Getting Old: Stoic About It or Endless Whinger?

[jippytum]

The difference about aging in Thailand are  the opportunitys you have to enjoy your advancing years. 

The weather is good to enjoy exercise walking or swimming everyday. Affordable golf. You also have the option to have female company if you wish. 

Private healhcare is expensive and the wait to see a doctor at a government hospital may take hours. However in the UK it would take weeks. 

Accomadation and food is reasonably priced. 

All in all lots to enjoy for us old timers residing in Thailand. 

[WDSmart]

I'll be 79 in January. Physically, I'm okay, but I have experienced a change in my awareness level over the past two months. Often, I feel like I'm half-asleep and groggy, and that affects my balance a little. I can think well, but often, it seems like I'm in a dream world. I've gone to several different doctors multiple times and received some medications, but none of them seem to help much. I'm due to go back again in mid-December. I live in northeastern Thailand in the mountains near a relatively small city, so the doctors I have access to are probably not the best for treating symptoms like mine. If I don't see an improvement by the first of the year, I'm thinking about going to Bangkok to a hospital that specializes in treating symptoms like mine for a complete checkup, diagnosis, and treatment.

[leverito]

After 75 it’s hard to be stoic,when you see your body parts are destroying one after another.

And to be a whinger will make you more and more older and sick.And nobody will like you,even friends and relatives.

The only way as I understand is to fight and fight against the age and 1000 age related issues,to fight and slowly retreat …

 

[newbee2022]

23 hours ago, Hummin said:

I see no good reasons for continue to hit the bars when I get older, and getting stuck in Thailand is my worst naightmare, as well stay home in Norway with no other options than shopping at the local store, and save money for paying the electric bill. 

 

Getting older for me is pretty much going to be doing the same I have done all my life, move my body, working a bit, and continue look for a sustainable life, and still have resources left if deleted happenend. 

 

have enough is resources is essential for a happiness when aging, even some claim money isnt everything,

 

 

Coming from Norway with it's fresh clean air, healthy fresh fish, good restaurants, perfect streets, huge amount of electric cars, cheap electric power, open minded people, (your language), no heat waves, proper seasons, wonderful springtime, pleasant summer and amazing autumn.......Thailand shall appear like a nightmare to you😳. 

[Hummin]

30 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Coming from Norway with it's fresh clean air, healthy fresh fish, good restaurants, perfect streets, huge amount of electric cars, cheap electric power, open minded people, (your language), no heat waves, proper seasons, wonderful springtime, pleasant summer and amazing autumn.......Thailand shall appear like a nightmare to you😳. 

Not a nightmare when I was younger, and enjoyed the beaches and beach life with everything involved, also more resistant to the heat, which seems to be worse the older I get. Anyway, Thailand has many advantages, and my money went far when our nok was more than double than it is now. Life was more simple before the smartphones and all the additives they added to the food, as well I did not feel or knew about the pollution as we do now. Just knowing the Pm 2,5 can make the whole difference psychological. 

 

Noise is another thing you need to cope with, even far away from nearest neighbours. 

 

Anyway, I did not cut away from my origin country Norway, and still have my foot in both places. I could have emigrated to the Philippines too, but No direct flights, same as Brasil. In Brasil the air is clean, but safety is close to zero, where you can only walk certain places after dark in the cities.

Edited Monday at 02:15 AM by Hummin

[Chwooly]

22 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Some of my favorites quotes about getting older. 

 

Older people are perceived as cynics and misanthropes. But, they are simply people who have at last heard the still, sad music of humanity, played by a mediocre rock band howling for fame. 

 

Do not go gently into that good night. Old age should burn and rave at close of day. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Dylan Thomas

 

30s is too soon. Dying in your 30's is tragic. As is the 40s

Sympathy dissapates from there. 50s is such a shame 

60s is too soon 

70s a good run 

80s a life well lived

90s - a fricking hell of a ride

 

While I want to live past where I am now, So according your chart If I die tomorrow it would be too soon, I have already had a fun filled life. If i died tomorrow, I can honestly say I have no regrets, This need to live long or leave a legacy is mind boggling to me. 

Edited Monday at 02:33 AM by Chwooly

[sikishrory]

Sort out the hair. Problem solved.

