Do you worry about your health?

I’m 62 and have had numerous diagnoses of neuropathy and arthritis which compromises my mobility.
However since reaching 60 I have started to worry that I’m old and going to die soon.
And even though when I was younger I used to just want to see my children grow up, it now upsets me that I probably won’t see my youngest grandchildren grow up as they are only 8 & 2 years old.
I also work out finances in my head when I can’t sleep to make sure my husband is left financially ok when I’m gone .

I am now mid 70s, since I hit three score years and ten bits of my body have started to wear out or degrade. My pelvic floor isn’t as efficient as when I was younger, I have seen specialist who have helped me to manage it, my eyes don’t work as well as they used to so I am working out how to go for a swim when I can’t drive. Neither of these problems are life threatening but can be life changing. We all all individuals and wear out differently. I don’t worry what might happen, I just take life as it comes and manage as best I can.

Thank you for all your posts, some of them are very humbling. I do hear what people are saying about the futility of worrying and I agree but find it impossible to control. Am doing CBT which I hope will help but in the middle of a horrid crisis over some symptoms and off work with the anxiety. Feel shameful and guilty ? Anyway I wish you all good health.

I always plan for the worst and hope for the best, in almost everything, including health.

Earlier this year I had some symptoms that put into google always brought up oesephagal cancer and nothing else. I was 99% sure it wasn't that and the symptoms dated back to an incident a couple of months previous when I got a lot of food stuck in my throat, but it was scary. I planned my end just in case, it only took about 10 minutes, and then went to see the doctor. As expected, she confirmed that the problem was a combination of a still badly bruised oesophagus and acid indigestion. A months prescription of an acid inhibitor gave my throat a chance to heal and I was soon back to normal.

There is a prayer summarised as some thingss in life we can change and others we can't and that wisdom is knowing which is which. Every person alive from a newly conceived child to the oldest of us is getting older by the second at exactly the same rate. There is nothing we can do about it. All we can do is to do what we can to ensure we keep ourselves healthy as long as possible. Keep our weight down, eat sensibly and keep active.

Concentrate on the things you can do in life to support staying healthy and well and stop worrying about things you can do nothing about.

M0nica
“Concentrate on the things you can do in life to support staying healthy and well and stop worrying about things you can do nothing about.”
That’s about it M0nica!

I worry about my health, but I was born with a heart condition that was misdiagnosed by GP's and in the end had to undergo an ablation. I think when you have suffered a life changing illness it is natural to worry.

There was a man on TV a couple of weeks ago who was 88. He hasn't visited a doctor since 1950. He is in good health. He doesn't smoke, drink, he eats what he called 'plain' food - roast dinners etc. He exercises daily. He realises he's been lucky.

I worry about my hubby`s health. This is because I have chronic MS and he is my main carer.

If anything happened to him, God knows what will happen to me.

As a young woman, I used to wonder how we all live with the certain knowledge of death without going crazy, unlike animals.
Now, after life threatening illnesses I strangely have no thoughts in this regard. Acceptance helps so much.

I think that’s probably what’s at the heart of my health anxiety hollysteers, a fear of death. I often look at my happy go lucky little dog, who at age 13 can’t have many years left but who has the same love of life day after day. I wish I could learn from him. You’re right about acceptance and I would find it easier to accept the reality of death if I had a faith but I lost it a long time ago.

Everything that lives, dies. There is nothing you can do about it. Oddly enough I find the belief that the end is the end more reassuring than believing in an after life.

MaggieTulliver To manage health concerns, I largely ignore them, Covid situation means shelving them anyway and I cope with being older (73) by doing exactly as I want! So try and really enjoy yourself, doing the things you love.
A friend once told me to take the word ‘should’ out of my vocabulary, so apart from the things I can’t get out of, I’m a hedonist! (When Covid allows me...)
If you have lost your faith, which I assume you mean organised religion, you are probably spiritual in some way, most people are. You can have a faith in humanity, your children’s lives, if you have them etc.
Classical music brings out my spirituality.

