WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR APRIL 2022

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Nighty nighty ladies

Barbara - Troy is in my prayers.

Heather - my daughter tells me that you can make playlists on Spotify to share.
I am impressed that you have those mementos. I think the only thing I have that came from any ex whatsoever is my first boyfriend Chris. He and I are still friends and I adopted myself into his family. His Mother was called Mom by me and Grammie by my girls. His sisters and I are best friends and her three children are my Godchildren.

Kelly - when my daughter held the baby shower last month she found a playlist for that. Every song had the word baby in it. It was actually a nice playlist all genres and generations represented.
We’re still waiting for that baby, Mama was due yesterday. I’m a surrogate Grandmother:)

Lisa - how fortunate the tree didn’t cause damage.
I was aghast at the cost of the prescription. It’s great that they are making these incredible advances in medicine but something needs to be done about the exorbitant prices. There was a campaign this winter for a little two year old boy that needed an injection of some sort that would save his life, the cost was $1 million. The government ended up paying for it but it caused some upset as that is really taxpayer money and how can you do that for one and not all?

Carla - love the pocket kisses story.

Had a doctors appointment today, check up for my blood pressure med change. Had her look at my arm that has hurting, I have tennis elbow. She has ordered an anti inflammatory cream . The pharmacist won’t have it ready until tomorrow. I am also icing it.
My exercise therapist thought that was what was wrong and told me once it was diagnosed she would give me some exercises for it.

Tracey in Edmonton

Accountability:
Nephew resting comfortably after surgery, thanks for all the prayers. More later as it is known. His sister, who has been with him throughout this ordeal, came out to find a $100 parking ticket on her car. Yes she was parked in visitor’s parking, had moved her car from emergency parking lot earlier in the day. She said other cars parked in the same lot were “booted” and there were no signs about time limits, citations or booting. SMH.

Morning dog report. When Joe left this morning for a Freddie’s run, Gino whined, went to each door and even to the front window trying to will Joe back. Great joy at Joe’s return, even more when he took us all to Azalea Park. Pooped out on dog group, tried going down the drive to the powerline instead. Achy but no lightning bolts, yay.

Yikes! Just realized Palm Sunday is NEXT Sunday! That means Passover is next week too! Time to make Maztoh Roca for the (Messianic Christian) goddaughter and her family.

Noticed BP back up, wondering what brought it down last month, could it have been the antibiotics?

Ginny, good luck with the appeal. Bravissima for first year smoke-free!
Heather I absolutely remember those compilation tapes, especially the one Joe played for me on our courtship camping trip. Do wooers now exchange playlists? Ah, KJ says so.
Machka “…garden done” LOL! Annie can you back off the yoga series/go back to the level that didn’t inflame your knees? Later saw you ARE taking your time, brava! Slow and sure… Sad to hear your mom’s scary CT scan results, but at least it helps to understand some of her issues.
KJ it stinks that soon as you get some time off you get sick. Could you have been fighting it off and now that you can relax,,, it hit?
Margaret thank you for the powerful visualization, that’s the one we used decades ago on my BFF after her auto accident. Her recovery astonished all her caregivers.
Rebecca I used to take apple cider vinegar daily (not Braggs, but Solano Gold). No ill effects, but I’d caution you to rinse your mouth out with water after, the acid can weaken your teeth’s enamel. Mama handled my request to taste her highball similarly, she gave me a teaspoon of straight bourbon. YUCK! She and Papa both always had a preprandial beverage and shared a sip of their beer or wine with me, but I never wanted their highballs again.
Vicki thanks and hugs right back atcha.
Lisa thankful the remainder of the new roof tree fell so gracefully. Is some kind of memorial in order? Also glad you have alternative power stove, gas? Propane? Our propane stove burners would work in an outage we’d just have to light a match. Unfortunately the oven temp is electronically controlled :P Really wish Aunt Elsie’s stove was workable.
Beth ((hugs))
Carla your daughter’s pocket kisses and boot camp story.
Michele Brava for so kindly developing relationship with Jerry. You are a gift.
Carol “…just trying not to be More” Amen, sister AMEN!
Irene take advantage of every day of that authorized PT, so glad your MD ok’d it. Brava on your progress thus far.
Tracey thank you. You are so right about the exorbitant prices for medications and who ultimately pays. Understand research is expensive and must be funded, but there has to be a better way.
Katla sorry yoga was postponed. Delighted DH will be able to poke himself less with new monitoring system and that the video conference with Dr and DD went well. Will your DD be there for your next appointment? Yours, yes yours. Katla I fear you’ve been putting your healthcare second to your DH’s. Time for you to get some help and attention.

