Weird side effects of getting older

[MiserableMrsMopp]

Already gone through menopause. That was fun. Hot flushes, dry vag, shrinking lady bits, lack of libido.

But a new effect of being old is starting to hit. As always, I thought it was just me, but when I searched online, it's a recognised feature of ageing.

Response to the cold. I don't shiver anymore. I don't really even know I'm getting cold. The first thing I notice is my hands being cold. And then I realise my body is very cool. Good old Google says this is a known effect of ageing. It's how elderly people succumb to hypothermia. Their core temperature drops without them even realising.

And I think I'm getting this. I notice my hands being cold. Recognise my whole body is cooler than is comfortable and try to warm myself up (heating up or heated throw etc) and it takes a good half an hour to improve.

So take this as a PSA (public service announcement). Not only will you shrivel and dry up in the nether regions, you'll also be at risk of dying from hypothermia without really even noticing! Bloody ace.

Oh, the lack of heat regulation! I am over ten years out of menopause and still get hot flushes, but also just run hot generally... when I go for my daily walk, I know I'll be wringing wet and have to put my t-shirt straight in the wash when I get back...

Have to sleep in separate room to DH with a summer duvet, windows open and radiator off all year round... it's like that scene in The Exorcist when the priests go into Regan's room and they can see their breath... 🥶 but still I wake in the small hours in a muck sweat...

Well, I’m very ancient and I’m certainly well aware of feeling cold/needing the heating on/needing a warmer jumper/gilet/scarf/needing to wear my lovely sheepskin house boots.

Dh who’s a bit older still has inner central heating, but it’s not quite as efficient as it was. He will still hardly ever wear a coat or jacket when out in the depths of winter. I have now and then remarked on how every single one of the million or so other people we pass in central London will have more sense.

I'm 60 and I feel the cold.

Give it up will ya all.

I felt the cold when I was little. Back then we had visible breath in bedrooms in winter, had draughts coming down the fire and thick see through plastic tacked over the windows in place of double glazing. I felt the cold then lol with icicles on the inside of the window. Why is no one talking about thermal underwear?

"You're as old as the man you feel Honey".. I've never gone off sex.. I'm sure having a regular sex life stopped vaginal dryness..

I run hot in my body, keep the room temperature very low to be comfortable, but my hands and feet get cold. I use lots of hot water bottles for my extremities but throw the covers off all the time!

I recall scraping the ice off the insides of the bedroom window as a child, having to wear a liberty bodice and very thick stockings. Layering up includes thermals.
central heating has not helped those of us who feel the cold as we just turn it up and up and layer up looking like this.

No men for me ta NFB. But happy your happy.
I haven't the time or interest. They're quite demanding and somewhat tiresome. But maybe it's just the ones I meet. I now pretty much Avoid any hopeful gazes directed at me :).

On the plus side, most of my life my guiding principle in clothes was 'do I look thin in this?' It led to some very conventional, boring choices... I carried an internal belief that I couldn't 'play' with fashion until I was 'thin enough'... 🙄 It was all French-girl, capsule-wardrobe, classic-basics... yawn...

Now, though, I'm starting to have a bit more fun with clothes, to use gorgeous colours, interesting shapes (as long as they're comfortable). Not 'whacky granny' territory, just a bit more drama or romance or creativity... now I only care about presenting as 'confident'.

And my lifelong straight, auburn hair is turning into an Old Lady Mane, silver threads among the gold, and I love it!

A liberty bodice for all those too young to remember them.

Well as were getting down to the nitty gritty in winter aim on my sofa sat in my sleeping bag with a hot water bottle, usually watching Vera... bliss. He he

'Comon Kenny!'

Yikes! 😧

I never heard of a LB. A precursor perhaps to the LBD?

(Except... what fun as a summer top with a full gypsy skirt or big checked prairie skirt... 🤔).

Have you got grandchildren? Perhaps throw a "Granny" party for them 😉?
Seriously, there's nowt we can do. I'm 66 and in all honesty feel a lot better than I did in my 40s and 50s and enjoy life more. Some things we can't control, some things we can. I try to focus on the latter!

I wonder, is it linked to whether or not you had hot flushes?

I'm 65, post menopause, but I had no hot flushes at all and I know very well when I feel cold. I also don't mind the heat. So I can't relate to OPs post (although I understand it very well) and wonder if there's any connection?

This is interesting as I always thought older people felt the cold more as usually when I go into an older person’s house the heating is on at max. Maybe that’s to do with not feeling temperature as well.

As someone who recently turned 40 I’m not looking forward to this rapid aging that’s apparently going to happen in a few years 😱

On the subject of LBodi...when I 'became a woman .' my ma presented me with the ghastliest special belt.
If you know what I'm talking about you know. Yikes+some!

I thought this was to do with some very elderly people developing circulation problems, and also perhaps being less active

Oh my god. You go from being a carefree girl to being trussed up and part of some shameful secret.

Does everyone shrivel up in the nether regions? Serious question? What is that like? I might have to ask AI.

What?! Good grief. What the heck is that? Google at your peril, and certainly not on your work laptop.....

On the shrivalage...just make sure if you're a married woman/in a relationship that you research at great length All the downsides of Viagra.
Get the ammo now, and drip feed lol.

I'm older but always warm, had menopause about 10 years ago, hate the summer and prefer to be cooler.
But having said that I'm aging well with excellent genetics skin is still very smooth, no wrinkles as such and no crows feet or scraggy neck. Thanks for that mum😘 I haven't smoke for about 40 years, rarely drink and when I'm out use sun lotion factor 50, plenty of sleep, hardly any stress. I have a chronic health condition so live expectancy is likely to be lower but I feel good and happy.