Coping with age & serious illness. Anyone positive want to share?

@marbe6161 Hi Marnee, thank you for your comments. I try to stay active in the community and keep up with family and friends. So far my symptoms are irritating, but not disabling. I am
starting on a new medication on Monday, and worry that it might upset the delicate balance of my lifestyle, but it may slow down the progression of my illness (ALS). My daughter lives in England, and she introduced me to something which is only starting to be introduced here in Australia. It is a yellow sunflower badge or lanyard. It signifies "I have an invisible disability". In
England they have signage on public transport saying that the person wearing this symbol has a disability which is not visible, so please give them a seat and be attentive to their needs. My daughter wore this badge for a few months after serious back surgery. She couldn't stand up for any length of time, and relied on kind people to offer her a seat and help her on and off vehicles. I hope it catches on here too. A Gerontologist! I think I need one of you too, now that I have tuned 72. Ironically, my mother, who is 95, is fit and healthy and still works in her garden! Wishing you all the best, @ellu

So I am 72 and my husband is 76.
He’s lost about 15lbs in the last few months.
His bloodwork was all good in December. I’m so worried and think there is something wrong with him. A little forgetfulness but still sharp.
I’m so scared I’m
Going to lose him.

@gravity3
Good morning gravity 3: None of the balls are going to hit the ground: That is, they might, if you can't change the way you perceive your daily life. Most folks our age have all these plus additional health risks and my thought along these lines at my age follow:
Forget about gravity: it was here at the origins of the earth and without it, none of would even be here. What I am trying to say is, one usually cannot do anything regarding health issues other than changing a lifestyle or rethinking your diet. It is what it is. After my wife and I got through a colectomy, a permanent Ostomy, radiation enteritis, and frequent blockages, a few years later , I underwent a triple bypass: no stents, straight transfer to artery replacement from my own body. That was in 2017. Currently, both of us have atrial fibrillation...who knows what is next.
So my Wife and I, just get up each day, make our bed, do our laundry, get groceries in and climb on our trikes, recumbent, and ride off, sometimes 20 to 30 miles per day. If our time comes, I would rather be enjoying myself with my gal. I realize that you have faced challenges that definitely put you down, but attitude, can play a big role in ones lifetime. Your on our prayer list so write anytime so we can lift up each other. Remember, growing older is not for the faint-hearted. Be who you are and just do "one more thing for you, each and every day. Then, every other day, do something nice for a stranger. It's a grand life as long as we keep moving.
Jofree

@jofree
Thank you for this good note....thank you.

@gravity3
Good morning gravity 3: None of the balls are going to hit the ground: That is, they might, if you can't change the way you perceive your daily life. Most folks our age have all these plus additional health risks and my thought along these lines at my age follow:
Forget about gravity: it was here at the origins of the earth and without it, none of would even be here. What I am trying to say is, one usually cannot do anything regarding health issues other than changing a lifestyle or rethinking your diet. It is what it is. After my wife and I got through a colectomy, a permanent Ostomy, radiation enteritis, and frequent blockages, a few years later , I underwent a triple bypass: no stents, straight transfer to artery replacement from my own body. That was in 2017. Currently, both of us have atrial fibrillation...who knows what is next.
So my Wife and I, just get up each day, make our bed, do our laundry, get groceries in and climb on our trikes, recumbent, and ride off, sometimes 20 to 30 miles per day. If our time comes, I would rather be enjoying myself with my gal. I realize that you have faced challenges that definitely put you down, but attitude, can play a big role in ones lifetime. Your on our prayer list so write anytime so we can lift up each other. Remember, growing older is not for the faint-hearted. Be who you are and just do "one more thing for you, each and every day. Then, every other day, do something nice for a stranger. It's a grand life as long as we keep moving.
Jofree

So I am 72 and my husband is 76.
He’s lost about 15lbs in the last few months.
His bloodwork was all good in December. I’m so worried and think there is something wrong with him. A little forgetfulness but still sharp.
I’m so scared I’m
Going to lose him.

Well, once again, I have gotten inspiration from so many. Aging is certainly a challenge, but my colostomy and hip replacement this past year seem minimal compared to what many others are experiencing. I think one of the most notable things I have been trying to do is make more younger friends (I am 82), people in their fifties and sixties. I am my husband’s primary caregiver, but we are lucky to have purchased long term care insurance many years ago, so we have people in and out of the house all the time. Plus my husband gets in-home PT and OT, which is a blessing. I do recommend that anyone who has an Area Agency on Agency close by contact them. Many people do not know about the ton of services they provide, but these agencies are a brilliant resource for many. Thank goodness for this chance to chat with others facing the same trials—kind of keeps things in perspective. Bette