Just Turned 72 colsohlibgal Jul 2021 #11
Unfortunately true. nancy1942 Jul 2021 #13
More like "after 50" for me. BigmanPigman Jul 2021 #14
Time Money Energy keithbvadu2 Jul 2021 #17
Man, this is so true...nt mitch96 Jul 2021 #22
In two months i'll be 85. Hard to keep up with all the changes. justhanginon Jul 2021 #19
Wow! Something to learn question everything Jul 2021 #21
This message was self-deleted by its author justhanginon Jul 2021 #20
It's already too interesting Random Boomer Jul 2021 #25
vertigo has me from walking outside and covid has me away from the elliptical at the gym. LiberalArkie Aug 2021 #26

KarenS

(4,074 posts)
9. yes, I do,,,,
Thu Jul 29, 2021, 10:56 PM
Jul 2021

We live in a Senior Community across the street from him!! He is one of those 'super-agers',,,, He's more active than I am,,,,
but I do feel very lucky.

ProudMNDemocrat

(16,784 posts)
5. Things do change as one gets older...
Thu Jul 29, 2021, 10:45 PM
Jul 2021

Like lose skin from Weight loss, stays loose despite years of vigorous exercise and careful diet. We lose collagen.

Age spots where the sun does not shine. Like my abdomen. As well as on the face.

Men develop boobs. Women's droop.

Whiskers on women's faces. I am doomed. Runs on the Italian side of my family. Keeping the tweezers handy and busy.

Weak abdominal muscles, resulting in leaky bladders. I do 150 ab crunches every day.

Grasswire2

(13,569 posts)
18. get one of those little facial hair shaver things.
Thu Jul 29, 2021, 11:57 PM
Jul 2021

Very inexpensive. No pain, as there is in pulling hairs.

ProudMNDemocrat

(16,784 posts)
23. Tried those...
Fri Jul 30, 2021, 09:13 AM
Jul 2021

Works nicely on the finer hairs on the cheeks. But not on those pesky bristly hairs along the jawline and chin. It seems as I approach my 70's, I would be looking more like the bearded lady at a circus.

ProudMNDemocrat

(16,784 posts)
24. Tried those...
Fri Jul 30, 2021, 09:21 AM
Jul 2021

Works nicely on the finer hairs on the cheeks. But not on those pesky bristly hairs along the jawline and chin. It seems as I approach my 70's, I would be looking more like the bearded lady at a circus.

multigraincracker

(32,674 posts)
7. I'm not feeling too bad now.
Thu Jul 29, 2021, 10:55 PM
Jul 2021

Got a pacemaker last year and it has cleared some fog away. Can jog father now.

Just don’t stop moving.

bahboo

(16,337 posts)
12. wow...just got a pacemaker last week....
Thu Jul 29, 2021, 11:15 PM
Jul 2021

came as quite a shock. I am feeling a bit better today...hope I continue to improve...

multigraincracker

(32,674 posts)
15. Took a couple of adjustment and now
Thu Jul 29, 2021, 11:26 PM
Jul 2021

I’m at a 60 bpm. When I went in it was 28 bpm.
Now it’s working great jogged 5 miles today. Good luck.

No Vested Interest

(5,166 posts)
8. Sorry . Depends are around the corner.
Thu Jul 29, 2021, 10:55 PM
Jul 2021

Ever notice how large that section is in the drug store or grocery?
That's because they sell so well - many varieties, sizes, thicknesses.
Someday you'll be very familiar with that section.
Trust me.

colsohlibgal

(5,275 posts)
11. Just Turned 72
Thu Jul 29, 2021, 10:58 PM
Jul 2021

It doesn’t seem possible. Fortunately I’ve been quite healthy overall.

My idol right now is a woman I saw on the News a few months ago, from London. She got Covid, survived it....and was talking to the Press once released from the hospital. She was standing on her own two feet, no cane or anything, actively describing her experience. She was 117 years old!

Amazing. Hope I get somewhere over 100 as long as, like her my brain is still there and I remain mobile to some extent.

Working at it still play very high level amateur women’s tennis, open, not over any particular age. Still beat 20 somethings.

nancy1942

(635 posts)
13. Unfortunately true.
Thu Jul 29, 2021, 11:21 PM
Jul 2021

Speaking from experience at nearly 80 here; it gets worse. I've pretty much turned into my Grandmother.

justhanginon

(3,290 posts)
19. In two months i'll be 85. Hard to keep up with all the changes.
Thu Jul 29, 2021, 11:58 PM
Jul 2021

Everyday is an adventure in what's going to hurt today. Not bad hurts but thoise nagging, where did that come from, random pains. I think it helps to laugh at all the crap that comes with aging and figure we're lucky to get this far. I seem to spend a lot of time calling myself a damn fool for stuff like I was on my treadmill and decided I would try to jog. Bad move! Damn near killed myself. Just stupid everyday things that just don't work out like they used to.
Now i have the famed peripheral neuropathy which seems to be all the rage from the commercials to fix it on daytime local tv. Not sure how that will turn out.
Just in the last year, I spent two weeks in the hopspital with pneumonia, that was fun. Want my money back for the pneumonia shots. Then they discovered I had a cancerous kidney and took that out. Yeah, when as said you got to go you damn well better make tracks.
All in all, keep laughing and trucking along and enjoy what life has left for us and stay safe from Covid. I'm looking forward to the booster shot as well.

Response to question everything (Original post)

Random Boomer

(4,168 posts)
25. It's already too interesting
Fri Jul 30, 2021, 11:50 AM
Jul 2021

I'm only 67, but I had open heart surgery six years ago, so I'm well down the road of dealing with changes.

Latest Discussions»Support Forums»Seniors»Things get interesting af...