Health and Decline

David Irving's 2023 diary provides a detailed record of an 85-year-old's physical and cognitive decline, offering intimate insights into the daily struggles of aging.

Cognitive Decline

Memory Issues

Early Recognition (April 1): "I lie awake and worry that this is the beginning of a memory-condition as forecasted by the doctor fifteen months ago."

Daily Impact:

• Multiple "blanks" while working: "Four or five brief (briefest) blanks spaced several minutes apart, while I wash." (June 2)
• Increasing forgetfulness: "I'm very forgetful and get easily confused. So far okay. But I can sense problems coming." (July 23)
• Work interruptions: "I will fumble with it this afternoon, and should not have." (June 8)

Others' Observations:

• Kathy: "Just reminding you incase you forget because your memory is going bad" (June 22)
• Kathy: "I really don't think you should drive if your memory is giving you issues" (July 16)

Typing Deterioration

Daily assessments of typing ability show gradual decline:

• "Typing sloppy" (recurring observation)
• "My typing worries me slightly" (June 18)
• "Typing distinctly bad, low-score" (June 15)
• "Typing is very sloppy" (July 19)

Physical Decline

Mobility Issues

Hip Transplant Complications:

• "My hip-transplant is causing me minor problems, worse the longer I have to walk" (June 19)
• "I decided to walk the long and painful way to Paloma's carrying my laptop" (June 20)
• "I will take my stick the next time; the hip transplant is what makes it difficult" (June 21)

Muscle Weakness:

• "My leg muscles are noticeably weaker – slipped in the shower two seconds, and again, very minor, afterwards" (June 14)
• "Outside temperature is eleven degrees, C." - constant temperature monitoring suggests sensitivity

Balance Problems:

• Shower incidents: "slipped in the shower two seconds"
• Need for walking stick when going distances

Digestive Issues

Ongoing Constipation:

• "I fight a major crap" (June 2)
• "10.30AM A monster crap, with satisfactory results" (June 3)
• "About 12 noon, I finally succeed, after enormous exertions, in a crap; there must be some blockage in the piping" (June 26)
• "2:10pm at third time of trying a major final crap" (June 7)

Dietary Interventions:

• "I then send Chvastek the above file on McCain and the university." - buys red wine to test gastric problems
• "It was the tin of baked beans which I had for supper which finally cleared the blockage" (June 27)

Daily Impact of Decline

Morning Routines

Consistent but Difficult:

• "I rise at 6:28 am, make coffee, shower, and am at the coalface at 7.36AM" (recurring pattern)
• Often includes lie-down periods: "lie down for ten minutes listening to classical music to recover"

Seating Adjustments:

• Frequent mentions of adjusting seating to improve typing
• "I adjust my seating position to help typing, which starts shoddy"

Work Interruptions

Frequent Breaks: Daily schedule interrupted by health issues

• Bathroom difficulties
• Need for rest periods
• Mobility problems affecting errands

Concentration Issues:

• "No real editing work done today. Too many computer-based distractions" (June 8)
• Work productivity clearly affected by health problems

Medical Care

Medications

Amlodipine (blood pressure): Regular prescription through Bente's help

• "Amlodipine: is it ordered? and will it go to the right place" (July 16)
• "Back at 10.45AM" - picking up three-month supply (July 19)

Self-Medication Attempts:

• Kathy sends B1 vitamins for "brain issues"
• Various dietary experiments for digestive problems

Healthcare Access

NHS Concerns: Questions about emergency care access

• "Do you have the NHS; will they take care of you in an emergency?" (to Bente, July 16)

Psychological Impact

Daily Anxiety

Morning Worries: "I lie awake and worry" about memory condition Work Pressure: Determination to complete Churchill Vol. III despite declining abilities

Isolation

Reduced Mobility: "London is too large and too ethnic now" (June 19)

• Can't travel far from home
• Relies increasingly on others for errands

Dependency: Growing reliance on others for:

• Banking (Bente checks accounts)
• Shopping (various helpers)
• Transportation (daughter Paloma)
• Technical support (multiple assistants)

Comparison with Associates

Bente's Illness

Parallel Decline: Bente experiences serious health crisis simultaneously

• "I have had A Week From Hell" (June 4)
• "I am extremely unwell" (August 28)
• Both elderly individuals facing health challenges together

Financial Impact

Increased Costs: Health problems increase living expenses:

• Need for assistance with daily tasks
• Medical appointments and medications
• Reduced ability to handle financial affairs independently

Work Determination

Despite health decline, DI maintains fierce determination to complete his work:

• "I am finishing three years work on a book and cannot be interrupted in mid-volume" (August 27)
• Continues daily writing routine despite physical challenges
• Prioritizes book completion over health concerns

---

Timeline of Decline - 2023:

• April: First explicit acknowledgment of memory concerns
• June: Multiple references to typing deterioration and mobility issues
• July: Physical symptoms becoming more intrusive to daily life
• August-September: Continued decline but maintained work routine

The diary provides a raw, unfiltered view of aging and decline, showing both the indignity of physical deterioration and the remarkable persistence of intellectual determination.