If you are among those of us that have reach some of those monumental birthdays - you know what I speak of. If you haven't - well be warned. LOL
Things just don't work they way they used to. Things hurt. Things droop and sag. Things grow where they shouldn't. The energy level lags. The vision goes and so does the hearing. I could go on and on!!!
LEGS - I have had Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) for years. The first time I really noticed it was in my 20's on a long drive from Indiana to Florida. It is relentless at times and MISERABLE! If you are bothered by it, you know. I have found a couple things that have helped immensely. I take a tablet called Restful Legs at night. It is a tiny tablet that you take sublingually and it melts within seconds and works pretty darn quick to calm my legs. It run about $10.50 for a box of 50. I have purchased at both WM and Kroger. Some nights one works and other nights I use 2. Some nights (lately) none!
A cup of cold milk is relaxing for me as well.
No snacks after 6PM! - This has been huge for me. IF I am especially hungry, I eat a piece of cheese or a slice of lunchmeat. Protein - NO CARBS! No sweets, no chocolate, no caffeine.
It really does help.
SLEEP - Oh my elusive friend. How I miss you some nights. I am doing better with that as well, since I changed eating habits at night. My nerves have finally calmed a bit after this Spring and the loss of Glen. I was not sleeping hardly at all for a while. PTSD was never gone - I just kept reliving that day over and over in my head - so no sleep. I still do that some, but not as often.
I feel very lucky if I get 2-3 hours straight, without checking the clock. I generally can get back to sleep now - but I still wake often.
(Of course, there is late night bathroom trips). Geesh.
EYES -I have been told cataracts have started in my eyes. Oh boy! I still see pretty darn good - but that is an event I have to look forward to. NOT
HOT FLASHES - yep, I am well past menopause, but they don't stop! Now to define this properly, I used to have hot flashes 24/7. It was awful. Now I am actually comfortable to cold during the day. I can be freezing - and get under all the covers fully dressed, jeans, 2 shirts, and socks - and it takes forever to get warm. Now AT NIGHT that is a different story. I wear a t-shirt and soft shorts to bed, have the heat down to 65* and the ceiling fan on over the bed - and I am still hot. For years now, every single time I turn over in bed, I break out in a sweat. No it isn't my heart or blood pressure - I check those regularly - it is that darn peri-menopause!!!!!!
USE IT OR LOSE IT - Well, I am not sure exactly what that saying was referring to originally, but I know it is true about muscles and strength. I didn't do nearly the work this summer/fall that I usually do, and boy can I tell. Working in the bathroom the last few days has proven that. Up and down, bending, reaching, moving things - my goodness I am out of shape. I really need to do some light exercising over the winter (somebody wash my mouth out pleeeeeez!) I despise exercise in the traditional sense. Let me work hard at anything and I am good, but nooooooo sit-ups or bends!
BODY PARTS - gravity is not your friend as you get older! I am not a huge chested woman by any means - so I can still get by with going bra-less whenever I want. The 'girls' are lower than 30 years ago - but are still a little perky! Butts sag. Of course you need one for that to happen! Muscle mass is less. Oh my.
HAIR - the good and bad of it all. It changes color for sure. I still color, but not as fully as in the past and lighter. That way it doesn't look as fake. I have some gray showing through here and there, but that is better for ME than the totally gray that I know I am. I am not very accepting of the color thing yet!
I have hardly no hair on my legs any more - you can count them. Love that as I used to have to shave them every day.
BUT - these little hairs pop up over night on my face! Aaaaggghhhh!!!! I mean they seem to go from nothing to long over night. I pluck and pluck. There aren't many - but they are there.
I am woman - I don't want facial hair Lord!
My energy levels are less. I get tired easier. I can still tote a 50 lb. bag of feed - but slower and not as far, and then my back screams at me!
All I can do is keep going.
Several years ago I had an elderly neighbor who was just a hoot! A little stocky German lady who always spoke her mind. One day (in her late 80's) she told - "that stuff about the golden years is a bunch of s#*@ - aint nothing golden about them!" Her words. There are days I think she was right. LOL
In all seriousness, I am doing pretty good. I hurt and have less energy for sure - but all in all I am doing pretty good. I take absolutely NO medications. I take my herbs and vitamins and the occasional Tylenol. How lucky is that? I have had 2 operations - one at 4 and one at 8. Appendix and tonsils respectively. No broken bones, other than the one little toe that has been broken multiple times! I have not had anything rebuilt!
I have 'old arthur' for sure. My neck and joints hurt from that at times - but Tylenol and tart cherry helps.
