Efforts to keep healthy/living

I so agree with what you said librarylady. Motor Neurone can come out of the blue in the most healthy of people. My sister-in-law moved to Canada thirty years ago to marry her second husband. We spent many holidays visiting them over the years and always commented on what a healthy lifestyle her husband led. He did a lot of research into what to eat for a healthy body and spent a lot of time swimming, riding his bike and gardening. Two years ago, out of the blue, he started having falls and was eventually diagnosed with motor neurone disease, they call it ALS in Canada. He was convinced he was going to beat it through diet and exercise and his doctors let him believe this but it soon became apparent that it was something that was unbeatable. Sadly he passed away at the end of November last year.

My best wishes go to you and your husband.

I started taking VitD six months ago for the usual ‘not enough sunshine’ reasons and after a few months noticed that my finger nails which had gradually started to break and shred easily had gone back to their former strength. Hair condition also improved. This was not a placebo - I had not associated VitD with nails and hair until I happened to read about it. In general I am a firm believer in supplements, a lot of do not have as nutritious a diet as we like to think.

Well, I will be necking my vit D as soon as Mr Ocado gets them to me today, and I fully expect to be returned to my sprightly seventy year old self by the time they run out in April. So there!

And don't mention the 'p' word.

I suppose that (at least to an extent) it depends on how you define "special efforts"? DH & I both take a few supplements, one being glucosamine, which a orthopaedic consultant advised, years ago. We go to the health club twice a week. Try to walk extra bits where posssible (like parking at the far end of car parks.) Keep active at home,. Eat home-cooked food and not much meat. (Lots of pulses and veggies.) Keep up interests, activities, hobbies and a social life. And we have fun!

Vitamin D as prescribed by GP if necessary. Other than that waste of money. I had a deficiency 3 years ago and the dosage was massive but short. GP advised 15 mins a time in daylight is all we need and I stick to this, parking car at end of supermarket, walking round the street and even round the garden when I am not outside for any length of time. In 70s, hate gyms, think they are a breeding ground for germs with folk huffing and puffing in moist, warm atmosphere. No problems so far apart from the arthritis is fingers which I have inherited from my Mother. DH on the other hand who was always very fit, and active, still is in fact had had two cancers one still ongoing, on statins, hearing loss, so what's it all down too, genetics more so than life style I think.

I am unsure to be honest!
I have always eaten a healthy diet, done moderate exercise, don’t smoke and never did, and rarely drink! However I developed a rare form of cancer (diagnosed last year), which hopefully has been beaten. Nonetheless the consultant did tell me that as the tumour had become so large (and then I contracted post op sepsis which nearly killed me) I have survived (in his opinion) due to my basic underlying good health and previously health life style! Which sounds bizarre!
However I have always tried to take care of my skin and hair and hopeful that’s paying off now.

I had arthritis in the knee diagnosed some years ago. My doctor recommended the gym to strengthen the thigh muscles which has worked very well and I am still going to the gym to srenghthen as many muscles as possible. I am seventy eight now.

I was diagnosed with arthritis in my knee a number of years ago. My knees are still stiff, but not painful, and I put this down to Glucosamine. There may be no studies to prove its effectiveness, but I and many others believe it has helped to keep joints supple long term.

Oops, sorry. That was directed at GoneGirl.

I take magnesium supplements and have noticed an improvement in muscle strength and function.

I am really sorry to hear you feel like that. Have you considered trying pilates? It's a very gentle form of exercise which really does do wonders for strengthening your back as well as your core muscles and pelvic floor. Also you learn to breathe properly which reduces stress. I hope you can find somewhere nearby to try it.

I really do know how you feel Librarylady and a small comfort may be that as DH has always looked after himself it may help just a bit in his battle against this terrible disease. It is devastating. If you haven't already accessed them the MNDA have wonderful volunteers who can visit you and provide practical help and a much needed shoulder to cry on. Be strong.

No GG54 not for everyone. There are people like me with autoimmune diseases and this makes me low on vitamin D and other essential vitamins. I have in the past been a runner but mostly off road as it was kinder on the joints. Now I cycle at least 3 times a week even in the winter. So far no cold or anything.

