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Original poster

Anyone in their 40s/50s plus had a health wake up call?

360 replies

CuriousMama · 22/03/2023 20:32

I recently went to the GP because of a couple of health worries. She took my BP whilst there and it was really high.
I'm on HRT. I'm overweight but not massively.
So I decided to make a massive effort to change my ways. I've exercised a lot more. Done yoga. Eating smaller portions and healthier food. I eat pretty healthy anyway but have upped it. Drinking beetroot smoothies. It's good for lowering BP. Taking potassium as well as usual vitamins.
She'd prescribed bp meds but I wanted to try and lower it myself first.
Bp has gone down a lot. I feel a lot better in myself and have more energy.

Anyone else had this or decided to get healthier now they're in their 50s?

OP posts:
NooNooHead1981 · 04/05/2023 10:05

Sorry for the typos, I told you my brain isn't working 😥🙄

Littlemissprosecco · 04/05/2023 10:06

I’m 53, been watching this thread!
Had a partial hysterectomy at 38, so went into early menopause ( mid 40s). weight went on, blood pressure went up, migraines the works!! Really struggled for 5 years just thinking I couldn’t do anything. Then I had a breast lump scare, had surgery to have ducts removed. Felt almost suicidal afterwards. I was at my lowest and a friend said to me “ This is just a tiny part of your story”.

In three years my blood pressure has gone from 150/110 to 110/70, and my weight from 78kg to 60! I’m 5’3
My GP has taken me off blood pressure tablets. I feel like I’m getting some energy for life back!
Ladies it’s manageable, take each day at a time and always be kind to yourself

Original poster
CuriousMama · 04/05/2023 10:19

@NooNooHead1981 are you in any HRT? Sorry you feel like this 💐

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Original poster
CuriousMama · 04/05/2023 10:20

@Littlemissprosecco that's a lovely positive post. What changes did you make? My BP is normal now after doing more HIIT and drinking beetroot juice. Plus I take potassium etc. I eat pretty healthy but aren't losing weight.

OP posts:
NooNooHead1981 · 04/05/2023 10:36

CuriousMama · 04/05/2023 10:19

@NooNooHead1981 are you in any HRT? Sorry you feel like this 💐

No, not yet as I saw a private gynaecologist last year who said i wasn't in perimenopause or anything apparently. Plus I would be terrified that the HRT will exacerbate my involuntary movements of my TD, as everything seems to affect me somehow now (I'm even terrified of innocuous things like paracetamol, and I've had a bad reaction to an antifungal cream and even a natural sweetener called stevia, which affects dopamine too).

Thank you for the kind words. I've fortunately got a wonderful family and am very lucky to be well supported financially too, so I need to look on the bright side more. I guess I just get fed up fighting my body and want to feel normal again but it's not likely any time soon, so I keep on keeping on. 😥

Littlemissprosecco · 04/05/2023 10:55

Honestly, I started really slowly, by saying to myself, where has the positive professional fun loving woman gone?
with all food put in front of me, “ do I really need it ?” So I’d have my meal and just leave most of the chips! If I picked up a snack I’d say, do I really need this?? More often than not the honest answer is no. Slowly I began to cook more healthily and reduce my portion sizes. I never had a long term goal, it is still just to get through each day( sometimes half day,) being kind to myself. I don’t think I’d manage if I set myself a long term goal, just knowing I did my best today works for me!
For me, it really comes back to what my friend said “This is just a tiny part of your story”, I can apply that to not eating that bag of crisps.
As for exercise, I walk the dog… a lot… poor dog! I also did a lot of googling menopausal weight loss, apparently exercise which causes cortisol to rise will inhibit weight loss due to low estrogen! Who knows how true this is but I therefore don’t do a lot of cardio. But stretching Pilates.

Original poster
CuriousMama · 04/05/2023 10:56

@NooNooHead1981 glad to hear you have good support.

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Original poster
CuriousMama · 04/05/2023 10:58

@Littlemissprosecco that's good to hear. Sounds very sensible.

OP posts:
andthat · 04/05/2023 22:59

@CuriousMama Thankyou for your concern. Back at hospital in a few weeks.

and to everyone struggling with their health, I’m sending love. Its very difficult.

Original poster
CuriousMama · 04/05/2023 23:17

andthat · 04/05/2023 22:59

@CuriousMama Thankyou for your concern. Back at hospital in a few weeks.

and to everyone struggling with their health, I’m sending love. Its very difficult.

I hope you get some help when you go?

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