Is it all downhill after 70?

Wow Bijou you are an inspiration to us 'youngsters'! Well done and keep up the glass of Guinness, we might copy you!

Bijou, you are wonderful! Long may you still be with us. Maybe we should all have Guinness?

I used to congratulate myself on how fit I was but then at the age of 79 I started with polymyalgia followed by a very bad chest infection and now am recovering from a broken wrist which I did at the beginning of April, had a plate put in and now 6 weeks later am starting to feel more myself??

Going shopping later and will buy Guinness!

No its not. Hitting 72 soon but still going strong with all the same conditions I had at 40. I never get a cold or chest infection but my immune system seems to have a problem with me. Just been diagnosed with IBD, the latest in a long line of inflammatory conditions. I have what I call bad times and good times, at the moment I just getting over a bad time which is great as I am going to Holland cycling for a week. I just feel at 70 I am increadiably relaxed about everything. And as my husband says, if you wake up with some stiffness at least you know you are alive.

I was 70 when my beloved mother died and people said now you will be able to start living for yourself and indeed I did for a few years. Now 75 and finally have a diagnosis for all the pain in spine and hips. It is metasteses on the bones from my grade 1 breast cancer 23 years ago. Now waiting to see what the oncologists plans are at the end of the month. I felt ok until they put me on Tramadol for the pain in hospital. That made me feel as though I was losing my mind and although I had only been taking the drug for 2 weeks when I stopped taking it the withdrawal symptoms were horrendous. Now I am on opioid patches which make me feel sleepy all the time and are not doing very much to alleviate the pain. So yes I do feel I am going down the slippery slope very quickly. Not helped by a not very sympathetic husband.

I nearly died after being prescribed Tramadol a couple of years ago - only took half the dose but immediately my head felt it was in a vice & I passed out. Luckily my son was staying & got me onto a settee before ringing a Dr. then I was violently sick. It fills me with horror every time I hear of anyone else being prescribed that drug. Please, Gransnetters, be careful - I've since heard it has killed quite a few people.

I'm 73 and at present no health problems. I am busier than ever, belong to lots of clubs, made new friends and have a good marriage. I know I am lucky but it doesn't have to be downhill after 70. Join clubs, get involved locally, talk to people and listen. Have fun. I'm not giving up yet.

As some of the contributions here illustrate, a positive attitude is a great asset in maturity. For myself quality of life improved considerably at 74 not that I had been poor of health before then. From then it's been onwards and upwards. I am fortunate to be fit(ish) and live in a pleasant rural area with an active social life which I feel helps immensely. No complaints from me.

Gosh Bijou, I have just caught up with this thread, and you most certainly are an inspiration to all who have posted. Congratulations and Well done

Alima, so sorry about your DH

I agree Joplin about Tramadol, I was put on it years ago but only for a few days I was away with fairies, I know several people that had it prescribed, none of them felt right.

I'm 63, I worried when I got to 49 as that was the age Dad died, Mum on the other hand has just turned 90. My health hasn't been good since I took Early Retirement at 50 to care for DH, sadly I was widowed at 57.

I do try & get out & socialise, go shopping but some days it's difficult, nothing major just back pain & arthritis, think I to get a Physio appointment before I both GP.

I started looking after my youngest granddaughter for 2 days a week last year when I was 70, she's now 2 and I feel absolutely shattered after the 2 days. I have also developed osteoarthritis in my hands and have had inflammation of the lining of the bladder for several years, non of which helps. But when she comes running to me and gives me a big hug it's worth it - I think !!

Oh Luckylegs you could be describing me almost exactly. I had joined the gym and was really enjoying the benefit of Zumba, Pilates, Yoga and over 50’s keep fit. My weight was coming down and I was feeling brilliant and then 3 weeks ago I too developed vertigo and I’ve had to stop going to the gym. I can still walk and garden and that is having to make do but it’s really getting me down. Let’s wish each other a speedy recovery.