[khunPer]

On 11/23/2024 at 5:06 PM, JK-Trilly said:

For those who’ve spent more than 20 years here, it’s worth asking: Was aging in Thailand part of the plan? Or did time simply pass faster than expected, leaving you as a senior citizen in Thailand? For some, staying here into old age feels like a natural extension of the life they’ve built. For others, the question of whether they’d be better off returning to their home country looms large.

 

The truth is, everyone approaches aging differently. Some lean into the physical realities of getting older but refuse to let them define their lives. Others see those same realities as walls that block the way forward.

 

Where do you stand? Are you still pushing forward with life, doing the same things you did in your younger years? Or have the physical aspects of aging shifted your focus, making you feel more limited than liberated?

 

Stoic or whinger—what’s your approach?

I've only been here permanently for 19 years so far – into my 20th right now – but if I'm countring the priods during the couple of years while still travelling between my home countrhy and here to prepare the move, I considers myself elligible to a comment in the category "spent more than 20 years here"...😉

I seems to be standing at "still pushing forward with life" with relative long term planning. I'm counting on staying here till the end. It should hopefully not be within the next 25 years that I'm moving on, and during my reming stay here I'm expecting to be quite active. OMG, I'm only 75; so, I still have quite some years ahead. I still head out preferably two-three times a week to a nightclub for some dancing...😎 –and a number of the girls also still looks fairly attractive...😍

 

To cut it short: Of course health can be an issue, but life is more fun if you enjoys it, instead of a row of endless complains. As it says on one of my favirite signs in the area where I stay in Land-of-Smiles: "The purpose of life is to be happy"...👍

[rasg]

On 11/24/2024 at 4:28 AM, georgegeorgia said:

I dont want to go off topic but is any other way of taking cannabis other than smoking ?

I'm like you and do  bike riding and cardio , walking up Hills etc ,I'm afraid smoking would damage the lungs over time 

I'm wondering if marijuana cookies are the same 

My second cousin had never smoked in his life so his brother made him some marijuana cookies and they worked for him.

The problem was how long it took for them to work as they have to pass through your digestive system. He was unable to go to work the following day because he was still as high as a kite.

[rasg]

On 11/24/2024 at 11:27 AM, Lacessit said:

Tramadol. Available at pharmacies without a prescription.

 

It is addictive, so use carefully. IME 10-12 hours free of back pain.

Try an inversion table for your back pain.

[BangkokReady]

On 11/24/2024 at 11:14 AM, spidermike007 said:

I walked up 'em every night to lay next to a man who loved me

 

🤔

[georgegeorgia]

11 hours ago, khunPer said:

OMG, I'm only 75; so, I still have quite some years ahead.

You have joined  in God's line now , although at the back 

[spidermike007]

8 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

 

🤔

Huh? 

[StreetCowboy]

Even if you complain, no-one listens, so you might as well not bother.

[Skeptic7]

Roll with it, adapt, keep learning and enjoying every day I've got and accepting the cards I'm dealt. It's been a rough road these past 4 years...gf of 9 years murdered in our house here 4 years ago (2 full years to mostly, kinda-sorta "heal" from that, as best as that is even ever possible)...bile duct cancer diagnosis in January of this year. Radical and complicated 5 hour surgery (Whipple procedure if anyone is interested. Wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy)...10 days recovery in hospital and 3 months at home until began returning to "normal"...6 months of chemo just ended 2 months ago.

 

Feeling great again...finally. Did a road trip to Khao Yai NP, Surin, Korat, Pak Chong and up to Udon in July (myself and another driver)...then 10 days in South Africa in September, including 6-day Safari. Just got back from 12-day road trip (myself the lone driver) to Surin and Buriram. Planning on a return to South Africa this upcoming February...road trip to Kaeng Krachan NP in January...Chiang Mai, Chiang Dao & Doi Inthanon in March and will likely opt to drive my own vehicle up north this time, making hiking and photography stops along the way, instead of the usual fly up and rent a car.

 

Life is short (and not always sweet)...gotta play hard and keep on keepin' on. 

