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 son is about to turn 10 and is already on 2 medications thanks to cancer. He's in remission now but will probably need to take them for the rest of his life.

My friend had had breast cancer this year and I have type 1 diabetes so we take medicine (me insulin) but mine has nothing to do with my age.
I think one other friend takes anti depressants, but she’s been on them since she was about 35. That’s it. No one else I know takes regular drugs. I’m 63.

I’m in the age category and I don’t take any. Some of my siblings don’t take anything either, neighbour doesn’t take anything.

I am in my 60s, and not on medication (& never have been).
My husband is in his 60s and not on medication (after many years when he WAS!).

I don't think it's so unusual. Like you, OP, I'm pretty lucky and haven't seen a GP for 15 or 20 years (coz I don't go for minor ailments, I just wait for them to get better).

You had cancer.

Because, in tbe UK the vast majority of people will be deficient as it is impossible to get enough sunlight during the winter months. Although possible to get it from diet, most people in the UK dont get enough from diet because tbey dont eat enough of the right types of food (oily fish, liver, red meat as the main sources). It is advised that everyone take it because by the time symptoms of deficiency become apparent it can take much longer to get levels stable again. It can lead to rickets, osteoporosis, poor immune response among other things. Often these conditions are already advanced before deficiency is discovered.

I did get something but it wasn't at the surgery, I had to do it all myself and fill in an online form, I could have put any old rubbish down. I don't recall there being a blood test but then I suppose someone apart from me would have had to do something.

My mum was crippled with osteoarthritis by 75. I blame her being finished menopause by 45 - she sailed theiugh it too. I started hrt and supplements as soon as I started getting symptoms as im determined to protect my bones.
Might be worth getting bone scan op

My mother is 96 in April and only on preventative eye drops for Glaucoma. But she does get her bloods and BP done regularly, so keeps an eye. She gets the 'flu and Covid jabs though.

My mum is 92 and only takes a daily statin & vitamin D tablet. She still has all her own teeth too! I’m 30 years younger and take the same …but I have a few less of my own teeth than she does!

To check, at a very minimum, your blood glucose levels, your cholesterol and your kidney and liver function. And your blood pressure.

I’m in my 60’s and on no medication but the majority of people I know around my age and younger seem to be on some sort of medication.

I don’t think not being on meds yet not having any sort of useful medical check for 20 years is the flex you think it is.

It's not a bad thing though, and really isn't indicative of anything.

Plenty of people are on no meds, no conditions, never see a doctor. develop cancer and die within weeks, my DF.

My DM had all sorts of conditions, and fistfuls of meds, lived until she was 92. Only died because she refused COVID jab.

All my mates are on something. HRT. Statins. BP meds. Lots are on cancer meds. All are actually very fit and healthy!

I used to get those checks at work but that was some sort of private medical check provided by the company.

This is my understanding too - and you absorb less as you get older so you need to take higher doses. Low Vitamin D is a risk factor for so many things and we cannot get enough through diet.

I am around three stone overweight. I know I should lose it but find it so difficult. I hope when I retire, the fact I am not desk bound any more may help.

I've just been on t'internet and there aren't UK stats that record meds for 60s only; it's lumped into 60+. What did interest me was polypharmacy, being prescribed lots of meds, not necessarily taking into account the ones already being taken, benefits, and also long term effects. Underlying this is a lack of research, particularly in 70+ people.

This is only one link: https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/analysis/clinical-areas/long-term-conditions-prescribing/are-older-patients-being-overtreated/

Why would you if you don't know about it though?

Just because you don't,t know about what you have wrong with you, doesn't mean you are healthy.

Prevention is better than cure. We are constantly moaning about the state of our healthcare, but then you we doing nothing to check yourself out. You could have high BP, high cholesterol, poor kidney function, be pre-diabetic. You don't know, because you haven't had those checked out. At some point you become too ill and it's too late.

Bloody hell its nigh on impossible to get a doctors appointment if you are actually ill never mind rocking up for all these tests

I think you can request them yourself. I did for my first one.

I'm 64 and not on anything. I don't have any diagnoses either. My parents were the same.

I honestly get asked in for them ( by text) every 6 months at my GPs on the basis of 1 test in 2022 that had me on the very lower limit of pre diabetic and slightly over on cholesterol - I really think it is absolutely the luck of the draw depending where you live and the practice - I’ve got an appointment within 4 to 5 days if needed too -

I came off my bike a couple of years ago and hurt my knee ( all good after a couple of months ) Doctor in A &E seemed surprised that I wasn’t on any regular medication, apart from antihistamines in the summer if needed and topical vaginal oestrogen post menopause - said most in their 60s were on at least one thing for systemic concerns like blood pressure etc. and questioned me again in case I had forgotten ( or she thought I was concussed ! )

I, in turn, was surprised it was so common- though maybe her views were slanted by mainly seeing people with problems. My mother was well into her eighties before was prescribed anything - very fit and lively.

Maybe I’m just lucky genetically - active, but not overly so (ride my mountain bike off road but not riskily and swim regularly) Had a general health check by the GP last year and all good re BP ( tends to low) and blood sugar etc. Eat sensibly but not obsessively, never smoked and was low and now non drinker. None of my friends are on any regular medication either.

DH is older, also not on anything, is obsessive about training and monitoring allll the metrics.

But dear friend has just been diagnosed with fast onset, bad prognosis cancer out of nowhere - one thing you learn about getting older is that you do see this happening to peers more and more frequently and to appreciate good health while you have it.