Life at 50
81
The Big 5 0
I was always told that life begins at 50. My life at 50 suddenly took another direction and wasn't all that I was lead to believe.
I spent my 50 birthday on the island of Crete in the Mediterranean with friends. Crete had been our holiday seal for many years and the weather in October has just the right temperature. We had a wonderful time and I thought to my self "This is the Life" my idea was to retire early and move to Crete as many of my old and new friends had done. But that's when life started to turn.
Perforation of the Stomach
I had never in fifty years stayed over night in hospital except when I was born. It all started in early January, we where sitting and getting ready for the Sunday night film. (First I must say I'd been given tablets for Ulcers).--- I said I'll go to the toilet before it starts and came back with a bit of a worried look on my face and said to my wife that it was a bit bloody in the toilet. We both agreed I'd go to the Doc's in the morning, but morning never came, at least not at home. A couple of minutes passed and I had to run again . I called my wife to inspect what the problem was and talked about ringing the emergency Doctor. We didn't get a chance as I had to run again, but this time it was different. As I sat there I could feel myself going, my head started spinning and I had just enough power to shout for my wife and that was it.
As is normal a toilet door always opens into the room and not outwards, which would be better when you have old people in the house. The problem I'm talking about happened to me. I'd gone, passed out and lay behind the door, so my wife had a hard job trying to push the door open with me behind it. It's amazing what strengths people get when a loved one is in need. She got the door open and pulled me out into the hall way so the Paramedic people had room to work.
The only thing I remember was someone asking me "can you hear me", then it went black. My wife tells me they had to give me a kick with electric shocks to bring back to the land of the living. This happened once more in the ambulance as we travelled to the hospital. I must laugh as my wife is a bad car front seat passenger and as we travelled at high speed (anything over 30mph is high speed) blue lights and sirens screaming she was almost more critical than I was.
In the hospital they got me in a steady and calm condition. The emergency Doctor went over with us what had happened, what tablets I was taking and then started shouting about what idiot of a doctor had given me these tablets without a stomach protection medicament. The after effects from the tablets had been the cause of my very frightening experience which kept me in hospital for ten days as they had to pump back what I had lost in the toilet.
This was the start of many visits to the hospital and all after fifty.
Abscess
Over the next ten years I have been in and out of hospital and thought that I had a season ticket. The next came when we where on Crete enjoying two weeks holiday. The mosquitoes where very busy this year and I was always their favorite, I think it was the blue blood or may be the nice beer in my veins. Three days for the end of our hol's I woke up and as usual looked and felt where I'd been attacked with the mosquitoes. Under my arm I'd had a lump for over thirty years and as is normal you tend to let well alone. It seems that these lovely little creatures had stuck their little deadly proboscis into my abscess and started a reaction off.
I told my wife I'd been hit again by the little devils and laughing asked if was it on my best friend, but as I showed her the smile stopped at what she saw my right hand side. The whole of my body was turning a dull colour of red. The lady from our B&B drove us to the new Medical Center in the town. They new what it was, so it was straight in with scalpel and cut. The stuff that came out was a disgusting colour of green and smelt worse than a pig-sty. I had to hold my nose. They cleaned the wound out and had to go back in three days which was the we where flying home in the late afternoon in three days. In the center with my arm stuck in the air the doctor proceeded to scrape with a spoon shaped thing all that was left in what was now a hole under my armpit. I was told they couldn't stitch it because it had heal from inside out. So they stuck little tampons in the wound to keep it dry. This took a long time to heal, what they had done in the medical center was save my life from a certain death from blood poisoning but they had left the root of the problem still in place. A few years later I noticed it was growing again, so it was off to my friends at the hospital and have it removed. Now years later I have a little scar and the problem gone.
This is just two of my trips to the hospital. Until the next episode take care.
LOL Ghaelach
© Copyright J. S. White. March 2011 (Ghaelach)
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Hi Nikki.
All this stuff I've written has happened to me, they are not just stories for hubpages. We had it hard my wife maybe more than I did, in fact she was just on the edge of a break down so her doctor sent her away for six weeks to a clinic. Did her a world of good.
