HOW OLD IS OLD?

 

 HOW OLD IS OLD?

That probably depends on your generation and your current age.  In my awkwardly aging mind, old is ten years older than me.  So it changes every year.  My husband was 18 years older than me so back then, old was 10 years older than him.  It’s all relative.

The U.S. population age 65 and over grew from 2010 to 2020 at fastest rate since 1880 to 1890 and reached 55.8 million, a 38.6% increase in just 10 years.  Many researchers have said those statistics break down as shown below:

• Young-old: (65–74 years old)
• Middle-old: (75–84 years old)
• Old-old: (over 85 years old)
• Oldest-old: (85–99 years old)
• Centenarians: (100+ years old

I’m hoping for Centenarian as long as I have good health.  But middle old will suffice for now.  Social Media has come up with “generation” categories as well.  This household has a Baby Boomer, two Millennials, one Generation Z and one Generation Alpha.  Very diversified!

• Lost Generation – 1883-1900.
• Greatest Generation – 1901-1927.
• Silent Generation – 1928-1945.
• Baby Boomers – 1946-1964.
• Generation X – 1965-1980.
• Millennials – 1981-1996.
• Generation Z – 1997-2012.
• Generation Alpha – 2013-present. 

My husband used to compare his aging self to that of a vintage car.  Lost a hubcap here.  Had to replace a headlamp.  Bought a battery replacement.  Needed new windshield wipers.  And so on.  Just inconveniences that needed tending.  Still better than buying a new plastic disposable car.

So change your mindset about knee replacements, cataract removal, prescription drugs.  Keep that car going.

“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. 

It’s the life in your years.”

– Abraham Lincoln

EMBRACING AGING

Aging is the hardest job we’ve ever had, in my humble opinion. There is so much advice on how we should handle aging. But each year it becomes a little more difficult to do so.

The change in our appearance is shocking, as are the physical limitations that come with being old. But it’s not just the infirmities. It’s the losses. As we age we lose beloved family members, friends, neighbors, work colleagues and finally our independence. Driving seems to be the hardest freedom to let go.  I plan to retire from driving at 80.  I am lucky to be able to do this as I live with two drivers (and a third will be getting his license in three years!)

Aging can also be hard work because of the physical changes that occur, such as hearing and vision loss, memory loss, and muscle loss. These changes can make it difficult to maintain social connections, which can lead to feelings of loneliness or isolation

Trust me, it’s not something we “embrace.” Aging embraces us.  Aging is a gift, a chance to keep growing, learning and experiencing life in new ways.  Have you noticed a new movie trend featuring over 80 actresses?  Rita Moreno is 91 and was in a movie with Jane Fonda (86), Lily Tomlin (84) (I think the movie is 80 for Brady.  Not very good but inspiring that they have the energy to do it!)

Life is not as great as it used to be, but complaining about it makes it worse.  Looking forward to August 21 ~ National Senior Citizens Day.

That's the way it is!

MODERN CHEMISTRY

 

It's almost a full time job keeping up with my medications, vitamins, minerals, and supplements.  I hardly have to eat food I take so much!  Now I have to keep a list of everything I take because EVERYONE asks if I am on any medication.  Even the dentist! Now I can just email or print for them.

Every time I am prescribed something, I have a serious talk with my PCP and my pharmacy.  Interactions are possible despite this being the 21st century.  Do you even read the paperwork that comes with meds, including over the counter stuff?  No kidding, I wouldn't even take an aspirin if I paid too much attention to side effects!

The organizing and timing is also a time consuming hobby.  Amazon has a million kinds of checklists and log books.  I did finally succumb and get a "week at a glance" pill organizer.  One med I have to take twice a day an hour before eating, so I bought one of these to stick on the bottle so I can now multitask.

A new one for osteoporosis is once a month ... I can use my Apple calendar for that one.  Taken an hour before eating or drinking and remaining upright for at least an hour!  Serious!

I really never took supplements until about 65.  My fantastic PCP has been adding his suggestions (as well as my healthy younger sister!)  As you age, older adults can have difficulty absorbing some vitamins, especially vitamin B12. We Senior Sisters may very well benefit from a quality multivitamin and others.  Currently I am enjoying a delightful assortment of:

Multivitamin

Cranberry Extract 

Vitamin D3 

Vitamin E  

Calcium 

CoQ10 

Coenzyme B-Complex

Probiotics

Curcumin phytosome (stronger than turmeric)

Some days I can't decide if I am taking too much stuff or not enough.  But I believe prescription drugs are an essential part of high quality medical treatment, especially preventative.

MY INHERITANCE

I was the second oldest of six children with four brothers and one sister.  (There's a lot to be learned about birth order personalties but that's a blog for another time).  We were raised in unincorporated Columbus, Ohio in the middle lower class.  My Dad was a Union carpenter and my Mom a full time COE (Chief of Everything).  In the 1950s with no microwave or convection oven or dishwasher for a family of eight it ws more than a full time job.  But I never felt deprived.  We never missed a meal although occasionally we'd have oatmeal for dinner.  Or beans on toast.

