I'm falling apart

[ACG]

I have allergies.

I have allergy related asthma.

I have a pinched nerve between C5 and C6

I right now have a bladder infection.

I'm 48, so perimenopause here we come.

I am really tired of doctors. I dumped all the doctors that told me to reduce or stop bike riding.

It is hell to get old isn't it? I know it could be worse but geez.

[Crankin]

Welcome to the club. Hey, any doctor that I have knows that if s/he mentions to stop cycling or any other sport I do, they get dumped.
Focus on what you can do, which will always be more than what most people do...

[shootingstar]

I have allergies.

I have allergy related asthma.

I have a pinched nerve between C5 and C6

I right now have a bladder infection.

I'm 48, so perimenopause here we come.

I am really tired of doctors. I dumped all the doctors that told me to reduce or stop bike riding.

It is hell to get old isn't it? I know it could be worse but geez.

So it was primarily your allergy and back/neck related problems that your doctors told you to stop/reduce cycling?

People forget/don't know there's all sorts of different cycling and distances. Pity.

[Zen]

I am really tired of doctors.

I know your frustration all too well

[lo123]

I have allergies.

I have allergy related asthma.

I have a pinched nerve between C5 and C6

I right now have a bladder infection.

I'm 48, so perimenopause here we come.

I am really tired of doctors. I dumped all the doctors that told me to reduce or stop bike riding.

It is hell to get old isn't it? I know it could be worse but geez.

I hear ya... sometimes I feel like my life consists of nothing but a series of Dr appts.

[tulip]

Get a doctor who will enable you to do what you want, with whatever modifications may be necessary (a recumbent bike comes to mind).

I'm with Crankin--any doctor who says stop being active gets dumped. There are plenty of creative and energetic doctors out there. You just have to find one.

I don't think 48 is old and I don't think falling apart is inevitable. Best of luck to you.

[Bike Chick]

Oh honey, sad to say it gets worse as we get older. And you're right, any doctor that says I should quit exercising doesn't get a second visit. I have the allergies and asthma and you just have to take your meds and do as much as you can during allergy season. Just think how many more things you would have wrong with you if you didn't ride. I didn't see diabetes or heart disease on the list;)

[badger]

I highly recommend D-Mannose to ward off UTIs. It totally works, and it's not a drug.

[tulip]

Oh honey, sad to say it gets worse as we get older.



I don't buy that wholesale. This is not about the OP now, but about aging in general. I think alot of people (no one here, mind you) stop taking proper care of themselves through diet and exercise, experience pains and aches and such, and blame it on "getting old." In fact, they are getting fat and lazy and not taking care of themselves!

My mother is approaching 70. She does yoga and rides her bike and keeps lean. She takes no meds (well, I take that back, she takes lithium--and thank goodness for that!), and has no "aches and pains." Friggin almost 70!!

Have I experienced aches and pains? Absolutely. A few years ago I developed very bad back problems--ack, it's because I'm getting old! My doctor wanted to give me pain relievers. I said no way, take me to the source so I can fix the problem that started this. I did that, and yes I have to pay special attention to my back and keep my weight down and pay particular attention to my core strength. But I'm not taking any meds and my back is much better...as is the rest of me because I'm taking care of the whole thing. A friend of mine, on the other hand, just takes the pills, gains weight, and complains about both the pain and her weight, says she's getting old! Go figure.

Take the best care of yourself as possible. Yes, of course, some people will have medical issues that are beyond their control and that have to be addressed and that's fine. But don't wither away in a pity party of aging!

Thank you.

[Zen]

How old are you, Tulip?

[IFjane]

My mother is approaching 70. She does yoga and rides her bike and keeps lean.

Have I experienced aches and pains? Absolutely.
Take the best care of yourself as possible. Yes, of course, some people will have medical issues that are beyond their control and that have to be addressed and that's fine. But don't wither away in a pity party of aging!

Thank you.



What Tulip said!

And I will add - my mother is 86, will be 87 in March. She is still active, though slowing down a bit. Four years ago my son and I had her riding a bike in Keystone, CO. She had not been on a bike in many years but as they say, you don't forget. She had a ball! She has lots of aches and pains but pushes past them and keeps active. I only hope to be that way when I "grow up".

