We do live in better times!!!!

We all forget that we do live in a much better time health wise than anytime in history. I have been reading some old family diaries and birth/death records , this evening.

In 1935 my Aunt died while giving birth to her third child. The issue??? A torn placenta. While that is a serious issue today it would very rarely result in the death of the mother and child. By the way she was just 26 years old. A very pretty woman that was a very loving person by all accounts.

One of my Uncles on the other side of the family died in 1925 from appendicitis. His ruptured and it took him two weeks to die. What a terrible way to go. He was 15 years old.

So we all need to think about this when we all complain and whine about how this or that is "wrong" with the healthcare system today. I am guilty of doing this too. Our system may have issues but it is still a wondrous thing to see and have in these times. I often wonder what it will be like in another 50 or 100 years???? Just look at what the last 100 years has done in health care.

Today people die just the same... young or old.

(quoted from post at 22:23:51 06/20/15) Today people die just the same... young or old.

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That comment is totally unnecessary.

We won't be able to afford any health care. In 1958 I got sick and spent three full days in the hospital, tests run and given medicine. I'll bet you can't guess what the total bill for that was. I still have the cancelled check my dad wrote to pay the bill. Total bill was $58.00. A couple years ago I thought I had a piece of iron filing in my foot. Went to a new health care facility here in town. Cost me a hundred dollars before they would look at me. Sat in the exam room for THREE HOURS before anyone came to see me. One xray, a drop of salve, and a small bandaid on the bottom of my foot. Then they had the balls to charge me three hundred dollars.

(quoted from post at 22:27:42 06/20/15)

(quoted from post at 22:23:51 06/20/15) Today people die just the same... young or old.

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That comment is totally unnecessary.

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And why would that be?

(quoted from post at 22:46:45 06/20/15)

(quoted from post at 22:27:42 06/20/15)

(quoted from post at 22:23:51 06/20/15) Today people die just the same... young or old.

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That comment is totally unnecessary.

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And why would that be?

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If you don't know - it doesn't matter.

In 1929, my grandfather on my mother's side committed suicide. He had gallstones, but he feared surgery and the pain was unbearable to him. (I'm sure the crash of the stock market was a factor as well.) Gallbladder surgery is of course routine today.

In 1947, the worst tornado in Oklahoma history hit the home of my maternal grandmother. She later died of her injuries, while my mother was hospitalized in a coma for weeks. If my grandmother had had access to modern medical care, she probably would have survived.

My step father had a son to die with an infected toothache at the age of 14 on the month and year I was born. We should give thanks that we now have antibiotics

You're right from the medical advances side of things but most health problems these days people have is self inflicted,obesity and terrible diet choices.

You're right death is never cheated just put off for awhile,personally I'd rather be dead than being an invalid
wasting away in some nursing home.

I wouldn't call folks that contribute to ytmag from various living arrangements for older folks - "wasting away", I'm assuming thats what you are referring too. Its amazing that
even as folks physical abilities decline today they are able to share their experience and knowledge via the internet. Precious resource for others.

years ago caterrack operations for eyes was a serious danger,now they have it really perfected

The problem with medical care now is how can you pay for health insurance when it costs more than your total income? Or if you do have insurance or medicare how do you manage to do the copay that is required before you can see a dr.? That copay is as bad for a lot as if there were no insurance at all and so you suffer and die because you cannot afford to see that dr.

Yes , I agree that we are living a longer and healthier life . Thanks to medical science , our tax dollars and all the charity we support for making progress .

Larry --ont.

We live in better times but how many of the world's people don't.

I use to service generators at nursing homes.The hardest thing for me to do. Was walk down the halls doing my checks. Had many come up to me just wanting someone to visit them.Some had no idea where they were. Found many service techs like myself out by or in their trucks crying.I always took time to visit no matter how bad my workload was.If you have someone in a home.You are never to busy to stop by.

A couple of things I have noticed especially over this past 7 days.

Our health "science" today is great. Much better than years past.
In some ways to good.
You may pray it was not so great one day.

Our health "care" is more dependent on the individual administering it.
It's a crap shoot in the dark chance if your health "care" lives up to our health "science".

I don't know about that. With all the chemicals in our food most of my family is dying of cancer. Then when you need a doctor they won't help you without a battery of tests that don't do anything for you except to prevent you from maybe suing the doctor if they make a little mistake. Back in the 1960's a doctor would take their best guess and treat you. If something didn't work they would do something else and eventually help you. I haven't received descent medical care in 45 years. When I really need medical care I'm going to Mexico to get away from the corruption.

