Navigating senior years.

KARNUT · April 17

24 minutes ago, Grumpy Bear said:

Wife had her hip replacement today. Went pretty good. This outpatient stuff is mind blowing. Like assembly line medicine.

I guess so. My mother stayed overnight then to rehab. Good luck.

diyer2 · April 17

My brother has improved a lot, my son got to talk to him. He was more coherent.

Assembly line medicine is what I call it also, my 3 surgeries fit this description.

diyer2 · April 21

My brother.......

My brother was an alcoholic and a drug addict, haven't been involved with him for years.

Cousin has medical power of attorney. Spoke to him, it doesn't look good. No financial power of attorney for his assets that I know of.

KARNUT · April 21

I grew up around high functioning alcoholics. One uncle was a founding member of AA in New Jersey. He stopped. Another uncle was a mean dry drunk. The way one cousin explained who was a lifelong abuser dying in his mid fifties. A dry drunk is a person who wants a drink but knows if he does he can’t stop. He stopped too late his wife kicked him out. His son also an alcoholic. Passed recently liver failure in his fifties. His dad mid seventies even though he quit in his forties. My family was big on picnics and drinking when I was growing up. The beer and whiskey flowed freely. Some couldn’t handle it. We have no social drinking anymore. If I offer anyone at my house. It’s only if the spouse is going to drive and doesn’t partake. I used to wear blenders out. Now it’s smoothies or frappes. My wife would tell me she noticed no difference in my driving after a few, years ago after a night out. I don’t even have one if I’m driving now. There’s always a few who ruin it for the many. Social gatherings are so much different now. Tea anyone?

Donstar · April 26

We always had alcohol around for guests and personal use. It was an unnecessary expense and has a tendency to make social events worse. As a young adult I enjoyed the feeling after a couple of beers and now I can't stand anything that clouds my head! I haven't had alcohol for at least twenty years and don't miss it. My recent knee surgery continues to cause me a lot of discomfort largely due to avoiding drugs that make me feel less alert. I don't doubt that a few drinks would also temporarily take the pain away! Hmmmmm.....maybe.....Nah... Adding a hangover to throbbing knee would be awful!!

KARNUT · April 26

I’ve noticed over the years a couple of shots of whiskey does create a mellow effect. I don’t desire any more. Flavored whiskey is what I have around. It’s low on calories. When I visit my favorite casino they have a ton of flavored margaritas going. I’ll usually have one. I have a few there and later go to my room. I was at a retirement event last Friday that had a bar. I had coffee. Driving at night is a challenge anyway we these awful headlights they have on vehicles. I don’t have what ever condition that plague many members of my family who turn alcoholics. I can do without and often do.

Grumpy Bear · April 26

Well she's off the walker and on a cane and she's off the narcotics. Tylenol only now and few of those. She's sleeping good and eating well. Pretty quick. PT at home twice a week. Back to work this week modified hours. She's happy. No marathon running but not bad for less that two weeks.

Donstar · April 27

14 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

Well she's off the walker and on a cane and she's off the narcotics. Tylenol only now and few of those. She's sleeping good and eating well. Pretty quick. PT at home twice a week. Back to work this week modified hours. She's happy. No marathon running but not bad for less that two weeks.

Well done to Mrs. Grumpy!

Donstar · April 27

Six months ago, our dog Star was very ill and tests revealed she had very little time left. A week was the projection! She defied the experts for as long as she could and she succumbed to her illness this past Thursday. She was the Star in Donstar! We adopted Star a few months following the death of a dog we had for about 18 years. At the time we hesitated getting another pet because of the pain we were going through. However, adopting Star brought us 15 additional years of beautiful K-9 companionship. Now we are at the stage in our lives when a new puppy will most likely out live us! This wouldn't be fair to the animal. However, it is possible to consider adopting an older dog who has outlived his/her humans!

KARNUT · April 27

52 minutes ago, Donstar said:

Six months ago, our dog Star was very ill and tests revealed she had very little time left. A week was the projection! She defied the experts for as long as she could and she succumbed to her illness this past Thursday. She was the Star in Donstar! We adopted Star a few months following the death of a dog we had for about 18 years. At the time we hesitated getting another pet because of the pain we were going through. However, adopting Star brought us 15 additional years of beautiful K-9 companionship. Now we are at the stage in our lives when a new puppy will most likely out live us! This wouldn't be fair to the animal. However, it is possible to consider adopting an older dog who has outlived his/her humans!

My wife adopts adult dogs. The last one seemed to be abused and shortly after arriving she appeared to have distemper. I used to have to carry her to the fenced backyard in the morning. She very shaky at first in the morning but would straighten up a little after awhile. She was still a happy little thing and ate well. The vet said she was going to die. After about 5 years the shaking went away and now presents as normal except with very little teeth. She’s very passionate and understands everything. Doesn’t like going off schedule. We have an approved friend who comes to our house when we go out of town to babysit her. Our renters kids come by to walk her. Spoiled is an understatement.

Donstar · April 28

22 hours ago, KARNUT said:

My wife adopts adult dogs.

Great picture! We have a weekly local TV segment which advertises pets available for adoption through the local shelters. Occasionally, senior dogs are featured. It is a very special person to adopt the older dogs and your wife is truly special. I showed your post to Mrs. D and hopefully we'll both pay close attention when senior dogs are featured!

KARNUT · May 5

After dinner my wife brings in a jar of peanuts. I start chewing one and I hear a loud clicking sound. That’s weird never heard that before. Now I move my jaw around it’s clicking like I never heard before. Very annoying. Another getting old thing. I did nothing to start that. All I can say what’s next?

Donstar · May 5

13 hours ago, KARNUT said:

After dinner my wife brings in a jar of peanuts. I start chewing one and I hear a loud clicking sound. That’s weird never heard that before. Now I move my jaw around it’s clicking like I never heard before. Very annoying. Another getting old thing. I did nothing to start that. All I can say what’s next?

What's next?? It's a special surprise! I had a similar experience last week. My right shoulder started to click every time I lifted a light weight as part of my rehab for my my left shoulder! It doesn't hurt but the feel and sound are very unsettling!

diyer2 · May 5

I'm still healing from cervical fusion of 4 vertebrae, March 3 2026. Every morning is wait and see how I feel. Rotator cuff and bicep muscle surgery from Sept. 6 2024 isn't normal yet. Right hand carpal tunnel and ulnar nerve surgery from Oct. 3 2025 still have numb fingertips.

Nerves have a mind of their own when it comes to healing.

Edited May 5 by diyer2

KARNUT · May 5

40 minutes ago, Donstar said:

What's next?? It's a special surprise! I had a similar experience last week. My right shoulder started to click every time I lifted a light weight as part of my rehab for my my left shoulder! It doesn't hurt but the feel and sound are very unsettling!

It feels like a slight injury with slight pressure this morning. I’ve studied the remedies and rehab to get it back in shape. I eat a lot of air popped popcorn as part of my weight loss regime. Sometimes you hit resistance from an un popped kernel causing distress, I guess. Knowing limitations generally for the aging body is a challenge when the brain is the cheer leader. Just do it from my youth doesn’t apply for the most part. Proceed with caution is a new experience for me.