[OneMoreFarang]

Stoic 

[georgegeorgia]

38 minutes ago, Skeptic7 said:

gf of 9 years murdered in our house here 4 years ago (2 full years to mostly

Omg .. stay strong 💜💜💜

I can only imagine what you have been through 

It must of changed you as a person 

I'm only guessing but I believe you value life more in a limited time 

Respect to you 

Edited yesterday at 07:20 AM by georgegeorgia

[georgegeorgia]

On 11/25/2024 at 12:24 PM, WDSmart said:

I'll be 79 in January. Physically, I'm okay, but I have experienced a change in my awareness level over the past two months. Often, I feel like I'm half-asleep and groggy, and that affects my balance a little. I can think well, but often, it seems like I'm in a dream world. I've gone to several different doctors multiple times and received some medications, but none of them seem to help much. I'm due to go back again in mid-December. I live in northeastern Thailand in the mountains near a relatively small city, so the doctors I have access to are probably not the best for treating symptoms like mine. If I don't see an improvement by the first of the year, I'm thinking about going to Bangkok to a hospital that specializes in treating symptoms like mine for a complete checkup, diagnosis, and treatment.

Do you nap during the day ?

How is your sleep ?,sounds like sleep apnea 

 

[Skeptic7]

30 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

Omg .. stay strong 💜💜💜

I can only imagine what you have been through 

It must of changed you as a person 

I'm only guessing but I believe you value life more in a limited time 

Respect to you 

Thank you for the kind words. Both were extremely awful and challenging and wasn't sure I would make thru either...and really didn't want to make it after losing my gf. The murder still haunts me frequently, but not daily (or even weekly) nowadays. Still dealing with the cancer, but feeling fine and strong now. No guarantees, as now is all we've got. 'Will worry about tomorrow when it becomes today' is something I wrote in the closing of my tribute to her after her death. 👍

[WDSmart]

1 hour ago, georgegeorgia said:

Do you nap during the day ?

How is your sleep ?,sounds like sleep apnea 

 

Thanks for your response.

Yes, I've begun taking a short nap (1 to 2 hours) after eating lunch.

And, yes, I do believe it has something to do with my sleep. When I sleep at night, I dream a lot or think about things I'm working on. This goes on for what seems like an hour, but then when I get up, I've "slept" for 4 hours or so, so it just wasn't a very deep sleep.

Do you have any remedies, including medications, that you would recommend? Thanks again...  

[BigStar]

On 11/23/2024 at 11:06 PM, JK-Trilly said:

But here’s the question: Is it just a mindset, or do circumstances play a role? Thailand offers unique advantages for aging expats—relatively affordable healthcare, easy access to good food, warm weather that’s easier on the joints, and a culture that generally respects elders. Yet, it’s not all roses. Some face visa headaches, financial challenges, or feelings of isolation as they grow older without family nearby.

 

Circumstances and physical abilities must influence mindset, of course.

 

 

If you're naturally inclined towards a healthy lifestyle, or learned to wise up, then you stay healthy and fight, postponing chronic diseases to a short, intense period at the end.

 

 

And you can do this in Thailand as well as anywhere, as I can verify.

 

Otherwise, you begin early to carry around a belly and chase after docs, meds, and hospitals against a stream of ailments; and usually worry about paying medical bills. 

 

On 11/23/2024 at 11:06 PM, JK-Trilly said:

For those who’ve spent more than 20 years here, it’s worth asking: Was aging in Thailand part of the plan?

 

Not initially, but after a couple of years it became part of the plan. Pattaya's just a great place to be. 🙂

 

On 11/23/2024 at 11:06 PM, JK-Trilly said:

Or did time simply pass faster than expected, leaving you as a senior citizen in Thailand?

 

Time always passes faster than expected. "Life is what happens to while you're busy making other plans." You're going to be a senior citizen anyway. Me, I prefer to reside in Thailand. 

 

Edited 23 hours ago by BigStar

[atpeace]

Definately a stoic in the sense that I focus on what is in my control.  Living a long and satisfying life is challenging but the best prescription is staying active physically and socially.  IMO the physical activity is much more important and the data supports my view.  Any physical activity helps but being extremely fit increases your odds dramatically of living a satisfying life and endure hardships when you are 60+. 

 

Sadly most just hope for luck to prevail and hope they will be the exception.  If you are 50 and a little out of shape, at 80 you will have discomfort dragging their arse off the couch to get a beer and forget about any type of sport or good sex.  

 

I'll be 60 soon enough and expect to be extremely strong for my body weight and will be able to run circles around 99% of 20 year old men. I don't expect to be able to do this at 70 but I hope to not have lost much muscle or endurance.  Age will get me but I'm not going to surrender just because it is easy to be lazy.

