Being Old With Chronic Pain plus Loneliness

Posted by Parus @parus, Jul 17, 2017

Anyone else in the same boat?

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@parus

@jenapower Thank you for your kind words. My adult children are nearby...I know everyone is busy. Thankfully, I am still ambulatory and can still drive. Chronic pain is isolating...I have my watercolor brushes to keep my hands and mind involved. The title of the posted painting is, "Ghost Horse". Will be saying farewell to my lovely flowers soon. Cold weather does cause pain to be worse. Loneliness is what it is...my children owe me nothing.

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@paracat Since you are so sensitive to the cold, have you had your thyroid checked recently? I have been having sweating/flushing every time I eat anything, even a snack, for about a year now. I asked my doctor (PCP) about it several times during this time. He finally referred me to an endocrinologist who told me my sweats are caused by taking too much thyroid medication! He had me stop for 3 days, and then started me back with a much lower dose. Im feeling SO much better now. Sensitivity to cold is a symptom of too low of thyroid hormones. See if there is something going on there.

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@gailb I don't mean to butt in, but I was wondering if your endocrinologist has done a thyroid-globulin blood test on you, or any one who is concerned with this gland. I was seeing one for fourteen years & thought they were doing all the necessary tests. This one was never done. When it was it answered all my problems-quite a game changer.

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Hello @lillyanne

I had never heard of that test before, but I am glad to hear that it was an answer to your problems and was as you say, "quite a game changer."

Would you mind sharing what symptoms you were having that led to this test? What sort of treatment did you have as a result?

Teresa

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@parus

@jenapower Thank you for your kind words. My adult children are nearby...I know everyone is busy. Thankfully, I am still ambulatory and can still drive. Chronic pain is isolating...I have my watercolor brushes to keep my hands and mind involved. The title of the posted painting is, "Ghost Horse". Will be saying farewell to my lovely flowers soon. Cold weather does cause pain to be worse. Loneliness is what it is...my children owe me nothing.

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Thank you, Gail. A good thing to bring up with my doctor when I see him in a couple of weeks.

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@paracat

I saw your title and question, and, yes, I am in the same boat. The ageing I was starting to get used to ... it's just another cycle in life, blah, blah, blah. Actually, it's rather freeing. However, the chronic pain and loneliness have sunk me into what seems like a never-ending depression. Seems to be a vicious cycle. I seem to have withdrawn from friends because of the pain and depression. I used to be a 'glass is half full,' optimistic person. I don't know where she went, but she's gone. Wish I had some wisdom to pass along, but pretty much all I can say is you're not alone and I hope you find something which enthuses you, as well as relief from your pain.

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Thanks, Jo @jo54 . I appreciate your encouragement. Did your husband have depression while he was in the ministry? Depression and anxiety and PTSD and suicidal ideation drove me to retirement. Doctors told me that I wouldn't be alive much longer if I didn't retire.

58 years is a good long time to be married these days.

We have a friend named Jo, whose first husband was a pastor. He died young of cancer, so they didn't make it to their 58th.

Gotta go. It's late, and Sunday is a long day. I'll write more about why that is some other time.

Jim

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The symptoms were feeling ill at ease, my glands (thyroid) would swell& hurt. It was like the beginning of the flu but wouldn't effect my stomach. The symptoms then went to balance problems, a feeling of tingling illness coursing from behind my neck up my head, to the front of my neck then down my arms, sides of my body & into my legs. It was painful & settle mostly in my feet & ankles, shoting up the back of my calfs & starting all over again. Other times tingly painfull sparks would appear as a burst anywhere in my body. It was

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@hopeful33250 my cat stepped on the key pad so it went to edit. I finished a bit (lots) but couldn't post-must have timed out. I did copy paste to my mail, but I have to finish it after I sleep . so " I'll b back"...

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@lillyanne

@gailb I don't mean to butt in, but I was wondering if your endocrinologist has done a thyroid-globulin blood test on you, or any one who is concerned with this gland. I was seeing one for fourteen years & thought they were doing all the necessary tests. This one was never done. When it was it answered all my problems-quite a game changer.

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@lillyanne No, I've never had that test. I'll ask my endocrinologist when I see him in December. I've seen it referred to in various research I've done, but haven't asked my doc about it. Thanks. I'll be looking for the completion of your post. Gailb

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@paracat

I saw your title and question, and, yes, I am in the same boat. The ageing I was starting to get used to ... it's just another cycle in life, blah, blah, blah. Actually, it's rather freeing. However, the chronic pain and loneliness have sunk me into what seems like a never-ending depression. Seems to be a vicious cycle. I seem to have withdrawn from friends because of the pain and depression. I used to be a 'glass is half full,' optimistic person. I don't know where she went, but she's gone. Wish I had some wisdom to pass along, but pretty much all I can say is you're not alone and I hope you find something which enthuses you, as well as relief from your pain.

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@jo54
Thanks for your post.
It is really inspirational to me.
I’m 56, on disability, I have Lymes disease, bilateral peripheral neuropathy, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and several other debilitating medical issues. I just had both complete knee replacements and my wife and I are financially back to where we were after college. But we do have our faith, family, and commitment before God to stick together.
I thank God for her every day.

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@cbrackle I am 66 and have Lyme, Fibromyalgia, chronic and severe treatment resistant depression, PTSD, and a survivor of years of childhood abuse as well as the survivor of the suicide of a parent. I found this site rather by accident in researching Fibro. Not having a self-pity fest rather letting others know we have been through seeming insurmountable odds and we are still trying to help one another. I have adult children close by. Rarely see them and thankful I am not a burden on them...2 grandchildren that are a joy and hope for the future.

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