You Know You Are Old When

[BleedingOrange]

I,m 77, went to my family doctor for an annual check-up. All was good, and he asked how much walking and exercise I do daily. I said none intentionally, but I do move and bend into a lot of different contortions. He stated that if I walked 2 kms each day, I could live to a nice old age. I said, if I get to a point were I have to depend others others to feed me or wipe my butt, I would rather be dead. He just laughed and said, see you next year.

 

[deserteagle71]

Eat well, exercise, die anyway.

Yup. Genetics has the biggest say in one's longevity as a general rule. If most of your relatives live into their 90s or even older then make sure your retirement funds take that into account. If most of your relatives croak by their mid-60s....make sure you have a good will!

My Dad passed away at just a few weeks shy of 104 years old. But my Mom died suddenly of an aortic aneurysm at 75 so I'm not sure what I should plan for!

 

[masscity]

Genetics, environment, habits and attitude.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Yup. Genetics has the biggest say in one's longevity as a general rule. If most of your relatives live into their 90s or even older then make sure your retirement funds take that into account. If most of your relatives croak by their mid-60s....make sure you have a good will!

My Dad passed away at just a few weeks shy of 104 years old. But my Mom died suddenly of an aortic aneurysm at 75 so I'm not sure what I should plan for!

Maybe you could be checked for a possible aneurysm with a CT scan? Me...I'd ask my family doctor.
I'm not talking about strenuous exercise. I'm 73 and lots of friends have passed from sedentary lifestyle, bad diet, bad habits.
Of course genetics plays an enormous role with longevity.

 

[WinterDeere]

Got 9½ years to go to reach that point. AFAIK, if I do reach that age I will be the longest-living male on either side of the family.

I passed that milestone in my 40's. My family had a rash of early deaths in 20's - 40's, leaving me as the last man standing by my late 20's.

That said, my great-grandparents and several great-uncles all lived well into their 90's, so maybe I'll get lucky.

 

[Jstpssng]

I said, if I get to a point were I have to depend others others to feed me or wipe my butt, I would rather be dead

I feel the same way. I'd like to think that before I get to that point I'll go sit among the trees where my dogs are buried some cold rainy night and let the weather do it's job.
I doubt that I will though...

 

[drssg]

Genetics, environment, habits and attitude.

Yes. In healthcare matters, we often don't have the luxury of a straightforward cause-and-effect relationship. We have to deal with risk factors. Everything you mention are factors that can affect the end result but are not a guarantee.

IME, the potential benefits of a healthy lifestyle are not limited to a longer lifespan. We can also feel better and live better during the years that we have.

I have an acquaintance from high school that can't even seem to grasp the idea that his life choices have an impact on his quality of life. He has diabetes, and he doesn't care. His lower legs are chronically swollen and scabby. He doesn't do much of anything, except complain and get fatter. At 65, I don't know how much longer he'll last, but he'll do a lot of pi$$ing and moaning on the way out.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Seems like yesterday this Beatles song. When I'm 64 which seemed old then. I wish I was 64!

 

[MossRoad]

Maybe you could be checked for a possible aneurysm with a CT scan? Me...I'd ask my family doctor.
I'm not talking about strenuous exercise. I'm 73 and lots of friends have passed from sedentary lifestyle, bad diet, bad habits.
Of course genetics plays an enormous role with longevity.

My mom died from an aneurism at age 61. She survived one at age 54 and they told her she had another one in her brain stem that was inoperable. So she could die tomorrow or live to be 100. She lasted 7 years before it burst.

Years went by and I started having severe headaches. Given the history with my mom, they suggested I get tested. So I went through a number of CT and MRI scans on my brain. They did not see anything down to some resolution (can't recall now how many microns).

They told me they could do one more test to find even smaller ones, if they existed, but there was a 30% chance of having a stroke during the procedure and recommended I not do that. I agreed! They told me that any aneurism smaller than the ones they already tested for would not be catastrophic bursts. But said if I should have my spinal fluid tested for the presence of blood if symptoms of an aneurism occurred.

Fortunately, they haven't. They never found the cause of the headaches, and they went away shortly after that.

Fun note: Nubain is your friend.

I was having a massive headache. My vision went down to about a toilet paper roll look through. I was screaming in pain. Wife took me to the hospital. They gave me a shot of Nubain for the pain. It's the same thing they gave my wife during labor.

About 20 minutes later, the Dr. comes back to check on me and asks if I still have my headache?

I said "Yes, but it's over there." and pointed at the empty bed next to me. Dr. laughed.

Still hurt like hell, but you don't care if it hurts 'over there' as long as it's not 'in here'.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

My mom died from an aneurism at age 61. She survived one at age 54 and they told her she had another one in her brain stem that was inoperable. So she could die tomorrow or live to be 100. She lasted 7 years before it burst.

Years went by and I started having severe headaches. Given the history with my mom, they suggested I get tested. So I went through a number of CT and MRI scans on my brain. They did not see anything down to some resolution (can't recall now how many microns).

They told me they could do one more test to find even smaller ones, if they existed, but there was a 30% chance of having a stroke during the procedure and recommended I not do that. I agreed! They told me that any aneurism smaller than the ones they already tested for would not be catastrophic bursts. But said if I should have my spinal fluid tested for the presence of blood if symptoms of an aneurism occurred.

Fortunately, they haven't. They never found the cause of the headaches, and they went away shortly after that.

Fun note: Nubain is your friend.

I was having a massive headache. My vision went down to about a toilet paper roll look through. I was screaming in pain. Wife took me to the hospital. They gave me a shot of Nubain for the pain. It's the same thing they gave my wife during labor.

About 20 minutes later, the Dr. comes back to check on me and asks if I still have my headache?

I said "Yes, but it's over there." and pointed at the empty bed next to me. Dr. laughed.

Still hurt like hell, but you don't care if it hurts 'over there' as long as it's not 'in here'.

Wow!
Really sorry about your Mom.
Sixty years ago we had this family friend who died from an aneurysm when she was 42. A very gorgeous lady. My physician Grandfather said it's like a weak spot in an inner tube. The artery or vein bursts. Maybe high blood pressure is/can be a real problem (?).
Funny you mentioned Nubain. The worst pain in my life many years ago was from gall stones. At the hospital nurse asks me on a scale of 10 how bad was it. I answered about a 56...so she gave me an injection. Within seconds I jumped up, shook her hand saying "THANK YOU!!!". As I was getting dressed she laughed saying noooo...that was morphine!
Then after surgery next day they said I could go home if I could pee in the bathroom. Now I've never understood why so many nurses are so pretty but this one was WOW! pretty. She followed me into the bathroom and I had to politely explain that wouldn't work!
She waited outside & I was able to go home.