Experiences of age-related conditions
Richard Hardwick
Bruxelles
2026-03-17
Our youngest (?) reader writes
«Richard has suggested that subscribers to this site
(by definition elderly?) might usefully exchange
experiences of age-related conditions …
and is as good as their word (doc).
Many Spring-time thanks
r.
enc.
Richard_has_suggested_that_subscribers_to_this_site.doc
Michael.Dodd
The spinal system sounds interesting, might have to look that up as I am allergic to normal systems, heart goes mad and either stops or goes much too fast.
From: 'Richard Hardwick' via NVRS-HRI-gg <nvrs-...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 4:46 PM
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Subject: [nvrs-hri-gg] Experiences of age-related conditions
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andrew Entwistle
Sorry I don’t understand both ‘conversations’ – what is a ‘spinal system’?. Why would I want to discuss getting old? Andrew
John Fennell
John Fennell
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PO Box 664, Littlehampton
SA 5250, AUSTRALIA
Mobile: 0426 1800 51
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Sent: Wednesday, 18 March 2026 5:31 AM
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Cc: andrew Entwistle <andrew.e...@outlook.com>
Michael.Dodd
Well I think you go through various stages on the way up and again on the way down, my 93 year old mother is occasionally going to childhood if she wants something that she should not have although normally stays in adult stage, her mind is fine but occasionally uses age as an excuse. Has been a battle to get her onto the correct dose of medications though, if staying with levels she had been prescribed she would be dead by now from her two medications dished out at very wrong levels.
Think there might be quite a lot of research on this as I have also twice ended up in situation where I would have died if I had just followed what the doctor said, once very wrong medication given and other time missing a very serious infection even though symptoms clear. Basically up to the patient if they want to survive, not just listen blindly to the doctor in every situation. Increasingly important with age where loads of medications are assumed to be required even if they are not.
Burns, Ian
On 18 Mar 2026, at 08:54, 'Michael.Dodd' via NVRS-HRI-gg <nvrs-...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
andrew Entwistle
Thank you John and Ian…looking forward is my strong preference…not so easy when caring and history, often not positive, gets in the way of progress! But remain positive and enjoy life with a 1 acre garden, a lovely house now far too big. But as mum once said ‘and who is going to look after you’! wisdom indeed. I have had various health appointments wrt to mother and brother and the experiences of NHS are 100% positive. But, as Geoffrey tells me, ‘it doesn’t mow the lawns’! more wisdom? My advice to ‘the elderly is get on with the positive aspects of your life, and be grateful and don’t dwell on any negatives.
End of Philosophy lesson! Andrew
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nvrs-hri-gg/AAA370A9-F8D3-4BB4-ACED-0D06633CBD43%40warwick.ac.uk.
John Fennell
John Fennell
_________________________________________________________________
PO Box 664, Littlehampton
SA 5250, AUSTRALIA
Mobile: 0426 1800 51
_________________________________________
Stephen Loquens
On 19 Mar 2026, at 01:00, John Fennell <jfmfe...@hotmail.com> wrote:
Stephen Loquens
On 19 Mar 2026, at 01:00, John Fennell <jfmfe...@hotmail.com> wrote:
andrew Entwistle
I took early retirement to care for mother after dad passed. A very positive personal experience but certainly limited opportunities. I have a (too) large but lovely architect designed bungalow that can be hard work; and a 0.5ha garden which I have developed, but looking back on old photos, now think I should have left well alone!
Health is generally OK: I had bowel cancer in 2012, now, discharged after 5 years cancer free; a scare last Christmas with blood in a FIT test followed by gastroscopy (horrible procedure) and colonoscopy +bioassays which all turned out to be free of ‘abnormalities’. However, family has a history of cancer – grandparents, father, elder and twin brother so future uncertain? I have always found NHS to be excellent.Before moving here I was 50+ years at an excellent rutal GP surgery. Since then experience less so: difficult to get appointments and a comment ‘no point writing to us as chances are we won’t read the letters’ is not encouraging! I got involved in the process of ‘ Research for Patient Benefit’ for which I was awarded an MBE.