 

 

[georgegeorgia]

6 hours ago, atpeace said:

physical activity helps but being extremely fit increases your odds dramatically of living a satisfying life and endure hardships when you are 60+. 

I don't agree 

 

I still see the old guys at my gym who are having heart attacks etc ,two in my gym died this year ,ok maybe they were on testereone or steroids 

 

As for your fitness good on you , nowadays I train nearly everyday , I don't believe it will give me longer time though ,but better quality of life 

Edited 13 hours ago by georgegeorgia

[atpeace]

10 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

I don't agree 

 

I still see the old guys at my gym who are having heart attacks etc ,two in my gym died this year ,ok maybe they were on testereone or steroids 

 

As for your fitness good on you , nowadays I train nearly everyday , I don't believe it will give me longer time though ,but better quality of life 

Gyms are great but with that said, most members are not remotely close to peak physical shape.   My estimate is that 50% of the members are carrying much too much weight. Training every day like yourself is a good start but training intelligently along with a good diet gets you to the next level.

[BigStar]

11 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

I don't agree 

 

So now we know @atpeace is correct.

 

11 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

I still see the old guys at my gym who are having heart attacks etc ,two in my gym died this year ,ok maybe they were on testereone or steroids 

 

It's not clear that you actually go to the gym with your bad knees you've complained about for 2 years, and your needing a walker to go uphill. We'd need the photos.

 

Now, our ANF Longevity Scientists always reference The Guys as an excuse (one of many) to avoid diet and exercise.

 

4.  The Guys

"I know some guys who seemed healthy but have already died."

We have no idea how healthy The Guys really were. They weren't overweight or by much, certainly not relative to yourself, LOL. We didn't see the medical history or the blood reports or the scans; many didn't even have the scans that would reveal preventable issues.

E.g, the running guru Jim Fixx (often cited by the ignorant) died young because he ignored his previous history and the signs he had a problem. We also don't know about any congenital problems. Maybe The Guys didn't either. A brain aneurysm feels no obligation to announce itself before it suddenly kills you.

 

One thing a good scan will reveal in those of normal weight will be visceral fat.

 

This phenomena—sometimes known as skinny-fat, or “normal-weight obesity”—may affect up to one-fourth of normal weight people, according to one 2008 study. “They look healthy, but when we check them out they have high levels of body fat and inflammation,” says Ishwarlal Jialal, MD, director of the Laboratory for Atherosclerosis and Metabolic Research at UC Davis Health System. “They’re at high risk for diabetes and cardiovascular problems, but you wouldn’t know it from their appearance.”

     --https://www.foxnews.com/health/5-signs-you-might-be-skinny-fat

 

11 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

As for your fitness good on you , nowadays I train nearly everyday , I don't believe it will give me longer time though ,but better quality of life 

 

Might well buy you more time as well as better quality of life.

 

 

NIH study finds leisure-time physical activity extends life expectancy as much as 4.5 years

 

Sarcopenia affects mortality negatively:

 

Lower lean mass is robustly associated with increased mortality, regardless of health conditions and lean mass measurement modalities.

     --Sarcopenia and mortality in different clinical conditions: A meta-analysis

 

Makes sense, You'll live longer if you don't die earlier from a fall.

 

Yet ANF Longevity Science usually objects to the lack of an iron-clad guarantee.

 

6.  No Ironclad Guarantee

Our members are known for their extraordinary hard-nosed shrewdness, e. g., investing in only a suitcase, paying visa agents, uncovering satang change scams, and notably keeping Thai women under tight control. They deal only in absolute certainties guaranteed in writing.

 

Before one suffers the trauma of denying oneself a pastry or of walking briskly around the block, one must first see the guarantee of precisely how much said sacrifice will reduce his dependence on his statins, ACE inhibitors, diabetes meds, blood thinners, and fake Viagra. His waistline will shrink by exactly how many centimeters? His obvious cognitive decline will reverse by exactly what percent? He may expect to live exactly how many years longer? WOT? Thought so. “Honey? Where's me pills?”

 

[georgegeorgia]

7 minutes ago, BigStar said:

 

So now we know @atpeace is correct.