All these problems I've had where all in a period of 12 years. I have four more little incidents to write about and I hope they are the last.
Can't do with you being shocked all the time. I want to read some more of your wonderful poems. lol
Ghaelach
damn. sorry to hear that. good luck to you guys, and God bless! lets get you better, and out of those hospitals! I will be posting more soon, i was trying to wait for this hubpages contest, but idk.
Many people with Irish Blood in their veins, have been the recipients of a wide variety of close encounters, but most always seem to pull through, Thank God!
I, myself, have had a few close calls but I'm still here and will soon be hitting the big Six Zero, so hang in there, Ghaelach! Lads like us are here for a reason and there are a good many more kilometers to rack up on that Odometer before we complete our journeys!
Life is not for fretting about, my friend.! Life is for Learning all you can, Experiencing what matters and most of all it's for Living. The fact that you're still here means you have a reason to be, sir!
One thing that I have learned is that you will not go until you have done what you here to do! God has plans for you yet so enjoy your stay Ghaelach! I am! ;D
Oh, I am so sorry to hear about your health problems and hope you have recovered now. Your last sentence points in another direction though.
That isn’t at all what one expects to endure during a vacation in such a beautiful place like Crete.
Tina
Hi Ghaelach hospital visits never make for a fun time great to hear you are OK today .
You are quite right professor, life is not for fretting and I do get on with living. Hopefully within the next six weeks the weather is warm enough for me to get and stop over night in our caravan. Thats when I come a live again after my winter hibernation period. The warmth works wonders with my bones. lol
Ghaelach
Hi Tina.
Don't you be getting yourself worried about my problem. I am learning to live with it. With it being my left foot it allows me to drive an automatic car, so i can get about. The other parts of my body are still in good working order in relation to my age!!
Seriously, the problem with my foot isn't stopping me living and one tries to stick the pain to the back of your mind untill it's to strong and then it's pain killers.
One line I always say to myself when the pain is strong and that is "There's always someone worse off than you". May sound daft but at least for me it works.
Crete is a lovely place and where I stayed in Kritsa, which is a beautiful mountain village as anyone that knows the place can attest, it is so quiet and peaceful . But the problems with money that Greece has it's made Crete a very expensive place for your hol's. So we found our little paradise in our static caravan. lol
Ghaelach
Kasmir my friend nice to hear from you.
You are correct in saying that hospitals aren't much fun, but unfortunately we need them as I have found. My problem will never go away, so I put up with it and utilise it. I will /can never work again. Some may say great I can go on hol's when ever I like and do what ever I like. But my wife always says it is a high price to pay. At least I am still living which at the beginning was doubtful. lol
Ghaelach
Wow Ghaelach, you have been through the wringer! Yes it is unreal at times what strength, our loved ones can produce. I can picture your wife freaking out, in the ambulance - poor thing.
Lets hope that things get better, from here on. I think maybe you should stick a tent in the back yard, next time you want a holiday lol :)
Good hub mate, Awesome and up
Cheers Skellie
You have had a bad time.I hope this summer will be a good one for you.
Morning Kathryn.
Let me first apologise for my absence from HP, but i'm over my problem now. I actually missed HP and all my friends here. I spent an awful lot of time over at my caravan which is better than any Re-hab that the doctors can give. I felt so good and missed you all that i went out and bought a lap-top. So i'm back.
Just to make a little reply to your last comments, your "hope" that this summer is a good one for me, well i can only say i feel find. That mean no better but thank God no worse.
Hope you are OK and that you didn't have any problems in the last few months in London.
Have a nice day and take care.
LOL Ghaelach
@Ghaelach: You have been missed and I am happy to hear that
you will again regale your hub family with your tales of life from your perspective! Welcome back!
Regards Mike! (Aka Professor M!) ;D
Hi Mike.
You make me feel a little embarrassed with your kind words. Mybe i was being a little childish but something got under my shirt and i said stuff-it. But i was also ill at the time and i think all put together i just let it get away from me.
We went to our caravan and as i've written before it's a better form of healing than any doctor can prescribe. All the fresh air and the peace and quiet.
After sometime i started to realise i missed my friends at HPand i needed to sit down and write, so i went out and bought myself a lap-top and now i always have my friends with me.