Thank you to all who have replied. It’s probably true about pride coming before a fall etc! I was feeling good about myself, doing more exercise than ever and now look at me! When I had the attack of labrynthitis I was told to go to A and E for all the tests, including a CT scan which showed an old stroke I’d suffered a few years ago with no ill effects but it hasn’t half disturbed me. The consultant said forcefully that I had to take statins which I’d resisted and poking me in the arm said you’ve had one stroke and I’m trying to stop you having another! The knowledge that there’s this scar in my brain and all that just so upset me.

So I tried statins and after only a couple of days I got this horrendous ache and pain in my knee. GP agreed to change the statins but I’m now limping like a very old crone! I’ve decided to stop the tablets again until I can see someone. It’s so difficult, can’t get an appointment at doctors, can’t go to A and E with knee pain, what do you do? We had to go to a family do last night and I hobbled in and sat at a table like a 90 yr old, normally I’d be up dancing with the rest of them!

I’ve got several proper diseases but I seemed to cope with them and take them in my stride but not at the moment. My mum at 70 was an old old lady and didn’t have half as good a life as I’ve had so I know I shouldn’t feel sorry for myself!

I sympathise with all of you kind enough to reply, as I said I know it’s not as bad as some poor people have to put up with but oh, it doesn’t half bring the spirits down!

luckyfour, I dont think the problem is that people arent trying to have fun, have bad marriages or no friends!

joplin, have you tried salt water 'wash' for your sinusitis? I think they are brilliant and am evangelical about them!! Give it a try.

My doctor says it's better than the alternative if I complain about getting older. Fair point!
Also - I too was ill after taking tramadol.

Saggi, I suffered horribly with sinus infections for years, even developed polyps. While waiting for polyps to be removed I tried SinuSoothe Nasal Spray, 100% natural ingredients. After 2 months had sudden horrible discharge from nose, blood and gunk. Felt great afterwards, when my appointment finally came through the polyps had apparently gone! Might be worth a try if your doctor approves. Good luck.

I'll be 70 next year, will let you know. So far so good.

Dear Daisyboots, sorry to hear that news. Are you taking regular paracetamol because that with the patches might help? Also have you tried a tens machine? Hope you have a good weekend despite all that.

At what age did you stop having sex? It's not something that's talked about and I appreciate that everyone is different.
I am 60 and feel my libido has waned recently and it got me thinking as to when I was likely to not want sex anymore.
It can be quite painful as I have lichen sclerosis but we do love a nice cuddle

I found the 70s rather difficulty, My DH was very poorly, he needed years of nursing and twice weekly hospital visits. Then sadly he died, I just went round in a daze!
I started to pick up then was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Four operations followed, chemotherapy & radiotherapy.
The bad patches were survived by asking myself, "Is this as bad as migraine ?". The answer was always NO. (Fellow suffers will understand) I was so grateful for friends and family, who willingly prayed for me, that carried me through.
I am in my eighties now, I have to admit lots of things don't work like they used to but so what? I am grateful for when they did. I had a cold last week but it seems to have gone. The sun is shining and the plants need watering.
Cheer up my friends and don't be sad,
Life in the eighties is not so bad.
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

So many people here have said yes that I am going to try to reassure you the answer is no! I turned 74 last month, am still working, and the only thing that is wrong is trochanteric bursitis in the left leg, for which I am doing exercises. Husband, 72, has a bad knee. We joke that we'd make a great three-legged race team between us! It's a pain, literally, having these small ailments but age is just a number. I've just posted a card to a woman I know who will be 105 on Tuesday!

My body will be 80 in July, but my brain is much younger. Apart from developing arthritis in my hip this year I have no other conditions. I’m having a hip replacement this month, and hope to be fighting-fit again very shortly.
I have lost my husband and various friends over the last few years, but consider myself fortunate to be so healthy.
When the consultant was going through the risks involved in my surgery he included the chance of dying during the operation. I confided that I was planning to ‘drop in my tracks’ one day, but he told me not to do it on HIS operating table,
I have great sympathy for those of you who have medical problems. I am very lucky.

Well, I bought Guinness at lunchtime, have just had a glass and I hope it is an acquired taste. Yuk.