I heard this when I was in third grade. Dad was cutting silage for a farmer when the guys wife come out to the field and said someone fell through the bridge down the road. The farmer and dad went down there and it was our neighbor who was a contractor that built ponds and terraces. He was crossing this high banister bridge with a International dozer. The banisters folded in, one hitting him on top of his head splitting his head open. The other coming down on his arm that was on the back of the seat smashing his arm off. With both injuries he did not blood much because it seem to seal them off. They had to pull him off the dozer and load him in the back seat of the car to get him to the hospital. Dad said they did not do anything for over a hour seeing if he would make it. Could of been waiting for a doctor from a bigger hospital to come in too.

My grandmothers first husband died of a ruptured appendix at 35. They were married 6 months. She eventually married his brother (my grandfather) who died at 69 from kidney failure due to excessive use of pain killers for his worn out knees. All of which are preventable conditions with today's medicine. The question, of course, is what is going to happen to the quality and cost of our care over the next ten years? It definitely looks like we are headed for a big downgrade in our health care for the middle class.

I don't know Bison , my concern is when anyone ask for clarification from a statement you , in my opinion, have an
obligation to explain . Rather you ignored his request with a put down. No one can tell what is in your mind unless
you explain your view .

In 1899, my paternal grandmother died the day after giving birth to my father. Probably simply hemorrhaging, or something they'd fix without a second thought today.

Good Luck. You'll need it.

My maternal grandmother died of complications from gall bladder surgery in 1945. My paternal grandmother almost died from gall bladder surgery but she toughed it through and lived many more years. My wife had her gall bladder removed in the afternoon and was home that evening.

No, they don't "die just the same". A stroll through almost any cemetery tells the same tale of young women and "infant boy" or "infant girl". I grew up during the polio epidemic and knew children as well as adults who died of that terrible killer. We lost one of our doctors to polio.

To the ones that don't agree with me and want an explanation
Sure medicine has come a long way with curing some deceases and healing people that before would've died or be crippled for life.
But those are the lucky ones.
It does not tell you of the ones that are now dead or crippled because of mistakes made in one way or another by the "health profession".
Go have a look in the longterm care facilities that are full of people that would be better off dead(some are begging for it) but kept alive as long as possible because all life is " precious" ..right! ( my wife works in one, she sees it all and it ain't pretty)
Modern medicine today saves babies that are born way to early and would've been a natural abortion.
On the other hand they happily kill/abort thousands of babies every year that are perfectly healthy but deemed "unwanted" by the parent(s).

Like i said, people die just the same..young or old.

Sure do , I used to walk cemetaries and read the markers and there was way more hardship and unexpected loss. Just read the stones.

Yup, I've been reading old newspapers from 150 years ago, and it struck me how often trains crashed, ships sank and people died of cholera, malaria dysentery and scurvy back then. No car crashes, but several reports of people being thrown from horses and dying.

Your right, the science of health care has come a long way, but at what cost?

It might sound mean, but what has happened is that there are now a lot of people living that would have otherwise not have been living in years past. Now this might be a good thing when taken only in the context of human emotion, as no one wants to see a loved one die. However when you get to the practicality of the situation, where does that leave us?

Basically we've got folks in such bad health that they wish they were dead (and in years past would be) being kept alive mainly because their relatives don't want them to die. I know one comment made below to Bison's post talks about all of us learning from the older generation, but that's nothing more than a 'feel good thought' for most now days as 99.999% of the population couldn't care less about the ways things use to be. In fact many would happily disavow their ancestors that owned slaves, weren't PC when it came to things like Bruce Jenner's 'transformation', etc, etc. In other words many of these folks are kept going long after they should have been gone, simply because their loved ones can't accept the idea of death, and are selfish enough to keep that person alive.

In a more general thought, it has allowed the world to become grossly overpopulated. This results in more and more crop lands needed to keep every one fed. When the land runs out then we jump to the wonder chemicals to help the crops grown, and then on to the genetically modified seeds to allow more faster growth in a smaller area, and on, and on. I'm sure there's more, but you get the idea.

The whole situation works out to less 'quality of life' both for the healthy and the sick. The sickly often times wish they were dead, but health science keeps them going. On the other hand the healthy are now working harder to pay the insurance and/or medical bills for the sickly, they are working harder trying to provide the resources to keep an out of control population, that just keeps growing, taken care of with resources that just keep shrinking.