I have an interesting four part story "Twentythree days and Ten Countries" for you to read. Part one has just published.
Thanks for the comments and the visit.
LOL Ghaelach
..well I'm 53 .....and this was a most welcome hub subject in letting me understand how all others feel in the same age bracket ..... and what's that old saying - it's not how old you are it's how good you feel - health is an issue at any age but as I have realized in the last year or so - health seems to be a priority now where in the past we took it for granted.
lake erie time ontario canada 6:47am
Epi.
Thanks for the comments and don't want to sound like your mum but get to sleep.
Take care. LOL Ghaelach
so sorry to read that. Hope you are fine now. You are very lucky to have such a loving wife.
Unfortunately, Ghaelach, I don't get to make your acquaintance under the most auspicious of circumstances. It really is a hassle isn't it? By the time we have accumulated the age and experience to have it all figured out, then the body starts to go. It is always unfair. From what I have been reading you have a great deal of life experiences to share and I would certainly like to pick-up on some of it. Thanks for the invitation to join your team. I am looking forward to reading more...Regards, Credence2
Hi dipsmi.
Thanks for dropping by and for your comments.
Yes i am a very lucky guy.
The problem i have is Chronic and will stay with me for the rest of my life on this planet.
Take care dipsmi and have a nice evening.
LOL Ghaelach
Morning Credence2.
My wife's grandma was 99 when she passed away, but one thing i always remember her saying was "Child don't get to excited about growing old as it's not what you might think. To many aches and pains, to many illnesses and to many nosey officials and politicians wanting to know how much money you have which seems to sum it up pretty good from an old persons piont of view.
You could say my life has been interesting. I've travelled in the merchant navy and seen the world. I've worked away from home for almost twenty years up untill they made me a cripple. But life goes on and i must except it. I say to myself that there's always someone worse off than you, which seems to help even through the pain.
You'll find that my hubs are serious, some funny, some fact and some fiction.
I like the 4 part hub (holiday), Listen to the Rain (poem),and my latest is funny but with a very serious note for men, give them a read.
Take care Credence and have a nice day.
LOL Ghaelach
Thank you Ghaelach, I will look in on you at my earliest opportunity.
.....well I am 53 now so this hub subject and title was of particular interest to me - because health is everything at any age in your life but as we get older it just seems to become even more important - perhaps we are like older cars where our bodies begin to fall apart - lol - from years of abuse and wear and tear - and often a near death experience or one which is close to it seems to make us better people or at least - wiser - enjoying your writing; you tell it like it is and I am so glad you're here with us at the Hub to tell your story - this is your testimony and you are a survivor my friend .....may you have another 50 years of good clean living and I just love the idea of where you spend your holidays ......
lake erie time ontario canada 1:19pm and sending you warm wishes, good energy and godspeed for your continued good health and happiness
I have 2 years until I am 50 years old, I was looking forward to it until I read this hub! lol I've never been in the hospital except to have babies and I'm not in any rush to ever go back! Wishing you good health:)
Hello again Sunshine.
Apart from the usual childhood accidents, broken wrists, collarbone and the like i was never overnight in hospital.
I have my MOT inpection/check-up each year and also my diabetic check every three months (borderline case) and can say at this moment in time i'm quite healthy apart from a knackered ankle, "Chronic Osteomyelitis".
One good thing that came out of my problem is i can never work again and although it was a high price to pay i can now enjoy the rest of my life with a few restictions.
Only two years to go?? you look much younger.
Take care Sunshine and may the sun shine on you today.
LOL Ghaelach
Thank you! Wishing you good health a blissful retirement...and much more hubbin'!
Morning Epi.
First i thank you for dropping by, was that before your shift or after you'd done your 8 hours work??
Stick another ten on top of your 53 Epi and you are talking vintage or is it antique?? What ever, the old nuts and bolts are getting a bit rusty.
Just so long as they keep getting me through my yearly inspection. Like an old car you've got to be gentle with them just as you would with a lady, you've got to give them love and affection.
Epi take care, have a nice day and don't work to hard.
LOL Ghaelach
It must have been terrifying for you wife trying to get into the bathroom.