I, too, have many aches and pains but I will be darned if I am going to let them stop me. I am determined to fight age every step of the way!

[ACG]

Thanks for the responses. The doctor who told me to cut back on the cycling got dumped. I found a chiro who is working on the pinched nerve and I am now (after several bouts of bronchitis) taking my allergy meds. I hate taking drugs. I am concentrating on loosing weight. I'm about 30lbs overweight.

My blood pressure was at my last doctor visit 68/98, pretty good I think. I am going to get blood work as soon as this UTI clears up, but last time, everything was at good levels.

I am always the person who tells everyone to look at the glass as half full. You are the only group I've expressed this negative feeling to. When I read your posts I realize my glass is 1/2 full and I'm not going to stop being active for anything. Thanks again.

I love hearing about people's mom's being so active, that's the kind of mom I want to be.

[mizzbananie]

My auntie is 80 & hikes, fishes, camps.. She is so alive and active! I hope to be like her. Every time I see a peer or older on the bike path I feel more convinced that I have a good chance at staying 'young' and actve myself. I'm 52 & perimenipausal. Hear us roar, huh?

[Bike Chick]

Tulip, I agree with a lot of what you have to say, but would also like to know how old you are. I'm twice as active as I was at 30 and take much better care of myself but since I passed 50, I've noticed a big change in how fast I recover and in how my fast my body is changing. The best thing I can do for me is to stay active and hope I set a good example for my children and grandchildren. Are you over 50?

[OakLeaf]

Okay, I hope this isn't too grim for you.

I'm not falling apart. I only just turned 50. Yeah, I have more skeletal aches and pains than I did at 28, but I'm a lot better equipped to take care of myself, and I have a whole lot fewer problems of other kinds.

I also know that every single person I know over 75, intimately enough to have such a conversation with - including those who are now deceased whom I knew while I was an adult - every one with the sole exception of my mother, who, God bless her, could find something to enjoy in Hell - every one has told me, "Don't get old."

I'm at the age to think about taking that advice. It's a very serious component of my living will, medical POA, and current medical planning.

[tulip]

As I said, it's a soapbox. You have to let me have my say when I'm on it. ;)

I am 42. I just can't hold my liquor like I used to...

[tulip]

BTW, in response to what Oakleaf said...I want to live until I die. None of this in-between stuff.

[staceysue]

I have a severe aging phobia. It's getting better now, but I used to get chest pain and hyperventilate every time I thought about it. I thought I was going to shrivel up and lose all my teeth when I turned 40, but it didn't happen!

My husband is 18 years older than me, and seeing how well he does helps me a lot. I keep thinking "if I'm that energetic in 18 years, it really won't be so bad." He's, like, my point man. Every thing I go through, he will have already been through. Silly, huh?

I'm in better shape now than I ever have been, though. It helps that I was never athletic when I was younger. I'm achieving things at 40 that I never dreamed of achieving when I was 30. I keep hoping that, by not being athletic then, I saved all the wear and tear on my joints and saved them up to use later . . . . ya think?

Also, stories like that one about the 84-yr-old lady who still makes a 150-mile bike ride every year on a 1-speed bike in heels and a skirt help. I need all the "inspirational old lady" stories I can get.

[Crankin]

I have some "real" medical things, but I am in better shape than most other 56 year olds. Since I have been active since I was 25, I can't say that I am in better shape than I was then, but in a way, I think I am. Back then, I was a gym rat, and that lasted until I was in my mid forties. I was so sick of that, that I had a kind of "lapse" in my fitness/health when I was 45 and I certainly was on my way to being fat, forties and unhappy/unhealthy. Now, I am outdoors doing my sports most of the time, even in the winter. My lifestyle has changed in that instead of getting up at 5 to go to the gym, so it doesn't interfere with the rest of my life, being active IS the rest of my life.
I am not as fast as I was on the bike 2 years ago; on the other hand, I am still on the bike, and in the end, who cares if my average is 16 or 15? I started running this year, too, which is not easy for me, but it's sure a hell of a lot easier than it would have been for me ten years ago.
My dad is 85 and still active in the sense that he works 3 mornings a week and has a social life that rivals most. He's never been into physical activity (my mom was the athletic one), but I only hope I can be like him; out in the world and mentally engaged at his age. My other role models are the members of my cycling group. Some are 70 and participate in endurance stuff that put me to shame. Some of them have battled serious medical stuff and they always get back on track, because it's part of their lifestyle.

