Dexascan and Renpho - what do I trust?

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  • SModa61
    SModa61 Posts: 3,113 Member
    chris_in_cal wrote: »
    SModa61 wrote: »

    Interestingly, my father who has survived three forms of cancer and survived some aggressive treatments usually given to a younger individual, had his hip snap off mid-stride October 2021.

    I am currently watching my parents physically deteriorate (88 and 86) and it is painful to watch. I continually wonder how different their path may have been if they had focused more on their physicality.

    I'm curious about your (and other people's) perspective and aspirations in measuring and seeking snapshot details?

    As I am sure you are aware, probably 80%+ people on this thread would celebrate if their parents were alive at ages 88 and 86. You write "painful." I get it, but what's the big picture you are carrying? How does your big picture apply to your current efforts on your own health and wellbeing?

    A doctor I heard on a podcast this week talked about western medicine and society being wildly successful on reducing 'fast death' (think consumption, 40 y/o smokers having heart attacks, etc.) and we are left with everyone else who face 'slow death.' Not to get too morbid, but I'm hoping there is contentedness and vitality and happiness in doing ones best, enjoying the process, and accepting fate.

    I'll step off my soapbox. I do very much appreciate and identify with what you are questioning, I'm just curious abit on how you hope it will support you?

    @chris_in_cal I just got home from a full day with my parents in assisted living. Yes, I am fortunate to have my parents still with me. They are fortunate enough to have good enough health to be alive. The parts that are hardest on me are the aspects that I feel they had a choice about.

    The first of these is the fact that as my parents aged they became full on hoarders. Right now, they have been in assisted living for over one and a half years. They own two homes, neither of which they can financially extricate themselves from, because they won't allow the contents to be dealt with. The hoarding also led to them not letting repair people into their home or cleaners as my mother became unable to, and it even removed their ability to have downsized into a more livable home that, just maybe, could have delayed their need to move into assisted living. Meanwhile, financially they are paying for two homes, PLUS assisted living. I on the other hand have to come de-hoard their assisted living apartment regularly, and like today, did emergency run to one home that suddenly mail is being delivered to again.

    Second, their physical health, which IMO may have altered their options in life. I think COVID lockdown accelerated my mother's deterioration, both mentally and physically. She had taken pride in her efforts until then. Once COVID came around, she literally would not even go outside (she lived in an expansive neighborhood - not congested) out of fear that there might be a person in sight. My father on the other hand, thinks physical activity is a remote control. My father's mobility is bad and every time they set up PT he refuses to do anything because he "knows more than them" or his "mitochondria need to recharge". My mother has accelerated in her decline just in the past few months.

    My mother fight's medical care. My father thinks pills are the solution.

    OK, so you asked, what is my takeaway, and what might I do differently.

    1) we sold our family home at age 60 to move into a very nice townhouse, but one that we can see how we could age in place in the future
    2) we are decluttering and getting rid of unnecessary things
    3) we are trying to be better about exercise and maintaining mobility, and part of that is a healthy weight. Extra pounds are hard on the body and harder to move around, and even hard on any aid or family that needs to assist you later in life.
    4) I am looking at, but not yet doing, supplements (aka vitamins) to see what benefits might exist
    5) keeping up on medical care, preferably preventative. Monitoring those lab results and acting accordingly, and, as much as possible, addressing any medical issues through better healthy choices (like my lipid panel came back imperfect. I have since done a lot of reading on the subject and I am shifting my diet in a way that should help) I prefer that as a first step rather than "popping a pill" that is now one more obstacle to navigate in your health journey.

    There is a couple at my parent's assisted living that I met a few months ago. Wife was bright, clean articulate and mobile, as was the husband. If I recall, she was 102, her "younger husband" was 99. I had guessed her age as low 80's. I would love to ask them about the choices they made. Given they are husband and wife, odds are it is not purely lucky genetics, or they got that luck times two.

    Hope I did not just bore you to tears, and maybe I answered your questions.

  • SModa61
    SModa61 Posts: 3,113 Member
    @annPT77 I truly enjoyed reading your essay, and I am so glad that I responded to @chris_in_cal before reading your comments. I might have been afraid I was just copying your thoughts. Now, going down your “essay”.

    I agree with your thoughts on the Dexa and just accept the results may not be exact, but no alarm bells were set off. On the Renpho, I can’t recall if there were “basic” questions at the beginning or not. Likely there were as height and sex are typically needed for those devices. It did ask to access my phone’s health info, and I have as yet declined. Not saying I won’t, but easier to opt in then try and get my data back from them.

