Originally Posted by DnvrFox

I think stress is the ultimate killer. My wife and I are under constant stress as regards the current and future of our son with profound developmental disabilities – who will be 47 next month. He requires 24/7 observation and support.

This year we went through the extreme stress of the very untimely and unexpected death of his primary caregiver (he lives in what is called a “Host Home”). Fortunately a replacement had been trained during this process. At near 75 and 77yo, and suffering from several maladies, there is nothing we can do for him, except lunch every week with him and his daytime care provider (who resigned and then recanted a few weeks ago). It takes several months to really train in a replacement, and we were in a total panic. And, what happens when we die? Government funding for his 24 hour care is always tenuous, and constantly changing and under threat from one political party or another, both state and federal. Nothing is ever stable.

Our oldest son is doing great with his and his wife’s law practice, despite his being paralyzed from the neck down – but that is also a constant source of stress.

We hate when the phone rings. We both jump, wondering about which next catastrophe we need next to respond to. (grammar $%^&*)

I have, apparently, developed glaucoma in the left eye. My wife continues with the terrible afternoon and evening pain of post-herpetic-neuralgia – for 10 years now (residual from shingles - GET YOUR SHINGLES SHOT). My left hip has developed a chronic and sometimes acute bursitis, which often "screams" at me. And my Trigeminal Neuralgia can act up at a moment's notice.

Of course, we have seen all the best doctors, and even holistic medicine. No advice needed here, PLEASE.

Yet, we continue to find positives in life. My singing group now includes my wife. We both bicycle and swim and are active in leading our senior’s group at church. There have been several cruises and vacations. I continue incessant advocacy with some of the glory-seeking moron administrators who provide services and with state legislators, and propose new laws, etc.

Several close friends our age have developed Alzheimer’s, or Parkinsons and and/or have had strokes.

So, what about 10 years ahead? I doubt either of us makes it for 10 years.

I was sort of curious about other folks when I posted what seems, to some, to be an unimportant, or at least, an imponderable thread.

Sorry for that, but your answers are quite informative.

Yes, this is my "venting" thread.

Thanks