[OakLeaf]

True that.

One of my riding buddies is 76 years old.

The other day, at the tail end of a ride, he ran over a leaf-covered stick that wedged itself between his front tire and fender, and did a face-plant in the asphalt. I wasn't there, but I hear the blood was impressive.

Two days later he was out riding with us, busted lip, scraped nose, bruises and all. Dude's hardcore. ;)

[indigoiis]

My commuting partner is 62 and she kicks my butt, averaging 18/19 most mornings. I'm 42. I want to be like her when I grow up. :D

I know a bunch of women my age who are on all kinds of crap for all kinds of ailments.

I just don't want to be that woman. I accept the inevitable and watch my body age, but I know it is capable of great things.

[katluvr]

[QUOTE

I am 42. I just can't hold my liquor like I used to...[/QUOTE]

yeah, that sucks!:rolleyes:

I, too, am in "better shape" than my "younger days". I have a hard time dealing with the "NUMBER" (age). I, do, feel like I have more aches and pains. I am also having a LOT of lower back pain. I think alot is related to my very tight hamstrings and yes I need to work on core. I suspect I will encouter more and more of these aches I did not have before. I think that goes with aging. But just think if we did not try and be active like we are. And it is a mind set. (IMO).

My Womans Tour in Moab this past Oct. About 1/2 of us were in the 40-early 50 range. Various shapes and sizes. The other 1/2 were all in there 70's. And they road the same darn hills I did...maybe a bit slower. But they did it. (not sure where I am going here).

I, agree, it is the "recovery" that is tougher and just a few other things I have to deal with. But I will not let it stop me from moving.
I also agree with other posts, look for a medical professional that will work WITH you and not just blame it on age or tell you to stop what you love.
Good luck and hope everyone here fells great today.
(I myself am very sore--very tight--too many lunges with personal trainer yesterday AM. Now when I get out of my office chair I really do walk like an old OLD lady!)
K

[Zen]

Crankin, I suspect that you and I are rowing very similar boats.

[Crankin]

Well, my DH and I call ourselves "showboats." Look really good on the outside, but kinda ****** up on the inside. I only put myself in that category because of the osteoporosis. Most of my other stuff is common (allergies, asthma) or degenerative stuff from years of pounding my body, like in high impact aerobics on concrete floors. I had a sensitive stomach and weird muscle stuff in my twenties; it's not a function of age. DH on the other hand, has 2 stents and a CV family history from hell. He doesn't let it bother him and he still can out ride most other guys, except really elite ones. But, he has slowed down, both physically and in his attitude. You wouldn't know it, if you didn't know him, but he has.
I dislike it intensely when people say, "Aging isn't for sissies." My aunt constantly says this. Well, she wouldn't have half the physical issues she has if she lived a better life style and wasn't an angry person. Plenty of people have worse medical stuff than me and are out there doing marathons, tri's, etc.

[MomOnBike]

I'm starting to have some real medical issues, too. The embolism was a problem, the meniscus tear slowed me down dramatically.

The real issue I'm having is that those two problems, plus the bones I broke as a kid that are starting to hurt just for fun, plus the arthritis in the thumbs is starting to make me feel fragile. I really don't like that feeling. Most of the time I can talk myself out of that feeling, but not always. Bleh.

[spindizzy]

2 years ago my GP (after looking at MRI of R Knee) says "Your running days are over." I am running still, stronger than ever. Good GP for general things - not good for sports! Thank goodness for PT husband.

Today, at work (I work in a hospital) an intern (in her 20's) comes up to me and says "I want a butt like yours!" I'm in my early 50's - now that's a compliment! It totally made my day.

