Getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alternative

[VRBeauty]

Re: Getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alterna

Missy I'm so sorry you're feeling so bad. Someone out there knows what's wrong with you - I'm sure of that. I hope you somehow cross paths soon!

(My brother, who's been hospitalized for over 6 months now, was having trouble with his physical therapy for quite a while because he'd feel lightheaded every time he stood up - even fainting once or twice. One day his PCP's backup came in early in the morning and said she'd had trouble sleeping that night so she spent the time trying to figure out my brother's dilemma. She called the pharmacist and they went over every medication my brother was taking and found one that could cause that as a side-effect. Then she called the specialist who prescribed that medication, and they decided it was safe to take him off of it. Three or four days later, my brother walked around the entire wing without having to stop to rest. I'm not suggesting that your situation is due to medications - just that the answer is out there, and I hope someone will figure out what it is soon!)

 

[missy]

Re: Getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alterna

Missy I'm so sorry you're feeling so bad. Someone out there knows what's wrong with you - I'm sure of that. I hope you somehow cross paths soon!

(My brother, who's been hospitalized for over 6 months now, was having trouble with his physical therapy for quite a while because he'd feel lightheaded every time he stood up - even fainting once or twice. One day his PCP's backup came in early in the morning and said she'd had trouble sleeping that night so she spent the time trying to figure out my brother's dilemma. She called the pharmacist and they went over every medication my brother was taking and found one that could cause that as a side-effect. Then she called the specialist who prescribed that medication, and they decided it was safe to take him off of it. Three or four days later, my brother walked around the entire wing without having to stop to rest. I'm not suggesting that your situation is due to medications - just that the answer is out there, and I hope someone will figure out what it is soon!)

VR, I am so sorry about your brother and I hope he is doing well and will be out of the hospital soon. I am so glad that he had a doctor who was caring and went that extra mile for him!

As for me I am not doing well. I have a high pain threshold but this condition that has gone on now for 8 or 9 (?) weeks just keeps getting worse. The burning, the squeezing of my chest and a feeling that something is just not right. I feel jittery and anxious and I am not sure if it is the meds causing these feelings or the condition itself. I am pretty strong and of sound mind and I do not think my anxiety/feelings of disquiet are because I am depressed or anxious but due to the meds I am on or the condition itself. In other words a physiologic reaction being caused by whatever is causing the disease/condition I am dealing with.

I have seen so many doctors and not one has any answer or can provide me with any relief. They just keep recommending more specialists. I hope and pray you are right and that I will (soon please) cross paths with the doctor who will have the answers and be able to help me. I have never felt so helpless and overwhelmed.

Thanks so much for thinking of me VR.

 

[Cluless]

Re: Getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alterna

Missy I hope this post finds you feeling better. I'm just throwing this out there but has anyone thought about checking your thyroid? That little butterfly of ours can cause all kinds of symptoms and have everyone scratching their heads till someone thinks of oh lets start by checking TSH levels. I wish you well and hope this gets resolved very soon I feel for you. Sending you hugs, hang in there don't let it over stress you, you'll only cause yourself more harm xo

 

[missy]

Re: Getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alterna

Missy I hope this post finds you feeling better. I'm just throwing this out there but has anyone thought about checking your thyroid? That little butterfly of ours can cause all kinds of symptoms and have everyone scratching their heads till someone thinks of oh lets start by checking TSH levels. I wish you well and hope this gets resolved very soon I feel for you. Sending you hugs, hang in there don't let it over stress you, you'll only cause yourself more harm xo

Thank you so much Cluless. I appreciate the hugs and well wishes. I am trying to remain upbeat and hopeful and as you can imagine it is a challenge with the constant burning and chest pain.

Fortunately my dh is so supportive and with me every step of the way. He has been amazing-taking or meeting me at every single doctor's appointment (of which there have been so many) and just being there for me emotionally as well. It makes a huge difference having that kind of love and support.

