Old age and getting run down
- Thread starter Rake Aboot
- Start date
Jagare
Well-Known Member
I worked from 15 to 72 years old started of in Agriculture then a good stretch in concrete repairs and when I moved to Sweden worked casting concrete. I'm lucky that I have so far had good health, leaving out losing a knee cap, a broken leg, and slight heart condition.
After buggering up my Achiles tendon, I bought a normal bike, and one of those stands where I can cycle indoors. I cycle 25 minutes most days. At 77, I'm out with the dogs every day . My game keeping duties start soon ready for another year's hunting. I have a full year booked. I realised years ago that the limitations age brings. So, live my life accordingly. I told myself no more guns or dogs. Well, the dog promise went out the window and I have my eye on a rather nice AYA XXV boxlock. Life is good.
After buggering up my Achiles tendon, I bought a normal bike, and one of those stands where I can cycle indoors. I cycle 25 minutes most days. At 77, I'm out with the dogs every day . My game keeping duties start soon ready for another year's hunting. I have a full year booked. I realised years ago that the limitations age brings. So, live my life accordingly. I told myself no more guns or dogs. Well, the dog promise went out the window and I have my eye on a rather nice AYA XXV boxlock. Life is good.
I'm 54, so not that far behind you.Not that I’m old
I’m 58 now and have had a lifetime of keeping very fit . Road cycling mostly with all sorts of sport thrown in
Football , mountaineering racquet sports , you name it I’ve tried it
In between all that has been the constant hunting, Guns , lurchers , ferrets etc
I retired 3 years ago and have not had a single day idle until December last year when a chest infection flattened me for weeks
On the back of that, a disc issue in my back cost me the last of my season beating and loading
Right now, I feel like I’m struggling to get back to it .
My mountain bike is laughing at me and I’ve got so much to do but it’s really a hard fight
Some told me that after 55 things got hard and got harder to get back to , I’m beginning to appreciate that.
Am I the only one or this an actual thing ?
Should I drink more and not worry about it ?
For most of my life I have been fit and active, and physically very strong in a lean and wiry way.
However, a few years ago I developed an autoimmune condition. In the space of just a few months my life changed completely. Now I am often too weak to get dressed unaided, and in too much pain to pick up my toothbrush. I cannot dry myself after a shower. It's a bastard of a thing, but all we can do is play the hand we're dealt and carry on as best we can.
If I was an employee I'd have been signed off on long term sick pay, but as I'm self employed I get no help. Just got to try to keep on working.
Sako6.5x55
Well-Known Member
71 this week, retired 3 years ago but not by choice. 2 knee replacements, arthritis in my hands, inflammatory spondylitis, damaged C5 vertebrae in my neck, just got control of a skin infection after 18 months.
I’ve got up before 5 am every day since the day I started work 56 years ago, nowadays it takes a bit longer for the joints to work but non of that matters unless your brain accepts it does. A good friend of mine says this quite often “don’t let the old man in”. There are no truer words, my you younger brother is an old man and has been for many years.
Just accept the pain and discomfort and get on with your life, otherwise you’ll just be an old man in pain and discomfort, there’s an infinite time to rest in the future!
PS. Drink as much whisky as you like as long as it doesn’t stop you getting up at 5am.
I’ve got up before 5 am every day since the day I started work 56 years ago, nowadays it takes a bit longer for the joints to work but non of that matters unless your brain accepts it does. A good friend of mine says this quite often “don’t let the old man in”. There are no truer words, my you younger brother is an old man and has been for many years.
Just accept the pain and discomfort and get on with your life, otherwise you’ll just be an old man in pain and discomfort, there’s an infinite time to rest in the future!
PS. Drink as much whisky as you like as long as it doesn’t stop you getting up at 5am.
Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
Getting old is not for the faint of heart. It’s a mindset thing.
Keeping active is key, but its doing the right sort of active that is essential. Lots of stretching, breathing and general mobility, and emphasis on technique. Fitness takes a while to build and needs to be maintained. It’s easily lost.
And focus on what you can do, not what you can’t.
You are not going to be able to run, play rugby, lift the big weights that you used to. But you are absolutely able to walk, walk up mountains, fish, go on adventures etc etc.
I am still recovering from Long COVID. It completely flattened me and there was a time when I was out of breath just walking up the stairs, and needing to sleep 18 hours a day. But taking each day, week and month as they came, I rebuilt some of my former strength. Can cover 15km stalking in the Scottish Hills, and just back from 3 days fishing.