Age is a number - there are so many fantastic role models of older, active, engaging individuals. How could I not want to be like that?

[Bike Chick]

My mother is 73 with a whole page of health problems and a pill to "fix" every one of them. Most of her ailments could have been prevented and her overall general health would improve with proper diet and exercise. My husband and I have given up trying to get her off the couch and just take a walk down the block. She has an excuse for everything and it's pointless. She's not going to change but it is difficult for me to sit back and watch her deteriorate the way she has. We bike and run with people older than her that are the picture of health.

To add to this, she is constantly telling my husband he's too thin and he doesn't look well (he's training for a marathon) or that I shouldn't be out on a bike on the highway at my age (whatever that means) and takes it personal if we won't eat a huge piece of her cake. Mom is an example of what happens to you if you don't stay active and take care of yourself. She's my motivation to stay at it--I have the same genes.

The irony in my family is that my brother was the athletic one when we were younger. I'm 3 years older than him and he has high blood pressure and high cholesterol and won't watch his diet or exercise and I'm the one that is in decent shape. It's frustrating watching people you love ignore the obvious and not do anything to change their situation.

[Sadie]

I'm 60. I saw my dad, who has since passed away, with the stapled chest after bypass surgery, and I thought "whatever it takes, that's not going to happen to me". I ride, run, and workout with much younger people and can't quite keep up at times, but I'm still out there doing the best I can. Thanks for all the great posts about these feelings.

[PamNY]

I don't buy that wholesale. This is not about the OP now, but about aging in general. I think alot of people (no one here, mind you) stop taking proper care of themselves through diet and exercise, experience pains and aches and such, and blame it on "getting old." In fact, they are getting fat and lazy and not taking care of themselves!

My mother is approaching 70. She does yoga and rides her bike and keeps lean. She takes no meds (well, I take that back, she takes lithium--and thank goodness for that!), and has no "aches and pains." Friggin almost 70!!

Have I experienced aches and pains? Absolutely. A few years ago I developed very bad back problems--ack, it's because I'm getting old! My doctor wanted to give me pain relievers. I said no way, take me to the source so I can fix the problem that started this. I did that, and yes I have to pay special attention to my back and keep my weight down and pay particular attention to my core strength. But I'm not taking any meds and my back is much better...as is the rest of me because I'm taking care of the whole thing. A friend of mine, on the other hand, just takes the pills, gains weight, and complains about both the pain and her weight, says she's getting old! Go figure.

Take the best care of yourself as possible. Yes, of course, some people will have medical issues that are beyond their control and that have to be addressed and that's fine. But don't wither away in a pity party of aging!

Thank you.



Tulip, I agree with you completely. I am 59, by the way.

To the OP, my sympathies -- having a lot of stuff go wrong at once is awful, but it can happen at any age. I would encourage you to avoid anticipating problems related to menopause; everything I've ever heard was a total crock.

Pam

[Zen]

I will say this much. Five years ago one of my doctors told me i had reached the five year survivor mark. I was stunned. I never considered dying, the thought had never crossed my mind. I only considered doing what I had to do and moving on.
So I deal with it and do what I can and no,it doesn't get any easier as I get older.

[Zen]

My mother is 73 with a whole page of health problems and a pill to "fix" every one of them. ...She's not going to change...
your mother belongs to a different generation. She most likely wasn't encouraged to participate in sports.


... takes it personal if we won't eat a huge piece of her cake.
Food=Love


It's frustrating watching people you love ignore the obvious and not do anything to change their situation.
Sometimes you just have to accept things for the way they are.

[Bike Chick]

You are very right, Zen! As frustrating as it is for me, I know in 20 years my kids will be echoing their frustration with me

[Crankin]

My DH's family constantly tells us we are too thin and "crazy" for doing what we do, with the "at your age" left unsaid. With a family history of cv disease on both sides, it's hard for me to take. My family is pretty good; even if they don't do what I do, they know how important it is to me. My mom was the athletic one who cooked healthy foods and when she died, my dad's eating went to hell. He had a stent put in last year and I know he's still smoking (sneakily) and he says, "I won't let anyone tell me what to do," (like exercise). I know he's almost 85 and very active for that age, but still. If I was out there in CA, I would make him do this stuff. My brother, who is ten years younger, used to run, etc. but now he's into gourmet cooking and it's showing.
And don't get me started on my friends (with the exception of my cycling friends).