    Thank you for sharing your observations regarding the divergent aging groups. Hubby and I are fairly “lone wolf” people. We do have friends but no big social circles. BUT, what you have shared has confirmed what I fear/believe can be in ones future if the wrong choices are made. One of the “funny” things I do, is I constantly practice getting up from the floor with no hands. I happen to like sitting on the floor, so I get lots of opportunities. Last year, having fun with my then two year old grandson, I entertained him by my crawling through the toddler play tunnel (cannot gain weight and do that! :P ). I’d like to live well for whatever years I have remaining AND I’d like my children and grandchildren to enjoy their lives with me and not tending to me, if I can.

    Was it you, Ann, that recommended the book “The Wonder Years” to me? For some reason, I think it was you. It is in front of me right now. I bought before my 2021 tailspin (something I need to stop doing).
  • SModa61
    SModa61 Posts: 3,113 Member
    @kshama2001 I want to grow up to be that woman. Read my reply above to “chris”. Woman is 102, and husband 99, and one would guess they were in early 80’s at the worst.

    Also, like you I have the comparative good and bad. Hubby’s paternal grandmother, got a stroke because she refused to take her diabetes medications or modify her diet. Had to move to nursing home, half paralyzed for the last 10 years of her life.

    Hubby’s maternal grandfather, had moved into a nursing home, but was a rare male and the life of the home. One night they had a dance. He danced with every woman. That night he died in his sleep. I keep saying that that is the way to die.

    @cwolfman13 Yes, indeed they are Dexa. Are they maintained? Are they calibrated? I guess those questions are more in my mind…..after the fact. If was a bucket list item. Initially I planned to do periodically, but I’ll be thinking hard if that is how I want to spend another $80 (reasonable price IMM)
  • sollyn23l2
    sollyn23l2 Posts: 1,786 Member
    I understand your frustration. At the end of the day, we all age. While it's possible some of their lifestyle choices may have been able to mitigate what they're going through, the reality is most of these things were going to happen to them. I watched my grandmother who was always one of the healthiest people I've known, slowly die from dementia. It's difficult to come to terms with the reality that one day, our bodies will fail us, and we can't completely stop it.
  • chris_in_cal
    chris_in_cal Posts: 2,540 Member
    edited June 2023
    So much of what you write @SModa61 resonates with me. I'm so happy you are putting this out here.

    This is sort of a plug, but I saw a documentary about five years ago and it really started me down a good path of addressing my relationship with my possessions. I come from hoarder people.

    Coincidentally the documentarians (The Minimalists) emailed today saying their full doc is going to be available free on Youtube starting this Saturday: https://youtu.be/J8DGjUv-Vjc

    It isn't the greatest movie in the world, but it lit a match and I've really been comfortable making big changes since starting down this road. Give it a watch this weekend if you have the time.

  • SModa61
    SModa61 Posts: 3,113 Member
    sollyn23l2 wrote: »
    I understand your frustration. At the end of the day, we all age. While it's possible some of their lifestyle choices may have been able to mitigate what they're going through, the reality is most of these things were going to happen to them. I watched my grandmother who was always one of the healthiest people I've known, slowly die from dementia. It's difficult to come to terms with the reality that one day, our bodies will fail us, and we can't completely stop it.

    @sollyn23l2 Dementia is horrible. My mother seems to be being damaged by this. My older sister is scared that this might be genetic and therefore is this a certainty for us as well.
  • SModa61
    SModa61 Posts: 3,113 Member
    chris_in_cal wrote: »
    So much of what you write @SModa61 resonates with me. I'm so happy you are putting this out here.

    This is sort of a plug, but I saw a documentary about five years ago and it really started me down a good path of addressing my relationship with my possessions. I come from hoarder people.

    Coincidentally the documentarians (The Minimalists) emailed today saying their full doc is going to be available free on Youtube starting this Saturday: https://youtu.be/J8DGjUv-Vjc

    It isn't the greatest movie in the world, but it lit a match and I've really been comfortable making big changes since starting down this road. Give it a watch this weekend if you have the time.

    @chris_in_cal thank you for sharing that link. I will certainly watch it. My personality risks hoarding. Fortunately I am married to a husband that reminds me this is not an option. And of course, my parents have inspired me to make sure I improve as I age, instead of getting worse like many elderly.

    Oh, in my large message above, I forgot to mention that my father has been obese (low end obese) for likely 10+ years now, and I never remember him as a "normal" weight man. This choice has certainly added to his mobility issues.
  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 8,662 Member
    edited June 2023
    @SModa61 i had to request guardianship and conservatorship for my parents, and to keep my sanity, ultimately requested court appointed ones. Our court appointed the same lovely attorney to serve as both.

    Lovely and attorney. Two words that don’t normally go together, right?

    Best decision I ever made. Ours was wonderful. She stepped in and made sure my parents had safe and proper full time care, that caretakers were paid on time and able to buy supplies, removed middle aged moochers from the parental teat, and straightened out their finances. After they passed, she was able to get things dealt with fairly and quickly, and when family members went ballistic, she firmly dealt with them.