And for most of us, put a 5 to 10 kg dumbell on the floor and then be told that you have to carry that around all day everyday. It’s bloody hard work.
Yet most of us probably have that around our middles. And it comes as a shock when our metabolism just burns off all the calories we put in, instead they just get stored. So try and loose a bit of weight, and try and keep it off.
Keeping active is key, but its doing the right sort of active that is essential. Lots of stretching, breathing and general mobility, and emphasis on technique. Fitness takes a while to build and needs to be maintained. It’s easily lost.
And focus on what you can do, not what you can’t.
You are not going to be able to run, play rugby, lift the big weights that you used to. But you are absolutely able to walk, walk up mountains, fish, go on adventures etc etc.
I am still recovering from Long COVID. It completely flattened me and there was a time when I was out of breath just walking up the stairs, and needing to sleep 18 hours a day. But taking each day, week and month as they came, I rebuilt some of my former strength. Can cover 15km stalking in the Scottish Hills, and just back from 3 days fishing.
And for most of us, put a 5 to 10 kg dumbell on the floor and then be told that you have to carry that around all day everyday. It’s bloody hard work.
Yet most of us probably have that around our middles. And it comes as a shock when our metabolism just burns off all the calories we put in, instead they just get stored. So try and loose a bit of weight, and try and keep it off.
I think longevity is, more often than not, a matter of luck. My parents both died in their very early 50s, and I never expected to make old bones. I shall be 90 next birthday and still get out almost every night after rabbits or fox. I have a gun in a small pheasant shoot and like a bit of pigeon shooting.
I think I've lived a pretty normal life and have never made a conscious effort to keep fit, except for giving up smoking forty years ago. As you get older, things generally do start going wrong! I've just had cataract ops on both eyes, which has been amazing. Prostate cancer has struck, but it appears to be under control, and I take half a dozen pills for various other ailments.
Just make the most of what you've got and make every day a good one.
I think I've lived a pretty normal life and have never made a conscious effort to keep fit, except for giving up smoking forty years ago. As you get older, things generally do start going wrong! I've just had cataract ops on both eyes, which has been amazing. Prostate cancer has struck, but it appears to be under control, and I take half a dozen pills for various other ailments.
Just make the most of what you've got and make every day a good one.
Mr Tree
Well-Known Member
66 years old, my biggest problem is living on my own. Its flipping boring, summer is great,, but winter is like a near death experience. Then I discovered Cuba, & a lust for life! Swimming in the coral reefs, dancing with the locals in the Casa la Trova, unbelievable music, getting involved with some of the nicest people in the world, I count the days when I can go back there, what the hell am I doing here? Rum, four quid a bottle,fags 80pence a pack, Cuendo nado con les Pesces soy libre! And yes, its cheaper to go than to stay here.
Go for it, there’s still time.
Ratcatcher
Well-Known Member
Don't forget your torch when you go back
Ratcatcher
Well-Known Member
My Doctor friend, who I stalk with, says this " some of us are rolls Royce s ,some of us mini's, ie, some of us are overweight, smoke, drink too much but will go on forever. Some of us are light, fit, and have no vices and die!" Personally I don't think he's even spoken a truer word 
Interesting comment about struggling to recover from the chest infection. People sometimes think that you should be over it in a couple of weeks, but even after antibiotics it can still take 6-8 weeks to really get going again - and even then don't expect to be completely fit for a while after that. Crap time of the year, weather wise and hopefully you'll feel better once you et some warmth to your bones!Not that I’m old
I’m 58 now and have had a lifetime of keeping very fit . Road cycling mostly with all sorts of sport thrown in
Football , mountaineering racquet sports , you name it I’ve tried it
In between all that has been the constant hunting, Guns , lurchers , ferrets etc
I retired 3 years ago and have not had a single day idle until December last year when a chest infection flattened me for weeks
On the back of that, a disc issue in my back cost me the last of my season beating and loading
Right now, I feel like I’m struggling to get back to it .
My mountain bike is laughing at me and I’ve got so much to do but it’s really a hard fight
Some told me that after 55 things got hard and got harder to get back to , I’m beginning to appreciate that.
Am I the only one or this an actual thing ?
Should I drink more and not worry about it ?