In the end, where is the true quality of life for anyone now days? I helped raise a special needs child that's nearing 20 (((althought he'll never be more than maybe 7 in his mind, in many ways)))), and just graduated high school (got his special ed completion certificate), that in years past would have never made it past infancy due to being born nearly 3 months pre-mature. My daughter now was born extremely premature, and would have probably have not made it in years past, but now is going on 13, and is healthy and normal in every way. What I am getting at is I well know, and value the care available to us with modern medicine, as I have personally seen what it can do. However, in the long run, I worry about what kind of life the little boy will ever be able to have when the adults in his life are dead and gone, as he will never be able to function completely on his own. I love him to death, but truly feel sorry for him later in his life. The same with my daughter. I love her, but with the way society is, with the way thngs are going, I often worry about what her life will be like as she reaches my age, 47 or if she makes it to 74 what will things be like then?

Like I said, it might sound mean, non-PC, or whatever, I don't care. Thing is medicine has come a long way, and has been the cause of some 'miracles' when it comes to allowing folks to live that would have died in years past, but again, at what cost to that person, their family, and society in general, did it happen?

So, did he make or not? I can't stand the suspense. True Son

Bison - What I meant earlier was that the guy was just trying to say something positive about something and you seemed to be trying to shoot him down like a duck in a shooting gallery. To me it seemed mean spirited and not helpful.

I well remember back in 1948 I was sick and lay on a day bed in the front room where I could look out the window They called the Doctor in those days the Doc. came out to the farm, And I can see it still He came after his office closed for the day. And here he came in an old 35 Dodge with chains on the road hadn't been plowed for a few hrs. and there was about 4 inches of snow and a few drifts that he had to buck threw any way the old Doc got there and fixed me up and the old man ask how much the bill was and I was right there and the old Doc Kestan said that will be 3 dollars. So help me god that was the price for putting chains on and out in the dark of night he had to drive about 7 miles one way In the snow and cold. I would guess the old Dodge may have had a heater in it , Not sure But for 3 dollars ? That man was good to his people.

And why do you say that Phil ?? I think Billy made a very good point and just maybe it will get a few lazy people up off there >>> and get them to go visit these people that are lonesome and dumped and forgotten in a nursing home. We go often with our Blue Grass music and the old folks just love to see us come. Some to listen and some to have a visit. Yes folks please get out and try to visit the folks in the nursing homes. Some of them have no one to care about them. Please find the time.

NCWayne; I have had the very same thought about how modern medicine can keep people alive that would have died just a few decades ago. Nursing homes are the future for too many of us. If your mind is gone are you really alive???? Hard question to answer.

As for the special need kids. I have a very good friend that has a daughter that is severely disabled mentally. She was injured during birth. She would have died right then in years past. Now she is like a 2-3 year old, barely potty trained. He and his wife both are in their late seventies. The girl is just 35ish and in good physical health. They have no other living relatives. Who will take care of the daughter??? An institution will be pretty cruel on her but I do not see any other future for her.

I do not have many answers anymore. It seems like life in general is getting more and more complicated.

(quoted from post at 10:30:02 06/21/15) And why do you say that Phil ?? I think Billy made a very good point and just maybe it will get a few lazy people up off there >>> and get them to go visit these people that are lonesome and dumped and forgotten in a nursing home. We go often with our Blue Grass music and the old folks just love to see us come. Some to listen and some to have a visit. Yes folks please get out and try to visit the folks in the nursing homes. Some of them have no one to care about them. Please find the time.

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I was just belatedly replying to his (Bison's) first post. The title of this thread is " We do live in better times!!!!" like the poster is trying to inject a little positivity in our lives and Bison immediately replies with what seems like a snide and cynical response. Then half the rest of the replies are also like "What's so good about it?" No, things aren't perfect but it's not going to get better by wallowing in the misery of everything one thinks is bad and then trying to spread it on everyone else.

Not trying to 'get on' anyone - I'm the champion cynic in our household - but I try to recognize when someone is trying to be uplifting. All the thoughtful replies here have words of wisdom in them but maybe would fit better in a thread entitled "What's wrong with our health care system?" Instead of this one.

Just my opinion.

phil n

I am sure sorry your family has had a tough go with cancer, but in all fairness I think it is more genetics than food. I am 64 and no one in my family, as far back as I can recall (several generations), has ever had cancer.

