A Word to Avoid.: I've been called a... - Lung Conditions C...

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A Word to Avoid.

43 Replies

I've been called a lot of things

During my long life.

None of which have caused me,

Any undue strife.

But there is one particular one

I never want to hear,

But I think it won't be long

Before it's used I fear.

Not about my parentage,

Both parents were well known.

Or about my head size,

That one makes me groan.

I know I'm slightly overweight

Which sometimes gets a mention

Like water off a duck's back,

I give it no attention.

What's the word I have in mind,

And hope I'll never be?

"That's old Don he's 88

And rather 'FRAIL' you see."

43 Replies
sassy59 profile image
sassy59

Oh must definitely not! At 88 dear Don is doing rather well. Xxxx😘

in reply to sassy59

Actually not 88 until November. I haven't much liked being 87, I think I'll like being with my two fat ladies better.😊

sassy59 profile image
sassy59 in reply to

I’ll be one of your fat ladies in November then. Xxx 😀

SORRELHIPPO profile image
SORRELHIPPO

I do think you are right. However I have a problem, or rather had a problem. I used to have to put people into a group, (not literally but something that would allow a code on a computer) when they needed treatment. Easy when there is a specific diagnosis, Parkinson's Disease or leg fracture etc. There was a group who needed help, often to avoid the first accident of old age, balance exercises or something similar. Just about everywhere I worked this group was coded as "Elderly Frail", I actually thought "Rusting at the Edges" might be just as good, I am now happy to be part of this "Rusting" reminds me of an old Fiat I had, who had badly rusting sills, do not think I could have used a jack on her!! It is unfortunate that in order to code what time is spent on, we cease to be "people".

in reply to SORRELHIPPO

I think I'm still capable of being jacked up though my sills may be a little rusty. 🙂

Whitechinchilla profile image
Whitechinchilla

No

take my word for it our own DON.

Pigs will fly before that day comes.

Rest well😉😉😉

skischool profile image
skischool

I am writing you a prescription if i may be so bold

It's and elixir of life to stop you getting old

Now to sort out your other condition of feeling rather frail

Drink half a pint,last thing at night of Dr Ski's real ale

Best Gp you ever had Don.....Ski's and Scruff's medical services x

SORRELHIPPO profile image
SORRELHIPPO in reply to skischool

Back in the day, on wards for older people, in order to encourage them to eat, and because it was thought to be good for them, there was a round with half pints of Guiness. Enjoyed very much, shame no longer happens!!

in reply to skischool

Can I afford Ski's and Scruff's medical services I ask myself? 🤔

skischool profile image
skischool in reply to

We are far cheaper than Ski's funeral services whose services one can employ should our medical services not give complete satisfaction or fail to keep you alive :) x

in reply to skischool

I'll sleep on it. 😅

Izb1 profile image
Izb1 in reply to skischool

Can I have one of those prescriptions please skis, but will stick to the vino at night or maybe a guiness lol x

skischool profile image
skischool in reply to Izb1

Ok my love,i have fulfilled your prescription and your elixir of life is in the post unfortunately your preventive medicine Guinness has a shorter shelf life and i have had to dispose of it orally.:) xx

Izb1 profile image
Izb1 in reply to skischool

Well you cheeky chappie, disposing of my preventative medicine is just not on, will need to have a word with Hypercat, I believe she has a good walking stick that could be put to use x

SquirrelsHolt profile image
SquirrelsHolt

Excellent rhyme Mr.D ,excellent !!

hypercat54 profile image
hypercat54

Well if I may be so bold

Our Don will never be old

So don't your activities curtail

And never allow the word 'frail'. xx

in reply to hypercat54

Thank you. So elegantly put as well. 🙂

hypercat54 profile image
hypercat54 in reply to

Ha ha. if it makes you feel any better Don I am over 20 years younger than you but coz I now use a stick I get people thinking I am frail too! Being me I take advantage of it though... :D xx

in reply to hypercat54

I get elderly ladies offering to help me cross the road! And another calls to take Midge out for a walk for me. 🤔

hypercat54 profile image
hypercat54 in reply to

Oh dear! There is no hope then. :) xx

in reply to hypercat54

"Woe is me for I am undone"

hypercat54 profile image
hypercat54 in reply to

Shakespeare? x

in reply to hypercat54

Not unless he wrote the Bible. 😉x

hypercat54 profile image
hypercat54 in reply to

Oh I thought he did? :D xx

HungryHufflepuff profile image
HungryHufflepuff

That f-word is not one I’d think of to describe you Don. With your tales of travel and adventure you seem anything but f🤫 to me.