Now I am just praying that one of my doctors/specialists figures it out and there is a way/treatment to help me recover and be healthy again. It's scary not knowing what's causing this on top of the pain I am dealing with every single day.

I am pretty sure they ran thyroid tests but I will check with my internist or cardiologist next week. Thanks for the advice.

 

[soocool]

Re: Getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alterna

Missy, I am also wishing you all the best. Hang in there! I am sure the doctors will figure it out. I know how frustrating though it can be in the meantime. Hugs to you!!

 

[missy]

Re: Getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alterna

Missy, I am also wishing you all the best. Hang in there! I am sure the doctors will figure it out. I know how frustrating though it can be in the meantime. Hugs to you!!

Thank you soocool. I sure hope so and hugs to you too!

 

[VRBeauty]

Re: Getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alterna

The following was posted on the "A Mighty Girl" facebook page, which is aimed at empowering young women.

When I read this story, it reminded me of the changes that have occurred in my lifetime - more specifically, the dramatic ways expectations and possibilities for young women were changing as I was entering adulthood. The world I grew up in was very different from the world I faced when I graduated college, which was very different from today. Although these changes were liberating and exhilarating, they were also the cause of some confusion -- not to mention the cause of some tension between me and my parents, who were both "old world" and "old school."

Anyhow, I'm glad to report that we all survived the tumult.

In celebration of today's Boston Marathon, we're sharing the dramatic story of the first woman to officially run the historic race. Kathrine Switzer's experience is a revealing illustration of the barriers that trailblazing women athletes had to overcome and of how far girls and women in sports have come in only a few decades.

In 1967, Switzer was a 20-year-old college student at Syracuse University when she registered for the race using her initials, K.V. Switzer. Not realizing that she was a woman, who were barred from participating in the Boston Marathon for over 70 years, race officials issued her an entry number.

During the race, marathon official Jock Semple attempted to physically remove Switzer from the marathon after discovering she was female. Other runners, including Switzer’s boyfriend Tom Miller, blocked Semple and she was able to complete the marathon. Pictures of the incident and the story of Switzer’s participation in the marathon made global headlines.

After the marathon, Switzer became deeply engaged in efforts to increase girls’ and women’s access to sports and she and other women runners finally convinced the Boston Athletic Association to drop their discriminatory policies and allow women to participate in 1972. By 2011, nearly 43 percent of Boston Marathon entrants were female. Switzer also helped lead the drive for the inclusion of a women’s marathon in the Olympic Games -- a victory which was achieved at long last with the first women's marathon at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

 

[minousbijoux]

Re: Getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alterna

The following was posted on the "A Mighty Girl" facebook page, which is aimed at empowering young women.

When I read this story, it reminded me of the changes that have occurred in my lifetime - more specifically, the dramatic ways expectations and possibilities for young women were changing as I was entering adulthood. The world I grew up in was very different from the world I faced when I graduated college, which was very different from today. Although these changes were liberating and exhilarating, they were also the cause of some confusion -- not to mention the cause of some tension between me and my parents, who were both "old world" and "old school."

Anyhow, I'm glad to report that we all survived the tumult.

In celebration of today's Boston Marathon, we're sharing the dramatic story of the first woman to officially run the historic race. Kathrine Switzer's experience is a revealing illustration of the barriers that trailblazing women athletes had to overcome and of how far girls and women in sports have come in only a few decades.

In 1967, Switzer was a 20-year-old college student at Syracuse University when she registered for the race using her initials, K.V. Switzer. Not realizing that she was a woman, who were barred from participating in the Boston Marathon for over 70 years, race officials issued her an entry number.

During the race, marathon official Jock Semple attempted to physically remove Switzer from the marathon after discovering she was female. Other runners, including Switzer’s boyfriend Tom Miller, blocked Semple and she was able to complete the marathon. Pictures of the incident and the story of Switzer’s participation in the marathon made global headlines.