My most enjoyable moments have been long distance walking in the French/Spanish Pyrenees and Italian Alps: usually solo camping with occasional refuges in remote areas; but some scary situations. Now, at age 81, maybe I should be more cautious. These walks often are in regions where English is hardly spoken. I learnt Spanish and Italian at Warwick University to conversation level and this has helped make good friends in Italy. At one time I was translator from scientific Spanish to English for publication in science journals – care of Alan Scaife.
Just seen Stephen’s last comment re negative people; definitely! I am an optimist by nature: problems have solutions even if not so easy to find. Twin brother’s life has not been easy so he is less optimistic and I find the solutions for him. Being an identical twin often interests people abroad; sadly, parts of family have never got used to it and make life difficult. One health professional told me ‘At your age don’t fight the battles you can’t win’ which I try to abide by.
Andrew
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nvrs-hri-gg/073FEFC8-F18D-42AC-AC0B-EFE976B55C54%40loquens.co.uk.
Norman L Biddington
Talking of age related conditions I had an eye operation a year ago which I found fascinating from both a scientific and technical perspective but which also prevented me from going progressively blind.. I had been told I was borderline for driving so had more or less stopped. Then I was told that I have Fuch's endothelial distrophy. This is a relatively rare condition in us oldies and is genetic. My maternal grandmother was almost blind when she died. What is going on is the inner layer of the cornea is disappearing. Since its function is to remove water from the cornea the cornea becomes progressively waterlogged. This can be remedied by a corneal transplant, the cornea having being donated by someone following their death. Cornea transplants go back a long way. In the early days the whole cornea was transplanted with a slow settling in period and often with rejection problems. Techniques have improved over the years and the latest method involves removing the thin endothelial layer from the donor cornea, rolling it into a scroll and inserting it via a small incision into the eye. It is then unrolled inside the cornea. The transplant is held in place by a gas bubble which is absorbed after about a week So I had to lie on my back for a week, getting up for ten minutes every hour. At the end of the week my vision had improved remarkably, so much so that I was well within the requirement needed to drive. The operation was on my right eye, the left one is okay for now. This type of eye operation is considered very difficult and there are still relatively few surgeons trained to do it,.So feel I very fortunate.
Norman
andrew Entwistle
Sounds like difficult experience , Norman, but thanks for experiences. Am told I have poor ‘vision’ by which the mean ‘side vision’. 3-year driving extension comes up in October so am hoping OK by then. Andrew
From: 'Norman L Biddington' via NVRS-HRI-gg <nvrs-...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: 19 March 2026 12:21
To: nvrs-...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [nvrs-hri-gg] Experiences of age-related conditions
Talking of age related conditions I had an eye operation a year ago which I found fascinating from both a scientific and technical perspective but which also prevented me from going progressively blind.. I had been told I was borderline for driving so had more or less stopped. Then I was told that I have Fuch's endothelial distrophy. This is a relatively rare condition in us oldies and is genetic. My maternal grandmother was almost blind when she died. What is going on is the inner layer of the cornea is disappearing. Since its function is to remove water from the cornea the cornea becomes progressively waterlogged. This can be remedied by a corneal transplant, the cornea having being donated by someone following their death. Cornea transplants go back a long way. In the early days the whole cornea was transplanted with a slow settling in period and often with rejection problems. Techniques have improved over the years and the latest method involves removing the thin endothelial layer from the donor cornea, rolling it into a scroll and inserting it via a small incision into the eye. It is then unrolled inside the cornea. The transplant is held in place by a gas bubble which is absorbed after about a week So I had to lie on my back for a week, getting up for ten minutes every hour. At the end of the week my vision had improved remarkably, so much so that I was well within the requirement needed to drive. The operation was on my right eye, the left one is okay for now. This type of eye operation is considered very difficult and there are still relatively few surgeons trained to do it,.So feel I very fortunate.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nvrs-hri-gg/wxfuf2pq6ng5yhpkphidp31l.1773921508542%40email.android.com.
Jo White
Clive Gmail
Clive Rahn