I walk the dogs most days and try include at least a short hill climb, do various exercises when I remember and cycle on static bike. In appropriate seasons do lots of gardening and swimming.

I could do with losing 2 stone, I try and sometimes it works! In general a very good healthy diet but too much of it. I don't take any supplements as I don't think they do diddlysquat, and I have tried them. I also try and avoid painkillers.

I do have knee and heel problems, have one replacement hip and possible other sites of arthritis, but I try and ignore this and just put up with the pain which is manageable. Going for some sort of knee treatment.

In a year when a friend died of lung and bone cancer, my daughter's mother in law and another acquaintance died of pancreatic cancer, a friend's ex from a heart attack, and as he was rather unpleasant he was not missed for six months - very traumatic for the gendarmes who found him in his apartment - and for the rest of us.

Three friends being treated for colonic cancer, one for prostate and bone cancer, another has had a large benign tumour removed from his spine. Plus at least three others with ongoing prostate cancer.

I am counting my blessings and sticking with painful knees.

We never know how bad we would be if we hadn't done all the taking care of ourselves things. Things could well be worse.

librarylady

Not sure about that Gabriella. I tend to go out well covered at the moment. I will be starting my supplement today.

Just to add - I was writing my post before beigecardigans appeared and I have basically just repeated what she said.

And yes, I am very bitter

I think looking after yourself is always a good idea. I never have and, at 62, I have had cancer and have a heart condition. These are both things I MAY have avoided if my lifestyle had been healthier.

However - at 58, my husband has always been one of the strongest and healthiest people I know, despite also not living a healthy lifestyle. Around this time last year, he started suffering unexplained falls, his fingers started to curl inwards and his speech became very slurred. After resistance to visiting a doctor, the shocked reaction of a friend who had not seen him for a while led him to change his mind at the end of September and by the end of October he had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. As far as I can tell, this disease cannot be predicted, cannot be cured and has no effective treatment - and living a healthy lifestyle would have made no difference at all.

I think what I am trying to say is live a healthy lifestyle because it makes you feel good and, hopefully, will impact positively as you age but also be aware that you never know what lies ahead.

I saw a you tube video by a cardiologist, who recommended that everyone take a magnesium supplement. He said the soil is now so depleted that no one gets enough, and it is this that contributes to all of us having all the auto- immune and inflammatory problems. I started to take it and it helps me, sleep, stop my twitchy legs and other things. It is used throughout the body for so many things. I am dredfully unfit and dread getting even older. Hey ho, que sera.

MailOnline Health article.
You get enough Vitamin D3 in daylight...unless you live underground.

I think it helps to some extent. However, my dear late husband did all the right things - exercise, diet: low fat, low sugar, didn't smoke, no excessive drinking, high fibre, 'brain work' - but he got motor neurone disease and died at 56 - so am I bitter? Yes. a bit.
After that trauma I relied on more instant meals as I'd lost interest in food. Five years later I'd put on weight and was diagnosed with lymphoma. I told the consultant about DH and asked, "Would you blame me that if anyone lectured me about healthy eating I'd feel like telling them where to stick it?" His answer was, "No".
I am in remission now and have returned to the healthy eating regime and take a few supplements (Vit D, magnesium and iron) and I may add something for my bones. I feel reasonable for my age (64) but I think more exercise would help.
Sometimes it is just chance - those who take are of themselves can become ill and those who don't sail through without a care in the world. A positive attitude probably helps.

I think a Vit D supplement is a good idea at this time of the year.

Overthehill

I'm afraid, with very few exceptions, that OTC vitamins are useless and not recommended by any scientific study.
You may feel better for taking them but it's really a placebo effect, all in your head.
A proper diet gives all the vitamins and minerals you need, even vegetarians like me, and vegans.
If you want to waste your money...OTC vitamins are the way to go.
There are individual cases where illness causes a depletion or malabsorption of certain minerals but then, your GP would advise what, when and how much is needed.
There was a very informative article in yesterday's paper. If I can find it I'll provide the source which makes interesting reading.

grannysue05 After a good swig of my home-made turmeric, black pepper and vodka cold remedy your brain won't function and you will have no memory at all.