Anyone else kind of surprised they're still kicking?
Posted by Infinite-Lychee-182@reddit | GenX | View on Reddit | 58 comments
I've been seeing a lot of posts regarding concern for aging parents, and I'm still surprised by it. I guess I'm older Gen X, born in 1968, and lost my parents years ago. Anyway, am I alone in being concerned about us dying?
I just really can't believe I'm still alive. I've had the normal chiropractic type surgeries, and was dealing with Type 2 Diabetes through the years, but nothing really crazy. Ten years ago, or so, life just seems to keep trying to kill me. Thankfully through providence and amazing proactive medical care, I've f'ing survived! I've had cancer, kicked it. It wasn't even normal cancer. I had a chondrosarcoma in my left knee. It was my 11th knee surgery. I've had a heart attack. F U heart attack, I didn't even know i had it until revealed by a chemical stress test. I've had a severe bone infection leading to the amputation of my left big toe. I think that was the closest I was to dying. It was really really bad. I was hit by a car while on my Vespa. I'm Gen X so naturally I was only wearing a t-shirt, shorts, slip-on sneakers, and sunglasses. Yup, lucky, but damn I had a lot of road rash. Oh, just diagnosed with F3 liver fibrosis. The number is very close to cirrhosis. I can't get off blood thinners, so I can't get a biopsy. Fingers crossed on that one. Oh, I may have a mass in my gallbladder too, lol. Hoping it is just sludge. I should have a better idea next month.
Anyway, anyone else who just seems to somehow survive?
On the bright side I buy myself something nice and shiny. Over the last year I bought 3 dry herb vaporizers, and 3 guitar amps, lol. Now that I think about it, I got my Tele after I was hit by a car, and another guitar amp after recovering from my chondrosarcoma removal surgery.
tanhauser_gates_@reddit
Raises hand.
iwastherefordisco@reddit
I've been in 6 car accidents, fell down Cascade Mountain hiking, hit my head diving in a river requiring 72 stitches and have been in a lot of fights, both organized and otherwise.
Became a chronic pain patient in 2001 for over 20 years, and worked full time through all of it. Did drugs and drank, and probably haven't slept over 4 hours at once since 2000.
Somehow he lived..
I get told I look young and often thank my parents for that lol...because the truth is I should be gone a few times over and feel like I look 1000 years old.
I celebrate every minute of life now and know I dodged more than one bullet. Getting old sucks, but at least I'm able to complain about it and that's enough for me. Some of my friends can't do that now :(
good to see you made it OP
possiblecoin@reddit
Cascade in the Adirondacks? That's a sneaky tough hike. Not much distance but steep and super rocky.
iwastherefordisco@reddit
No it was Cascade Mountain in Banff, Canada. Very scenic and you know what? When people like Sylvester Stallone kick off a mountain and use trees to buttress their fall? It actually sucks a lot more in real life lol!
I lived and worked in Banff at the Rocky Mountain resort and we hiked quite a bit of the town backdrop. It was an awesome place to live.
Admirable-Currency89@reddit
Concerned? No. Inevitable? Yes. I'm GenX69. I graduated HS with like 67 people, I bet 25 are dead at least with suicide, drugs, misadventure. We are all punching a ticket at some point.
dezertryder@reddit
I must live forever so I can take care of gen Z and A.
Accurate-Survey6985@reddit
Basically I ponder it's miraculous course.
ofthrees@reddit
my late husband and i always assumed i'd die first. many vices, i have, to his one.
here i am, five years after watching him die in ICU.
so yeah, surprised i'm still here. he is too, i'm sure.
VincentTakeda@reddit
every birthday i celebtate the people i have outlived
Infinite-Lychee-182@reddit (OP)
I would need two celebrations. One celebration for the people I outlived that I really love and miss. And a second celebration as a phuck you to the people I outlived that I despised.
Actually, I really can't think of anyone I know, or had known, that would rate lower than indifference. One celebration is plenty, lol.
