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)

@Cynic17 until 2022 when I had a load of neuro issues post Covid I hadn’t seen a doctor for 22 years apart from a few smear tests ( when I didn’t see the doctor) - the doctor in 2022 had to double check with me if that was correct .

I’m about 2 and a half stone over- but I was 5 - when I did get my post Covid issues I was indeed also at my heaviest

I find it hard to believe there are people in their sixties walking around not having had bloods done or a BP check for decades. No wonder you’re not on any medication- why would you be?

You sound like my mother.

She loves it so hard when people have got the 'death'.

She would obviously never say it, but she fucking loves it.

I think it depends on personality type. A member of my family is a complete hypochonriac and attention seeker. If their spouse has any new treatment or medication for the genuine issues the spouse has, within a few days a new "symptom" appears that means that they need all the attention. Foolish enabler spouse goes along with it.

Some people are very health anxious and will jump on any new symptom with an insistence that it needs seeing and dealing with ASAP, even if time will often sort it out.

Some people are into self help (my sister is very much like this) so makes sure that she takes all the age/sex appropriate vitamins or supplements that may help see off issues later.

I am more like you so I am not very sympathetic with the first two, one is just a drama queen and the other seems like borrowing trouble. The third I think is actually sensible but I am too lazy to keep up a routine with it!

I needed to start taking thyroid meds at 60, was on painkillers for a few years but off those now.

In my defence here I did pay myself every couple of years for a full bloods check up at a private clinic ( about £180) and I have a BP monitor at home . I just didn’t see a GP

Some people are into self help (my sister is very much like this) so makes sure that she takes all the age/sex appropriate vitamins or supplements that may help see off issues later

A blood test and recommendations by the GP is best. Unintended overdosing on B6 is a real issue as it's a carrier for a number of other supplements and results in nerve damage.

Mum is heading for 70 and proudly takes nothing!

Got up after a hysterectomy after a one night stay in mid 50’s and was like home james.

my Mum smokes and has a gin daily, my Nan her mum was as sharp right until the end but suffered with mental health, had electric shock treatment in the past but never suffered dementia/Alzheimer’s.

I didnt say she did it instead of medical advice. She does it alongside medical treatment and advice she has for a couple of other issues. She isnt stupid, far from it.

Had cancer/mastectomy in 2016. 61 now, no conditions or meds. My mum is 85, has dementia but no medicated conditions. Down to luck/genes.

I'm 68 and not on any meds.I take vitamins,but that's it

You have reminded me that I was asked this question by my optician and they were surprised that I wasn’t on any regular medication. I was surprised that this was deemed unusual, although I do have friends in their late 50s/early 60s who are on a lot of medication and in some cases, struggling to walk. And my husband takes meds for cholesterol and high blood pressure.

I was previously on vaginal oestrogen but was advised to stop when diagnosed with breast cancer. I take painkillers quite frequently when I get little niggles and aches, also vitamin c, and I’ve just started some omega 3/cod liver oil and vitamin D capsules for my knees.

No idea, but DH had a TIA and is on statins, I am not on anything. mid 60s.

That’s interesting. I’ve no idea what mine is.

Please. I hate these sorts of threads that conflate 60's plus with impending death. I'm nearly 70 and still get taken as a 25 year old. It's all in the jeans, as someone else wrote !

You don’t “ beat” cancer I’m afraid.
Eirher treatment ( in whatever form that may take) is successful, or it isn’t.

No you don’t. They’re being very kind 😁

I think my surgery offers them every 5 years after 40. I get a text inviting me now but originally they sent me a letter.

I think it was sarcasm. Or at least I hope it was!

I’ve a BMI 27.5 and I would estimate that my two closest friends and DH are similar, they are on regular meds but I’m not. Then again I have had breast cancer.

My Mum is 88 and on no meds at all. My father took no meds until 86. When people find out they’re always surprised.

It’s just luck really
personally - 4 antihistamines a day since I was 12 plus now a biologic injection for hives
GCSF injections for neutropenia since mid thirties
levo for hashimotos since mid thirties

I collect autoimmune conditions so nothing to do with actual health as such or caused by anything I’ve done

Health check appointments are with a nurse .

I am 47 and was just put on blood pressure meds. Never used to check my blood pressure, never get sick or go to the doctors. Exercise regularly. Took my BP by chance a couple of weeks ago, found it was way too high, so much so that the GP sent me to A&E! Got diagnosed with hypertension the next day!
like someone said upthread, things can get undetected if you are not doing regular checks.