    It was such a relief. They were borderline hoarders themselves, the resident of their basement was a hoarder, the house hadn’t been repaired or cleaned in years. She got it emptied, cleaned, evictions handled, listed and sold in less than a year.

    She earned every penny of her fees and I would have gladly paid more just for the peace and relief from worry.

    I know it’s hard, but you may need to consider their long term financial needs versus their pride and stubbornness. Having it fall on you isn’t fair, and I know from experience, it affects your mental and physical health.
  • SModa61
    SModa61 Posts: 3,113 Member
    @springlering62 amazing! there may come a time that it comes to that. right now, I am getting trained by my father to assume certain financial responsibilities, bills, where monies are, and access codes to various accounts. I am sorry you went through this, but I appreciate your sharing your experience and solutions.

    Note: As currently defined, I am eventually co-trustee, co-executor, and sole power of attorney depending on when any of those roles kick in.
  • SModa61
    SModa61 Posts: 3,113 Member
    edited June 2023
    BTW all this talk reminded me that today almost became a day 4 without exercise. Changed and grabbed my sneakers and did 4 mile walk at 13'30" pace.

    For you data people, I am also monitory my estimated VO2 max (Apple watch data). In january, I was 29.4 avg and just returning to walking, and last week I reached 33.3. Today was disappointing as I was down to 32.6 which I had not seen since May 27. Consistency, gotta do it!!

    How real is it? Dunno, but it is some other data point that reflects effort. May 2021, I got to 34.9. I want to hit 35!
  • chris_in_cal
    chris_in_cal Posts: 2,540 Member
    SModa61 wrote: »
    I want to hit 35!

    35 in 2023, I'm in! Garmin say I'm 33 'fair' and my "fitness age" is two years older than my actual age. Bleech
  • SModa61
    SModa61 Posts: 3,113 Member
    @chris_in_cal Sounds like the Garmin needs some better manners. I don't think my apple watch predicts my age, but the Renpho was very kind. Had me at 56. I'll look further on my phone health ap.

    Race you to 35!
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,598 Member
    SModa61 wrote: »
    (snip)

    Was it you, Ann, that recommended the book “The Wonder Years” to me? For some reason, I think it was you. It is in front of me right now. I bought before my 2021 tailspin (something I need to stop doing).

    Might well have been. I have that book, love it so much, pretty sure I've recommended it here.

    For others: It's a book by Rick Rickman, photographer, and collaborators. It profiles senior athletes, with amazing and inspirational photos.

    You can see a sample of the photos on Rickman's web site, here:

    https://www.rickrickman.com/gallery.html?gallery=The+Wonder+Years&folio=Portfolio#/0

    See if your library has the book, if any of y'all are semi-aging folks. It's fabulous.
  • chris_in_cal
    chris_in_cal Posts: 2,540 Member
    SModa61 wrote: »
    @chris_in_cal thank you for sharing that link. I will certainly watch it. My personality risks hoarding.

    The premiere, and now free, documentary "Minimalism" is on youtube. https://www.youtube.com/@TheMinimalists
  • SModa61
    SModa61 Posts: 3,113 Member
    chris_in_cal wrote: »
    SModa61 wrote: »
    @chris_in_cal thank you for sharing that link. I will certainly watch it. My personality risks hoarding.

    The premiere, and now free, documentary "Minimalism" is on youtube. https://www.youtube.com/@TheMinimalists

    @chris_in_cal Thank you for the reminder. Will check it it. Hopefully it will inspire me further!!! :)
  • chris_in_cal
    chris_in_cal Posts: 2,540 Member
    There is kind of a "Premier" thing right now, where the filmmakers are in the chat. It's cool. But the doc will be there from now on for free.
  • SModa61
    SModa61 Posts: 3,113 Member
    @chris_in_cal Today is a little crazy. Hopefully tomorrow morning!
  • xrj22
    xrj22 Posts: 218 Member
    F$%^ the numbers. YOU know whether you feel good about the way you look and feel, or if you have extra flab to loose, or if you are not in the kind of shape you would like to be. And you probably have a feel for how much YOU are going to realistically be able to change it within a lifestyle that is comfortable for you. If seeing the numbers come down is motivation for you, then use them for that. But there isn't one number that is "normal" or "goal" -- you need to make your own decisions about whether you want to loose more, tone up, or stay as you are.
  • SModa61
    SModa61 Posts: 3,113 Member
    @xrj22 , thanks for taking the time to reply to my op. If you check out the resulting discussion, there are components that one cannot suss out by how we feel and look. Do I know my bone density/bone mass? Do I know my visceral fat and am I TIFO? Mirrors can't tell me that, but it is data like that that DexaScans and the like purportedly provide. Would like to determine the quality of such data.

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