Do you ever wonder what part of your body will fail as you get older?

[PermanentlyExhaustedPigeonZZZ]

In my early 40s and the saying about what you neglect in your 20s comes to bite you on the butt in your 40s is starting to come true. I'm overweight and can't get up off the floor like I could. My DH has a whole plethora of health problems but I think it'll be his joints that get him.

I sometimes wonder if my mind, my hearing or my body will affect me the most in my 60/70/80s. Anyone else?

Are you on HRT?

Yes I'm still on the nhs waiting list a year later, but I spent a small amount to see a private one - money very well spent.

This is so interesting. I’m in my sixties and so I am trying to work on strength and balance in the hope that it keeps my mobility going and will prevent falls in later life.

But honestly - I think it will be my brain that will fail. Nobody seems to mention that. Dementia is the leading cause of death in the U.K. and 7th worldwide.

I do think that many of the things that people do to reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease help to reduce the risk of dementia so I don’t smoke, keep my weight down, monitor my blood pressure . But given how physically healthy I am in my 60s , along with a very strong family history of dementia- I suspect that’s my fate

Everyone in the above generations before me have/had arthritis so I thought it would inevitable I’d get it.
However I didn’t expect I’d get both hips replaced by the time I was 51. I’m not overweight and active with my horse.
However I’m so grateful to get them done and I forget I’ve had them replaced. Thankfully my knees are not too bad (I’m 55)

I’m 65, I started getting arthritic pains in my fingers and knees 10 years ago. A doctor recommended daily turmeric supplements and within months all pain was gone.
I make a point of, at least once a day, sitting on the floor and getting up without using my hands. I also stand on one foot when brushing my teeth.
so far, physically I’m in good working order.
i do worry about my mental health though. My mum had dementia and I am getting increasingly forgetful.

My back's really suffering in my job now. But if I sat down all day it would also suffer.

I'm older and the knee arthritis that affects my mum and sister and most of the women in my family has started to affect me. Also I'm getting sciatica more frequently like the rest of my family. I've always walked a lot and been active. I think genetics plays a massive part of what happens. Obviously there's things you can do or not do to lower the risk of some things but it's hard to fight genetics. I think menopause sets a lot of problems off. Menopause the gift that keeps on giving. I'm on hrt.

I agree with 'look after your legs'.

My maternal grandmother lived in a 4-storey house and she was very against moving to a bungalow as she didn't want to 'lose the use of her legs'. My parents are now in a bungalow and struggle with stairs when they stay with me. My dad's never been fit (exercised just for the sake of it), he's had 2 hip replacements and now shuffles around and trips over a lot as his mobility is terrible 😔

They're both baffled why I exercise so much -- it's that boomer attitude that exercise is only for weight loss and not cardiovascular health, strength and flexibility (and mental health benefits).

Agree @Crudd99 As well as having its own unique symptoms, I think menopause can trigger the start of problems that were always going to happen, if that makes sense. So something you have always been susceptible to or ‘in line’ for might be more likely to kick off in this phase of life.

For me, I turned 45 (which is when I think perimenopause really kicked in) and my eyesight suddenly fell off a cliff. I also began having gastric issues and my teeth went to complete shit. To be fair, I’ve never had great teeth and have had fillings since a fairly young age, but it’s really ramped up in menopause- root canals, horrendous infections and extractions 😫 Oh and I also get repeated ear infections now (had never had a single one my whole life until I was 47 and now get them all the fecking time). Meno is a total arsehole.

DH isn't even 40 yet and has had both hips replaced.
I know my right knee will go. It already twinges

After 50 bits start dropping off. You just get used to it.

Oldie here (60s). It's hard to know. I developed arthritis in multiple sites in my 30s, and thought that would be my big issue. But it has only progressed very slowly. My mum and gran are both still alive, and my grandad only just died. They are healthy and have all their marbles, so Im hoping that will be my fate.

Having said which, this time last year I was very overweight and I think heading towards diabetes. I've sorted that now so hoping Im back in the realm of 'something will finish me off, but I won't know what till it hits'.

