Is it that unusual to be in your 60s and not on medication?

[Mumblechum0]

This is just something that made me think this week; 3 separate groups of friends and family, all late 50s or early 60s.

im finding increasingly that a lot of conversations turn to various ailments etc. I find these very dull.

amyway, in all 3 groups (I know how bizarre this sounds), they talked about what medications they’re on, and were surprised that I don’t take anything, not even vitamins, hrt etc.

i had cancer over 20 yrs ago but have been to the GP twice in 10 years. If I get ill, I tend to just wait for it to pass.

anyway, I wondered idly whether I just hang out with a lot of very unlucky people in terms of health, or is it usual to be on 3 or 4 meds?

(one friend had an alarm going off on her phone all day to remind her to take her tablets which led to today’s conversation)

My mom is 62 not on any medication.

I’d imagine so. I’ve been on medication since birth and will be until I die. I’m sorry if you find conversations about such things ‘dull’ but for many for us it’s a very big part of our lives so of course it comes up sometimes.

I know I'm not necessarily "healthy", but I,'m willing to take my chances. I don't want to become one of those people obsessed with their health.
Many of my friends and relatives are doctors, and they would say exactly the same.... don't start seeing docs unless you absolutely have to!

65: levothyroxine since age 30, zolendronate/teriparatide for severe osteoporosis since about 2018. Calcium, Vit D, turmeric and selenium daily. My Q3 risk is excellent.

DH 64: may have had a paracetamol is about 1998. His Q3 risk indicates he needs statins and something for his BP.

Mother and step: have rattled for years 89 and 82.

MIL, 89, loke DH may have had a paracetomol over the last 20 years and refused sedation when she had a colonoscopy. I suspect there are deep seated problems, BP is high, and she will swiftly decline now. No longer going out. Will not see a Dr which is a life long pattern.

For many, NOT taking drugs also has side effects. Mine would be death. I may be taking your posts the wrong way but I’ve dealt with so many people who consider themselves a bit superior when they don’t have the health issues that other people have, often giving unwanted (and frankly irrelevant) advice about lifestyle, diet and so on and patting themselves on the back for not needing the medical interventions or getting Ill as often as I do. I’ve even had a few people ask if I’m mindful of the time I might take up at the drs/hospital/medicine supplies that could go towards other people… but I detect a smidge of smugness in your posts. Could possibly be projection on my part but you wouldn’t believe the amount of people who consider that they’re doing life more correctly than I am because they don’t struggle in the ways that I do.

I had one after the GI bleed, to find the source and patch it over! Modern medicine is amazing isn't it? They put a 3D Matrix shield over the bleed area by endoscopy, and off I went home!

If docs think you need one, they will refer. If they don't, well I wouldn't bother unless you have symptoms, which you don't seem to have. Glad you feel better now.

Absolutely this. I've had my fair share of shite health problems - head injury and post concussion syndrome before being injured by an off label antipsychotic - but i do find people who have no health problems themselves seem the least sympathetic or empathetic.

My DM has been wonderful supporting me when i was very ill after my concussion, but she did say we needed to "get back to some kind of normality" (!) after a time, making me feel a burden. She's had no real health problems, so she is incredibly fortunate to get to nearly 80 and be fit. Similarly, my best friend from school is a nurse yet she lacks a certain empathetic attitude towards me, being very blunt in her Christmas card one year telling me "I dont have the time or energy for your health problems". 🤔😳😢😵‍💫

I'm sure they do mean well, but it isn't very kind to be so dismissive when someone is really unwell. Having been through awful neurological symptoms of head injury and a movement disorder i would wonder just how my DM and friend might cope after a few days of experiencing them. Their sympathy might be a bit more like empathy then... 😳

Sometimes people think they are somehow stronger and better than those who have health problems. It's like "fighting" cancer, the implication being that you can vanquish it with strength and determination.
Sometimes health problems emerge and there's nothing you can do.
It's just one of those things, the health lottery. There's nothing virtuous about not being ill.

I’m in my thirties and on medication I’ll need to take for the rest of my life. I also choose to take multiple vitamins and supplements as they help with a chronic health condition I suffer with 🤷‍♀️

Everyone should be taking Vitamin D in the winter btw.

So do we, one of each

Talking about your various ailments and medications is dull though and is the first thing to scream “ old”. I speak as someone in their late 60s

Dad 80 is on loads. Mum 81 on none.

My mum has always been what some might call a 'health freak' but its served her incredibly well. She's fitter than most people 40 years younger!

I take Vitamin D from October to March and also a foam spray for psoriasis, which flared up so badly initially that I needed antibiotics - that was three years ago.

That's it thank goodness.

ETA I'm 65.

I'm 60 and husband is 65. We're not on anything.

I am on four tablets a day all BP/cardiac related. I know a 90 year old on no medication and with all their own teeth.

These threads are so weird, it's not superior to be on no meds.

I was on no meds until I turned 31 and was diagnosed with a degenerative disease, and even then I resisted treatment because I thought I could "fight" it "naturally". Well guess what, I couldn't, and am now on zillions of drugs, cause I don't want to degenerate at least until my children are adults.

However I don't talk about it at all as it makes other people so uncomfortable (and bored obviously) and I'd prefer to not have to deal with their emotions (and disdain) on top of my own problems.

There is quite a lot you can do. There was a recent thread about it, with lots of information. I’ll try to find it.

ETA - here it is. https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5448946-to-think-osteoporosis-is-shockingly-sidelined-by-healthcare-professionals-in-the-uk?page=9&reply=148857891

You’ll have to trawl through it. Iirc there was one particular poster who was quite knowledgeable. It’s a bit more complicated than ‘just take vitamin D’.

I hope you find it useful.

It is precisely a ‘lottery’. You can live as healthily as you please, and mitigate risks to a degree of course, but much of it is luck and/or genes. No amount of supplements or lifestyle adjustments on my part will ever change my outcome and it is infuriating that some people pride themselves on not going to the drs much or muddling through with a couple of paracetamol here and there as though being stoic is what stops you being unwell. It isn’t. Oh and I’m not in my 60s, I’m early 40s, and my conditions are likely to get much worse. I’ll be lucky to make it to 60 in all honesty.

💐
I hope it works out for you.
I get very angry with people at work who always used to say "I never take time off" as if it's a badge of honour. I'm the last 2 years I only had 2 days off, but I realise how lucky I am.

Lucky you I guess?

Thank you. It’s unlikely, but I’m hopeful. And stoic. That should stand me in good stead..

Well, you never know x

When i was put on a statin at 40, I was told I was in the minority to get to that age without being on meds!! All I am on is that which i want to come off and contraceptive pill. I dont like taking meds but contraceptive makes like so much easier and i imagine the same will be true for HRT

All medication has side effects and it makes sense to avoid it if you can imo. I walk my dogs every day and go swimming most days. I don't drink or smoke. I know several relatives who have a very unhealthy life style and expect pills to cure everything.

You can be fit, healthy and active AND take meds. Sometimes people can only be fit, active and healthy BECAUSE they take meds. For example, my legs don't work without medication. I'm not "popping a pill" regardless of side effects.

This is as annoying as the people who think they are superior for not putting their heating on.