Over the years I’ve blogged about how I feel at different ages. For me this is interesting to look back on and also I’m intrigued as there have been quite a few page views on this subject (always interesting to see what’s being read by folks out there). So, the question is, is 59 old?
Truth is, I’m feeling my age. This probably goes against my usual young-at-heart outlook and these days I’m more conscious of creaking a bit. So this is the low-down on being 59…..
- Kidneys – these have taken a battering in the past but now seem to be holding up reasonably well, all things considered. They are working better than they were a year ago, or at least my creatinine reading has improved but the damage is still there, hence regular blood tests and check-ups. So that’s generally good.
- Teeth – well I still have all my teeth! I spend more time looking after my teeth these days as the hygienist says my gums aren’t as good as they were. My cleaning regime is okay-ish but it’s a sign of ageing. I also have my first ever abscess but it doesn’t trouble me.
- Sleep – I sleep very well and probably need more sleep than I did a year ago. I love the feeling of having a really, really deep sleep and waking in the morning feeling totally refreshed.
- Blood pressure – linked an influenced by kidneys – just about okay (with appropriate medication) but I think this is a weak point in my overall health. Generally around 130/85 with a resting heart beat of 60 which I think the latter is okay.
- Feeling cold – I feel cold more and more of the time these days. The Kidneys specialist wondered about anaemia or thyroid issues but says these are okay, so it remains a mystery. If I get a serious urine infection I often shiver.
- Cholesterol – my new Doctor said this was worth checking and it was found to be high but she didn’t want to prescribe anything then, instead I’ll have another check in a few months once I promise to cut back on cheese! I think she said it was 6.1. Last time is was 4.8 and that was apparently quite good.
- Running injuries – these are happening far more frequently these days. Last year I had 3 months off running through plantar fasciitis and as soon as I have recovered from that, my other foot develops a painful spot after a run. Is this just a bad patch? Will I get back to where I was, or near? Perhaps I need to dust off my bike….?
- Weight – since moving to the Quirky Museum (note the new name, replacing the Dusty Museum) I have put on half a stone in weight. I put this down to a lack of running. Thankfully my BMI is still in the healthy range but is, nonetheless, creeping up.
- Eye sight – I had my eyes checked in spring 2020 and there was no change in my prescription, so I was pleased about that and there is no development of the central serous retinopathy that has troubled me in the past. The optician asked if I see lots of glare from car headlights at night. I do. He said I have cataracts coming and this is consistent with everyone my age.
- Feeling stiff – a combination of no yoga classes and not stretching after running, I suspect. I feel particularly stiff when I get up in the mornings, especially my feet and ankles. This, most of all, is making me feel old.
Outlook
Approaching 60 does start to feel as if I’m getting on a bit. My youngest daughter thinks I’m ancient and cannot comprehend being so old. She compares me to the parents of her contemporaries and says I’m older than all of the others!
I find myself thinking about the years ahead, knowing I have past the mid-point of my life. I wonder what kind of care Rachel and I will need in the future, whether we should be looking to move into a house requiring less maintenance and so on.
And then I think how I ran to Tingrith yesterday – and back. That is a little over 5 miles and I wonder how many other 59 year olds can do that? But my feet complained afterwards!
My natural outlook has always been positive, optimistic and always with the glass half full. I need to check myself here, to ensure I always have the right attitude and approach to life. Mentally I’m fine, although I’ll be pleased when the Lockdowns are a thing of the past and we can all mix with each other again. My life is stress-free these days, a benefit of being retired and I’m sure this will have a very positive effect on my well being.
They say your health in your 50s is a good sign of your health to come – often a decade when things start to develop. Well, kidneys aside, things are pretty good – until now – when I’m feeling quite stiff and I seem to be prone to running injuries now. So at 59 I’m beginning to “feel my age”.
How about you?
Related:
So what is being 58 like?
How am I meant to feel at 56?
Hi Doug, get yourself a Waterpik for use after each meal, my gums are good, but have improved since using the water flosser. This is the one I have, you need the large reservoir for a thorough flush.
https://www.waterpik.co.uk/oral-health/products/dental-water-flosser/WP-120UK/
Thanks Paul, I think you might be right.
Apparently we have some simple syringes with a curved nozzle for the same purpose, so I might try and find one and have a go first of all.
By coincidence I had a call from our dentist the other day, telling me I was due for a session with the hygienist, as she was most concerned that she hadn’t seen me recently (or is it not giving her any money recently?). I pointed out that I had an appointment in early March and would they mind if I simply kept that appointment…. “oh I’m sorry, I didn’t see that on our computer, I see it now so that’s fine”.
I empathise to some extent with your comments, although in my case it was 61 and starting to feel old, as it was the 61st birthday when my catheter went in!! Cue a dramatic downturn in running (though I’m slowly starting to get it going again), regular UTI, and, unrelated, back aches if I do any amount of lifting or something that involves bending down!! You do seem to have a few ongoing background health issues, though as you said, *most* 59+ year olds would think a 5 mile run was way too much for them, plus you seem to be on top of health matters, so I think you’re doing fine! 🙂 Maybe with the prospect of things starting to return to an element of normality, I’ll see you at a parkrun this summer – dependent (in my case) of not still be recovering from my TURP operation)!!?
Hi Marty
Yep roll on summer and Parkruns!
Unsurprisingly Dunstable Downs was the regular Parkrun for me. Sometimes I went to Houghton Regis. I have been to the one at Leighton Buzzard (name escapes me), Wendover Woods and Marston Mortaine but never Milton Keynes. So would be nice to meet you in person.
Actually there was a little group of us (mostly from our church) who used to turn up together and often come back to our house for coffee and toast afterwards. We moved during the summer and haven’t been able to entertain here in the Dusty Museum yet, so who knows!
Just before the first Lockdown, a friend in MK was going to join us. Also a former colleague recognised me on DD and we were going to meet the following week but unfortunately we can’t do that and besides, we didn’t exchange contact details. So the social side of Parkruns is great, as well as the pleasure in running with a group of other runners.
In the meantime, good luck with your operation and everything either side of it.
D.
Hi again Doug – As it happens, as I live very much on the Leighton Buzzard side of Milton Keynes, I have done the Houghton Hall parkrun quite a few times (also helps as it’s relatively flat, and I knew one of the Race Directors!); it appears we both did the penultimate one pre lockdown (7th March) – back in pre-catheter times, so I was running quite well, then!! The Leighton Buzzard parkrun is Rushmere Park (fairly hilly), which I’ve done a few times, but though I’ve wondered about doing them, have not yet got around to going to Dunstable Downs or Wendover Woods (suspect both are quite tough), or the Forest of Marston one! Will hopefully remedy that once we’re allowed back! 🙂