How to deal with aging anxiety?

Consider you have a lot of company.

I wish ER doctors actually knew more. I ended up admitted to the hospital for an emergency pacemaker only to have them change their mind 12 hrs later after no food or drink realising they were wrong. So traumatizing. Glad I didn’t need it but so stressful

@grahmilou I'm sorry for the stress you experienced, but the ER worked properly. You say "I wish ER doctors actually knew more" - keep in mind that their training is in triage.

ER staff do not have access to your complete medical records/history, their job is to look at the symptoms presenting before them, and take prudent steps based on those. That means look for the most likely issue, order tests, make a preliminary diagnosis, then either treat or turn you over to the correct specialty.

In an ideal world, every ER would have a consulting cardiologist on staff who can make the call right away. But we don't have nearly enough cardiologists, pulmonologists, infectious disease docs, or other specialists for this to happen.

So, to be fair, your ER experience was exactly what it should have been in our current care model.

@sueinmn my own Doctor feels that they handled it without doing adequate check-in they did have access to my records. I’ve now been told to carry a copy of my EKG with me so the doctors don’t overreact again. They were given tremendous amount of information by me which they chose to ignore.

@karinweiss Same here. Exactly. Life has different seasons, and this one, for me, is about introspection and taking care of myself and my surroundings. I’m dwell in nature. I’m fortunate to have a simpatico husband to interact with, but I don’t go out socially. I always thought I’d be more politically & environmentally active & going to demonstrations in my older age, or traveling more, but I realize now why you don’t see many older people doing these things. I’ve learned it’s time to pass the torch. (I admire those who are still doing it!)
For me, though, it’s not a sense of loss, but an acceptance of this season. I feel a sense of incredible loss for this country, but realize I can’t help change it, and I live with that knowledge with the help of antidepressants, and try to focus on the here and now.

There is this incredible sense of loss given what’s happening in our country and seeing our country become so corrupt, something that was Small in the past but not now. And seeing my friends of colour having their vote taken away and being preyed upon. So tragic I am out protesting still as is my husband I protested Vietnam and I’ll protest until the day I die I don’t want to be complicit. Thank you for your comments great encouragement.

Gramilou, I share your feelings.
There's little I can do on the large scale, but fortunately I live in a small co-housing community where I can share real life contact with people of all ages. We enjoy or lives with trees, birds and bugs, work together with hand tools and teach our dogs new tricks. I feel encouraging real contact with real earthy stuff is the best gift I can give to the kids. Their hands on experiences will help them to question the digital realm.
And I make great protest signs!

Kindred spirit

@sueinmn
I wear a neck chain with a dog tag medal that has my cardiology issues, medications and allergies and my wife's phone number. I need to order another because I've recently been diagnosed with PMR and SMM but I don't think an hour or so while they get hold of my wife in an emergency will matter with those two.

I would also recommend you consider a Road ID bracelet. They have all my vital information on it who to contact blood type and they’re inexpensive. You can check them out online.