My cousins and I grew up spotting rows for the local crop duster and taking a bath in whatever he was spraying. We ground feed for cattle with bags and bags and bags of hormones (DES?) for heifers, and antibiotics for all, and who knows what other chemicals. Drove tractors all summer with not even an umbrella to protect from the sun and ended up with skin the color of mahogany - but no cancers.

I think it is the luck of the draw and runs in families. Before you condemn modern medicine please take a look at the rates of recovery for many cancers and how they have improved in recent years.

It sounds like we've shared some of the same experiences, and all I can say is AMEN to everything you just stated.....

Three of my little granddaughters were suddenly left without a mother when our daughter perished from a botched modern day surgery. On the other hand, that same daughter of ours could have been without her father if modern medicine wouldn't have saved me from a ruptured appendix.

Modern medicine can successfully and easily replace old creaking joints, relieving millions of people of of debilitating pain. Most can return to being productive citizens. Marilyn's sister got new hips at 49 years old and is walking around like a young person again. I agree modern medicine prolongs suffering for some people but it also relieves suffering for many more people.

(quoted from post at 10:13:34 06/21/15)
Bison - What I meant earlier was that the guy was just trying to say something positive about something and you seemed to be trying to shoot him down like a duck in a shooting gallery. To me it seemed mean spirited and not helpful.

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was not trying to be mean spirited at all.
I was just stating a fact. I can't help it if you think that that is mean spirited.

(quoted from post at 12:45:37 06/21/15) The problem with medical care now is how can you pay for health insurance when it costs more than your total income? Or if you do have insurance or medicare how do you manage to do the copay that is required before you can see a dr.? That copay is as bad for a lot as if there were no insurance at all and so you suffer and die because you cannot afford to see that dr.

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If that's the case you are probably eligible for Medicaid. The state will pay your bill, buy your drugs and give you a ride to the doctor's office. From a taxpayer that has to pay for all this himself, you are welcome.

glad they can save the young people nowadays, and fix me when I'm broken..
but,
When my body is worn out, ...it's my time, leave me alone, let me go...
My family? of course they agree, they aren't selfish.

(quoted from post at 22:59:55 06/21/15)
I am sure sorry your family has had a tough go with cancer, but in all fairness I think it is more genetics than food.

I think it is the luck of the draw and runs in families. Before you condemn modern medicine please take a look at the rates of recovery for many cancers and how they have improved in recent years.

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Other than breast cancer my grandmother had (lumps she didn't get checked out were cancerous) that finally killed her, there are no cancers in my family either. Actually very little disease at all, some relatively minor heart issues are about it.

The recovery rate on breast cancer is truly a marvel. I know many women who are walking around that are in remission from breast cancer that killed their mothers and aunts back in the day.

We really do live in better times in terms of what can potentially be done. Dread diseases like smallpox, polio, and even measles have all but been eradicated from the entire Earth. Impressive accomplishments.
I totally disagree with the comments about overpopulation. Take a ride through Montana or Idaho. You can drive for miles and miles and never see even a flicker of human habitation. How about interior Maine? Or Vermont? Vermont has more cows than people. Then there is Canada. Hundreds of miles of wide open spaces. Other countries like China and India have population densities that dwarf ours. China is a country that has FOUR TIMES our population with not much more size than the USA. They have fed their people over the years without outside help. India is another example.
I am just tired of hearing the moaning about overpopulation. So, what should we do about it? Start killing off those that have been determined to be unnecessary? And who makes such decisions? Do we go to China and tell them to start thinning out their excess population?

To those ringing the bell about overpopulation:

Either offer up a solution or just give it a rest. I was raised NOT to get my nnalert up in a knot over things that I cannot control or change. I also learned to do my own part to the best of my ability and to practice what I preach. There is room for many more humans on this Earth. God has provide that for us.

The average person that has those problems is not eligible for medicade. It is what is called the working poor and if 2 people are working full time with $15 an hour jobs but with 3 kids there is no way they can aford that copay, Or if you are just on SS with medicare the SS is not enough to pay housing food heat lights water and medicine. Still not eligible for any help. If you think that is not a problem then open your eyes.

A month ago I sat on the interstate watching EMTs cut someone out of a wreck and put them on a jet helicopter waiting to medevac them to a shock-trauma unit. Pretty sobering experience and I left being really thankful of our healthcare system.