When did I get old? Ageism at its best.

Its one thing to accept what your age is, its another thing if your age is used as an excuse not to treat or refer.

Saggi I do not think anyone doesn't accept the natural ageing process, nor the need for self care, but that isn't the complaint. It is having health problems fobbed off because of one's age and not treated that is so ageist.

Take a 3 year old to the surgery with an ear infection and have it fobbed of as 'to be expected at the child's age' and not be offered treatment would be considered outrageous.
The reaction should be similar if an older persons ills are similarly dismissed

There was no actual mention of a lack of offered treatment in the OP. It was implied but not stated. I don't think we have all the necessary information because the OP just fired off a rant about ageism.

I've known doctors say similar things about age-related health problems (for young children, for teenagers, for women during their fertile years, and for post-menopausal women) and then explain what treatment is available and/or what one can do to help oneself. They are giving information both when they comment on age-relatedness and when they explain treatment (if there is any).

If the OP was actually "fobbed off" with what she calls an ageist comment then she should be complaining to the practice and higher rather than on Gransnet. Well... maybe as well as on Gransnet.

But until she states categorically that she was offered no help whatsoever (advice counts just as much as a prescription), then I don't accept that the doc was necessarily being ageist.

Went to a different GP and this time got a referral for a colonoscopy and no mention of my age. Thank you to all those who gave advice. I feel far happier now I have been taken seriously by a GP and getting things looked at.

I was told a couple of years ago, when I complained to my doctor of back pain 'oh Lorraine, at our age you have to expect a few aches and pains'. I was 59 at the time. Another doctor is now referring me to a specialist physiotherapist to see if I need an X-ray/MR Scan.

Hereshoping, please tell me you were an elderly primagravid! I was labelled as such at the ripe old age of 28 - almost normal these days but old in the 1970's.
Mads, the natural solution to menopause is oestrogen replacement (HRT). I was working today with a 20something young lady. During our afternoon break she almost nodded off a few times. Tomorrow she will be knackered, me? I am doing the same job yet again, and looking forward to it. I'm 68.
Saw a new doctor last visit. He started by asking me what age I was. I said "I can't see the relevance of that question". Needless to say I am not going to accept an appointment with him in the future.

Esspee So was I. I lived in a new town and most off the women at the ante natal clinic were under 20. When the midwife described me as an elderly primagravida, I turned to her and said 'I thought I would grow up before I had children'. Her reply was 'I wish more of them would do that'.

DDiL had first child at 38 and an elderly prima gravida was a women over 40.