After the marathon, Switzer became deeply engaged in efforts to increase girls’ and women’s access to sports and she and other women runners finally convinced the Boston Athletic Association to drop their discriminatory policies and allow women to participate in 1972. By 2011, nearly 43 percent of Boston Marathon entrants were female. Switzer also helped lead the drive for the inclusion of a women’s marathon in the Olympic Games -- a victory which was achieved at long last with the first women's marathon at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Thank you, VR. Having grown up in Boston, the thing that surprises me is just how recent it was - only 1967?!!

 

[VRBeauty]

Re: Getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alterna

My 2-3 year-old swimsuit still fits, so I don't have to buy a new one! YAHOOOO!

 

[junebug17]

Re: Getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alterna

My 2-3 year-old swimsuit still fits, so I don't have to buy a new one! YAHOOOO!

Terrific!!!!

 

[VRBeauty]

Re: Getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alterna

Well, I take it all back.

The suit still fits and looks good, but it wasn't entirely comfortable because it felt a little short in the torso.

So I was in the neighborhood of a popular mall this weekend I decided to see if anyone still had swimsuits... and came across a huge selection in a stand-alone Macy's store - devoted to women's swimsuits! It seems my size is quite popular, but I still had probably a dozen good options to choose from. With everything was 60% off or more, so was able to get two very different suits:

Calvin Klein one-piece, super comfy. It's a halter top that ties behind the neck - not so comfy - but I'll criss-cross those ties and sew them in place.



And this La Blanka tankini that's incredibly flattering on (the picture doesn't do it justice). I paired it with an off-brand bottom that actually goes to the waist.

 

[missy]

Re: Getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alterna

The suits look very pretty VR! And great that you got them on sale.

 

[VRBeauty]

Re: Getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alterna

The suits look very pretty VR! And great that you got them on sale.

Almost all of the swimsuits I've bought in the last 30 or so years have been from Loehmann's - top quality, low, low prices. Now that Loehmann's is no more I tried to prepare myself mentally to pay upwards of $75 for a good swimsuit. I'm so glad I hit a good sale so I didn't have to!

 

[missy]

Re: Getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alterna

The suits look very pretty VR! And great that you got them on sale.

Almost all of the swimsuits I've bought in the last 30 or so years have been from Loehmann's - top quality, low, low prices. Now that Loehmann's is no more I tried to prepare myself mentally to pay upwards of $75 for a good swimsuit. I'm so glad I hit a good sale so I didn't have to!

Macy's is pretty awesome for some things and though it's been a long while since I went bathing suit shopping (probably 6 plus years!) I remember I was able to get a number of nice bathing suits at good prices (on sale) at Macy's. And Land's End is another good place if you don't mind buying before trying on and then returning if necessary. Not sure it still works like this but bathing suit sizes never correlate with other clothing sizes for some reason. Sort of like wedding dress sizes if memory serves me correctly lol.

Enjoy your new swimsuits!

 

[soocool]

Re: Getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alterna

Finally getting back to some normalcy in my life except for creepy guy I wrote about in Hangout.

Hopefully, I can catch up on what's been going on here. Spent a lot of time helping my sister. She was finally diagnosed with an auto immune disease called Wegener's Granulomatosis. We were all floored and the diagnosis was not an easy one, but it seems like it is under control for now. Everytime the doctors ran tests there were suspicions but nothing was definite until after multitude of tests and a lung biopsy.

Yoga and meditation has helped me immensely this past year. Now I am ready for a vacation and am thinking about the Berkshires, but do not kniw exactly where in the Berkshires I would like to go, though I would like to time it when the leaves start changing colors.

 

[VRBeauty]

Re: Getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alterna

I hope you get that vacation, socool!

 

[junebug17]

Re: Getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alterna

Finally getting back to some normalcy in my life except for creepy guy I wrote about in Hangout.

Hopefully, I can catch up on what's been going on here. Spent a lot of time helping my sister. She was finally diagnosed with an auto immune disease called Wegener's Granulomatosis. We were all floored and the diagnosis was not an easy one, but it seems like it is under control for now. Everytime the doctors ran tests there were suspicions but nothing was definite until after multitude of tests and a lung biopsy.