Did he have hip dysplasia or AVN? With mine it was plain old osteoarthritis, if I had a pound every time people say aren’t you too young to have hip replacements

Some of us didn't get to old age before things started failing..... I developed CFS/ME in my late 30s. I made a partial recovery but have had a number of relapses if I am under stress and/or do too much physical exercise on top of work, family life etc. I thought retirement would be different but the early years have been taken up with bereavements and supporting an adult child with poor mental health. Not surprisingly, I have been in relapse through that so my plan to be less sedentary once I left my office based job fell by the wayside. I am through the grieving now and my DC finally got an ADHD diagnosis and treatment so I am trying to focus on my own health, both for immediate gain and trying to protect myself in later life, but have to take it very slowly. If you are blessed with good or even just average health don't take it for granted, don't let yourself get deconditioned - it is a real blessing to be able to keep yourself fit.

I too am now over 70.

This is how it went ..........

• hip packed up - replacement has never been successful and gives me a whole load of pain.
• higher register hearing departed, so I have worn hearing aids since my late 50s.
• cataracts - had surgery
• high cholesterol in spite of never eating red meat, cheese, eggs etc. - under treatment
• osteoporosis with spinal fractures - all under treatment
• heart went mega haywire and I now have a stent, a pacemaker and have had an av node ablation - oh and I have 2 leaky valves
• trapped nerves in arm and leg with numbness and pain.

It's all a bugger and even more annoying as I have never been overweight, always eaten healthily and exercised in moderation. The heart mayhem is a particular surprise. So - get your cholesterol checked; ask for a dexa scan if you have reason to suspect osteoporosis, and eat a healthy diet. My DDs have just had these checked on the back of my problems and are now on suitable preventive treatment.

The only good thing is that I have not one grey hair!

I’m older it was my back. There may be other joys to come but for now just chronic back pain

Late 60s here and kind of blessed I'd say. Led a crazy life in my twenties, as most did, stressful job until retirement yada yada, never was into gyms and fitness but walked a lot. I'm doing ok (touch wood), no arthritis, no joint issues, no pains, no diabetes, not overweight but not skinny either, plenty of energy, but I don't do anything like try to get up off the floor, or pilates, or swimming or anything, I'm a lazy sod. I do walk though, that's it.

I have an irregular heart beat (atrial fibrillation), which is very common and can lead to stroke if not medicated, my late mum had it too, so that has to be monitored and I take a beta blocker to slow the rate down. That's more or less it. So just enjoy life folks and don't obsess about anything. What will be will be I think.

When I see all the young people getting colon cancer, and all the sickness and illness going on, I just wake up every day glad to see another day! We are all in the waiting room anyway. 😊

Ah thank you. Its one of those things that I didn't know hardly anything about until a couple days ago and have suddenly discovered its actually very common! Very encouraging to hear stories like yours.

No cos it already has

my body started failing when I was 14.

fucker. I’d send it back on guarantee if I could

Would recommend anyone in their 30’s and 40’s to practice T’ai Chi.

I really echo this re perimenopause/menopause.

I’m 50 but still having irregular periods so not technically menopausal yet.

In the last 7 months I’ve hurt my rotator cuff and my hamstring, and neither want to heal. I’ve also developed lipidema on my leg - my mum has lymphoedema so that increased the risk. Lipidena is typically progressive but often worsens/appears during perimenopause as oestrogen keeps it in check.

Apparently oestrogen also protects your joints - something that isn’t spoken about often.

I was happy to try and muddle through the other menopausal symptoms but fuck risking my joints. I started HRT three days ago and am hoping it helps facilitate my recovery, keeps the lipidema under control, and protects my other joints!

@SpidersAreShitheads I’m not a medic of any sort but anecdotally, rotator cuff injuries seem incredibly common in perimenopausal women- I know a lot of women from my fitness classes who are having problems with their shoulders. 😫

i presumed all my joints would fail me, like my mother. i’ve fretted about it for years (whilst shamefully not getting into weight lifting etc)
but then the gp told me my cholesterol was high, and now i clocked that i am also my fathers daughter. (dead after heart attack 2, at 63)
and my carpenter brother looks to be inheriting our mothers shonky collagen

My mother will be 96 this week and so far everything is holding up ok - she’s always walked a lot rather than any other exercise - and she still walks daily (with a stick). Mentally she’s always done crosswords which I think has kept her brain active. There’s luck involved too.

I know it's going to be my eyes. Since I was 8 I've been extremely short sighted, and it gets worse every few years. I'm 50 now. I just know my eyes are going to give me such gip when I'm older. I remember older aunts of mine always squinting, and that's going to be me.

Probably my knees too. I'm a keen runner and spinner, but my left knee has been messed up since 2017.