Lighter, lovelies!
Barbara, the Southern Oregon Coastie AHMOD
2022: Be still and listen.

Morning ladies
Well my son in law tested positive for covid with the at home kit.. im glad he is vaxxed but he isn't boostered and he got super sick when he got both vaccines.. I just hope he doesn't get to sick,I worry more about Tracy who isnt vaccinated..even though she is nursing no matter.. Carmine is vaxxed also but he wont be able to go to school either I think for like 5 days.
Tracy wont be able to work until he is better and gets the all clear so I am off the hook for a bit.. but worry about all of them..

Snowflake1968 wrote: »

Machka9 wrote: »

bananasandoranges wrote: »

MACHKA I agree it's good to like one's body. I'm fine with mine overall.
Now losing is more about health. When I was younger it was more about appearance and also balanced well-being I thing.

So I have been very tired of late. I have gained about 17 pounds in 5 years. That's about + 15% that I'm carrying around every day. I think that is what is tiring me. it's more tiring to walk around. I'm not really much more muscular... So presumably if I lose at least some of this I will be less tired. Generalists have tended to say I was not overweight since I was just at the top of average BMI, and it could be worse. no point having a complex for no reason. Now I'm at 25.5 BMI. Not easy though, as some of us have seen.

Height

I lost an inch more or less over the years. As a young teen I was 5 2 then went up to about 5 3 and am now back down to 5 2.
"on average, women lose two inches of height between ages 30 and 70. By age 80, that number is three inches"

Two inches ! by 70! that's a lot!

I'm not crazy about that! I liked the extra inch. it brought me closer to average!
But it's hardly the worst thing in the world. In France and also in the USA average female height is 5'4" so I was quite close to average here and I guess in the USA too, all told.

It must be good for women who feel they are too tall. I don't think it's SO common but I had an acquaintance that was about 6 feet back in the day and was uncomfortable with that at the time.

So losing an inch means my BMI goes up at same weight. But also I gained weight.

On height ...

How You Can Avoid Losing Height as You Get Older
It's never too early to prevent bone loss with diet, physical activity
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/can-avoid-losing-height-get-older/

"Losing a little height as you get older is normal. Over the years, the discs between your spine’s vertebrae flatten, your muscles start to lose mass and the spaces between your joints narrow.

However, a significant loss in height can signal osteoporosis, says rheumatologist Abby G. Abelson, MD, FACR."

"Your diet and lifestyle are two important risk factors that you can control to prevent osteoporosis. That means eating a diet rich in calcium throughout your life and regular physical activity can help a lot. Dr. Abelson adds that it’s also important to stop smoking if you do and to avoid excessive alcohol intake.

You should aim to get 1,200 milligrams of calcium per day to help prevent bone loss, Dr. Abelson says. Exercises that make your muscles work against gravity, such as walking, jogging, aerobics, and weightlifting, are best for strengthening bones."

Aging changes in body shape
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003998.htm

"The tendency to become shorter occurs among all races and both sexes. Height loss is related to aging changes in the bones, muscles, and joints. People typically lose almost one-half inch (about 1 centimeter) every 10 years after age 40. Height loss is even more rapid after age 70. You may lose a total of 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.5 centimeters) in height as you age. You can help prevent height loss by following a healthy diet, staying physically active, and preventing and treating bone loss."



I've lost about one-half inch (about 1 centimeter). Used to be 5'6" and now I'm 5'5.5".

But since being told I slouch when I stand and walk, and since really noticing what I looked like in a mirror when I did that back in 2015, I started making an effort to stand tall and walk tall.

I could be wrong, but I think standing tall and walking tall make me look slightly more slender.
Doing those things also makes me feel slightly more confident.
So it's possible, perhaps, that I still look 5'6" when I try to make myself tall.

I also tend to wear shoes with just a slight heel.

I'm about 2 kg heavier in this photo than I am now, but I'm standing tall and I think I look slimmer than I've been feeling the last couple days!!




Then there's the exercise factor. As stated above, "walking, jogging, aerobics, and weightlifting, are best for strengthening bones."

Cycling doesn't do much, and knowing that years ago, I started walking and walking and walking. More recently I've added occasional jogging and stairclimbing. Plus I do some weightlifting.


