BS: A Thumb in the Dike

Subject: BS: A Thumb in the Dike
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 18 May 21 - 11:15 AM

A Thumb in the Dike.

I'm like the little kid in Holland who put his thumb in the dike to stop a leak, saving his town from a flood. Getting old is an experience much like that little Dutch kid had, except you'd need a dozen thumbs. This last year I've had two bouts of Vertigo and several smaller spells of feeling light headed for a week or two. "You're just getting old," this smarmy, irritating voice whispers in my ear. "Speak for yourself," I answer. "Don't hand me that remote!" I can get up and change channels. It's not that I don't realize I'm getting old. It's that I won't quietly accept it.

A couple of weeks ago I bearded the lion (that sounds dangerous... how can you put a beard on a full-grown lion?) and faced down the elliptical at Planet Fitness. "You're not so tough!" I snarled at the machine, smuggly sitting in a corner, unused. The first time I got on it, I was gasping for breath and holding on for dear life by the time I'd made two minutes." "Stop grinning like an idiot," I said to the machine. I was like Gregory Peck breaking the unbreakable horse in The Big Country. Every time I get thrown off, I quietly get back on.

Life is not a Cinemascope movie. I temper my determination by monitoring my heart rate. I'm not supposed to let it go above 120. For the last two weeks, I've been getting on the elliptical and stopping when I reach the point I'm gasping for air. I am not at all embarrassed at how weak I am. I am working my way up, 30 seconds more each time. The next time I go I'll be able to do five minutes. Give me two or three weeks, and I'll me up to ten minutes, and that sniveling little elliptical will be cowering in the corner.

Next on my agenda is a calf devouring contraption. If I want to get control of my balance, I have to strengthen my calf muscles. Yesterday, I taught the machine a lesson in humility. It is speaking much more respectfully to me already, and my balance and calf strength is noticeable improving. I can tell. My calf muscles sing to me during the night.

Now I notice that my biceps are wimping out on me. No problem. I'll use the bicep machine and weights to shut them up.

Welcome to getting old.   As Rosanne Rosannedanna would say. "It's always something." What should I expect? I'll be 86 in a couple of weeks. I expect exactly what I am experiencing. I still have thumbs I haven't even used. I will not get old without a fight.

Bring it on!

Subject: RE: BS: A Thumb in the Dike
From: JHW
Date: 18 May 21 - 03:11 PM

May be a red herring but I had vertigo a few years ago. Didn't dare drive home as I felt I'd even fall over sat in a seat. Benign Proxismal Vertigo but as my GP predicted (after a few weeks of excercises) it went away and never came back.
Never tried gym machines, couldn't cope with the music.

Subject: RE: BS: A Thumb in the Dike
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 18 May 21 - 03:16 PM

Sometimes they play Crosby, Stills Nash and Young and the like. Most of the time it's songs with five words, three chords and six notes, with a booming bass. They're good about turning it down low if I ask. :-) The occasional skirmoished I have with it are justg a couple of weeks,. much lighter that the first time, and manageable.

Subject: RE: BS: A Thumb in the Dike
From: Bill D
Date: 18 May 21 - 03:28 PM

I had brief bouts of vertigo several years ago... it just required sitting down and changing my head angle. (I'm 82)

I saw a pro golfer fall down with vertigo at a major tournament a few years ago. He eventually got up and finished...

so... *shrug* I'm ok so far.

Subject: RE: BS: A Thumb in the Dike
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 18 May 21 - 04:17 PM

My primary physician gets it. Gingko Biloba is very helpful for me. I take a capsule every morning and I go months at a time without any problems, and when I get them, it seems to be more because my legs were getting weak and my head was congested.

Subject: RE: BS: A Thumb in the Dike
From: Rapparee
Date: 18 May 21 - 09:28 PM

As the man said, "Jerry, do not go gentle into that good night." Good night, I'm not going to do so and I'm a decade younger than you. When that old scythe-carrier comes for me there's gonna be a passel of bones flung here and there and they ain't a-gonna be mine.

Subject: RE: BS: A Thumb in the Dike
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 18 May 21 - 10:06 PM

Hey Rapparee... I'm not afraid of dying. I want to live my life as fully as I can, and as much as possible, take care of myself. Thanks for your post.

Subject: RE: BS: A Thumb in the Dike
From: Mr Red
Date: 19 May 21 - 07:38 AM

"I'm not afraid of dying, I just don't want to be there when it happens"
Woody Allen.