Yoga and meditation has helped me immensely this past year. Now I am ready for a vacation and am thinking about the Berkshires, but do not know exactly where in the Berkshires I would like to go, though I would like to time it when the leaves start changing colors.

I'm so sorry about your sister's diagnosis socool - very difficult when a family member is experiencing health issues - glad to hear that she's doing ok and I hope she continues to improve. Will be keeping her, you, and your family in my thoughts. Hang in there and hugs to you!

I hope you can get away on what sounds like a much needed vacation - A fall trip to see the trees changing colors sounds very relaxing!

 

[missy]

Re: Getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alterna

Just seeing this soocool. I am sorry about your sister's diagnosis and hope she is doing well.

 

[missy]

Re: Getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alterna

My MIL just sent me this joke via email. LOL. Funny and I thought you guys would appreciate it...

Three elderly friends are walking down the fairway.

"Sixty is the worst age to be," said the 60-year-old, "You always feel
like you have to pee.. And most of the time nothing happens."

"Ah, that's nothing," said the 70-year-old. "When you're 70, you don't
have a bowel movement anymore. You take laxatives, eat bran, you sit
on the toilet all day and nothing happens."

"Actually," said the 80-year-old, "Eighty is the worst age of all."

"Do you have trouble peeing too?" asked the 60-year-old.

"No, I pee every morning at 6:00 am. I pee like a racehorse; no
problem at all."

"Do you have trouble having a bowel movement?" asked the 70 year old.

"No, I have one every morning at 6:30 am."

Puzzled with this the 60-year-old said, "Let's get this straight. You
pee every morning at 6.00 am and poop every morning at 6:30 am. So
what's so tough about being 80?"

"I don't wake up until seven."

 

[mayerling]

Re: Getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alterna

My MIL just sent me this joke via email. LOL. Funny and I thought you guys would appreciate it...

Three elderly friends are walking down the fairway.

"Sixty is the worst age to be," said the 60-year-old, "You always feel
like you have to pee.. And most of the time nothing happens."

"Ah, that's nothing," said the 70-year-old. "When you're 70, you don't
have a bowel movement anymore. You take laxatives, eat bran, you sit
on the toilet all day and nothing happens."

"Actually," said the 80-year-old, "Eighty is the worst age of all."

"Do you have trouble peeing too?" asked the 60-year-old.

"No, I pee every morning at 6:00 am. I pee like a racehorse; no
problem at all."

"Do you have trouble having a bowel movement?" asked the 70 year old.

"No, I have one every morning at 6:30 am."

Puzzled with this the 60-year-old said, "Let's get this straight. You
pee every morning at 6.00 am and poop every morning at 6:30 am. So
what's so tough about being 80?"

"I don't wake up until seven."

 

[soocool]

Re: Getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alterna

Just seeing this soocool. I am sorry about your sister's diagnosis and hope she is doing well.

Thanks Missy! She is doing much better and has started to wean off some of her medication. The timing of everything was so bad because my father had just passed away and she attributed her pain and discomfort to stress at first, but knew in the back of her mind something was not right and there was nothing I could do to help her except be there for her and her countless doctor visits. But now I am beginning to burn out since I have not had much time to myself for about a year now so I am being selfish and have taken time for " me, myself, and I", by spending time with DD (her last semester at college) and cleaning her apartment (lol)

I have been keeping up with your thread on HO and am so sorry about everything you have been going through, but just could not find the right words to express myself because I am just so drained. I have been keeping up with my yoga which I think is the one thing that is helping me keep my sanity.

I truly hope everything will settle and become normal again for you. It just takes time.

 

[missy]

Re: Getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alterna

Just seeing this soocool. I am sorry about your sister's diagnosis and hope she is doing well.

