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Replies to "@lukekee Thank you for that word of encouragment! If you only knew how many people have..."
@msmarymac
Oh Lord! So far you're all making me laugh - THANK YOU! I'm 71 and probably have all the risk factors for a heart attack or stroke within the next 12 hours. I have 2 knees and a shoulder that can be replaced anytime. Hammer toes are my new challenge - in my feet with neuropathy.... I don't plan to take anymore drugs than currently prescribed, and after 75 I may not see a doctor again. I love to cook and haven't planned to exercise in at least 3 years. Hoping to get in my garden tomorrow. I laugh at the products to buy because we're OLD, and I'll answer my Medicare question GOOD no matter what. God has chosen a time for me and I just hope to still have my mind, be able to see, and hear. For a bonus if I can still play the piano some, I'm good to go. I am quite pain free fortunately. Just slower. I think much of our illness is from stress in this totally insane humanity of ours. So I have few shoulds or musts. I prefer to hug children, watch birds, meditate on flowers, and listen to the wind. I love the Cherokee story above. Interestingly I learned recently that I'm the healthiest of my 6 sister siblings. Now that's actually pathetic by "today's standards." But today's standards are based on medical miracles and TV commercials. My standards come from prayer, listening to the advice and lessons I catch, and doing whatever I want. For 35 yrs I raised kids, a husband, and had a career that, probably like yours, exhausted every fiber of my being. My mother and Tony Bennett taught me to SMILE. Of course I'd NOT love to do it all again. I'd rather have back some people I've lost. I believe we have the power to heal ourselves some. Much much much of it is a mental game (along with the crapshoot of genetics.) There are definite limits to crazy and unsafe to be alone or in a job. But OLD is just ... a frame of mind. And very bittersweet. It takes getting used to. Put it on like a bright royal cloak. Wear it like Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci wear Prade. You've won! The rest is a continuing homerun. But thank you all for being here with me.
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@msmarymac
First, I want to say you are an inspiration to me and I’m sure many others! 🙂
On my pain: Not sure what caused it but started with low back pain about 20 years ago from herniated disc. From that and with age I have DDD, severe stenosis, debilitating sciatica which led to a failed back surgery in 2017.
4 different neurosurgeons have told me that another surgery will not ease my pain but could make it worse so have been told to learn to manage my pain and live with it. That’s what I do.
Also, now have arthritis in other joints, fibromyalgia (which I refused to accept for many years), CFS, menopausal (which is a hell I wish on no one), horrible hormonal issues, depression, anxiety and now a pituitary adenoma.
Despite all this I stay active. Try to get my 10,000 steps in daily. Do a few other exercises and stretches. I suffer every night from doing all of these but I know they are the only things keeping me going so I will continue as long as I am able to move.
Have 2 wonderful children and 4 wonderful grandchildren and a very supportive husband so I am very blessed and I know it.
One of my best friends and I go on some kind of trip every year which I love. We are going places we’ve never been before and love the new experiences so I will also continue this as long as I am able.
Sorry for the book I just wrote but felt a need to explain myself. I am fully aware of how many people are so much worse off than me and how lucky I am for the support system I have.
I am now going to research the products you told me about right now. Thank you for that. Have a great day!
One more thing. I had to edit to add this:
Your husband was correct! I think we can learn and grow from every experience, good or bad!