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Shocked by aging process

Posted by seniormiz @seniormiz, Jan 25 8:54am

My fingernails and toenails stopped growing and just keep breaking off. My hair is falling out. My memory is not as sharp and sometimes I feel a little woozy. I hate this. I want my body and my senses back.

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pb50 | @pb50 | Feb 23 9:02pm

How cool!!! The cane i have is four feet close together. I hate it 🙂

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Ray Kemble | @ray666 | Feb 24 9:45am
In reply to @shmerdloff "@ray666 picture is Zacherly. Gasport was his sidekick. He used to have a pile of spaghetti..." + (show)
Profile picture for shmerdloff @shmerdloff

@ray666
picture is Zacherly. Gasport was his sidekick. He used to have a pile of spaghetti hanging down which he called Alan (payola) Freed's nerves. He also used to chop up a head of cauliflower which he called a brain.

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I blame it on a brain hiccup, @shmerdloff. Now that you've reminded me, of course I remember Gasport! Alan Freed? Mmm? I'm afraid that one has faded from my cauliflower. 🙂 The picture of Zacherly I recognized immediately. His is a face I'll never forget! ––Ray (@ray666)

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danae25 | @danae25 | Feb 24 12:22pm
In reply to @capnjack "I think Waylon Jennings had it pretty well covered in his song, "Amanda", when he sang,..." + (show)
Profile picture for capnjack @capnjack

I think Waylon Jennings had it pretty well covered in his song, "Amanda", when he sang, "I look in the mirror in total surprise // At the lines on my face and the age in my eyes." I started looking and seeing that thirty years ago.

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@capnjack I think the Lord gives us grace, in that our eyesight also fails and we don't think we look so bad, after all.

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danae25 | @danae25 | Feb 24 12:24pm
In reply to @katieliz "I will add to the comment about exercise. It gives me the boost I need, I..." + (show)
Profile picture for katieliz @katieliz

I will add to the comment about exercise. It gives me the boost I need, I think this works for just about everyone. It’s not another pill, and can be as relaxing or challenging as you want to make it - just walking around your block (or around your living room). Or sitting in a chair and circling your arms, lifting your legs? Or putting on a senior exercise show on TV? Silver Sneakers has these, and there’s other ones.
I think I’m fortunate, I have a naturally optimistic disposition. And I love to exercise, it makes me feel like I am telling my body that I am not giving up, I’m in it for the long haul. With Silver Sneakers I have free Y membership and take advantage of it, they have all kinds of classes, or you can just walk around the perimeter as many times as you want - nice, safe, enclosed and is great when the weather outside is not good.
At my Y there are lots of older people, I do not feel out of place at all, the environment is very welcoming.
Last year was a definite challenge, being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer out of the blue (healthy my whole life), so spending the year going through 12 chemo infusions and major surgery (Whipple).
I am ready to enjoy 2026, and hopefully more! I am 72.

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@katieliz I hate to exercise but I love to dance. Put on some music and "get down". (You can tell how old I am.) When I feel blue, I like to sing.

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danae25 | @danae25 | Feb 24 12:35pm
In reply to @celia16 "I think what has shocked me is all the negativity in society about aging. I never..." + (show)
Profile picture for celia16 @celia16

I think what has shocked me is all the negativity in society about aging. I never noticed it until I turned 65. Suddenly, it seemed age was a huge issue. I’m still energetic, productive and vital. I’m still young in spirit and definitely healthier than I was 15 years ago. I think the term old is subjective. So, I think what shocks me is how others perceive seniors and not my own health. I’m actually surprised I don’t have arthritis, high cholesterol, heart problems or fatigue. I’m very grateful.

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@celia16 I felt that way too until about 65. Then I was surprised that it started taking longer to bounce back from simple things: a fall, a cold, etc. Some weird things started to happen in this body that I thought I knew. Doctors weren't helpful. In fact, they pointed out other, unrelated things they wanted me to keep an eye on. I heard someone say if you make it to 65 without anything chronic kicking in, then your chances of making it to 85 are pretty good. Those are the two significant points.

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danae25 | @danae25 | Feb 24 12:50pm
In reply to @lacy2 "...am coping at 82 and ill.. thing is I just don't have the physical energy and..." + (show)
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...am coping at 82 and ill.. thing is I just don't have the physical energy and mental capacity left to deal with it all... but I "do" think of others worse off, I do think of those who did not make it to adulthood or have lived with pain and illness since being young: what isnt helping is insomnia and cant take sleeping pills due to eye pressure etc and while awake alone during night think of my childhood, my parents long gone in another country, the things i wish I had done, sad times and am finding it a bit difficult to reflect on happier times - although looking at photos from holidays etc helps a bit during day but I did have some horrible times I coped with and when I do sleep my dreams are visit and usually stressful: but I am doing my best. I envy seniors who seem much happier than me!

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@lacy2 I hope you have friends and a spiritual counselor you can talk with. You need to be able to share a laugh or two. Just in the past year, I have had trouble sleeping. Helps to turn off TV, computer at least an hour ahead of time. Turn down heat a smidge and add a blanket. Talk to God.

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danae25 | @danae25 | Feb 24 12:53pm
In reply to @seniormiz "Thank you. I will check." + (show)
Profile picture for seniormiz @seniormiz

Thank you. I will check.

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@seniormiz Ask your doctor about vitamins. There are over the counter ones that fortify hair and nails.

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danae25 | @danae25 | Feb 24 12:55pm
In reply to @hopenr "@retirement75 I love the title of that book and will get it, and read it. I..." + (show)
Profile picture for hopenr @hopenr

@retirement75 I love the title of that book and will get it, and read it. I am currently reading Project Hail Mary and want to finish it before the movie with that hunky Ryan Gosling comes out. See, the fun I can have at 72 :)!

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@hopenr Gosling groupie here too.

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danae25 | @danae25 | Feb 24 1:06pm
In reply to @westwoman3698 "I have not found any resources that explain the aging process in clear,concise manner. Almost every..." + (show)
Profile picture for westwoman3698 @westwoman3698

I have not found any resources that explain the aging process in clear,concise manner. Almost every thing that happens to our bodies is probably “normal ‘ yet readily accessible information would help in cutting down on the shock that accompanies aging. I firmly believe the shock is something which keeps older people isolated..whether the isolation is voluntary or initiated by others. FWIW

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@westwoman3698 Years ago I bought "The Way a Woman Ages". It was so depressing that I threw it away without getting too far into the book. So some aspects of menopause were a total surprise. My mother had a hysterectomy and my grandmother didn't remember it, so they weren't much help. Neither was the doctor. Of course, our society thinks you should die right after menopause, or at least go into a nursing home. Actually there is a plethora of books out now on female aging. And finally we are bringing prostate cancer out of the closet.

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danae25 | @danae25 | Feb 24 1:09pm
In reply to @morironman "75 and have been to Mayo for a blissful, life lengthening surgery. I could be morose...." + (show)
Profile picture for morironman @morironman

75 and have been to Mayo for a blissful, life lengthening surgery. I could be morose. I am not. Sparing details let me say "this about that".
FORCE YOURSELF TO WALK! If you hurt, walk. If progeny screw up, walk. If you can't figure out a crossword on in paper or from someone, walk. Treadmill, living room, steps it all counts.
Get your monitor on your phone and with it in your pocket, walk.
You will be goaded to finish whatever goal you set.
WALK!

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@morironman Walking is a fine exercise unless you have neuropathy.

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