As you get a bit older, how’s your health?

[ididntexpectthat]

I turned 50 this year and so far, apart from high blood pressure (controlled by meds), my health has been ok. Both my parents had/have bad health from age 45+ with heart and kidney issues but also, on both sides of our family, everyone has always struggled with their weight too. I have too but have recently lost 2.5 stone and I’m working on the final 1.5 stone - which I know will help with my overall health.

So just wondering about others. If you’ve been an averagely healthy person most of your life, has your health changed in some way from age 45 or 50 or beyond? Was there a sudden event or you just found things started to decline a bit? Or maybe you’re fine! If so, what has been the secret?

Shit at 56 though hugely better than I was a year ago. Was great at 49 and 50 then went from being able to run 10k to being on 2 walking sticks. Combination of autoimmune arthritis and undiagnosed hip dysplasia.

GP refused to refer me on NHS for inflammatory arthritis which I blatantly had so I had to go privately. 1st consultant was crap and it was only when I moved areas and went privately again I got my diagnosis and access to the meds I needed though by this time damage has been done and one of my toes has deformed.

Luckily the much maligned hospital I am with now have a good rheumatology and orthopaedics department and when I listen to people morning I think they should have had what I had before.

Aged 44 had acute onset of OA in my knees- which changed my life immediately as I love hiking. Too young for joint replacement so I’m making the best of things. Weak pelvic floor showing its head and start of perimenopause now I’m 46. Not too bad but in my head I’m about 32 so it makes you think about life for sure. 🙂 I worry about my capabilities of being able to support my own parents as they age.

I'm 52 and apart from being overweight (which I know is bad in itself) I'm fine. Low BP / cholesterol/ resting heart rate and I'm not diabetic or pre diabetic (the nurse at my over 50 check up was definitely surprised/borderline annoyed about the last one because of my weight ).
We have an active dog so walk 5-10k daily, more at weekends. I did trail running until about 3 years ago, when I picked up a persistent Achilles injury which meant I didn't enjoy it any more. I don't drive so walk a lot generally. I do want to lose weight, but I don't eat crap - cook from scratch, eat a variety of fruit and veg just terrible portion control...

58. Auto immune blood disorder so I take a shed load of warfarin. Auto immune thyroid disease so I take levothyroxin. T2 diabetes so I take metformin and mounjaro. High cholesterol so I take statins.

On the plus side, since starting on mounjaro a year ago I have lost just over 6 1/2 stone. I still want to lose another 5 stone but I am the lightest (or least heavy) I have been in 15 years.

So, all things considered, could be worse.

I’m 50 now and lived my life with chronic pain from endometriosis had wide excision surgery at 45 and I’ve gradually felt more human, peri is a rollercoaster and I’ve recently had surgery for gall bladder removal. I eat well, train and look after myself, stopped smoking and actually feel better for having removed the endometriosis (hopefully) and the gall bladder.

I suspect I’ve just been inflamed for life So I feel better at 50 and positive for the future of my health, I did have CBT for health anxiety as my life has just been one big pain, so it’s taken me a while to relax my brain as well as my body into a new pattern of enjoyment.

I had ovarian cancer aged 59. Then I had shoulder surgery for a trapped nerve. Then I had my gallbladder removed due to gallstones and repeated jaundice. Last year I had a prolapse repair, and then had blood clots in both lungs. Apart from that, I’m ok.

Bloody ell, sending big hugs what a run of it.

Good so far, although just this year (at 44) I've developed very dry, sensitive skin which is often itchy or feels like sunburn and is very annoying. I am assuming it's linked to hormonal changes.

Also a noticeable decline in eyesight since I was 42.

I’m nearly 60 and my health is great. Normal BMI, healthy diet, don’t drink, run a couple of times a week and do a bit of yoga.

I’m on HRT and I think it helps me to feel young and gives me the energy to exercise.

Praying I stay well. My mum died young of ovarian cancer.

@Hohumdedum Agree re hormones. Those sorts of skin changes are quite common in the perimenopause, in my experience. Mine will sometimes really react to my regular moisturiser (really burns) but is fine the rest of the time. Itchiness is also really common. I had INSANELY itchy armpits for a while.

Almost 54, I'm in good health and all the metrics/test results are in normal range.

I do work at it with a very healthy lifestyle. Of course that's no guarantee against bastards like cancer (and I'm very sorry to those who it has struck down) but I am trying to compensate for poor choices earlier in life and stack the odds in my favour.

Oooh, I have forgotten the eyesight. I caught a really nasty bug last year and it had an effect on my eyesight and I’ve ended up with glasses, albeit a mild prescription! I generally wear the cheap reading glasses though.

Im 52 and don't know what's gone wrong. I'm slim and eat well. I have awful chronic lower back pain due to degenerative changes. Legs go numb when I walk, which is frustrating as I've always walked miles with my dog. Nobody can give me answers. My joints hurt badly, and I need to take painkillers an hour before I get up in the morning. I think it's an autoimmune thing, but i can't get anyone to take me seriously. I am not ageing very well!

