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I was generally okay at 69--little fatigue, that's about it. Once I hit 70 it seems everything started going downhill. My fatigued quadrupled. Even piddly tasks left me drained after a few minutes. I developed balance problems and now drive as little as possible where 2019 before COVID struck I used to enjoy taking my wife to Malibu (30 miles one way) to let her photograph birds at the wildlife sanctuary while I sat in mcDonald's and ate a breakfast. Now at 70 it's a chore just walking to my car. My PCP generally gives me a clean bill of health. I don't seem to have any disease processes going on, just a slow decline in my abilities as a lose my health piece by piece. Anybody else experiencing similar?
Ask your PCP to recommend an exercise physiologist to work with you. Maybe starting with mild cardio and strength training. They can get you started and you can carry on yourself based on their suggestions. A little supervision might help you feel more confident and comfortable if you haven't done a lot of exercise in the past.
When you feel weak, and have poor balance you end up doing less and less, hoping to "recover" and feel better, but instead you just get weaker, so you rest more - a vicious cycle you need to break. Also, you could get advice on exercises to help your balance, too.
Ask your PCP to recommend an exercise physiologist to work with you. Maybe starting with mild cardio and strength training. They can get you started and you can carry on yourself based on their suggestions. A little supervision might help you feel more confident and comfortable if you haven't done a lot of exercise in the past.
When you feel weak, and have poor balance you end up doing less and less, hoping to "recover" and feel better, but instead you just get weaker, so you rest more - a vicious cycle you need to break. Also, you could get advice on exercises to help your balance, too.
I have some kind of chronic fatigue thing. Exercise just uses up what little energy I have and then I crash for a half a day. My PCP hasn't been able to pin it down to anything. he's sending me to specialists but my pool of choices is so bad I had to drop out of my Advantage plan and go with Original Medicare so I could get a better selection. The ones I get send to all have 1-star ratings (1-star = total idiot). Something like chronic fatigue is so ubiquitous it could involve 5 or 6 different things or any combination of them.
I have no answers for you, but I do sympathize! I am only 66, but been wondering kind of the same thing....is my body going to start/continue going downhill from here on in? I find I tire more easily than I did even a year or so ago. Some of that I blame on the pandemic and sitting around too much for a year or so. My granddaughter, who is 26 and lives with me, came down with some horrific digestive bug a couple of weeks ago....she was over it in a couple of days. She was kind enough to share it with me (at least, maybe that's what I got) and I was down for nearly a week and questioning if I shouldn't go to the ER! Getting old just sucks! Anyway, if misery loves company, I'm right here with you! I do hope you (and maybe I) find a way to improve the situation!
Now at 70 it's a chore just walking to my car. My PCP generally gives me a clean bill of health. I don't seem to have any disease processes going on, just a slow decline in my abilities as a lose my health piece by piece. Anybody else experiencing similar?
Might want to consider fasting. Gave me SUCH a burst of energy.
Eating food exhausts me.
I recommend one meal a day... at the end of the day.
I think you may need to talk more to your doctor about your issues to get to the bottom of it. If you have balance issues you may need physical therapy or something else.
One question I have - what are you doing in terms of exercise? I know in my case and others in my family, it is often a key component to solving issues like this, but of course everyone's situation is different. My mom started doing master's swimming in her 70s and it greatly improved a lot of her physical ailments at just two times a week. Doing regular weight lifting has made a big difference for me.
I think at "our age" (60s - and up) it is to be expected. There's only a certain amount you can "improve".
My bad joints have impacted all my enjoyment of life and placed severe restrictions on what I can do.
I often feel I'd rather "check out" than continue this downward spiral, but that's not an option.
Sure there are still surfers, marathon runners, skiers and tennis players, but I wonder what percentage that is. Still, it's really hard not to compare ourselves to those our age still doing that stuff.
Sometimes there are not any concrete answers to these afflictions. If it's in your genes, even one-meal-a-day (which I do) won't help much.
I was watching one of the "older stars" movies recommended on the Retirement forum last night, and got aggravated at the 60s - 70s characters jogging and running up and down stairs---without railings
I'm trying to improve my balance after my hip operation and it is no fun at all. We can only hope....
OP....Have you been tested for covid? You could have had a mild case, and not even realized it. Covid can make you feel run down, long afterwards.
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McDonald's was just a once every 3 weeks kind of thing.
