Getting older is for the birds…

[70mikenike70]

Getting old is all in your head. I'm in my early 50s and I don't have an ache or pain anywhere. Eat well and keep your weight down, don't smoke and do regular moderate exercise. Having an optimistic outlook on life helps a lot, too. Eeyore's get old a lot faster than us Tigger's do!

You are very blessed to be in that condition. There are many people in this group just like me that made a commitment to this country and wish they could go just one day without pain… But you are pretty close on things to keep the pain away.

 

[70mikenike70]

My buddy gets kidney stones all the time. After his last one I asked him how big was it THIS time?
His response..."about the size of a frackin school bus!"
Perception is everything

Roflol…. I have had over 50 by now and I am 44 years old. 2 of them where when I was over seas and that was a trip!!!! My last on was 33mm. Yes only 3mm from the diameter of a golf ball… They were able to get 80% out of my kidney and I slowly pissed out many small ones from 2mm to 5mm…. Worst pain in my entire life!!!!

 

[70mikenike70]

Roflol…. I have had over 50 by now and I am 44 years old. 2 of them where when I was over seas and that was a trip!!!! My last on was 33mm. Yes only 3mm from the diameter of a golf ball… They were able to get 80% out of my kidney and I slowly pissed out many small ones from 2mm to 5mm…. Worst pain in my entire life!!!!

And just to show I’m not full of crap… Here is a few I caught…

 

[donb]

I can't walk - I can't see
I can't hear - I can't pee
73 years old!

 

[jkingrph]

I'll be 77 in 12 more days and in pretty good shape. Had something hit the tip of my left thumb a few months back. Dr said just let it heal putting pins in and surgery would probably not improve things much. I do have limited movement, but attribute that to some arthritis that was developing, constant tenderness in the area where the thumb joins the hand. Walked three miles yesterday with some long, tall ups and downs along the route, with no problems other than developing a minor muscle pain, which seems to be easing off. Last year I was walking 25-35 miles a week, but pulled something in a foot and had to stop to let it heal. Yes getting old is not for the timid or weak.

 

[Danny Ross]

When I was young, we always lived in single story homes, and I always thought two story homes were awesome, loved visiting family and friends that had an upstairs, even cooler visiting family up North that had an upstairs AND a basement. When I married and we were ready for a house, I convinced my wife for the two story model. Now, 21 years later, I'm looking forward to selling and getting a flat house with no more than a threshold bump to step over. F#@k them stairs!

Important: Two bathrooms on the same (1) floor!

 

[Danny Ross]

So you're takin' better care of your body
Becoming more aware of your body.
Responding to your body's needs.
Everything you hear and read about diets,
Nutrition and sleeping position and detoxifying your system,
And buying machines that they advertise to help you exercise.
Herbs to revitalize you if you're traumatized.
Soaps that will sanitize.
Sprays to deordorize.
Liquid to neutralize acids and pesticides.
Free weights to maximize your strength and muscle size.
Shots that will immunize.
Pills to re-energize you.
But remember that for all your pain and gain
Eventually the story ends the same...
You can quite smokin', but you're still gonna die.
Cut out cokin', but you're still gonna die.
Eliminate everything fatty or fried,
And you get real healthy, but you're still gonna die.
Stop drinkin' booze, you're still gonna die.
Stay away from cooze, you're still gonna die.
You can cut out coffee and never get high,
But you're still gonna, still gonna, still gonna die.
You're still gonna, still gonna, still gonna die.
Still gonna, still gonna, still gonna die.
You can even give aerobics one more try,
But when the music stops playin', you're still gonna die.
Put seat belts in your car, you're still gonna die.
Cut nicotine tar, you're still gonna die.
You can exercise that cellulite off your thigh.
Get slimmer and trimmer, but you're still gonna die.
Stop gettin' a tan, you're still gonna die.
You can search for UFO's up in the sky
They might fly you to Mars where you're still gonna die.
You're still gonna, still gonna, still gonna die.
Still gonna, still gonna, still gonna die.
And all the Reeboks and Nikes and Adidas you buy
You can jog up to heaven and you're still gonna die.
Drink ginseng tonics, you're still gonna die.
Try high colonics, you're still gonna die.
You can have yourself frozen and suspended in time,
But when they do thaw you out, you're still gonna die.
You can have safe sex, you're still gonna die.
You can switch to Crest, you're still gonna die.
You can get rid of stress, get a lot of rest,
Get an AIDS test, enroll in EST,
Move out west where it's sunny and dry
And you'll live to be a hundred
But you're still gonna die.
You're still gonna, still gonna, still gonna die.
Still gonna, still gonna, still gonna die.
So you'd better have some fun
'Fore you say bye-bye,
'Cause you're still gonna, still gonna, still gonna die.