Thanks Missy! She is doing much better and has started to wean off some of her medication. The timing of everything was so bad because my father had just passed away and she attributed her pain and discomfort to stress at first, but knew in the back of her mind something was not right and there was nothing I could do to help her except be there for her and her countless doctor visits. But now I am beginning to burn out since I have not had much time to myself for about a year now so I am being selfish and have taken time for " me, myself, and I", by spending time with DD (her last semester at college) and cleaning her apartment (lol)

I have been keeping up with your thread on HO and am so sorry about everything you have been going through, but just could not find the right words to express myself because I am just so drained. I have been keeping up with my yoga which I think is the one thing that is helping me keep my sanity.

I truly hope everything will settle and become normal again for you. It just takes time.

Soocool, I am glad your sister is doing better. I am so sorry about your dad. Very glad you are taking some time for yourself. That is not selfish at all and in fact for you to be a comfort to others you need to be strong and not burned out yourself so good for you. Enjoy this time with your DD (though take it easy on the cleaning haha). It all goes so fast doesn't it?

Thank you for your good wishes. I so appreciate that. (((Hugs))).

 

[Matata]

Re: Getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alterna

So today I turned 60. I'm grateful to be in good health but still find nothing elegant about aging. My mammaries, which I used complain about reaching my navel have now fallen to my toes. The cheeks of my face and the cheeks of my butt occupy the same geographical location. I used to be able to stay dry when coughing/sneezing/laughing by crossing my legs -- now I have to grab my crotch in addition to crossing my legs. My joints creak, my memory is intermittent, and I have become sadly aware that there is a definition of flatulence that is reserved only for those my age and older. And then when I'm whining and complaining to a dear friend who is 95, she tells me to shut up and get over it because to her, I'm still a youngster. Puts things in perspective.

 

[VRBeauty]

Re: Getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alterna

Matata - I hit that "magic number" last Wednesday. Last month was all about my brother's surgery (on Jan 27) and helping my SIL clear out their apartment and a lot of worrying about the surgery - which we weren't sure my brother would survive, but he did! Anyhow I had written my lingering exhaustion off to my own creeping old age, until I talked to my 8 years younger brother and found that he's also afflicted. So I guess the age might have a bit to do with slow recovery times but that's not the whole story. Anyhow, as Uppy said originally, getting old isn't so bad when you consider the alternative! Happy belated birthday!

 

[VRBeauty]

Re: Getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alterna

I got my shingles shot this week! My insurance recently lowered the age at which they'll cover the shot, and I was baring my arm to them within two weeks of my birthday.

And with that, I'm giving up on this thread. It seems I retired just a bit too late to join in the fun here. Should anyone be looking for me, I'll be hanging out in the hangout!

 

[maryanderson]

Re: Getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alterna

The swim suits looks really pretty, whether the age is 30's or 50's....It doesn't matter at all...

 

[alisasmith]

Re: Getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alterna

I am loving it

 

[anngrant87]

Re: Getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alterna

it's better to get old rather than die young, yeap?

 

[Dakota]

Re: Getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alterna

I saw the title and had to laugh. That is so true.

Since I like to learn as I go, I don't see myself as getting older......I'm getting smarter.

 

[Shondra]

Re: Getting older isn't so bad when you consider the alterna

As a woman in her mid to late 40's, I find myself discovering new things daily. Well, that's not really true. I'm rediscovering the things I forgot I discovered last week. Like I need to get more vacuum bags. Why can't I remember to get vacuum bags before I pull it out to suck up the 1/2 layer of dog hair that is covering the living room carpet?

I'm also rediscovering new places to misplace my car keys. Why would they be on the back of the toilet? And I'm not even going to tell you how long it took me to find them!

And if there were any fairness in the universe, the fact that I forget to eat breakfast and lunch, and then suffer a major hypoglycemic event while running errands which can most quicky be medicated by a quick stop at Cold Stone Creamery, I would LOSE weight instead of gain. ::sigh::

OMG you make your life sound like such a tragedy/comedy. I don't know which. But seriously, you're still young. I don't think that you're really as forgetful as you say you are, but you definitely are quite the writer. Have you ever considered writing ebooks and selling them on Amazon KDP? It's free and you could spend your golden years earning passive income from them.