…that’s been around for a long time, and he’s prone to sleeping an awful lot, and he doesn’t want to chase sticks anymore, but he’s still cheerful and he isn’t sick – until one day he just stops eating for no apparent reason? Well, that’s kind of what I feel like.
It started with some sort of crud I caught, nothing serious, just ick. But then I stopped eating. I mean I completely lost any semblance of an appetite and didn’t notice until that was starting to make me sick. And also the dehydration because this is summer in the desert and you have to be disciplined about how much water you drink and I really wasn’t being that. And it was kind of a spiral, made worse because I’ve been an ‘eat when I’m hungry/drink when I’m dry’ sort for going on 30 years so there was no schedule-related mental muscle memory to prompt me to eat and that’s what I’m working on now.
I’m not actually sick. My neighbors, all of whom are older than I am, have diagnosed my condition as – let me look up the correct spelling here – “Getting Old.” Anyway, you may have noticed that that same sudden ailment has also affected my interest in keeping in touch with people and for that I apologize. I keep meaning to sit down and type this, it’ll only take a minute – and it always ends up with ‘mañana.’ Don’t feel picked on, I’ve also been ghosting my neighbors. Hey, nobody becomes a hermit in the desert because of his great social skills, right?
And for the umpteenth time, for those of you about to say “get thee to a doctor,” no. That way lies pills, and side-effects from pills, and pills to battle the side-effects, and pills to battle the side-effects of the combinations of pills, leading inexorably to death by doctor and that’s not the way I’m going. There’s nothing specifically wrong with me. I just need to learn better habits. And stop spending so much time sitting when I ought to be walking and doing useful stuff.
Anyway I really will try to stay in touch. I’m not ditching the blog or anything, I just need to get back into the habit. thanks for all the concern, really.
What’s really pissing me off is that I can’t drink anymore. Whiskey – the water of life! – tastes terrible to me now. That right there might end up killing me.
Halleluia (sp?)! The Sleeper Awakes!
Seriously, I’m with ya on doctors. It’s not just that they will kill you with their incessant fiddling and insistence on driving you to a “normal” condition, it’s that living from day to day wondering what horror the doctor has to look at is just no way to live. A person lives until they don’t, and worrying about it is a sure way to shorten your time here.
If you find you can’t remember to eat, establish a simple schedule: like, have pancakes every morning, or sacrifice an armadillo every afternoon at 2pm…or something.
I can sympathize, I think I’m a little older than you. Tip on whiskey issue, change it up and try again. I was doing good beer for decades, but then just dislike it anymore. Switched to Irish whiskey and I’m enjoying it for the first time in 45 years. Expirement a little, gin and tonic, tequila something, wine (shudder), lagers, whatever. Hopefully something will brighten your palate. Going back to work has helped NY outlook too. Write, caretake, whatever.
I’m in my eighties, and used to love booze, but now I can take it or leave it, and I mostly leave it. Lots of stuff I know I should get done, but I just don’t feel like doing it. Luckily, I have a wife that kinda keeps me motivated. I guess as we get older, we just fade away, even if we see doctors or not. Anyway, like the character in one of my favorite movies says, “We all die, it’s just a question of when”.
Just because you go to a doctor to try and see whats wrong doesn’t mean you HAVE to start pills and then pills for pills. That’s a choice YOU make not them. You can look for a DR that is willing to try other non standard things, they do exist. There are other ways/remedies to deal with medical issues. I am technically old also even though my wife says I act like a 17 year old at times, not sure she meant that as a compliment. I’m feeling things poorly more and more and I accept that. I cant believe I lived this long with the stuff I did in the military. Plus a family history of not getting past 70. 3.5 years till that goal just because I’m a stubborn bastard.
But your symptoms don’t sound like just old age to me. Are you sure you didn’t have COVID vs just some virus. Your symptoms sound somewhat like long COVID.
I had a friend who passed recently that had COVID and then had some of your symptoms also for months. His DR said long COVID later. He believes he got COVID while in the hospital of course. Since he got turbo Pancreatic cancer I don’t know if the overall symptoms died out before he did. According to his doctor he thinks the COVID symptoms covered up early signs of the cancer since some of them matched. To his death he swore that the hospital gave him a MRNA shot without permission while he was in for a heart cath issue, then 6 months later cancer pops up, funny timing eh.
The walking can be decent. Dedicated exercise would be better.
Can’t speak for how you will take to exercise. Some people catch the bug, and love it.
Regardless, strength training is really important. Physically and mentally.
Spend more on nummy food you WANT to eat?
It’s been over 30 years but pot( devils lettuce) gives you the munchies.
Glad to hear you’re still out there. This made me realize I got some people I should let know I’m breathing too.
Old is getting us all. I still like food and get plenty of liquids. Memory is my issue. Can’t remember shit.
Good to see you Bubba!
“I can’t drink anymore. Whiskey – the water of life! – tastes terrible to me now.”
While I can’t be 100% certain, considering all the symptoms you have described including the big one noted above, it looks like you have had COVID.
SoCoRuss – Correlation does not imply causation.
https://www.tylervigen.com/spurious/correlation/5130_popularity-of-the-first-world-problems-meme_correlates-with_google-searches-for-vihart
Michigan isn’t as hot as Arizona. But when I am working outside I set the alarm on my cell phone and when it goes off I drink water. The time span varies based on how hot it is and how hard I am working but it is usually between 30 minutes and 60 minutes. The amount I drink is pretty consistent. Seven or eight big swallows. If I have a bottle that works out to about 16 ounces.
Remember, only the mediocre are always at their best. Somerset Maughm.
Glad to hear you’re OK (for certain values thereof). Had us all a bit worried.
Best wishes.
I’ve had strange for me gut issues since having the china virus last year.
Can’t prove it at all, doc says it could very well be since she has run lots of tests without any negative results so far.
Good luck with life.
I’m 74, you’re describing me, but since I have a wife, it’s difficult to neglect myself to death. Also, I’m co-caregiver for mom in law.
OH! We both got dogs in the last few years! Now I’m committed to living another 10 years so my Malinois/GSD, good boy mix can live comfortably and safely. Well, unless (((They))) starve, disease or violence us to death.
We gotta be there for the doggers.