 

[buttanic]

I am 78, things were good, I was running, playing tennis and swimming then at 54, triple bypass, luckily no heart attack. Since then neck surgery, back surgery, neck surgery, shoulder surgery, knee surgery, two stents and a cardio ablation. I go to the gym twice a week, I can do 12 pullups, bench press 160, curl 45. Only issue now is some leg weakness from damaged nerves in in my back, squats I can only do about 140. I started weight lifting when I was 70 and got burned out on running.

 

[krotsman]

You are very blessed to be in that condition. There are many people in this group just like me that made a commitment to this country and wish they could go just one day without pain… But you are pretty close on things to keep the pain away.

Copy that. After reading some of these replies, I feel very lucky that I came off active duty and reserves relatively unscathed, at least with nothing causing me quality of life issues. My comment was mostly just giving the OP young'un some life advice.

 

[Danny Ross]

I am 78, things were good, I was running, playing tennis and swimming then at 54, triple bypass, luckily no heart attack. Since then neck surgery, back surgery, neck surgery, shoulder surgery, knee surgery, two stents and a cardio ablation. I go to the gym twice a week, I can do 12 pullups, bench press 160, curl 45. Only issue now is some leg weakness from damaged nerves in in my back, squats I can only do about 140. I started weight lifting when I was 70 and got burned out on running.

I quit running; knees can't take it. Bicycling is a pretty good substitute.

 

[buttanic]

I quit running; knees can't take it. Bicycling is a pretty good substitute.

I will not ride a bike on the street with todays traffic and drivers.

 

[cyclone1970]

I must say that it is not surprising that there are so many members here who are over 70, like me. I have always felt that I was among friends here.

I won't go down my list of problems, as most all of them have been mentioned already. I will say, thankfully, that none are killing me yet and has been said already, the alternative sucks.

I must caution the "youngins" here however, that they should enjoy being fifty years old and not think that is how they will feel in their 70's. I retired at 67 yo, seven years ago. I am extremely grateful for every day, but every day is also a bit more effort.

 

[mod1911a]

Lost the central vision in my right eye in high school which resulted from a chalkboard eraser fight in jr year of high school. That was the era when I was duck hunting and shooting hand-thrown clays with my dad (God, I miss him and the smell of those paper hull Winchester Dove & Quail hulls). In high school, I had a Lee Load All mounted on the desk in my bedroom.
OK, back on topic: After the "accident", I trained myself to shoot left-handed and I was good. In the 90's, I was a Class A skeet shooter.
Then age 50 came around and the reading glasses became a necessity. I got away from shooting for many years--and in the interim, I had gotten a concealed carry permit. Then a few years back, when I went to renew my permit, I realized that I could no longer see the sights on a handgun. WTF! I barely passed the shooting test. Freakin silhouette target at 5 yds and I had holes all over the place.
I've recently gotten back into shooting--joined a skeet club--and the vision issues are really pissing me off. It's hard to even see the front bead on a shotgun. At 66, of all the maladies associated with getting older, the vision issues **** me off the most.
(but after 19 years away from the game, I'm shooting 24's).

Maybe I should get that shingles vaccine.

 

[Abby Normal]

“Maybe I should get that shingles vaccine.”
Mod1911a, after having the Damn shingles & hearing others shingles stories, I’ve turned into a advocate. I heard it hurts but beats having full blown shingles. And you can get it in your Eye. I’d talk to your doc to make sure you’re a good candidate.