PMRPete profile image
PMRPete

A few weeks ago when looking at my medical records I found this:-

"Canadian Study of Health and Ageing (CSHA) Clinical Frailty Scale (Y0be5) 3"!

I was never asked about it, but a doctor slipped it in when I wasn't looking!

I expect you have a similar remark?

Note: "3 ManagingWell - People whose medical problems

are well controlled, but are not regularly active beyond routine walking,"

in reply to PMRPete

I've no idea what is on my medical records, Pete, I try to steer clear of gentlemen of that profession. My GP was a young man when I first met him, he now works part-time in preparation for retirement. My daughter is one of his patients and he asks her how I am when she sees him. That fulfils both our requirements.

hypercat54 profile image
hypercat54 in reply to

You are lots of F words Don - fabulous, fantastic, flirtatious, funny.... xx

in reply to hypercat54

I only recognise the last two, Pussycat, but thanks anyway. 😅

Hacienda profile image
Hacienda

YOU, Never Frail Don, Can't be with your Strong Mind to keep us ALL from getting there. Keep your Faculties going and Have a Beer or Two with Ski's. Now, That's another Story, The Man & His Feline .xxxx

Carnival567 profile image
Carnival567

Read a leaflet about frailty from Gloucestershire County Council recently. I ticked all the boxes except the last one which said ‘mental decline’. Decided by that definition I wasn’t frail and neither are you Don! Definitely a long way to go yet! Keep well xxx

Izb1 profile image
Izb1

Well Don, for 87 you are doing really well and put me to shame at 67. I hope I can get better with age x

perr profile image
perr

Love this poem. Well done.

watergazer profile image
watergazer

Wow nearly two fat ladies don and going STRONG. Keep rolling out the great rhymes

My ailment isn't as well documented as most on here. I smoked a pipe all my working life and had a 'smoker's cough' and regular bouts of bronchitis since I can't remember when. I retired in 1989, not on health grounds but because I could afford to. I was finally treated for asthma from 2001 and managed well enough until I slept in a room with a new carpet and was rushed to hospital unable to breath in or out in 2007. Whilst in there I was visited by a chap with a bunch of admiring student trailing behind him who I took to be the consultant. I managed to interrupt him chatting to the students to ask him what the diagnosis was. He just replied COPD over his shoulder as he walked away. That was the first time I had heard of it. Since then I have been under the care of a number Respiratory Nurses working from my GP's surgery and between them (and the folk on this group) have come up with inhalers and tablets which keep me ticking over very nicely. I have to use my rescue packs more often than I would like, but I refuse to see any 'consultant' or undergo further tests other than spirometry, which the Respiratory Nurse does and gives us both a laugh.

So you see why I never give advice on here about medication, treatments etc as I have so little knowledge of even my own. And I wouldn't advise anyone to take the cavalier attitude towards their ailment which I'm told I have. I see my function here solely as an entertainer. 🤡

Carnival567 profile image
Carnival567 in reply to

I have had a cavalier attitude towards my heart problem since is was diagnosed in 1961, when they thought surgery cured it. Sixty years later I am discovering things I apparently shouldn’t have been doing, like travelling and working in a remote part of the world, having two children, although my obstetrician refused to let me have any more because his nerves couldn’t stand it! Both my cardiologist and my lung doctor, neither of whom have known me long, say they don’t know what I am doing but to keep on doing it as it obviously works! So whatever it is you are doing Don I suggest the best you can do is keep on doing it! All the best and love to Midge xxx

Johnem profile image
Johnem

You have a wonderfully agile brain though, nothing frail there. That is to be envied above many things. Keep it up Don and all the very best.

winabago profile image
winabago

Congratulations on almost reaching 88, I think that is great.

majji profile image
majji

I am unused to 'frail' people getting out and about our sceptred isle in an extremely elegant camper van Cap'n - especially cavorting with females of the cloth - one of whom appears to imbibe copious amounts of I'm not sure what - so I do not envisage you ever managing to fit that description - not even when you reach 97!

p.s. Perhaps SirSki would like to correct his 'and' to an and to enlarge his little i . . .

skischool profile image
skischool in reply to majji

So that twinge i felt in the middle of the night wasn't my imagination and i have once again been bitten by she who has fangs who will be sleeping now that it is daylight.i shall return to the said passage at my convenience and maybe to correct my awful grammar. :) xx

majji profile image
majji in reply to skischool

You mean you did not notice the puncture marks near the jugular? How unobservant you are today SirSki! I trust you will make those corrections shortly or do I infer that you are no longer capable of enlargement of those miniscule terms of self? ;-)

skischool profile image
skischool in reply to majji

II or EYE ....is that big enough for you my dear :) x

majji profile image
majji in reply to skischool

I guess it will have to suffice ;-)

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