I can't tell you the last time I was sick. I haven't had a cold or the flue for years (no I don't take a flue shot). Knock wood - I guess I shouldn't brag! I clean the grocery /shopping buggies before every use, just to ward off germs and I try to stay away from sick people. If I am around them - I come home a take preventative meds!
I can do this OLD AGE thing!
If my health holds out - I would love to live long enough to see the babies in the family grow up and graduate and marry (perhaps). I hope to be able to live on my own for a long, long time.
I just want to see what is in store for all the young-ins. YES, it scares the heck out of me, as the world is not always kind (and it has become scary crazy) - but I hope they all grow into wonderful human beings. I want to pass on whatever wisdom I can and always be the cool Aunty!
OK, I just wanted those of you going through these things to know you aren't alone. I wanted to make everyone have a little chuckle about the sad state of ageing.
And I wanted to re-enforce my beliefs and yours that we are doing pretty darn good IN SPITE OF!
MOVE FORWARD (slowly) and HAVE A GREAT DAY!
Read every one of your posts Cheryl. Bang on with getting older. I will be buying the Tart Cherry - anything to lessen joint pain.
ReplyDeleteJoy
They really do help the joints for sure.
DeleteThanks for following along. Have a good day.
Wow I too had my appendix out at 4 and my tonsils out at 8 with no other surgeries. What a coincidence! I feel very blessed that I have had relatively good health but all of the changes you mentioned happen to us all.
ReplyDeleteMy goal this coming year is to do more stretching and tone my muscles up.
Lori that is quite a coincidence. Being in good health is surely a blessing.
DeleteI listed all that stuff - but I do consider myself blessed!
I need muscle tone as well.
The sagging! Argh! lol.
ReplyDeleteA little off topic, but did you have a shredded hash brown potato soup recipe on here a little while ago? I made it and it was so good! I just can't find it, lol. Any help appreciated! Thanks, Bobbi
October 8 - DUMP dinners is where you will find the recipe. It was tasty for sure and so easy.
DeleteYep, that sagging stuff is a bummer!
Have a good one.
I think we must be twins..I have so many of the same problems. But I am thankful for the good health I do have at this time of life. I have been blessed. Enjoy your blog. Have a blessed Thanksgiving with good memories. Sharon D.
ReplyDeleteI think we get to an age and then BOOM! Yes good health is such a blessings.
DeleteThank you. Have a wonderful day!
Oh Honey, we must all just age as gracefully as we can. Mom had restless leg syndrome and I hope I never get it. I have always had trouble sleeping since I was diagnosed with RA,but I persevere.
ReplyDeleteYes indeedy! It isn't all glamorous for sure - we just move forward and do our best. All we can do.
DeleteI hope you don't get RLS ever! It is miserable.
Persevere - that is all we can do!!!!
The facial hair thing is the absolute worse.
ReplyDeleteYes, yes it is!!!
DeleteI have tried to talk my stylist into dying my encroaching grey hair (getting to be more and more). It is a little disheartening to have 3 hairstylists yell No at the top of their voices. Problem is that my grey almost looks like highlights.....
ReplyDeleteNo hair growing where it shouldn't as of yet, but I know it is coming.
God bless.
Jackie - my hair is kind of like 'frosted' hair - remember that? It really would look nice if I left it alone, I am just not ready for that! Also I think my gray is kind of dull.
DeleteMy sister had the prettiest dark/gray blend - I would love hair like hers was.
LUCKY YOU - the day is coming!!!! LOL
Be blessed.
You seem to manage everything so well. Well done. I wish that I appreciated my youth more when I was young and didn't take it for granted. I think it is important to keep moving and be grateful for each day and enjoy each moment. Love reading your blog. Ann
ReplyDeleteAnn isn't that the huge regret we all have? We didn't seem to appreciate what we had when we were young. I remember being told, but I didn't believe it.
DeleteThe old saying. 'too soon old, and too late smart'.
Thank you so much. Glad you are here!
Yes, these are the rusty years but still contain blessings. I just had to share about hot flashes. I am 80 and have quite a few a day and night sweats. I had been on Prempro (estrogen) for years and just went off about a year a half ago so therefore the hot flashes are miserable. I tried to go off when younger but they were so severe I had to stand in front of a fan most of the time and was worn out. I can take more med and gain weight or I can put up with them! Those are my options . I do have a bad habit of eating at night. You are doing well! Nancy
ReplyDeleteIt does seem like there aren't many options. So sorry you are still going through that. Gee, so much to look forward to!!! NOT.