 

[TurkeyShoot]

So, I realize that I’m still considered fairly young since I am not yet 40, but I’ve noticed some things in the past few years about getting older that really suck. For example, just last week I somehow injured myself stepping out of the shower! WHAT?! Are these the types of things I have to look forward to? What are some other things that suck about getting older that y’all have experienced?

I'll be 70 in a matter of months. Just want to encourage you by saying I hit a brick wall around your age. I think I had been a little too enthusiastic with "enjoying" life... ...over-indulgent with "wine, women, and song" as the old cliche goes. It took a while to learn but living life with, "everything in moderation", plus getting more active, anyone can turn around and go the other way. Your body can actually improve if you'll take care of it... you don't have to live in a constant downhill process. Sometimes those who don't have problems with weight... ..because of a false sense of security that they can eat, drink, or do anything... can end up in worse shape.

What ever part of your body, back, etc., it is, you'd be surprised at how well it will respond to the right physical movement. There are hundreds of physical therapists and trainers that post video of specialized activity for just about any part of your body that hurts, is injured, or just becoming weak... just do a search on YouTube. Even if you just start with the stretches and rercommended physical therapy, you'd be surprised at how your body will strengthen and reverse its path when given right kind of treatment. You can get free help from trained professionals. Because I made up my mind that I'm not going to just sit around and watch myself deteriorate, I'm in much better shape now than I was 30 years ago.

The aging body is not just a crap-shoot that we have to accept. It will respond and heal for the most part like the principals of Wolff's Law for the skeletal portions, and Davis's Law for the muscle, fiber and tissue parts. Learn them both and use them... You can hit the gym... but even on your own, you can do as well or better if you'll challenge your body to work and take advantage of what you can learn from many of the specialists on YouTube. No better time to start than now! Good Luck!!

 

[mod1911a]

“Maybe I should get that shingles vaccine.”
Mod1911a, after having the Damn shingles & hearing others shingles stories, I’ve turned into a advocate. I heard it hurts but beats having full blown shingles. And you can get it in your Eye. I’d talk to your doc to make sure you’re a good candidate.

I hear ya. About 25 years ago, my paternal grandmother had an extreme case that was on her face--forehead and down near her eye. She suffered BAD for a while and it left scarring. And my older brother had it recently. Lasted 4--5 weeks.

It's one of those things that you never really think about or take proactive measures against. Got a checkup with my PCP in a couple months, gotta make a note to discuss it.
Thanks

 

[johnjohn]

At 79 Ithought Iwas "bullet proof". On labor day trying to get a cart with a few groceries into an elevator Itore a tendon in my left arm. On a scale of 1-10 this was 11. It's repaired now but start physical therapy on Thursday. Can't wait.

 

[buttanic]

At 79 Ithought Iwas "bullet proof". On labor day trying to get a cart with a few groceries into an elevator Itore a tendon in my left arm. On a scale of 1-10 this was 11. It's repaired now but start physical therapy on Thursday. Can't wait.

Being better able to do routine living things easily and without injury is why I spend 90 minutes twice a week strength training in Planet Fitness. No one there believes I am 78, I can do 10 pull ups, bench press 150, curl 50 and squat 150.

 

[Bam Bam]

I hear ya. About 25 years ago, my paternal grandmother had an extreme case that was on her face--forehead and down near her eye. She suffered BAD for a while and it left scarring. And my older brother had it recently. Lasted 4--5 weeks.

It's one of those things that you never really think about or take proactive measures against. Got a checkup with my PCP in a couple months, gotta make a note to discuss it.
Thanks

My wife has had shingles for 6 weeks now and finally it's "easing up" , but the dreaded Bells Palsey hit her too about a week or two after the shingles hit. It's both on her right side of her face, it's extremely painful and she looks like she's had a stroke due to the paralysis on her face, but no it's just the Bells Palsey. Trust me get the shot! This illness I don't wish on people I don't like!

 

[Abby Normal]

Bam Bam, sorry to hear about your wife’s double whammy. Since I got my shingles, I’ve hear tons of Horror stories.
Hug your wife were it doesn’t hurt for me.