Is it normal for a 72 year old to be so tired

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Spending more time with DM recently. She gets so tired it’s ridiculous, it’s like she’s a little dormouse.

She is busy doing stuff around the house, but no more ‘proper’ exercise than a short walk to the shops. Then needs a 3 hour nap, and won’t come out with me for a short walk later. Apparently then sleeps well.

She does have heart issues - has had stents. Also overweight, though she wouldn’t admit it. She has always been active (sports as well as daily life) through her life, although slowed down once retired.

I was thinking I was being unfair comparing me to her. But today I was talking to my 65 year old colleague who works full time and about to do a series of trips to our branches round the country…. Only 7 years younger.

The GP and heart specialist can be really dismissive of her concerns in the past. And sometimes she accepts what they say - the specialist laughed that she got breathless walking from the car with her 25 year old son - “well of course! Ha ha”, but she also gets breathless walking with me when I’m walking reeeaally slowly.

I am wondering whether to push her to get seen. Any views welcome before I upset her!

I think she definitely needs to be seen. It's one thing to be tired but another to be breathless when doing simple things like walking from the car or walking along the street.

I would definitely encourage her back to the doctor.

Forgot to add, my BIL has had heart surgery previously (not exactly sure what he had done) but the doctor told him that he will know when it needs redoing because one of the main signs would be he would become tired very easily and would get breathless doing basic things like walking up a few steps etc.

So I'd say she definitely need a check up.

Yes I think she needs to be seen...that is not normal at any age surely?

My parents are 69 and mum does a half day of
classes at the leisure centre every Monday and Dad was regularly running 5k during lock down when his beloved golf was off.

She definitely needs to see someone and not just accept it as she can probably have a much better quality of life.

Is she anaemic? I’d get a check up, no need to struggle if it’s avoidable.

My Mum is almost 76. She goes walking twice a week - last week one of her walks was 5 miles, and does a keep fit class once a week. Her walking companions are a similar age. She's on holiday this week and doing around 12000 steps a day.

I have friends with parents in their 80s who are very active too so I'd definitely say your Mum isn't the norm. I'd be getting things checked out

Well its normal for someone with heart failure - is that what you mean when you say 'heart issues'?

I should add that she gets a reasonable number of steps in, hence I think I’ve been fooled through lockdown. But it’s possibly all at a snails pace, and quite a lot was from gardening. You’d think the gardening would have kept her fit, but again might have been done slowly. Or possibly this is a recent change.

Thanks all.

What exactly is your mums heart condition? My dad has arterial fibrillation and his symptoms are similar to what you describe in your mum. He's medicated but just can't stay awake a lot of the time.

@maxiflump1

What exactly is your mums heart condition? My dad has arterial fibrillation and his symptoms are similar to what you describe in your mum. He's medicated but just can't stay awake a lot of the time.

She had a heart attack maybe 5 years ago, followed by stents. The heart disease is caused by cholesterol (not diet related). So it’s quite possible that more damage is being done and the problems are resurfacing now. I can’t remember when she last saw the (flippant) specialist, might have been just before covid.

I find you really have to push to be taken seriously, and DM won’t push if she’s convinced herself it’s all ok.

Right, pushy daughter it is!

Yes to her getting medical advice.

I am seventy eight and disabled with severe CFS/ME and can do as much if not more than she can. And never get breathless; that is the worrying and revealing thing in this to me.

I hope she gets better...

Remember that aging is a spectrum. Running 5k a day isn't possible for everyone at any age. My dad couldn't do it having had a heart attack requiring 2 stents at 50 despite being active and my DM certainly couldn't and they are both now late 60s. Mum has osteoporosis though and is physically crippled from multiple breaks all over her body plus hip replacement etc.

Your DM though sounds like she needs a full check up to ensure things are working as they should, especially with multiple stents.

Picked up on the fact that she gets breathless easily . Maybe she's low on iron? Any palpitations? My mum had both of those symptoms and was anaemic. She needed 4 units of blood.

Can you get your mum to get checked out at her GP surgery?

It could be worth asking this on Gransnet.

She needs to be seen BUT there's also a big difference between 65 and 70-5.

She might just be breathless as she isn't as fit as she was but other things should be ruled out.

Atrial fibrillation and heart failure both share breathless symptoms, and are not uncommon in the over 70’s, so I would say she definitely needs a review with her GP or cardiac consultant. Maybe all it needs is a tweak of her medication.