[ACG]

So today on our ride I did better than I thought. I iced by back during the ride when it started to hurt. I ate a healthy breakfast prior to the ride. Drank a ton of cranberry juice yesterday and before/after the ride. The last 5 miles I was just slow, but made it back within a few minutes of everyone else. 65 miles about 3500 feet of climbing. I'm still here and not in any pain. Just starving. I guess it is a frame of mind.

If I am going to fall apart, I'm going to fight it the entire time.

[cylegoddess]

Im 41
I have a immune system problem( they dont know why):confused:
Chronic fatigue
Tendinitis
Shingles on lower back:eek:
Arthritis in hands and fingers:mad:
Various aches and pains in shoulders:(

I get IVs every two weeks( chelation) plus b 12 shots and take about 15 vitamins a day plus eat health food, organic and take herbs and Chinese meds.
I also work on my feet all day, moving heavy things( Visual Merchandising).
Every day something hurts BUT>>>
Today I rode in my first race!! :):D

[sundial]

Crankin, I suspect that you and I are rowing very similar boats.

Can I row too?

I came with a lousy joint package and as I get older I have to become more creative in keeping fit while not stressing the joints. I am a little slower but more tenacious so I'm spending longer periods in the saddle with more frequent small breaks. :) I've decided it's not about the ride, it's about the destination.

[solobiker]

I have noticed that the older I get the slower my body seems to want to recover. I will be 40 this Feb ( I know it is not old) and I can't push my body like I could in my early 30s due various reasons. I have found that if I keep on top of my stretching routine and work on core strengthening activities I can still do most of the acitivities I enjoy almost pain free. I have a friend who will be 59 this Jan and she is one powerful and energitic women. She is amazing in every aspect. She is also a cancer survivor which is awesome on its own.

[shootingstar]

No, I don't have any medical issues thus far. However in the past 5 years, I do tend to be more vigilant on what I eat, my balance so I don't fall.(After 2 unexplained incidents of severe vertigo..), etc. I'm 50 which I consider experienced in life, but still "young" and still much learn. :p

As mentioned months ago here, I do have a warped perception :o of aging because my partner is 16 yrs. older and he is cycling-fit, active, with occasional problems with a knee from an old injury decades ago. And our lifestyle is cycling oriented anyway without a car. We're friends with several cyclists in his age group so this messes me up how people normally "look" and move in their 60's and 70's.

I do come from a family, where there is clear evidence to me, that lifelong reasonably (though not always perfect) healthy diet, means ..less medical complications when one become truly sick/ill.

I would not say that in my family the previous generation did sports, etc. Their physical fitness was more due to physical labour/lack of mechanization for certain activities.

Attitude of one's own physical capabilities is important also. If a person believes that walking is not a huge effort, but an enjoyable daily activity then that also contributes to overall physical and mental well-being. Saw that in my partner's mother who walked to store for grocery shopping for 2 kms. or so in winter snow ..up to when she was 88 yrs. She didn't drive. What determined her physical decline, was when she could no longer walk her dog daily without tripping and falling over the dog leash several times (and breaking her glasses, bruising her face, etc.).

It was rather amusing when she in her early 80's was pals with another woman in her late 60's. The woman in her late 60's was suffering alot more (cardiopulmonary problems) and greater mobility problems...because she didn't eat healthy during her lifetime. She still nixed veggies much to the disgust of her older friend. It's wierd to see an older woman refuse to eat vegetables. Like part of childhood never left her.

[cylegoddess]

My Dad sent this;

'Welcome to the over the hill gang. The first requirement to join the gang is "every thing hurts." To become an officer in the gang it requires that "every thing hurts all of the time." To reach emeritus status it requires that "every thing hurts all of the time and it is going to be that way forever.':eek:

He once said, dont get old kid, it sucks!