DeleteI have never taken any hormones - so I just deal with it. I just taking anything that I don't have to.
Good luck to you. Yes we are so blessed, regardless of our little problems.
Welcome to the Metal age: Silver in my hair, gold in my teeth, and lead in my bottom.... I empathize. Every little things you are going through is happening to me right now, I just don't know how it happened (LOL)
ReplyDeleteLaughing!!!! I don't know how it all happened SO SOON! Just the other day I was 30!!!!!!
DeleteI guess we are on the ride together!
Aging is the pits for sure, Cheryl. LOL Who knew so many things could hurt all at once? LOL
ReplyDeleteAint it the truth. I'd say we are doing pretty good though!
DeleteSpot on! I am approaching 73 and was surgery-free till 70---then was blessed with breast cancer, hysterectomy, and just recently hernia repair from the hysterectomy! Oy vey! Take a chemo pill for the next 7 years or so, which affects bone density. So, a Boniva for that once a month. Doc thought my B/P was a little high,so a med for that. It's like it has snowballed!!
ReplyDeleteHubby drinks tart cherry for joints, and also takes in pill form glucosamine/chondroitin. He has taken the latter for about 20 years. Takes about 3 weeks for you to realize the joints don't hurt anymore. He doesn't dare miss a day or he knows it! Another side affect of my chemo pill is joint pain---mainly in my hands. But maybe it is actually arthritis--my mom and gram both had it.
I feel very fortunate tho...life is good. Stay upright and keep moving---that's my motto!
My goodness when it hit - it really hit for you! So sorry you went through all that. I truly think medication that are supposed to help cause other problems. That is my opinion.
DeleteGood for your hubby. That stuff really does work. I love the tart cherry juice - but it sure is expensive around here.
Each morning is a blessing!!!!
My spouse swears by Kiwi fruit as a sleep aid. He read about it somewhere and it seems to work.
ReplyDeleteReally? I will sure give that a try. I love kiwi. Fresh and natural as well.
DeleteThank you for tip!!!
My doctor advised an ounce or two of tonic water before bed for restless legs. The water contains a small amount of quinine that calms the muscles. My daughter and I have ehlers-danlos and almost nothing (that didn't make us groggy in the morning) would calm our muscle spasms. The tonic water works amazingly.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Another wonderful tip. I will try that as well.
DeleteThank you so much!
Cheryl, your blog post made me laugh. It is so true. I don't take medicines either. We are so blessed to be in that very rare club. I wish more could be in that club.
ReplyDeleteI love Hyland products. I take their anxiety medication. It really helps. I have PTSD and GAD. It does help me sleep. I don't have to take it all the time. When I do I can get some rest. It cost the same as your RLS pills. It might help with you get some sleep and not wake from anxiety. Doctor's recommend it even for young children in their toddler years. It is really safe. Diffuser with lavender helps.
Bathroom breaks in the middle of the night. I am only in my 40's and in the midst of peri. The bathroom night time trips are insane. I have cystitis. I had it for years. What is one of the first thing that goes during peri? The estrogen protecting your bladder, lol. I am like "Why Me?" ROFL! I take magnesium at night instead of during the day. Not only does it help me sleep, it helps with bathroom breaks.
I was hoping I could make someone laugh in spite of the problems that occur! It sure is a bummer - so many things going on. Like you said, it is rare to not take prescriptions, especially at my age. SO I will take all the other crap that gets slung!
DeleteI have some pills called Calm - for anxiety and they do help some as well. I get them from Swanson's too. They cost like $4 a bottle, and usually they are B1G1. They are natural and really help me to be able to fall back to sleep when I wake.
Aint life grand? YEPPERS!
Oh, I so identify with so many of these. The bathroom thing especially. I am cold every afternoon...cold and cannot get warm. It is hard to want to do anything when freezing, but if I make myself move around it helps. BUT, hard to do when I can't get warm. The sleep thing is strange. ALL our married life, I have been the one that woke at the least thing, the one to hear things, the one to get up and go check. Always the one laying there forever before going to sleep...and I did do that a bit after Roger's stroke...but once asleep, you could pick me up and carry me off and I might never wake up.
ReplyDeleteI am really, really out of shape....I wish I had a place here close where there was a good trail to walk..that was not muddy. I just think walking is so good for a person. Here the sidewalks are so messed up almost everywhere you go, people walk in the street.
I have always been a light sleeper as well. Anything and nothing wakes me!
DeleteI just have no gumption for formal exercise. I don't mind hard work, but that seems different somehow.