The GED is incredibly easy. My husband took it last year and despite having never taken US history, an appalling educational background in math and science, and English being his second language - he passed all of the tests in one shot.
I'd say answer yes to the question on job forms and get the GED if you want to go to college.
I'm the same vintage as you are with some of the same troubles when I first arrived here ten years ago!
Even community college wouldn't let me enroll and wanted me to get my GCE O'level certificates which were lost years before. The exam board doesn't even exist anymore and the high school I went to doesn't exist either. I decided I wasn't going to go that route and always put "united Kingdom education" (One employer in CA told me that UK education as was back in the 1980s is equivalent to an AA here anyway and he wasn't remotely concerned about it!)
I always answer yes to the question did I graduate and yes to GED and if there is a box marked other put "United Kingdom education" and let them know that I have the equivalent or more. It's worked since I have always managed to get interviews and have been employed for all but 9 months of my time here after receiving EAD in well-paid professional jobs.
Also, try and use recruiters if you can - they will give you skills tests which are work-related and which can act as part of your marketing plan, thereby circumventing the need for outdated education certificates anyway!
Hope that helps and good luck. Keep your chin up.
