Uneasy

[Tengu]

My Dad is changing.

His health is good and he is perky but hes lost a lot of weight; He says hes down the the weight he was when he left school.

His blood pressure and heart rate is so low that his doctor is much bothered. (Notice he is still happy and active with no signs of dizziness or lethargy.)

And most to my consternation, he is shrinking

Im much taller and bulkier than him, (He says he comes from a family of big men, and he is atypical) but of late he seems to be getting rather small, small as my mother (who though she wasnt small was definatley not big.)

I dont want to fret too much, but aside from the last two years I have spent my life within easy walk of him.

 

[wicca]

Tengu, if it's any consolation to you, about shrinking ...I recently saw something about age related changes. As someone headed that way myself (72) I actually found it quite funny as well as interesting. A) The feet tend to get bigger...why? because the weight bearing over the decades spreads them, sometimes up to a whole shoe size. B) People shrink because of compression of the spine. They (we) sometimes end up 2 to 3 inches shorter in some cases. C) Our ears get bigger in relation to our heads.. Apparently it's because of the weight...they droop. The last should be hilarious for my as I have earrings, so my lugs will be down to my knees in a couple of years...

 

[Macaroon]

How old is your father? You don't say.

 

[Tengu]

He is 78 but you wouldnt know it.

 

[sunndog]

My mum is a good couple of inches shorter than she was in her youth

Tengu, is it that you are just not seeing him as often as you were so are noticing the changes more?

 

[Toddy]

Those are both good points Sunndog.
My Uncle is 94 this year, he used to be a big, broad shouldered man just shy of 6' tall. He's almost my height now (5'3" with my shoes on )
He says the shrinkage is normal, his Grandpa did it too.
He's still active, clever and capable though

We're not saying you're not right to be concerned Tengu, especially if the Doctor is, but some of it is just getting older.
I hope he's spared for a great many years yet

M

 

[Tengu]

Dad is saying his father shrunk too.

(His father died relativley young (I never knew him) probably from overwork.)

(My Dad works lots.)

 

[santaman2000]

Shrinking is normal with advanced age. Weight loss could be a normal thing as well; as long as it's not a sudden loss. As has been pointed out, your observations might seem more pronounced because your not there as often and the changes have a longer time top occur. My biggest concern at this point would be just why is the doctor concerned? Apart from that, it all seems normal. Maybe a thorough exam by the doctor will put the issue to rest?

 

[Macaroon]

All the men on my father's side of the family shrank dramatically and lost a lot of weight in their mid to late seventies; they were all men who worked physically very hard from their early teens 'till they couldn't do it any more. I can feel the stirrings of it happening to me now and I'm only in my mid sixties...........

I think what you describe is the natural wearing out of the body after a life of physical labour. I also think that if the doctor had serious concerns he'd have done something about it, or at least spoken in more detail.

I hope he gets to spend his time in peace and ease

 

[Tengu]

Yes, the doctor is concerned, -over low BP, not shrinkage.

Hes doing further tests and has got Dad off his beta blockers.

 

[santaman2000]

Yes, the doctor is concerned, -over low BP, not shrinkage.

Hes doing further tests and has got Dad off his beta blockers.

Hopefully they'll sort it all out. Please let us know what happens.

 

[Mike313]

Others have said about the shrinkage thing being natural and I can vouch for that as I have lost 2" in height by my early 60's. I hope the doctor sorts out the other issues you are worried about. All the best.

 

[Tengu]

Anyhow, an update.

Specialists (He has no less than three working on him. I have little concerns over his healthcare...) Have suggested he may be suffering from overwork and stress, and he is to take it easy a bit.

What have I said to him these years???

Anyhow, mercifully he is the sort to take doctors advice.

He rang me week before the Moot. Said he was comming for a few days. (Notice I had no choice...)

(Lucky I have enough camping kit for two on me...)

It was different to what he expected. (I think he imagined a scout camp??) He was a bit overwhelmed at first, but soon joined in.

He slept on my camp bed at night and kept me awake with his snoring. (A good thing, -hes not slept well of late.)

He had to leave due to commitments at home (came out at last minute) But it did him a lot of good and hes already asking about next years Moot.

I will no longer be a lone bird.

Thank you BCUK.

 

[Nice65]

That's a nice tale Tengu, well done girl.

 

[santaman2000]

That's good news indeed!

 

[dwardo]

You can only run from gravity for so long