I do need to find a GP ... and talk to her about getting a bone density test.

Last time I talked to a GP about that, it was a University GP in Alberta. I would have been in my early 40s but she informed me I was way too young to start thinking about bone density tests ... she said they wouldn't do a test on me for another 10-15 years.

Given that the tests can start in our mid to late-40s ladies, I don't think she realised I was 41 or 42 years old!!

But now I'm a lot older than that, so I should get on it. I wonder if I look 40 now.


Machka in Oz

My hip and back issues that started out as an injury progressed downhill as a result of my poor posture. My exercise therapist and a physiotherapist both told me the best way to keep proper posture is to “suck it in”. You hold your belly in like you would for a tighter pair of paints, but don’t hold your breath. It strengthens your core, and forces you to have proper posture.


Tracey in Edmonton

Yes ...

And also one of my physiotherapists told me to think of it like being a marionette doll with someone pulling up on the string that comes out of the middle of your head so that the feet just barely touch the ground. Dropping the shoulders, lifting the rib cage a bit, sucking in the stomach, stretching the spine, etc.

I do that in the mornings in front of the bathroom mirror now. I go into the bathroom and more or less uncurl and stretch to my fullest height in front of the bathroom mirror ... then try to hold that throughout the day. Especially in situations where I want to appear confident.





Machka in Oz

Good morning ladies!

I slept pretty well considering the coffee I had. Lucky me this time!

I had a sad conversation with my dad. He doesn't understand why my mom won't exercise or go to church. He walks three miles three times a week. It's so sad for him to see his wife get old and not work against it. But at least she is cheerful, and she doesn't drink alcohol. She doesn't wander and she doesn't fall down. Things could be a lot worse, and soon enough these will be the good old days.

Annie in Delaware

Snowflake1968 wrote: »

Machka9 wrote: »

This was in the monthly carer's magazine I get.



I'll list the 14 "answers" tomorrow.


Machka in Oz

Smoke detector not working
Cigarette burning
Cords as tripping hazard
Cords as fire hazard
Rugs
No handrail
Improper footwear on both of them
Towel on heater
Papers stacked
Spilled meds
Coffee maker
Stuff on stairs
Medicine cabinet looks disorganized and some meds unlabelled.

That’s all I’ve got. It’s sad that a lot of this was my parents house. We never had a handrail, Dad put one in in 2012 when we were taking his first great grandchild to visit. I guess his children, grandchildren, wife and self just weren’t important enough. 😂 when I went home when Dad was sick we found about 20 bottles of pills that no one knew what they were for.
The electrical stuff too. Our whole upstairs was lit with 1 extension cord running from downstairs to upstairs. Then there was smaller extension cords running off that to our clocks and lights. Of course, the important stuff, may hair dryer, curling iron, whatever I needed to have music. Here’s the kicker folks, my Dad was a licensed electrician! He would not have done this in someone else’s house.
We had stacks of paper and clutter everywhere.
These are a few of the reasons it was unsafe for my Mom to stay there any longer when we first started seeing Alzheimer’s signs. She had to be moved into a home probably about 2 years earlier than necessary if the house had been up to par. She also only had wood heat which is another safety hazard for those with any problems.

Tracey in Edmonton

Well done ... but sorry you had your parent's place as an example!

The only thing you missed, according to the results in the magazine was the front door with no door knob and locks.

I counted the mats twice:
1) There should be no loose mats at the bottom of a flight of stairs. That would be one reason why I might fall up stairs.
2) I will trip over folded or wrinkled mats even if I know they are folded or wrinkled.

Also I think the drink in the glass and the coffee cup are too close to the edge.
Plus I'd be inclined to move the glasses because they could easily be buried or crushed under paper or books or whatever someone sets on the table. I keep mine in a case.

Even the hard wood stairs could be a hazard. They can be slippery and if someone does fall for one reason or another, they can be painful.


M in Oz

Allie sorry to hear about Covid in your family. Hope it is mild and quick.

A friend of mine just got diagnosed with Covid. Apparently it's not over yet no matter how much we wish it was. I skipped the mask in the grocery store this week but I might go back to it. It's a small bother for me compared to being sick.

Lisa thanks!

I was thinking this morning about how socially isolated my mother is, and how this forum keeps me from being a total hermit. So many thanks to all of you who share your joys and challenges!

Annie in Delaware