Sounds like you have been through the wars, what with that pesky mozzie. And Type 2 on top of all that.Sheesh!
At least it must be reassuring to know that the medical systems worked when you needed them, apart from the idiot that gave you the pills without the back-up part of the medication.
I'm happy you are still with us, and that I got to meet a new witty and intelligent writing buddy.
May the road rise up to meet you.
Michael.
Morning Michael.
That a big problem is there's so little space in bathrooms these days and our toilet was place in a stupid place right next to the door. As i keeled over i fell behind the door and stopped it from opening inwards. It's amazing where people can find strengh from when a loved one is in need.
The hospital system is maybe good but they don't seem to be able to sort out the problem of MRSA and now the next generation "Clostridium difficile" is with us. Sometimes i wonder is so much clealiness good for us, and to think how we used to play as as kids in the 50's and 60's.
Hey! i'm not thinking of going anywhere when i have such wonderful friends here on hubpages as yourself, at least not for a few years. My numbers not come up yet.
Thanks for dropping by, take care and have a nice day.
LOL Ghaelach
I'm sorry, but I checked funny too. You took it like an Irishmen, and I caught the "dance in the storm" attitude. I am 58 and I can tell you that life begins to end fom my last expeience of trying to surf on big, critical waves generted by a passing hurricane.
There is a song by "Little Feat" written by Lowell George, "How do you know when you are over the hill? When your mind makes a promise that your body can't fill."
Next time, tell me a happy story about Crete. I have always been fascinated by tales of Minoan culture.
Hi WD.
It's no good in crying about your problem, you've just got to get up off your a-- and get the thing sorted out.
Nice idea about a hub of Crete will have to get the photo's out and see what i can do.
Thanks for dropping by and have a good day.
LOL Ghaelach
Sorry to hear about your problems, but you must admit that your life isn't dull. It can only get better now.
I hear what you are saying about letting little health problems go, then they end up being something major, and I think that will happen to me,because I brush all of my off. I am glad everything worked out for you.
Morning RJ.
When i see people that really have problems i tell myself that my problems are small one's, which makes me feel better.
Thanks for dropping by.
Take care.
LOL Ghaelach
Hello again Lucy.
You've got to be more careful as you get on in life and go at it a bit slower, it pays in the long run.
Take Care Lucy and have a nice day.
LOL Ghaelach
It's always great to hear the stories of survival , because it's the reason that we can hear it straight from the horses mouth, as my parents would say.
My father way the king of getting you attention and saying those heroic stories . But they stick with you and am quite happy because from the profound nature in which it was told , you were ready to take it on with all you have got.
I have a beautiful story in my book about my own special flirts with death and just like yourself I went out , but I tracked myself from start to pass out, there were great friend around so my fighting level was high.
So I fully understand am glad , you can now share such a true story.
Be well ! I read the one about the bones already , I remembered.
Give thanks!
Bless.
Morning Sky.
Thanks for dropping by and leaving your comments.
Life after 50 has it's good points and it's bad points. You've just got to get on with it and take it as it comes.
Unfortunately I'm not in my best form this morning as another hub has been blocked. I've edited it so hopefully it gets published this time. A hub about Child Abuse.
Sometimes I just don't understand.
LOL Ghaelach
I have only just come across this one and I am glad I didn't miss it.
I am so sorry that you have such a hard time but glad you are over it now.
Does life begin at 50 or is is the beginniung of the end???
Well I suffer from a bad back after two operations and I have certainly had my ups and downs;then I gave up smoking two years ago and have put on a little weight and cannot get into my biking leathers ;I have never been on a diet in my life but I am not buying new leathers so I am on a sort of diet.
I am now at a place where I know who 'I' am; and do not turn into a chameleon every so often.
Dear ones have tragically passed away but I am slowly but surely adjusting and making sure I keep their memory alive;and they are always in my heart.
I am writing a novel about the abuse I suffered as a child in order that my story will help others after my time on this earth and it's dedicated to the memory of my beautiful sister Val.
I have had my first book published with the second following suit.
I have a wonderful partner who is my soul mate;great children,their partners and grandchildren; and so many sincere and dedicated friends right here on HubPages.