But my first love Jaque Cousteau ( the undersea diving legend, whom I adored at age 5 and up) said, he dove every day, as at 70 if he gave it up,he wouldnt be able to get back into the water.

Also, at the race two days ago - they made a special category for age 80 to 85 as they had one 85 year old.She hobbled up to get the award on a cane with ankle brace. Thats one tough cyclist!

[cylegoddess]

Solobiker ,

I had quit yoga for about 2 years or so, as the class was canceled and no others near me.

Thats when I got sicker, had more pains and felt creaky.
Needless to say, Im back at yoga!

[shootingstar]

Also, at the race two days ago - they made a special category for age 80 to 85 as they had one 85 year old.She hobbled up to get the award on a cane with ankle brace. Thats one tough cyclist!

Impressive.

Absolutely also agree with others here that yoga and other stretching exercises done regularily keeps one more limber, flexible, relaxed and less prone to muscular pain.

[Laterider21958]

As I read through the threads and the discussions around getting older etc. it brought to mind my husband's elderly uncle (no longer with us) who used to ride his bike to our place to visit his 94 year old sister. At the time he was in his late 80's. Uncle Lewis rode his old fixed wheel bicycle with confidence, but the mount and dismount was a little precarious as he struggled to raise his leg over the rear mudguard. Once he was mobile he was fantastic. Walking any distance was difficult for him but riding was a breeze.

[Zen]

Uncle Lewis rode his old fixed wheel bicycle with confidence, but the mount and dismount was a little precarious as he struggled to raise his leg over the rear mudguard. Once he was mobile he was fantastic. Walking any distance was difficult for him but riding was a breeze.

Bless Uncle Lewis' heart.
I have the same problems.
My clueless sister asks "if you can't walk, how can you ride a bicycle?"

It's like one of those commercials for The Scooter Store; my bike gives me mobility :)

[katluvr]

It's like one of those commercials for The Scooter Store; my bike gives me mobility :)

LOL!

[lo123]

Bless Uncle Lewis' heart.
I have the same problems.
My clueless sister asks "if you can't walk, how can you ride a bicycle?"

It's like one of those commercials for The Scooter Store; my bike gives me mobility :)

Ditto.. For me, arthritic hips and feet mean nothing on the bike, but walking is almost always painful.

Obviously this phenomenon is more common than I originally thought -- I've read that Georgena Terry can't walk long distances without mobility aids.

[cylegoddess]

All this is a bit grim but very cheering. I feel like I am the only one in the world, when I get up all creaky and stuff( which goes as soon as I ride to work.)

So many oldies that are just like energizer bunnies!! I love it( and them, too:))

I thought I was never going to get out of this viral fatigue/post viral fatigue slump but I ended up riding 100 km lat week and a two hour, 30 km ride.I could have gone farther too but wasnt sure what it would do to me, later( nothing!)
It seems to me that cyclists of all shaped sizes and ages are really the sort to not give up. I like this and I like making friends older and younger than me, just because we ride. Im a bit of a odd duck, so its nice to fit into something communal.
I just hope I get to be like those old guys who whip the pants off everybody, riding 80 km a day ect.

[blackhillsbiker]

I'm 47. I have arthritis, scoliosis and "valvular insufficiency" (severe varicose veins which started in my teens). For a number of years I just felt sorry for myself. Add that to chronic clinical depression and I wasn't much fun to be around. Now I bike daily and graduated from a "comfort bike" to a flat bar road bike/hybrid. I feel much better. I was thin but not in shape. Now I have muscles and endurance. Energy to keep up with my kids. A smile on my face. I decided that life is just too short not to live fully. My house is no longer spotless. Sometimes meals are haphazard. My mom thinks I'm crazy and hopes I'll outgrow this phase. My husband is glad to have a happy wife. My kids cheer me on. I only wish I could get back the years I wasted being unhappy and sedentary.

Deb

[cylegoddess]

Deb,

me too. Anyhow, your awesome!!! We are our own Lance Armstrongs!!:D

[azfiddle]

Deb, what an inspiring post!

Sharon