MichaelStanwyck@reddit
John Melicamp song Cherrybomb verse "17 turns 35 it's a wonder we're still alive ". Holds true for me. If I have 9 lives like a cat I have to be careful, I lost count around 7 or 8...
Historical_Bath_9854@reddit
Definitely. I've been sickly my entire life, every day I wake up is amazing to me.
b_o_m@reddit
I didn't expect to make it to 30 due to a mis-spent youth and now I'm a couple weeks away from 58... Had I known, I'd have made better decisions and planned better for "old age". Still living and learning.
Zestyclose-Ad-7576@reddit
I had a widow maker heart attack. Pretty sure I was going to die. As I was trying to get help, I got weirdly calm about dying. I survived something most people don’t, so yeah, I’m surprised I’m not dead. I consider this my bonus round.
DetectiveWise2923@reddit
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
westiemaven@reddit
Born in '67. I thought for sure I would've gotten trapped in quicksand and died by now. I was sick constantly as a kid. Bad allergies and asthma. My dad had to rush me to the ER as a kid a couple times due to anaphylaxis. (No such thing as an EpiPen back then.) I had cancer in 2023. Same as you, my parents died a long time ago in 2004 and 2005. My dad died at 67 from melanoma. He lived only 7 months after his diagnosis. Mom died at 65. If I make it to 68, I will be shocked!
DetectiveWise2923@reddit
Same. I’m 67 and both parents died early. Just lost my brother closest in age to me last September. I’m convinced I got at most a decade left now. My husband is constantly aggravated when I say that but he is 5 years older and his parents are both still alive.
KittenWithAScrip@reddit
Surprised and disappointed. I was addicted to opiates/opiods and benzos on and off for 20+ years. Most of my old friends have died, but I'm still here - sober. And old. And sad.
Infinite-Lychee-182@reddit (OP)
That's no joke! Between the Air Force and VA Healthcare, I was literally on pain meds for over 20 years. If I didn't stop when I did, I certainly would have deleted years ago.
Stubborn_Strawberry@reddit
I don't want to jinx myself.....but yeah.
PNWest01@reddit
I'm surprised I survived the shenanigans I got up to in my teens and 20's. Made some seriously stupid decisions, there wasn'ta pill I wouldn't try if someone said it would get me high. Found myself in some bad situations. I'll be 62 this year, my body is DEF paying the price for those wild days, lol. But as someone else mentioned, modern medicine is keeping me kicking. Diabetes, depression, blood pressure, cholesterol and sleep apnea all under control. All in all, except for my fkn hip, I feel pretty good and I maintain an attitide of gratitude. I just wish I could still dance....
AJKaleVeg@reddit
I would really prefer to check out on my own timeline. Age 74 is what I have decided.
Capital-Meringue-164@reddit
I have an older friend who said this 15 years ago when we met. She swore she wouldn’t live past 74 and spent all her money traveling and living lavishly. Now she’s still living, but nearly penniless. I think it had to do with losing her husband, which it’s understandable but I also feel badly for her.
AJKaleVeg@reddit
That’s cool that she traveled. I live a pretty simple lifestyle.
Capital-Meringue-164@reddit
Yes it was like an addiction, until the money ran out.
Brizzledude65@reddit
60, so very early Gen X. Ridden motorbikes my whole life, and I do like to push it, love the booze and the weed, still in great shape. I have always been very active and walk everywhere, used to cycle a lot, and so far that seems to doing the job. Keep on keeping on.
TripMaster478@reddit
Huh, so buying guitar gear is your comfort thing to do to relieve pain. I respect that ('67 so I feel lucky to be still around too, though haven't had as many scares for sure).
Infinite-Lychee-182@reddit (OP)
That and dry herb vaporizers, lol.
Dextropic@reddit
Now that I think about it, I am surprised I made it to 50.
