Re: Healthy at 70?

CalminHeart · ‎03-09-2010

There are not any guarantees in life. When your time comes, it comes.

I've seen healthy people fall over and die on the spot. I've seen the sick live to 95 and above.

My gramma was 96 and always lived on her own. She got sick and died 2 weeks later. All her siblings lived to older ages.

My dad (her son) will be 91 in a couple of weeks and still lives in his home. Dad requires more help than he used to but he's fiercely independent, makes smart decisions, reads all the time, has a great sense of humor, etc etc.

No one knows when it'll be their time.

chrystaltree · ‎05-10-2010

@SeaMaiden wrote:

I am 67...I do not consider 67 old, but whenever I go to the dentist or somewhere they ask if I am on any meds and I say NO...They always seems surprised. I asked one gal if most people are on meds at my age, and she said "oh yes...and on several meds".

Some things are out of our control....but, I think people just take what their doctors prescribe... and do not ask questions and try to do what they can in lifestyle changes BEFORE resorting to taking prescriptions. My DH is that way. He is on blood pressure and cholesterol drugs....and does NOTHING to remedy the issues proactively. Just take a pill is his fix it motto.

67 certainly isn't old and I do think many, if not most, people over 65 are taking some prescription medication. And that's a good thing because it means we have a disease or condition that is being treated. I think genetics plays a role in this. My BFF is 76 and very healthy. She's never taken any prescription meds. I'm 62 and I've been on meds for several conditions since my early 50s. I'm thankful that all those meds are keeping me strong, relatively fit and that I can look forward to a long life.

Harpa · ‎03-10-2010

This year DH and I will be 73 and 70 respectively. Neither of us do doctors or take meds. We do take supplements and both of us walk every day, weather no problem.

We're just doing the best we can, and are in relatively excellent health.

My DM in her 90s had a deplorable diet! She wouldn't change! But she was farm raised on good, fresh farm food. She also was a pleasant person, never had a gripe with anyone. Maybe that was the secret to her longevity. It sure wasn't her diet. And she did have some years overloarded on meds she did not need. (That's another story.)

hckynutjohn · ‎06-15-2015

@Harpa wrote:
This year DH and I will be 73 and 70 respectively. Neither of us do doctors or take meds. We do take supplements and both of us walk every day, weather no problem.

We're just doing the best we can, and are in relatively excellent health.

My DM in her 90s had a deplorable diet! She wouldn't change! But she was farm raised on good, fresh farm food. She also was a pleasant person, never had a gripe with anyone. Maybe that was the secret to her longevity. It sure wasn't her diet. And she did have some years overloarded on meds she did not need. (That's another story.)

@Harpa

Sounds like you have some great genetics in your family, and I could not be happier for you.

Really got my attention when you stated: "Neither of us do doctors". Having great Genetics is certainly a good thing. But so are many important procedures, scheduled by doctors, that do save lives.

I have a good friend that had great Paternal and Maternal genetics. His mother and father lived well into their 90's.

He is about my age, 83, and he now is in hospice with level 4 Colon Cancer. He too "didn't do doctors". Very sad for me to see him this way.

hckynut 🇺🇸

hckynut(john)

Boomernichols · ‎11-22-2013

@juanitalinda You are truly blessed to be healthy!

NYCLatinaMe · ‎01-14-2017

I do not judge others for their ailments or lack thereof, unless we are talking about abusing substances, in which case I try to help.

Illness can take away from a person at any point in their lives, regardless of their apparent health, and how well they take care of themselves.

I developed tumors in my 30s, the removal of which no insurance would cover because the tumors were benign and they were not threatening other organs. Removal required abdominal surgey, which is very expensive. But the tumors caused me constant, excruciating pain. I took aleve like they were tictac, but careful not to exceed too often the maximum daily amounts. What I was going thru was not visible to anyone. I had to save to pay for the surgery out of pocket to stop the pain, as a good surgeon would remove them. I had about 20 tumors, each of which had to be painsakingly removed. I did obtain some insurance coverage for the surgery with the help of the specialist surgeon.