So after taking into account everything my reply from my point of view is that life certainly begins at 53. Thank you so much for this great hub and as I said I am glad I didn't miss it.
To categorise the way I live my life is through The Serenity Prayer.
Take care my dear friend and have great day.
Eddy.
Hi Eddy.
They say our hubs do take a while to get around sometimes. It's always nice when a friend bumps into one of your hubs and enjoys it.
Things really started moving for me at 50 first. I was made an invalid which ended my live completely. It took about five years before I could get my mind sorted out to accept my situation and in fact I have my freedom now.
In the winter I can sit at my laptop all day and write or read and in the summer I am over at my caravan doing the same.
At our age we don't need the sea and sand we'll just keep the sun.
Take care Eddy and I hope you have a pain free evening with your Dai.
LOL Ghaelach
I had been in and out of hospitals attended by good and not-so-good doctors,too. I guess I have a better control of my health problems now. I'm 65 and life is just beginning to be challengingly awesome! I just need to keep my mental alertness though and maintain good health.
Your health problems are indications of compounded unheeded symptoms on your part and carelessness of those who attended to you at the hospitals. At least you're lucky to have come out clean from possible blood
poisoning from that nasty growth. I hope you have fully recovered now. Take care!
Good Morning Lita.
My problem is "Chronic Osteomyelitis". When you know what that is, then you know that I will never "RECOVER" as you say.
I am not a doctor or health student or anything to do with medicines.
To indicate that I have taken no notice of "componded unheeded symtoms" is a little bit unfounded when I had know idea of the problem.
If you do a little research on my illness you will see that anyone going into hospital can contract this decease which has three levels and unfortunately I have the third level which will stay with me till the day I die. It cannot be healed with tablets, surgery, medicines or anything else. This bacterium is in my bone marrow and cannot be cured.
If my return comment sounds a bit over the top, I am sorry. But too many people comment on things and don't realise what they are talking about and sometimes this makes me a little sad/depressed.
I know they mean well but as I try to explain in my hubs this bacteria will never leave my body.
Take care Lita and have a nice weekend.
LOL Ghaelach
I didn't mean to hurt you, Sir. And now that I have read at least a little explanation about your ailment, I fully understand your return comment. This is the first hub of yours that I read and I'm really ignorant about your ailment. Had I read your other hubs and learned about "Chronic Osteomyelitis" from them, I wouldn't have blundered in stating a generalized observation regarding "compounded unheeded symptoms". I'm so sorry.
Yes, I'll go some steps further to know about this disease that I may share it to others the way you do.
I pray, too, that my honest public apology here might help ease a little of your hurt feelings. I really do want you to be well in Jesus' name. Thank you. Please take care, too.
Good morning lita.
My dear friend Lita.
I was rude to make a return comment as I did.
I am never rude to ladies, I shame myself and ask for your forgiveness.
What happened was that I read your comment and thought here we go again, someone writing a comment and hoping I get well soon.
The thing is a lot of people offer well wishes not knowing what the illness is, let alone never having heard the name "Osteomyelitis".
Having the third level of this illness "Chronic" that has left me (in plain English) a cripple you tend to grab the person and shake them and say go away and do some research before you open your mouth.
I can only beg your pardon and make the excuse that the pain was above the normal level when I wrote that not so nice return comment.
Take care Lita and have a nice mid-week.
LOL Ghaelach
As we get older we do seem to have more health issues. It makes us appreciate life more. Fifty is a distant memory for me but I have learned to make the best of life while we have it. Take care.
Hi Don .
You sure are right with the health issues and like yourself 50 is almost 15 years behind me.
The one plus point with my illness is that I have more freedom to do what I like, ie my caravan. I was made an invalid ten years ago after an operation on my ankle and had not so good after treatment.
So now I am in invalid retirement which I am enjoying in the warm summer months.
Take care my friend and have a good day.
LOL Ghaelach
Nikkij504gurl Level 6 Commenter 14 months ago
geez. do you ever get a break?? what with the other problem you had, that wound was it on your leg? that they didnt take care of properly and it got infected, and now this? and more to come? geez, remind me never to go to crete lol. hope you will be ok.