3/2022... COVID 3/2023... ME vs F-150 3/2024... L. A. D. Heart attack 11/2024... failed Attempt
Still here. Not doing anything, but still here.
docsiege@reddit
i kinda think that not expecting to survive to old age is/was part of the standard gen x upbringing.
i'm at 55 now, and altho i have a lot of health issues, almost all of them got better as i started losing weight. so that's my main focus, between exercise bike and ozempic type diabetes meds and trying to eat better.
Kilashandra1996@reddit
1969 / Gen X. Bio-mom & younger step mom both are from, umm, short-lived families. Stepmom (70.9) is alive, but barely kicking.
Dad (83) is from long lived stock - several into their 100s. Dad is still popping wheelies on grocery store shopping carts while coasting thru the parking lot. Fortunately, I'm in good enough shape that I probably won't die before him.
esp735@reddit
No.
Once I was 25/26, I figured I'd be healthy enough to make it this long. Everyone in my family (even the ones from 200 years ago) makes it to their 70s.
I questioned it for the first time 4 years ago when I had a seizure caused by type 2 brain cancer. They removed the tumor, but no one said "cancer free." The doctor said 10 years. I was 52 then, and I figure I'll probably still make my 70s so I don't throw off the curve. Ask me again in 15 years, and my answer will definitely be Yes!
Twisty12223@reddit
I almost died about 20 years ago. Pulled through. Obviously. I'm not going to get into what happened and what I experienced but I am not longer afraid of going (hopefully) gently into that good night.
That being said i really am surprised I am still dirt side up. We all should have sucumbed to some apocalypse by now.
No_Maintenance_9608@reddit
My body is a playground of genetic shit. Type 2, high bp, high cholesterol, fatty liver, and an autoimmune disease. I think I’m starting in the road to remission with the autoimmune issue. Been dealing with it for over ten years, and I’m sad that my mom died six year ago and won’t be around when I finally am through.
I’m doing what I can do make sure everything is in check. As mediocre as my life has been I’m not ready to drop dead just yet.
EPCreep@reddit
Out of curiosity, how did you get the autoimmune disease to remit? My bloodwork shows that I’m on the cusp of having an autoimmune disease and would like to get in under control before it becomes a bigger issue.
No_Maintenance_9608@reddit
For me it was the statins I was taking that triggered the response. Ironic the stuff that was supposed to help me turned on me. So I’m taking different types of cholesterol medicine now.
KrofftSurvivor@reddit
'67, still doing fine - count myself lucky that all I've had so far is an SVT. Both of my parents and stepparents are still alive, and 3 out of 4 are Silent Gen. Both of my grandfathers died in their 60's, both of their wives outlived them by a good 20 years.
I still know more friends with concerns about aging parents than friends who've lost their parents at this point.
I-used2B-a-Valkyrie@reddit
Turned 50, had to have a double mastectomy. They never ran bloodwork and my 2 hour surgery turned into 10. Organs are starting to fail from severe anemia that SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHECKED PRIOR TO SURGERY so now I’m wearing a heart monitor and sitting for infusions every few days and pulling bloodwork 3x a week but I’m still kicking!
Infinite-Lychee-182@reddit (OP)
We got this!
I-used2B-a-Valkyrie@reddit
Yeah we do! If we survived childhood through twenties (IYKYK) we can get through this too!!
Infinite-Lychee-182@reddit (OP)
We even survived "the ditch" we were going to be found lying dead in 👍
Koolmidx@reddit
Frankly I'm livid I'm still alive. I wanna speak to the manager! All those things that I experienced that were supposed to kill me made me stronger. Now I can bench press an iceberg! What am I gonna do with all these extra years, work for a living and pay taxes so the rich can get richer? This is stupid!
(Sarcasm and not sarcasm)
I-used2B-a-Valkyrie@reddit
I feel like quicksand was going to be a bigger mortal danger than it has been, amirite?
