How do I achieve optimum health at 50?

[Trowbridge10]

I feel absolutely lousy, exhausted. My bones and joints are ok but my muscle/fat aches all day like I ran a marathon the day before. I sleep well at night but often have to have a daytime nap too. I'm 5'6 & weigh 10.5 stone. Don't smoke or drink. I eat only homemade food, lots of veg, protein, wholegrain carbs. No tea, one coffee a day. No processed food whatsoever, no sugar or wheat. I take a daily multivitamin. My exercise currently is just one long walk a day but that leaves me needing a sleep to recover. I've had my blood tested & all came back fine.

What can I do to improve my health & feel better? I feel terrible.

Following as I am trying to improve my health before I reach fifty (am close!) One thing that strikes me is that you feel tired after a walk. I felt like this and I decided to take up running. I know it sounds counterproductive but I feel better after running than I did after walking. Perhaps you need to do more exercise?

Did they do thyroid bloods? I felt like this when my thyroid was failing. Have you asked for your actual results?

I was just told all bloods were normal.

I think having a detailed breakdown of your bloods could be useful, I was told my iron levels were normal but it turns out were only two points away from anaemia investigation. Any food sensitivities? Thyroid check?

I was like you until I started taking vitamin D supplements. After three weeks I felt like a new woman

Consider if you would benefit from a magnesium spray, helped my mum a lot with her aches and pains.

No food sensitivities. My daily multivitamin contains 100% rda of vit D & also some iron, so together with my diet I think those should be ok.. He said my thyroid was normal.. I wonder if I massively upped my exercise would I feel different?

I wouldn't try drastically upping your exercise but just doing something a few times a week that means your heartrate increases.

Keto, no alcohol, IF and regular gentle exercise and meditation

Where are you with regards to menopause?

Menopause?

If you’re having a regular nap then you can’t be sleeping as well as you think.
Vitamin D and B can help with that. Getting plenty of daylight and cutting down on light at night.
It could be that you have sleep apnoea, but not bad enough to fully wake you. It’s supposed to be very common in women of normal weight, even though it’s usually associated with overweight men.

I've had a hysterectomy (kept ovaries) so I'm not sure about exactly where I am regards menopause. I think close but not totally finished. I've had hot flushes for a few years but they're mild.

Normal just means the results fall within the lab range, if your results are borderline they may retest or test antibodies. I found it helpful to have a record of the results.

Maybe you need a change of scene, some sun on your face, a retreat and a mindful long rest. We’ve been without holidays really for a while now and we are only just coming out of winter. Can you take some leave alone somewhere with yoga and meditation maybe when lockdown is over?

I'd get a cope of your bloods and consider anything else that wasn't tested that could be ... vitamin D, for example. Don't trust doctors saying nutritional results are 'normal' , they are often not very knowledgeable about nutrition and vitamin deficiencies etc.

My guess is this is all menopause :)

Ovaries usually fail within 2 years of a hysterectomy.

And you are having hot flushes.

Lots of women get all kinds of health issues at 50-ish but never realise it's loss of estrogen behind it all.

Your weight seems a little high for your height - where are you on the BMI scale?

I'd suggest you consider HRT , get some more exercise, - something a bit more strenuous, but consider seeing your dr about HRT.

Have a read of the meno website my Dr Louise Newson. Loads and loads of info incl videos and podcasts.

www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/

On the menu tab, go to Resources and you will find loads of onfo.

Are you on HRT? Most likely cause could be menopause. Check out Dr Louise Newson

Are you eating enough fat?.

I take soya isoflavones 20mg a day for energy.

Soya for perimenopause, not for fat.

I echo the above. You need HRT (if it’s suitable for you that is).

I’m on

Low level liquid iron to top up (I need more but too much even liquid prescribed and with a meal can give me chronic stomach pain)
I did Couch to 5K
I take liquid vitamin D in orange juice each morning
I take thyroxine and have regular blood tests
I take HRT

I have a cool bedroom and sleep with the windows open all year around
I try to get to sleep to bed the same time and read before before and devices off

It made a HUGE difference. I moved to near a large marina lake that is full of cold water swimmers. I am going to start in the summer there and then hopefully try to carry on

You haven’t got sleep apnea have you?. It’s monumentally unfair you do all the right things but don’t benefit from it.

I’d also be thinking menopause, I felt similarly but also had issues with anxiety, HRT has solved just about all of it. My energy levels are better, my head is clearer and I’m not as achey or anxious.

Hi, I also am almost the big 5.0 could just be menopause or maybe your lacking in B12