Are you still managing to ride the bike(s)? If you are - you're half way back to normality already......a couple of good long runs when the weather improves, a couple of rallies/weekends away and you're sorted
.Me, 67 and 6 years post open heart surgery, aches and pains, but generally still functioning. Still wonder how I'm still here at times, but try and make the most of it - still do some daft things on the bikes, but enjoy life as it is.....
Drink a bit, but the tablets sometimes tell me not to!
Mr Tree
Well-Known Member
Its never too late to change directions in life, we tend to dread change, learn to embrace it & start living again, despite all the doom & gloom, its still an amazingly beautiful world out there, we can all make excuses for not doing it, health permitting, thanks!
Dunwaters
Well-Known Member
Anyone who tells you that “age is only a number” is irredeemably stupid and both totally deluded and criminally un observant..
I’m currently back in for the second round of radiation treatment, my hips and knees are shot, most of the friends I used to shoot with have given up or turned their toes up. I definitely now know more people in the graveyard than the pub.
On the bright side, life in prison doesn’t have quite the same deterrent effect, I’m looking for a pup and I can still able to get out on my own ( if the weather is good ). The people who still talk to me have become ridiculously solicitous, I haven’t had to drag my own deer for a couple of seasons and I get invitations to places I could never afford when I was paying for it myself.
Rake Aboot, Take it one day at a time and dont make any decisions until you have the results of the biopsy and a chat with the consultant.
Its much easier to give up your guns than to get them back, you’re only a wee slip of a lad with decades of sport ahead of you.
I’m currently back in for the second round of radiation treatment, my hips and knees are shot, most of the friends I used to shoot with have given up or turned their toes up. I definitely now know more people in the graveyard than the pub.
On the bright side, life in prison doesn’t have quite the same deterrent effect, I’m looking for a pup and I can still able to get out on my own ( if the weather is good ). The people who still talk to me have become ridiculously solicitous, I haven’t had to drag my own deer for a couple of seasons and I get invitations to places I could never afford when I was paying for it myself.
Rake Aboot, Take it one day at a time and dont make any decisions until you have the results of the biopsy and a chat with the consultant.
Its much easier to give up your guns than to get them back, you’re only a wee slip of a lad with decades of sport ahead of you.
Rake Aboot
Well-Known Member
Thank you but you’ve mixed me up a bit there. No biopsies for me luckily
Foxyboy43
Well-Known Member
58? A mere stripling man!Not that I’m old
I’m 58 now and have had a lifetime of keeping very fit . Road cycling mostly with all sorts of sport thrown in
Football , mountaineering racquet sports , you name it I’ve tried it
In between all that has been the constant hunting, Guns , lurchers , ferrets etc
I retired 3 years ago and have not had a single day idle until December last year when a chest infection flattened me for weeks
On the back of that, a disc issue in my back cost me the last of my season beating and loading
Right now, I feel like I’m struggling to get back to it .
My mountain bike is laughing at me and I’ve got so much to do but it’s really a hard fight
Some told me that after 55 things got hard and got harder to get back to , I’m beginning to appreciate that.
Am I the only one or this an actual thing ?
Should I drink more and not worry about it ?
Getting over a debilitating illness can be a challenge, even more so when the years are clocking up but worry ye not sir - things will improve and your zest for life will return. Just be aware of telling strangers your age right after you meet them - usually “I am xx you know” and never let age be a barrier.
By coincidence we are over at my sister-in-law’s wedding this week - she is 72 and her husband (as of yesterday) is 90 in October and still full of zest for life. Rumour is she is pregnant……
Jim Hutton
Well-Known Member
You are a long time dead so make the most of life whatever age you are.
Bavarianbrit
Well-Known Member
Retired at 68 now I will/am 76 on 11th but am still doing lots of reloading plus playing in two Jagdhorn groups which means three evenings of lung exercise every week, in between I have to run around for my partner shopping and driving her to various health specialists twice per week as she had to have a second knee joint fitted last November and the healing as with the first one three years ago is a long slow process. I do things slower though even as I came from an office job and not as some on here hard groundworks.
Uncle Buck
Well-Known Member
I’m 45’ish in the body of a 63yr old. Like the rest of you over the hill mob you just going.
Life’s to short, and the worst thing about getting old is remembering when you were young.
So chaps life’s for the living .. live long and prosper
Buck.
you just going.Life’s to short, and the worst thing about getting old is remembering when you were young.
So chaps life’s for the living .. live long and prosper
Buck.
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