Re: Getting Old (Aging)

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

I'm only 66 and it's not really going that well. I'm getting stupid and my formerly excellent memory is all but gone.

As far as expectations - I think I was probably like a lot of people in that I really didn't think about it. I do remember older people saying things and thinking 'good grief, old people say weird stuff'. Well, guess what - it's all true.

I try to do little things to use my brain because I am definitely in 'use it or lose it' mode at this point.

I used to be super good with numbers. That was totally my thing. I quickly figured out number problems. Now, I find that I still can but it takes a lot longer because if I try to rush myself I just get all balled up, confused, and then I can't figure anything out. But I keep wanting to do it so that I don't lose it entirely.

As to memory things - what is weird is that I know the data is still in my brain but I cannot always get to it. If all questions had multiple-choice answers I bet I'd score 100. You know? You KNOW the stuff, but you can't seem to grab onto it.

Mistreatedbycs · ‎03-10-2010

@chickenbutt

Order a brain trainer book, it's a book of puzzles, fill in the blanks, word problems and it's all fun stuff.

You need to continue to train your body and mind, my mom did a lot of trainer books and she did a lot of crossword puzzles and she was sharp as a tact.

I still remember those nurses asking her questions in the hospital to maybe "fool her", there was no fooling her, I attribute it to years of brain training.

It's like when you are born, you grow up and go to school to learn, you live your life and on the other side of age appears the same thing but in reverse, you need to train your brain again. Good Luck and hopefully you can find some books like this. Just a bunch of puzzles and fun one's.

nevergivesup · ‎04-24-2010

@violann I am so sorry you are still struggling with the effects of this awful illness. I have a niece, single mom with two young children and no help, who, like you had a “moderate” case. Six months out she is still dealing with exhaustion, mental confusion etc She used to be a little dynamo who shouldered all her responsibilities so well and now she is very scared and overwhelmed by what the future may hold for her. I wish both of you and all the others like you an easing of symptoms and better days ahead. Thank you for encouraging others to take this seriously.

@violann wrote:
I was aging "gracefully" until my "mild-moderate" Covid infection.
Now, 6 months out, my life is still a mess.

So if you are old, like me, do EVERYTHING you can do to protect yourself from this disease. Whether it's vaccination, masking, wearing a big smile, avoiding crowds, WHATEVER.

DON'T GET COVID. It's the new "Picture of Dorian Gray"!

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

@Mistreatedbycs wrote:
@chickenbutt

Order a brain trainer book, it's a book of puzzles, fill in the blanks, word problems and it's all fun stuff.

You need to continue to train your body and mind, my mom did a lot of trainer books and she did a lot of crossword puzzles and she was sharp as a tact.

I still remember those nurses asking her questions in the hospital to maybe "fool her", there was no fooling her, I attribute it to years of brain training.

It's like when you are born, you grow up and go to school to learn, you live your life and on the other side of age appears the same thing but in reverse, you need to train your brain again. Good Luck and hopefully you can find some books like this. Just a bunch of puzzles and fun one's.

Thank You so much for your reply! I actually do crossword puzzles all the time. I play solitaire on my laptop (not online - just a Windows program from back in the days of Win7). The solitaire makes me focus and have to think fast, as the faster you win the more points you get.

The crossword puzzles also help me a lot, IMO.

Also, if there is something, such as something numerical, that I want to figure out I don't give up and get frustrated like I did in the beginning. I make myself focus and figure it out even though it takes longer than it used to.

I don't do a lot of other puzzle-type things at this time, but it's in my mind to consider.

I really do believe that if you are struggling with cognitive problems and just let it do whatever it is going to do, you will go downhill much faster than if you work on things like focus and figuring things out. I really love the crossword puzzles and have already gone through several books (one had 1,001 puzzles!) already.

I don't know if it's because of these things I do or not, but when I first started having cognitive breaks it was worse. I'd walk up to a door in my own house and couldn't figure out how to make it open. Or, I'd be driving somewhere I've been a ton of times and have no idea where to go. Forgetting how to use household kitchen tools, etc. It was really weird and scary at first. I still have breaks but I am able to just wait a moment and the data comes back. I forget every day words and names super easily.

Like your mother did, I just know I have to keep trying. If I just sit here and watch tv I imagine I will get worse. Use it or lose it, right?

ALRATIBA · ‎07-15-2016

Just a quick note / idea for those who are interested in intellectual stimulation as we get older ...

For the past five or six years, I've been participating in online webinars, and auditing some classes - in my particular areas of interest. Most of them are free - the only costs are the required texts.

There is one (Catholic) publisher that offers intervies / webinars with some of their authors.

Check around .... who knows what you might find out there.

Katcat1 · ‎07-21-2011

My mind is young so too bad my body isn't. lol I have rheumatoid arthritis, COPD with emphysema so I become short of breath. I am happy to be alive and thankful every day that I am here. I can't get around like I use to but I try to make the best of it.

kindness is strength

Nightowlz · ‎03-11-2010

LOL DH said he cannot wait to retire so he can stop with all the stupid stuff. I told him no you will get to deal with SS & Medicare because I'm not doing it.

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@Mistreatedbycs wrote:
Did you expect getting old is all of what it is and what you expected?

@Mistreatedbycs

As a kid, I thought of life as you're born, you're a child, then you're grown up and get old ... and then die. I had no appreciation whatsoever for the period of deterioration.

I also thought when old folks didn't want to go out and do something it was because they were lazy.

Sooner · ‎03-10-2010

Nobody can avoid it without dying; you have no control over it, no matter what you think; and you should think about what you have today and make the most you can of every day!

Be grateful while you can! Be a blessing to someone else today.

wilma · ‎03-13-2010

@Mistreatedbycs

No illusions here.

I was a late in life baby so my parents were much older than the parents of my peers. We had grandmothers living with us too. I helped take care of my parents as they aged. I saw their deterioration, and it wasn't pretty. They thanked us each day for taking care of them so they didn't have to go to a nursing home.

I was hoping since I had so many health issues as a child, teen, and young adult, that I might have a healthier old age, but that's probably not going to happen. I still have health issues. I exercise daily, and am fairly strong, but recently started physical therapy for my shoulder. Seems to just be one thing after another popping up to nag me. Trying to make the best of it though.