When was the last time you replaced your mattress? Might be worth checking.

@AlpineadventuresandCowbells I don't know what @sliceoflife had done for frozen shoulder, but I had a hydrodilatation within 5 weeks of onset & never looked back. I was already under the care of a shoulder surgeon & if it persisted, it would have wrecked the recovery from a surgery just beforehand & I would have had permanently impaired movement because I wouldn't have re-mobilised enough from the initial op, so we just cracked on with it.

Privately, it would be about £700-£1,000 for the procedure & it was moving better within 30 minutes & continued to regain range of motion over 2-4 weeks with stretching.

That's less than a lot of women pay for private physio to deal with the condition over months & months, never mind impacts on family life/loss of earnings/time off work.

As with many peri/menopausal conditions listed here, I'm quite certain that if it were blokes having to deal with the prevalence of this condition, it would be better researched & treatment better funded 🤬

@Waitingfordoggo @Hohumdedum I also had a brief spell of insanely itchy armpits. I put it down to my deodorant (which I had to lay off for a while anyway because of the skin irritation).

Did you ever get an explanation, or is it just yet another one of those hormone driven 'things'? I know there's oestrogen receptors in seemingly every cell type of the body (😭) but I've not seen this or a reason for it on the laundry list of symptoms of perimenopause!

I am 50 - I've had one day of work ill in the last 18 years, and have seen a doctor 3 times in the past 30 years.

60 is definitely snipers alley. So many if our friends were fine until then, and then bang.... All sorts of cancers, bone disorders, chronic diseases becoming apparent.

It could just be that you suddenly get more tests, but honestly, mostly healthy, fit, good lives, and we have all had something found, and are being treated for something.

BP meds, Statins, Cancers, Diabetes, Hips and Knees, Kidney issues, Bowel issues etc etc

And not one of us was actually "ill".

@Waitingfordoggo @MeandT

Interesting! It's mostly one shin and my head that itch rather than my armpits but maybe that joy is still to come!

I forgot, I’ve also had blood clots in my eye and I’ve permanently lost some of my eyesight.

58, two hip replacements at 51& 57. Just had my ankle double fused. Always been active, cartiledge just non existent , no sure why? No HRT, everything else fine. Still intend to carry on regardless!

I was absolutely fine until I was 55. Then caught Covid on my birthday 2020 which was an unexpected present! It’s wrecked my health, fatigue, muscle pain, tinnitus, high bp, sleep issues, anxiety and neuropathic issues. The list is endless. I feel a shell of my former self, lost a lot of confidence too, eg with regard to travelling.

i still work part time (self employed) but have had enough now and want to focus on being the best version of myself that I can so I’m retiring in March. Going to focus on my health and wellbeing. Lots of walking, gardening, art etc. plus getting back to playing the piano, something I’ve neglected in recent years.

I've been lucky and able to prioritise my health. I've had to as a working lone parent TBH as my kids only have me. I can run, do push ups, bootcamp, fairly flexible etc. Low weight and blood pressure.

The only thing that really winds me up is that I can't do fast burpees anymore, I can do a lot just not super quick. I seem to have lost that explosive strength in my mid-40's.

65
Recovered anorexic
Diagnosed with Graves disease in 1990 - on levo since late 1990
Osteoporosis diagnosed 2016 - following a fractured metatarsal, then vertebra, have subsequently badly broken my wrist and another vertbra: 5 infusions of zolendronate, two years injecting teripararatide, two more zol infusions. Genetic link, restricting food didn't help but mostly due to three years of undulating, undiagnosed hyperthyroidism.
Smoked from 15 to 34 (might have an occasional one now)
Drank regularly from 18 to 61/2 (not when pg/bf) now rarely

BP - fine
Cholesterol - bit raised managed with diet (low Q3 risk)
Diabetes - no sign
A bit of skin damage (dealt with)
Just within healthy weight guidelines (top end)

I am lucky in that I have no back pain arising from the wedged vertebrae.

I feel fit, healthy and well and still do a demanding job although part-time now.

Mother lived her life similarly, bp, cholesterol and diabetes all normal. Minor osteo. Smoked until 40, always imbibed. Probably a functional anorexic just maintaining an acceptable lower end BMI. At 87 developed severe aortic stenosis and had a TAVI, at 89 being investigated for Parkinsons. Still partying.

MIL also 89 and has lived a non drinking, non smoking, keep fit life (miserable though), has high bp, pre diabetes, a neurological tic, is losing her sight and has a prolapsed anus/bowel. Always ate processed/packet food.

I feel very very lucky. If I get to 80 plus I'm going to have half a bottle of good wine every day and half a dozen fags.

Mid sixties and no issues, that I know of.

Had a recent over 60s MoT.

Mid 60s /fit , active, no health issues or aches and pains, no meds. Only legacy from meno is thinner hair so looking for solutions for that.