 

My best inheritance is a fabulous childhood, a love of cooking, playing board games and reading.  I was a bookworm from an early age and it has transferred into online reading, learning and adventures.  My parents also passed along a predilection for some health issues.  

Type 2 Diabetes is one condition that is about 25% - 72%  genetic.  National Institutes of Health has published The Genetic Landscape of Diabetes which discusses the heredity links as well as environmental affects (poor families eat more carbohydrates, less fresh fruits and vegetables (although my Dad had an amazing garden and we all helped weed, harvest and “put up”).  Most of my Mom’s siblings had Type 2 Diabetes.  As well as high triglycerides.  Two of my siblings have this also.  (Mine could be greatly helped if I exercised).

Yes, high cholesterol can be genetic. Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an inherited condition that causes abnormally high cholesterol levels due to a mutated gene.

Statin drugs work by blocking an enzyme that produces cholesterol in the liver and increases your body’s ability to remove cholesterol from the blood. They can lower your LDL cholesterol levels by 50 percent or more. Statins have been safely used to reduce the risk of heart disease for 30 years and continue to be the number one option when it comes to helping people with FH.  So, again, I’m luckily living through chemistry.

Osteoporosis has a genetic factor involved.  My Grandmother had it.  My mother had it in her spine  Several times she had to have bone cement injected to strengthen the vertebrae (which helps relieve pain, prevent further fractures and help with mobility).  My sister has it and now I have it.  I just started my first dose of a monthly medication, Ibandronate Sodium, to try to slow the progression.

Varicose veins?  Heredity.  Gum disease?  Genetic.  Psoriasis?  60 - 90% handed down.  Breast cancer?  Yes.  I'm thinking just about everything is part nature, part taking care of yourself.

Other things I've inherited?  Living within my means.  Volunteering in my community.  Love of nature.  Blue eyes.  Kindness.  Optimism.  Intelligence.  Sense of humor.

Love of coffee?  I'm thinking yes!!

   

Blepharoplasty

Eyelid surgery.  After years of having trouble seeing without holding up a drooping eyelid, I finally had a double blepharoplasty on May 3.  My Mom and most of her female siblings have all had this done, some of them twice.

With age, eyelids stretch and the muscles supporting them weaken.  As a result, excess skin and fat can gather. This condition really affects peripheral vision.  Which I didn't know how much until I started driving after the surgery.  I've been going to the same eye care clinic for almost ten years.  The last few years the opthamologist has encouraged me to have the upper lids fixed.  Fortunately, they also have an oculoplastic surgeon (both and ophthalmologist and a plastic surgeon).  It took many months for an appointment which I spent looking at his before and after photos.  It was very interesting to see how much younger everyone looks AFTER the surgery.  Saggy bagging eyes just bring your whole face down.

Medicare covered the upper lids but the lower lids are considered vanity procedure.  I decided to go for it even though he said I could always do it later.  A friend had had her uppers done by the same doctor.  When I met up with her (and many ladies my age or older at a luncheon) three weeks after, I decided to get rid of the bags under as well.

Three weeks ahead of surgery I had to stop all vitamins and supplements as well as pain relievers.  What I didn't research was how horrible the healing process looked like!  My grandsons called me Zombie Gramma!!  I loaded some audible books which was amazing to listen to a 14 hour recording in just a few days.  Two of them.  

Surgery was for 2:00 pm ... no food or liquids after midnight.  I was panicked as I sip water all day long.  The scheduler gave me a great tip ... have a sip of water then spit it out instead of swallowing.  Really worked.  The surgery itself was just an hour or so but it took almost 90 minutes to get me prepped.  He woke me up about midway, had me sit up and follow his finger.  Then put me back into twilight sleep to finish the job.

The next 48 hours was ice on for 20 minutes, ice off for 20 minutes.  Thank goodness I was diligent because that sure helped with the swollenness.  There were two oral meds, prednisone and another to inhibit blisters.  Two ointments 3x day the first week, then once a day.  Aquaphor Baby on my upper face and and temples.  Now I use lubricating eye drops and Cerave eye repair cream.

No make up til my next appointment but honestly these peepers are loving the no mascara vacation.  Same with my whole face.  I'm sure I will dress up sometime soon.

I decided to make a "photo each day" project.  iPhoto album turns the photos into a slide show that is very dramatic.

Below are day of the surgery, day after the surgery and yesterday!

 

Now I have to be diligent with sunscreen every day and avoid sun on my face for six months.

The netting and the hat are SPF 50.

I still have a little swelling, tightness at the outer corner of both eyes and dry eyes.  This too shall pass!