As my dear father always said, life happens and you have to deal with it. Just do it. I have had to deal with a lot in my life, not with my own health, that fortunately is very good (I have strong genes!). I looked after my first husband when he had cancer and passed away at the age of 40. A very close friend had a stroke two years ago at the age of 62. Many other things have happened round me and it has made me worry less and to make the most of each day. What will happen, happens, we just have to get on and deal with it.

Shropshirelass
“What will happen, happens, we just have to get on and deal with it.”
Well said Shropshirelass there is no other way.

No I don't worry about my health, it is what it is. I was fit as a flea until I hit 58, then I had the first of 3 strokes which eventually led to the diagnosis of my auto immune condition which had caused the stroke. I was put on blood thinners with an ever increasing Inr but that didn't prevent two further strokes or a massive bleed into my pelvis caused by the warfarin. The auto immune condition has caused my ever increasing disability and I just take each issue as it comes. I refuse to let it take over my life. My life has become more limited and restricted by my disability but my disability doesn't define me, it's become a part of me but that's all it is just a part of me. I'm still me and I still have all the same dreams and wishes even if I am in constant sodding pain. No I don't worry about my health I refuse to waste time on things I can't change.

I have thought for some time that when you are young and you get an ache or pain you immediately think “What have I done!” Whereas when you grew older this changes to “What have I got.” I believed that getting older I would be just the same, but a bit slower. How wrong could you be!

I think that many people just hope for the best as far as their health goes. It’s the unknown for most of us isn’t it. For the last 3 years I’ve been on a whole foods plant based diet and also get some exercise every day. As we age things do change for us so it’s up to us to educate ourselves and do our best to look after ourselves. I read lots now about health,partly because I’m fascinated by it. I feel great since this new lifestyle and I’ve lost weight too. PM me if you would like any tips but anyway this has definitely helped me. I’m 70 and take no medication.

Calendergirl
I am pleased you are not my friend. You certainly do not understand this horrible anxiety. If you did you would not be so quick to hand out your advice.
I don’t think for one minute the anyone with HA takes appointments of people that need them..

I too have various health worries, and have had for years, involving medication and regular hospital visits
but try to keep things to myself as much as possible,the main reason is I have a friend who ‘enjoys ill health’ and loves to tell you, it gets to the stage that I never say how are you today! Mean I know but sometimes it’s better not to know. On the other hand sometimes there is nothing else to talk about!. I really think it’s a hobby with some people??On the odd occasion I’ve tried to put in my two pennyworth it falls on deaf ears. SoMaggie you are between a rock and a hard place, just do the best you can with what you’ve got. x

Can anyone advise?
What can I do to alleviate chronic uti? Have tried everything there is.
Anything new or new ideas out there?

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Maggie I have been ill since I was 29. Went to bed normal woke up unable to control my limbs. I am now 63. Because of my darling husband we had a normal family life. I assumed I would die first. Unfortunately he got cancer and died 17 years ago aged 47.

I take every new illness in my stride as there is nothing I can do about it. So why worry . Last year at the age of 62 found out I was born with a heart defect. It made me laugh in my lifetime I have had 5 operations under a general. Last one lasted over 4 hours and had to have 4 bags of blood. All with a dodgy heart. So every new illness annoys me but don't make a big deal about it. I could have popped my clogs years ago.

My late husband made me promise to live the best life I can and I do. Life is to short for what ifs. Don't worry about what could happen enjoy the now.

There are only 2 certainties in life we are born and we die. The rest is up to us.

I’m more like Maggiemaybe, I always assume whatever the problem is , it will eventually go away
Of course I realise that one day it won’t, and I’ll have to deal with that when it happens.
I have the odd ache and pain, but I just put it down to an ageing body.

I have a b-i-l who has spent his life worrying about his health. It saddens me that he has lost so much time which could have been spent enjoying life.