Calaber
Nil Bastardo Carborundum
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2007
- Messages
- 4,334
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- 113
- Location
- Lower Hunter Region NSW
- Members Ride
- CG Captiva 5 Series 2
Interesting thread. Probably find it will be almost exclusively inhabited by the over 50's so we can spread the suffering around in a sympathetic environment.
Looking at what some of you have had to endure for many years, I guess I've been incredibly lucky. Until around 2005, my health had been remarkably sound. I'd had two eye operations (at 11 months and 11 years) to rectify a turn in one eye. The damned thing returned and by the early 1990's, the condition was so bad that further surgery was required. The difference in manner of treatment between 1963 (11 y.o.) and 1992 (40 y.o.) was amazing. The 1963 op required admission the day prior to surgery and six days post surgery with both eyes fully covered. By 1992, it was day surgery - in at midday, op at 4.30, overnight with eyes covered and released the next day with eyes exposed.
By the early 2000's, age was starting to make its presence felt and within eighteen months, I suffered a retinal occlusion which has left vision in the left eye impaired to some extent, calcification of two vertebra in the neck which presses on the nerves to my right arm occassionally, and a torn meniscus in the right knee. An arthroscopy of the knee revealed very little cartilage left and bone to bone friction at one location. Ten years later, it's just bone to bone - the last vestiges of cartilage departed the scene years ago. Now, the left knee is trying to catch up. Neither of them are worth a bumper but I'll put off surgery until as late as possible. It hinders my movements to some extent - getting up off the floor is difficult and entering or leaving some cars can be a pain literally.
In 2006, my gall bladder decided to go on strike. I'd been suffering pretty bad indigestion for some years but by this time, it had reached crisis point and one night was as bad as any I had ever experienced. I woke the other half to tell her I was going to the hospital - she asked if I wanted her to drive - to which I said "stay here, I'll ok to get there myself." Bad decision. NEVER drive yourself ten k's to hospital with a gall bladder attack.Two weeks later, bye bye bladder and the 23mm stone that had caused the problem. The only really serious op I have ever had and the only time I have had anything (other than a few fangs) removed.
Because of the combination of ailments that were afflicting me simultaneously, I was granted a medical discharge from the Police Department in 2008. I haven't missed the job for a minute, but the people will always remain in my thoughts. Since that time, I have found that I needed to commence to take anti-depressants to help control my temper and moderate my moods. Those of you on similar meds will know what it's like. I took them when I was working as I put my anxiety problems down to work demands and ceased taking them after discharge. Another bad move. I now know it wasn't work that was causing my problems - it was the other half. (There is actually some truth in this statement but I won't elaborate). This week, after three increasingly bad blood pressure test results over two months, I'm now on blood pressure meds as well. ****, this aging business is fun.......
One thing that hasn't been touched on much on this thread is life expectancy. My family doesn't have much longevity on its side. My maternal grandmother made the 90's but no-one else had. Her brother and sister passed away in their 80's, my dad at 69 and mum at 79. I'd give myself around 20 more years max (ie 85) but frankly, with the extent of my ailments and the likely prognosis for each of them, combined with the slowly diminished capacity to do the things that I enjoy so much, I really don't expect much from life after 80. Stuffed if I want to be pushed around or have to use one of those walker contraptions. If I can't self-propel, give me a shovel. I strongly believe in each one of us having a genetic use-by-date and don't agree with prolonging life after a certain age just because medical science makes it possible. I believe euthanasia should be legalised and that each of us should be able to determine when we've had enough suffering. Maybe, by the time I get towards 80, it will be legal.
Just my two bobs worth.
Looking at what some of you have had to endure for many years, I guess I've been incredibly lucky. Until around 2005, my health had been remarkably sound. I'd had two eye operations (at 11 months and 11 years) to rectify a turn in one eye. The damned thing returned and by the early 1990's, the condition was so bad that further surgery was required. The difference in manner of treatment between 1963 (11 y.o.) and 1992 (40 y.o.) was amazing. The 1963 op required admission the day prior to surgery and six days post surgery with both eyes fully covered. By 1992, it was day surgery - in at midday, op at 4.30, overnight with eyes covered and released the next day with eyes exposed.
By the early 2000's, age was starting to make its presence felt and within eighteen months, I suffered a retinal occlusion which has left vision in the left eye impaired to some extent, calcification of two vertebra in the neck which presses on the nerves to my right arm occassionally, and a torn meniscus in the right knee. An arthroscopy of the knee revealed very little cartilage left and bone to bone friction at one location. Ten years later, it's just bone to bone - the last vestiges of cartilage departed the scene years ago. Now, the left knee is trying to catch up. Neither of them are worth a bumper but I'll put off surgery until as late as possible. It hinders my movements to some extent - getting up off the floor is difficult and entering or leaving some cars can be a pain literally.
In 2006, my gall bladder decided to go on strike. I'd been suffering pretty bad indigestion for some years but by this time, it had reached crisis point and one night was as bad as any I had ever experienced. I woke the other half to tell her I was going to the hospital - she asked if I wanted her to drive - to which I said "stay here, I'll ok to get there myself." Bad decision. NEVER drive yourself ten k's to hospital with a gall bladder attack.Two weeks later, bye bye bladder and the 23mm stone that had caused the problem. The only really serious op I have ever had and the only time I have had anything (other than a few fangs) removed.
Because of the combination of ailments that were afflicting me simultaneously, I was granted a medical discharge from the Police Department in 2008. I haven't missed the job for a minute, but the people will always remain in my thoughts. Since that time, I have found that I needed to commence to take anti-depressants to help control my temper and moderate my moods. Those of you on similar meds will know what it's like. I took them when I was working as I put my anxiety problems down to work demands and ceased taking them after discharge. Another bad move. I now know it wasn't work that was causing my problems - it was the other half. (There is actually some truth in this statement but I won't elaborate). This week, after three increasingly bad blood pressure test results over two months, I'm now on blood pressure meds as well. ****, this aging business is fun.......
One thing that hasn't been touched on much on this thread is life expectancy. My family doesn't have much longevity on its side. My maternal grandmother made the 90's but no-one else had. Her brother and sister passed away in their 80's, my dad at 69 and mum at 79. I'd give myself around 20 more years max (ie 85) but frankly, with the extent of my ailments and the likely prognosis for each of them, combined with the slowly diminished capacity to do the things that I enjoy so much, I really don't expect much from life after 80. Stuffed if I want to be pushed around or have to use one of those walker contraptions. If I can't self-propel, give me a shovel. I strongly believe in each one of us having a genetic use-by-date and don't agree with prolonging life after a certain age just because medical science makes it possible. I believe euthanasia should be legalised and that each of us should be able to determine when we've had enough suffering. Maybe, by the time I get towards 80, it will be legal.
Just my two bobs worth.
