Well, I have to put a 4 at the start of my age now..

[05C40]

The 40 vision change is a pain. Up to that point you can correct everything at the same time. Then all of a sudden you have to choose whether you want to see up close or far. Can’t have both.

That hit me pretty quickly right around when I turned 40.

I dreaded when I got my first bifocal/graduated focus glasses in my early 40's. When my father got his, he pissed and moaned about them for months, maybe years. I picked my first graduatrd focus glasses from a shop on the ground floor of the building in which I worked at about 2 pm. I was completely adjusted to them by the time I left work that day.

 

[ZenMode]

No I didn’t start this thread so you could shower me with birthday wishes. Truthfully, this is not a birthday I’m thrilled about.

Anyway, I just googled what age you’re supposed to get a colonoscopy and saw it’s actually 45 but I’ve started to think about things I should perhaps do/pay more attention to as I’ve reached this dreaded milestone. I gather that I’m probably on the younger side of things here so I turn to your collective wisdom and sage advice if you could perhaps impart upon me any life experience that I should consider.

Cheers and good fortune to you and yours.

 

[Zoo_View]

I dreaded when I got my first bifocal/graduated focus glasses in my early 40's. When my father got his, he pissed and moaned about them for months, maybe years. I picked my first graduatrd focus glasses from a shop on the ground floor of the building in which I worked at about 2 pm. I was completely adjusted to them by the time I left work that day.

Not to be snide, but were your eyes at age 40ish identical to your Dad’s?

I always figured my vision was similar to my Dad’s……we’re both acutely near-sighted and were so at a young age. At about 40, he needed bi- or tri-focals. He hated the bifocals; he adjusted to the tri-focals.

At some point, progressives were recommended. He hated those.

At some point, I knew I should look at progressives. I’m 63 and can read without readers, bi- or tri-focals or progressives. I have to take off my primary glasses to read.

Here’s where my vision differs from my Dad’s…….His distance vision is about 20-600 or 20-800. That’s measurable and correctable. Mine is approximately 20-2000. It’s not exactly measurable in a 20-20 sense. As my eye doctor said, “We don’t think of your vision that way,” after I asked her, “What’s my vision in 20/20 terms. She put a LARGE E on the far wall (we all know no wall is far in an eye doctor’s office). She told me to walk to the “Big E” until it was crystal clear. It was crystal clear when my toes touched the wall.

She guesstimated my vision at 20/2000. It could be 20-3000. It’s correctible. I see 20/20 with my glasses.

If I want progressives (and I do), I need Sallie Jessie Raphael-sized frames because my distance vision is so bad…..my prescription doesn’t work in “normal-sized” frames for progressives. The glasses would also cost $800-1,000……and that was 4-5 years ago.

 

[GoHeelsweeeehoooo]

Being in your 40s isn't so bad - I turn 50 next year - and for all of you getting colonoscopies when I turned 45 my doctor has me do the whole poop in a bucket thing - was wondering why y'all didn't go that route

 

[farce©]

Happy birthday, Rock.

30 was much harder for me than 40. My 30s were the worst and everything started improving in my 40s and keeps getting better. I turned 71 on Monday and I’ve never been more content (other than significant concern about the future of our republic, but actuarial tables tell me I’m likely to live another 14 years so I probably won’t live to see Trump’s destruction completely repaired.)

 

[Icky Mettle]

Happy birthday, Rock.

30 was much harder for me than 40. My 30s were the worst and everything started improving in my 40s and keeps getting better. I turned 71 on Monday and I’ve never been more content (other than significant concern about the future of our republic, but actuarial tables tell me I’m likely to live another 14 years so I probably won’t live to see Trump’s destruction completely repaired.)

Happy birthday to you as well!

 

[UNCatTech]

I dreaded when I got my first bifocal/graduated focus glasses in my early 40's. When my father got his, he pissed and moaned about them for months, maybe years. I picked my first graduatrd focus glasses from a shop on the ground floor of the building in which I worked at about 2 pm. I was completely adjusted to them by the time I left work that day.

I knew mine were inevitable. I have had glasses since I was 4 and my eyes started getting progressively worse in my late 30's.

I've never had any issues with my progressive lenses. I did have a pair once, that was simply made incorrectly. It was very weird, but I didn't accept them, sent them back for a new pair. The new pair was great.

 

[JosephFreeman]

Well, just wait until you start putting 5’s. My body changed dramatically from 40 to 50. I’ll admit we are all different. I can only speak about my own experiences. Hopefully the 40’s treat the OP very well

 

[farce©]

I've posted this before, but it is appropriate for this discussion.