 

 

It's not clear that you actually go to the gym with your bad knees you've complained about for 2 years, and your needing a walker to go uphill. We'd need the photos.

 

Now, our ANF Longevity Scientists always reference The Guys as an excuse (one of many) to avoid diet and exercise.

 

4.  The Guys

"I know some guys who seemed healthy but have already died."

We have no idea how healthy The Guys really were. They weren't overweight or by much, certainly not relative to yourself, LOL. We didn't see the medical history or the blood reports or the scans; many didn't even have the scans that would reveal preventable issues.

E.g, the running guru Jim Fixx (often cited by the ignorant) died young because he ignored his previous history and the signs he had a problem. We also don't know about any congenital problems. Maybe The Guys didn't either. A brain aneurysm feels no obligation to announce itself before it suddenly kills you.

 

One thing a good scan will reveal in those of normal weight will be visceral fat.

 

This phenomena—sometimes known as skinny-fat, or “normal-weight obesity”—may affect up to one-fourth of normal weight people, according to one 2008 study. “They look healthy, but when we check them out they have high levels of body fat and inflammation,” says Ishwarlal Jialal, MD, director of the Laboratory for Atherosclerosis and Metabolic Research at UC Davis Health System. “They’re at high risk for diabetes and cardiovascular problems, but you wouldn’t know it from their appearance.”

     --https://www.foxnews.com/health/5-signs-you-might-be-skinny-fat

 

 

Might well buy you more time as well as better quality of life.

 

 

NIH study finds leisure-time physical activity extends life expectancy as much as 4.5 years

 

Sarcopenia affects mortality negatively:

 

Lower lean mass is robustly associated with increased mortality, regardless of health conditions and lean mass measurement modalities.

     --Sarcopenia and mortality in different clinical conditions: A meta-analysis

 

Makes sense, You'll live longer if you don't die earlier from a fall.

 

Yet ANF Longevity Science usually objects to the lack of an iron-clad guarantee.

 

6.  No Ironclad Guarantee

Our members are known for their extraordinary hard-nosed shrewdness, e. g., investing in only a suitcase, paying visa agents, uncovering satang change scams, and notably keeping Thai women under tight control. They deal only in absolute certainties guaranteed in writing.

 

Before one suffers the trauma of denying oneself a pastry or of walking briskly around the block, one must first see the guarantee of precisely how much said sacrifice will reduce his dependence on his statins, ACE inhibitors, diabetes meds, blood thinners, and fake Viagra. His waistline will shrink by exactly how many centimeters? His obvious cognitive decline will reverse by exactly what percent? He may expect to live exactly how many years longer? WOT? Thought so. “Honey? Where's me pills?”

 

Geez bro ,you sat there and wrote all that for free ,f me ,you must have a lot of time on ya hands .😳

[BigStar]

12 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

Geez bro ,you sat there and wrote all that for free ,f me ,you must have a lot of time on ya hands .😳

 

I had an excellent typing teacher in the 10th grade: Mrs. Brown, bless 'er. Best skill I ever learned, though I hated it at the time. And I have a fast PC and keyboard, so I can type out half a page in the time it takes you to peck out a dribble on your phone. Or just copy and paste from old posts, LOL.

Edited 1 hour ago by BigStar

[pomchop]

The older I get the more i realize for me swimming is the very best exercise.  Too hot or too cold is not a problem in pattaya.  Don't have to worry about tripping and falling or dodging motorbikes and cars. 

 

Very easy on the joints unlike jogging or too much walking.  Can pretty much go as slow or fast as you want for a short time or a long time.  Don't concern myself with pulling muscles or hernia or many other problems a gym workout can provide as ages advance.

 

Only problems are you need to live in  a condo with a big well maintained pool.  Then you have to develop patience with a lot of brain dead idiots who have no clue about how to share a pool with people who may be trying to swim laps.  For some it appears to be their first time in a pool but obviously they have been around water a lot as they have the brains of a tad pole.

 

I swim twice a day for 30-45 mins each and have found that a lot of the aches and pains i was getting from walking five miles a day for years have pretty much disappeared.  Never seem to get dizzy anymore which was a problem when walking in a lot of heat.   My overall balance has improved and i seem to sleep better.  I have lost some weight and for sure my muscles have toned up a lot more.  Overall I  have a much better  feeling about my physical health which also makes the mental part better.