Lost_Ad_9890@reddit
🤣🤣🤣🤣yeah you got problems dude 🤔
SargonTheAkkadian@reddit
I’m not a fitness fanatic, but I do try to stay healthy. Almost 58 and on no medications. Years ago I was caring close to 50lbs extra and went on a keto diet and lost it. I’m about my high school weight and keep up the keto. My father’s first heart attack was in his 50’s. I’ve got a 10 year old and a 14 year old. Ain’t nobody got time for that.
Lost_Ad_9890@reddit
1968 right here. thanks for checking in 😁
Mammoth_Ad_483@reddit
My father died at 41 and his father died at 43, so yeah I'm surprised.
Rhusty_Dodes@reddit
Yeah. I'm pretty much the last of my family left at 51 and I have some chronic health issues that finally caught up with me and I'm fighting for disability. I've always thought I'd I made it to 60 I'll be pretty happy. I've made piece with being here for a good time, not a long time.
Sammymi05@reddit
I got weight loss surgery at 47 because i was a big fat guy and it seems like big fat guys die in their 50s. Very surreal to be faced with should I lose weight or die in the next 10 years. I'm much healthier now Thank God. I'm almost 51 and have a 15yr old son.
ZebraBorgata@reddit
Zoinks! That’s a lot! I’m a ‘68 GenX too. No complaints here, knock on wood. I’m in good health! I do take some statins for cholesterol because it’s high no matter my diet & exercise. I’m waiting to wake up super sore one day from playing ice hockey for 3 decades…..broke a lot of bones over the years so say the least. But overall not feeling any worse for the wear yet. Yet!
nixtarx@reddit
I cannot be killed
DrumsKing@reddit
I died 5 times several weeks ago (cardiac arrest age 52). Here I am still. For now.
nixtarx@reddit
Just you, me and Keith Richards, bud. Although now that it turns out Lemmy can be killed, all bets may be off...
Choosepeace@reddit
Breast cancer survivor , it’s all gone now!
Thriving , and planning on keeping it that way!
Jas62021@reddit
I’m pretty sure I’ve been playing a game of hide and seek with the Grim Reaper since my 20s. Come very close to getting caught a few times.
Between an abusive ex husband. Many close calls with the horses. Many close calls with the cars. Then my blood pressure being nearly uncontrollable during my pregnancy. My medically necessary c section incision reopening the first night home with our daughter. The Covid infection early in that mess. And subsequent blood clots going un noticed for 7 months. The severe anemia from having to be on blood thinners. And now my ekg showed something “within the normal range, but nearly not normal”?
Yeah. My dad’s parents passed in their late 50s early 60s. My dad passed from complications of a stroke at 57.
And while I don’t smoke, or drink. And try to be on the healthy side of things. I’m not expecting much past 65. And tbh . My mom’s 85. My neighbors in her 90s I don’t want to go that long
TheLastMongo@reddit
On my second transplant and in between developed Congestive Heart Failure from the first transplant going south. Have spent most of the last 12 years on dialysis. Not a happy camper.
If it weren’t for my wife and kids I probably wouldn’t have the push to keep going.
EPCreep@reddit
My friends and I always talk about how given the amounts of drugs, tobacco, and alcohol we consumed in our teens and twenties, it’s amazing we’re still here! I had an incident of fatty liver in my 30s, but it cleared up when I scaled back the drinking (didn’t drink for 2 years at all). Currently I have no conditions to speak of and take no medications besides Zyrtec. I feel unbelievably lucky, given the past poor decision making.
bluealien78@reddit
My dad was my age (48) when he had his first heater attack. He went on to have a stroke, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and finally another heart attack at 85 that ended him. My mother was 62 when she was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease and died at 68.
I do my best to take care of myself. Balanced diet, regular physical exercise and cognitive exercise, don’t smoke, barely drink, drink lots of water, and am right in my healthy weight range. The worst I do to my body is enjoy some gummies a few times a week. Despite all that, I cannot shake the idea that my family medical history will dictate when the grim reaper comes calling.