When I turned 60, my sister (a psychiatric social worker) sent me a paper someone had done interviewing many people who had lived to be 100, asking them which time was the best in their lives. Their answer overwhelmingly was their 60's. The kids were grown, they were enjoying their grandchildren, they were more financially secure, and by and large they were still healthy enough to do the things they wanted to do. Earlier decades were always seen as more stressful, whether it was induced by their jobs, their kids, their aging parents, or their finances. It seems it took most people into their 60s to find peace and contentment in their lives.

 

[finesse]

So far, the 70s are my best. Probably because there's been less of them.

 

[Carolina Fever]

I've posted this before, but it is appropriate for this discussion.

When I turned 60, my sister (a psychiatric social worker) sent me a paper someone had done interviewing many people who had lived to be 100, asking them which time was the best in their lives. Their answer overwhelmingly was their 60's. The kids were grown, they were enjoying their grandchildren, they were more financially secure, and by and large they were still healthy enough to do the things they wanted to do. Earlier decades were always seen as more stressful, whether it was induced by their jobs, their kids, their aging parents, or their finances. It seems it took most people into their 60s to find peace and contentment in their lives.

That makes a lot of sense as long as you can still do things physically and mentally.

 

[heelinhell]

I've posted this before, but it is appropriate for this discussion.

When I turned 60, my sister (a psychiatric social worker) sent me a paper someone had done interviewing many people who had lived to be 100, asking them which time was the best in their lives. Their answer overwhelmingly was their 60's. The kids were grown, they were enjoying their grandchildren, they were more financially secure, and by and large they were still healthy enough to do the things they wanted to do. Earlier decades were always seen as more stressful, whether it was induced by their jobs, their kids, their aging parents, or their finances. It seems it took most people into their 60s to find peace and contentment in their lives.

40 decade was a stressful for me. My dad was dying of brain cancer and my mom was suffering from Alzheimer's

For me, 60 was a good decade. I retired at 55yo and was helping the missus provide daycare for our little grandchildren now 17 and 14 yo

It was so much fun caring for them like we did raising our two daughters, but the best part was we got to hand them back to the parents before arsenic hour.

The 70 decade was good but over the last year I developed some health issues...broken shoulder, detached retina, degenerative disc disease, but as the great Jim Morrison said, " No one here gets out alive "

I posted earlier that at 73yo I am more content than I was at 23yo. In the words of one of my favorite bands, don't fear the reaper.

I probably have posted too much info, but my message is that growing old may not be something to worry about

 

[finesse]

40 decade was a stressful for me. My dad was dying of brain cancer and my mom was suffering from Alzheimer's

For me, 60 was a good decade. I retired at 55yo and was helping the missus provide daycare for our little grandchildren now 17 and 14 yo

It was so much fun caring for them like we did raising our two daughters, but the best part was we got to hand them back to the parents before arsenic hour.

The 70 decade was good but over the last year I developed some health issues...broken shoulder, detached retina, degenerative disc disease, but as the great Jim Morrison said, " No one here gets out alive "

I posted earlier that at 73yo I am more content than I was at 23yo. In the words of one of my favorite bands, don't fear the reaper.

I probably have posted too much info, but my message is that growing old may not be something to worry about

We're pretty much the same age. I started a garden that is all native perennials last year and am routinely planting trees and plants like I'm going to live forever to see them. I planted 20 rattlesnake orchids and a climbing hydrangea that might take five years to bloom, if the orchids ever do. I figure I get to see them if I live long enough. If not, maybe the kids and grandkids will like it. Dodged one bullet so I might as well treat it as bonus time.

 

[heelinhell]

We're pretty much the same age. I started a garden that is all native perennials last year and am routinely planting trees and plants like I'm going to live forever to see them. I planted 20 rattlesnake orchids and a climbing hydrangea that might take five years to bloom, if the orchids ever do. I figure I get to see them if I live long enough. If not, maybe the kids and grandkids will like it. Dodged one bullet so I might as well treat it as bonus time.

Oh, man this post makes me cry in a good way.

Much of my time is spent figuring out what I need to do to make life better for my kids and grandkids before I kick the bucket.