Subject: RE: BS: A Thumb in the Dike
From: Donuel
Date: 19 May 21 - 07:58 AM

Modern fingers/thumbs in the dyke are things like clot filters implanted in arteries to prevent strokes. I prefer the natural and time worn remedies like Jerry. I really enjoy hydro therapy be it a massaging shower head or hot tub.

Subject: RE: BS: A Thumb in the Dike
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 19 May 21 - 09:10 AM

I hacd a heart attack three years ago, had stents put in and have rebuilt my heart strength back to normal with exercise.

Subject: RE: BS: A Thumb in the Dike
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 19 May 21 - 11:55 AM

I (only 60 and a young un compared to others here) am on a bit of a reprieve at the moment. I had a very large (I’d let it go for years and years) skin cancer tumour removed last year and am back to being able to do things like do shoe laces up (though I still prefer velcro fasteners) and other “bend down” tasks” and have been catching up on a few things I hadn’t been able to do..

Music (at least mentioned in another thread, and, yes, my fingers get stiffer...) is a bit different. I can sit comfortably in a range of chairs again but my main motivation has long been playing (mostly Irish tunes in sessions) with others and, even without Covid, getting out is hard and I’ve rarely been one for practising, etc. at home and never passed my test in a car. I do play a bit (I try with tenor banjo/mandolin and guitar) and sometimes we have a short sing song but I need the getting out for much motivation.

As for older age than me, I live with my parents who are both in their mid 80s. Dad suffered a bleed stroke as the result of a medical accident (they gave him streptokainaise which he reacted to for a heart attack he never had – it was a Meniers attack. It landed him rushed off to Walton (major UK neurological centre) some 20+ years back and he was in a coma for a while. He recovered better than expected from that but still suffers from some effects from that as well as generally degenerating now. These days, he needs help to move around. I’ve recently got him walking again with the frame for day time walks to the toilet (he stopped doing that when I was in hospital for 7 weeks) but other times and with his morning helper, he’s pushed around in a commode chair (his wheelchair doesn’t make the bathroom door).

Mum, who was a physiotherapist, specialising in elderly care and very active has suffered badly with arthritis in more recent years and sort of hobbles around. Still, she manages to get out round the back some fine days and mostly just looks at our garden in the rented part of a field, something I’ve simplified from her days of tending for it every daylight hour available.

Old age makes things harder but we find ways of getting by. Dad can't really contribute now but mum and I can make up for each others deficiencies in some way or other and keep things going.

Subject: RE: BS: A Thumb in the Dike
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 19 May 21 - 04:19 PM

Thanks for your long post, Jon. You and your parents have the right attiude... Accept what you're given and give praise for all that remains. Life is an unending adjustment. Nothing stays the same for that long. How you adjust dettermines how good a life you have. You and your parents are adjusting well, and still are finding goodness in your days.

Good on you all.

Subject: RE: BS: A Thumb in the Dike
From: banjoman
Date: 20 May 21 - 06:56 AM

I know exactly how you feel. I am 77 years old and have had several spells in hospital recently (minor stroke, Pneumonia, to name but two.
Currently recovering at home but will probably need a stairlift.
Carers call daily/ Main problem is that i have a house full of musical instruments which I can no longer play to the level I could before all this began.
Daily regime of exercises and medication. I have a very supportive wife and have a determination to get back to playing again (and driving)Good luck to all who contribute to this thread

Pete

Subject: RE: BS: A Thumb in the Dike
From: Donuel
Date: 20 May 21 - 08:05 AM

May all your adventures amount dented fenders and body panels or replaceable wear items like brake pads and tires. As long as your drive train and transmision is fine there is plenty to explore on the open road of life.

Subject: RE: BS: A Thumb in the Dike
From: Donuel
Date: 20 May 21 - 08:10 AM

"may all your misadventures amount to dented fenders..."

Subject: RE: BS: A Thumb in the Dike
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 20 May 21 - 09:55 AM

Thanks, Donnuel. I thank God every morning when I wake up an
d everything is still working. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: A Thumb in the Dike
From: Jos
Date: 20 May 21 - 10:16 AM

If your many musical instruments include a Fender, try not to dent that one.

Subject: RE: BS: A Thumb in the Dike
From: Mrrzy
Date: 20 May 21 - 03:43 PM

Old age is not for sissies.

Subject: RE: BS: A Thumb in the Dike
From: Bill D
Date: 20 May 21 - 03:52 PM

We cowards, however, just keep running forward..

Subject: RE: BS: A Thumb in the Dike
From: gillymor
Date: 20 May 21 - 04:22 PM

The older I get
the better I was.