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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Profile picture for Ray Kemble @ray666

As you say, Ginger (@gingerw), "Having to make a decision to have a mobility aid can be difficult." For some of us (and I'm one of the "us's"), we know the only obstacle is Pride, and yet we clutch, hesitate, pause, delay, say angry words, feeling sorry for ourselves––you name it, most anything to avoid doing what we know is the right thing. For us "us's," such is the power of Pride. // Here's wishing you––and all us "us's"––a fine, fine Monday! ––Ray (@ray666)

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@ray666 I know I posted this previously, but I started using a cane in my late 30's when I didn't absolutely need it because I knew it would get harder to admit I needed it as I got older. I'm now almost 72! I still find it helpful to experiment as I don't need the cane 100% of the time, so I try different approaches in different situations to see how I feel.

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Profile picture for cmdw2600 @cmdw2600

@gingerw My husband has Parkinson’s and we have been able to borrow aids from our local senior center at no charge. There’s a closet full of items and you simply sign out what you need. We are currently using a nice shower chair, but there is everything from canes to incontinent products to wheel chairs. Many communities have these senior centers.
I have a friend who lives in a different area of my state and she was able to borrow everything she needed for her knee replacement recovery.

Best wishes,
Cindy

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@cmdw2600 Great advice! Thank you for reminding us of yet another resource to tap into.
Ginger

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Profile picture for Miriam, Volunteer Mentor @mir123

@ray666 I know I posted this previously, but I started using a cane in my late 30's when I didn't absolutely need it because I knew it would get harder to admit I needed it as I got older. I'm now almost 72! I still find it helpful to experiment as I don't need the cane 100% of the time, so I try different approaches in different situations to see how I feel.

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Hello, Miriam (@mir123). When it comes to cane use, I'm still a picker & chooser: I pick & choose between occasions when I know having a cane will be an asset and occasions when, from past experience, I don't need a cane (at least not yet 🙂 ). I'm sure if & when the day comes I need to graduate (graduate? that seems an odd word) to using a walker, I'll again be a picker & chooser, deciding between occasions before taking a walker along. ––Ray (@ray666)

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If you truly need a cane,make it fun, be creative !

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Profile picture for cmdw2600 @cmdw2600

@gingerw My husband has Parkinson’s and we have been able to borrow aids from our local senior center at no charge. There’s a closet full of items and you simply sign out what you need. We are currently using a nice shower chair, but there is everything from canes to incontinent products to wheel chairs. Many communities have these senior centers.
I have a friend who lives in a different area of my state and she was able to borrow everything she needed for her knee replacement recovery.

Best wishes,
Cindy

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@cmdw2600 our American legion post does the same. I borrowed a wheel chair for my broken leg.

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Join a gym and take exercise class
Its never too late!!

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1. Studying what you eat and drink . How they affect your feeling of movement.
2. Focusing very hard on the steps to any action you take.
3. Creating friends as you move from one thing to another
These 3 actions (to me) seem to remove or avoid built-in issues of any age.

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Per-chance have you recently been prescribed a new medication? Are you taking medications that you've been taking awhile, but haven't noticed these problems until recently? A couple of years ago I took a medication for 16 months before it began causing a 'side effect' ... an ugly rash that both itched & burned.
Many prescription drugs can cause 'side effects' mirroring the complaints you have described. When you pick-up medications from the Pharmacy those informational sheets they staple along with the receipt will describe known side effects, & if that's what is causing your prob less, either go back to the Pharmacy & talk to the Pharmacist or talk to the Dr. who prescribed the medication.
Best of Luck to you in finding the source of these problems.

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Profile picture for edsutton @edsutton

I have a strong branch walking stick that I use when walking the dog or walking in the woods.
And a light, foldable aluminum staff I use in crowded events.

I also have "Yak Tracks." These are "shoe chains," sections of chain attached to very strong rubber bands. They stretch over your shoes to become very sturdy snow shoes.

We had a recent two week long snow/ice storm with constont freezing temperatures. There was ice everywhere. With Yak tracks I had no trouble navigating iced roads and sidewalks.

(The canes do tend to slip on ice. I need to make some kind of sharp pointed walking stick.)

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@edsutton There are commercial made add on ice picks for canes.They are remov
eable.

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Profile picture for Ray Kemble @ray666

As you say, Ginger (@gingerw), "Having to make a decision to have a mobility aid can be difficult." For some of us (and I'm one of the "us's"), we know the only obstacle is Pride, and yet we clutch, hesitate, pause, delay, say angry words, feeling sorry for ourselves––you name it, most anything to avoid doing what we know is the right thing. For us "us's," such is the power of Pride. // Here's wishing you––and all us "us's"––a fine, fine Monday! ––Ray (@ray666)

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@ray666 If you fall and break a wrist ,there is no pride in having someone wipe your bum.Smarten up and use an aid!

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