What saddens me is that there is not much I can do to protect them from losing our democracy

 

[Icky Mettle]

Well, just wait until you start putting 5’s. My body changed dramatically from 40 to 50. I’ll admit we are all different. I can only speak about my own experiences. Hopefully the 40’s treat the OP very well

I turn 50 in two months, and I can say the same. I felt pretty indestructible and in perfect health for my first 40 years. Then my cholesterol climbed and my blood pressure started reading high. I started taking statins and blood pressure meds. I deal with injuries (pulled muscles, random pains, etc.) that are caused by virtually nothing. I have less stamina. My short-term memory has dulled. I sleep with a CPAP now. I still stay in decent shape and have a healthier-than-average diet, but some things just caught up to me.

 

[Icky Mettle]

40 decade was a stressful for me. My dad was dying of brain cancer and my mom was suffering from Alzheimer's

For me, 60 was a good decade. I retired at 55yo and was helping the missus provide daycare for our little grandchildren now 17 and 14 yo

It was so much fun caring for them like we did raising our two daughters, but the best part was we got to hand them back to the parents before arsenic hour.

The 70 decade was good but over the last year I developed some health issues...broken shoulder, detached retina, degenerative disc disease, but as the great Jim Morrison said, " No one here gets out alive "

I posted earlier that at 73yo I am more content than I was at 23yo. In the words of one of my favorite bands, don't fear the reaper.

I probably have posted too much info, but my message is that growing old may not be something to worry about

My 40s have definitely been my most stressful decade thus far, mainly based on balancing work and being a parent to to two kids who were born when I was 39 and 41, respectively. Also worrying more about my health (I’m okay health-wise; just have to deal with some things I didn’t have to deal with before my 40s). And my wife lost both her parents in the past 5 years, so those have been difficult times to deal with. On top of all that, my wife has a very demanding and stressful job, and she externalizes her stress a great deal, so that stresses me out.

All that said, life is good and I have very much enjoyed my 40s.

 

[heelinhell]

My 40s have definitely been my most stressful decade thus far, mainly based on balancing work and being a parent to to two kids who were born when I was 39 and 41, respectively. Also worrying more about my health (I’m okay health-wise; just have to deal with some things I didn’t have to deal with before my 40s). And my wife lost both her parents in the past 5 years, so those have been difficult times to deal with. On top of all that, my wife has a very demanding and stressful job, and she externalizes her stress a great deal, so that stresses me out.

All that said, life is good and I have very much enjoyed my 40s.

I can identify, in my mid 30s my wife had a demanding and stressful job. She would come home and want to detail the horrible things of her day. My impulse was to help her problem solve/ cope with the situation. Eventually, she told me she didn't want me to solve her problem; she wanted me to just listen as she vented.

Both of my parents died when I was in my 40s so I understand dealing with that difficult time.

That said, I'm happy you have enjoyed your 40s and here's hoping you enjoy the next 30 years as I have been blessed to enjoy

 

[JosephFreeman]

Well, at 49 I was diagnosed with a progressive cognitive disease. I was taken out of work and had to file for SSDI. The glasses thing I started at 45. My BP, cholesterol, glucose are fine still. My knees hurt a lot. At 44 I had surgery on one. It is very arthritic now. At 48 I had a cataract removed. Now I am 50 and have a cataract in the other eye. I sent two kids to college in my 40’s. Overall, my 40’s were a real blast.

 

[heelinhell]

Well, at 49 I was diagnosed with a progressive cognitive disease. I was taken out of work and had to file for SSDI. The glasses thing I started at 45. My BP, cholesterol, glucose are fine still. My knees hurt a lot. At 44 I had surgery on one. It is very arthritic now. At 48 I had a cataract removed. Now I am 50 and have a cataract in the other eye. I sent two kids to college in my 40’s. Overall, my 40’s were a real blast.

I can't tell if that's sarcasm

I hope it was not sarcasm and you really did have a real blast in your 40's.

Speaking of cataract surgery. I had 20/400 vision (legally blind ) when I had cataracts removed in both eyes. The fabulous Dr. Vann did my surgery at the dook eye center and restored my vision to 20/20. I hope you have had a similar success with the removal of your cataract

 

[UNCatTech]

I've posted this before, but it is appropriate for this discussion.

When I turned 60, my sister (a psychiatric social worker) sent me a paper someone had done interviewing many people who had lived to be 100, asking them which time was the best in their lives. Their answer overwhelmingly was their 60's. The kids were grown, they were enjoying their grandchildren, they were more financially secure, and by and large they were still healthy enough to do the things they wanted to do. Earlier decades were always seen as more stressful, whether it was induced by their jobs, their kids, their aging parents, or their finances. It seems it took most people into their 60s to find peace and contentment in their lives.

As I approach 60, I hope you are correct.