Other than the unseen tumors, I was and appeared in good health, and I don't think anyone understood how much I suffered. The tumors robbed me of what should have been the best 10 years of my life, and the possibility of having children.

I have often been mistaken for being about 10 years younger, so this condition did not take a toll on my appearance. So that's good, but it is not real. I am the age I am.

To those of you who don't go to any doctor because you feel well, I have heard that from people of many different ages who have ended up with a sudden cancer diagnosis and have died within weeks of it.

I have known people who have had to go on dyalisis because they did not know they had high blood pressure which caused kidney damage, as high blood pressure does not always have symptoms.

So I try not to judge too easily. We never really know what is going on with other people.

qvcaddition · ‎03-10-2010

@hckynutjohn

@hckynutjohn wrote:
@Harpa wrote:
This year DH and I will be 73 and 70 respectively. Neither of us do doctors or take meds. We do take supplements and both of us walk every day, weather no problem.

We're just doing the best we can, and are in relatively excellent health.

My DM in her 90s had a deplorable diet! She wouldn't change! But she was farm raised on good, fresh farm food. She also was a pleasant person, never had a gripe with anyone. Maybe that was the secret to her longevity. It sure wasn't her diet. And she did have some years overloarded on meds she did not need. (That's another story.)

@Harpa

Sounds like you have some great genetics in your family, and I could not be happier for you.

Really got my attention when you stated: "Neither of us do doctors". Having great Genetics is certainly a good thing. But so are many important procedures, scheduled by doctors, that do save lives.

I have a good friend that had great Paternal and Maternal genetics. His mother and father lived well into their 90's.

He is about my age, 83, and he now is in hospice with level 4 Colon Cancer. He too "didn't do doctors". Very sad for me to see him this way.

hckynut 🇺🇸

Jusft got my Dr. to get me an appt. yes for a colonoscopy.
Because of my age they didn't want me to have anymore, even though my last one 5 years ago had a suspicious polup that could turn into cancer.
I asked the Dr. is it dangerous because of age or is it because of ins. that does not like to pay for the elderly?
She got me an appt.
Sorry about your friend. I can't get one of my sons to take the test. The other son does every five years.

hckynutjohn · ‎06-15-2015

@qvcaddition

Now the insurance companies are using age? What next, assisted suicide like our neighbors in Canada? I guess with them, if you are over the predicted average age, you become dispensable.

My 16th Colonoscopy, I think was in September, was after 3 years. I have never had polyps, my Colonoscopies and 5 Double Balloon Enteroscopies, were all for my massive Colon bleeds.

Will never understand why some simply refuse to get the significance of this procedure. There are so few Cancers that are preventable, yet they choose to roll the dice on the few that are. Guess they haven't heard that 50 is the new 25!

Hope all goes well for you. Keep working on that 1 son, maybe he will get tired of hearing it.

hckynut 🇺🇸

hckynut(john)

ECBG · ‎01-08-2011

All 4 of my grand parents had high blood pressure; of course I do and rarely even use salt!

My only other meds are allergy and sciatic nerve inflammation.

I run all over a store and have SO much more fun than sitting home! It's close to impossible to walk our neighborhood!!!

hckynutjohn · ‎06-15-2015

@ECBG wrote:
All 4 of my grand parents had high blood pressure; of course I do and rarely even use salt!
My only other meds are allergy and sciatic nerve inflammation.

I run all over a store and have SO much more fun than sitting home! It's close to impossible to walk our neighborhood!!!

Hi there @ECBG

I love sitting in our home and can't remember the last time I walked around any store. My wife does the store stuff, and I do the home and our pet stuff.

Good to see how few meds you are on. He!! since my diagnosis of CHF, my Cardiologist added 3 new meds. Mornings, including my Zinc and D3! I take 8 pills/capsules. At night, including the 2 above, take 9 pills/capsules.

And my PCP asks, "any side effects from A"? How the heck do I know? Guess since I been feeling $*&=* will live thru it!

Take good care now,

hckynut 🇺🇸