to think that your body falls apart at 40?!

[Bogeyface]

9 months ago I was 40. Since then I have...

developed arthritis (doc says I had it earlier, I dont believe him)

started farting ALL THE TIME and (this is the important bit) being able to identify what made me fart "Oooh, sorry, that'll be the cauli"

started pulling up and placing my boobs in my bra, something I havent had to do since me breast surgery 13 years ago

waking up with a bad hip and saying "ooh that bed is going to do for me"

saying "I'd better not, I'll be up all night" if someone offers me a cup of tea after 8pm.

I hate being 40, its shit.

I am 47. I wouldn't say falling apart exactly, but my health isn't what it once was.

I have had a couple of major health problems which kicked in after 40 and am now on lifelong medication, my eyesight is no longer what it was and my arms are no longer long enough to read text of any sort without my glasses on.

Added to that, I am hurtling towards the menopause (in peri-menopause, I still believe) with all of the effects that has (mood swings, unpredictable cycles) just at the same time as my two youngest daughters are adolescents.

My memory used to be very good, but now it is shot. If I go into another room for something I cannot remember what the hell I went in there for. I can't remember the spelling of some words either. I go to the shops, pay for the newspaper, and have been known to walk out still leaving it on the counter with the assistant following me.

YANBU and sorry 101 but for me the 'magic* age was 38! Hardly had a seconds illness up to then and then BANG ,back trouble, chest infections, high eye pressure ? glaucoma, breast tumour....I should have just chucked myself under a bus at 37 and had done with it.

I don't think Montysma is just lucky - I definately look better than at 45 than at 25 too. I had an awful formless, babyish fat face then, terrible hair and no idea how to present myself. So many stars look better at 40 than 20 too.

Yep! Turned 40 last September, and since then have noticed a general decline....have suffered from Plantar Faciitis, a dermatological condition has mysteriously developed, a HUGE clump of grey hair has appeared (and not just on my sodding head! :( ) my teeth seem to be shifting, my skin is returning to it's hormonal teenage years, my back ACHES after nothing at all, I say "Ooof" quite a bit when I stand up, I seem to be able to damage myself doing the simplest things, like taking a lid off a jar (painful wrist for four days, anyone?!) I can't shift any bloody weight no matter WHAT I do....

But I came first on DS1 and DS2 lists "Who I love most in the whole world" so it's not all bad.....and at least I've got a sense of humour ;)

It's when your sight isn't good enough - even with varifocals - that you don't spot the chin hairs until they're nearly half an inch in length.

And what is it with nostril hairs that start to grow outwards instead of where they belong?

Well, I am 42, nearly 43, and i'm fine. I embrace my knackeredness, I love going to bed early, and I don't mind grey. I am halfway through my menopause, it started at 38, i'm nearly done, I reckon. I can't wait for it to fuck right off. I really can't. I am alternately sweaty/crazy/ weepy whilst still working. I look slightly creased and a bit surprised at how tired I look. I'm fine with this. I just need an end. I will be genuinely happy when I can say it's over and just give up ever wanting to wear slim fit trousers. ( although: note to others: I am the same weight I ever was ta 25. It's just distributed differently.)

It's the four years after meno you have to be very very wary of. Everything that can go wrong, will. Never plan to start a new job during that period, or do anything requiring learning/readjustment/presenting/public speaking. Just take it very easy until it passes.

I'm 46.. and after a few years of REALLY shit health (Trigeminal Neuralgia, hysterectomy, axtaxia) I joined a Taekwondo club in December..oldest newby ever Now training twice a week, just passed my first belt and starting circuits this week.

I figure better late than never !

Still like my wine too much and I'm not giving that up! I have to dye the grey out, I ache every day, my memory is crap and I can't read ANYTHING as my arms aren't long enough.

BUT..I am happier, more confident and more at ease with being ME than I ever was a a much more gorgeous 20 something. My children are nearly grown up, my life is mine again.... I say bring on 50!

I have my fingers in my ears.

Gym habit means everything looks at least as good as it did at 20.

But - I went to see the optician and she said 'ooh, haven't you done well to get to 42 and not need reading glasses'.

It was like some sort of hex - my arms became impossibly short within a week.

I will be 45 next week. Since I was 40 I have developed back problems which impact on my quality of life and ability to look after my young children, long-sightedness, I have to dye my greying hair every six weeks and my face cream now costs £20 rather than £1.50! On the plus side though, I have had a middle-aged compulsion to knit, so we all have nice jumpers!

I just wanted to say again how much the memory foam mattress topper has stopped my aches and pains.
It's been a revelation.
I'm six weeks into a surgical menopause and have sailed through it. No symptoms apart from being a bit hot.
After years of serious illness I figured I deserved a break though.

I am 45 and haven't been as fit as I am now since my early 20's. Take more exercise-more exercise makes me feel better anyway.

Supercosy I deeply empathise with you. I turned 40 and two months later got a virus in my brain, it's left me with brain damage and lots of neuro problems. I'm like an unhealthy 70 year old now, fucking barstard viruses.

Sorry to hear that Life - I work with patients who have had brain viruses - i hope you start to feel a bit better.

I'm mid 40's and recommend getting stronger when you get older - and work on balance too - do weight training if you can and core stability as it helps with back problems and falling over (which causes all sorts of problems when you get REALLY old). i started swimming too in the last year and out-swam two 30 something fit blokes this morning. That cheers me up

But i ache like a bastard in the mornings sometimes and just got off my office chair like a 90 year old.....

OldBag it's not really just feeling hot! Imagine this...

Standing by your hot oven (gas mark 9), it's been on for an hour. Stand really close and then lean down and open the door staying really close. Now imagine that heat. Hot isn't it? Now imagine that heat suddenly and without warning from the inside, right in the very core of your body, rushing through your body.

Seriously, IME, it's very unpleasant. Very!

it doesn't if you look after it. Am 46, have no grey hair and a 3 year old.

i am 40 and have no grey hair and v few wrinkles.
and I fell pregnant the first month of trying.
however I think I am miscarrying this week which is a bit shit

on the other hand, the average life expectancy in Zimbabwe for women is 38 so we are all doing well by their standards.

French I don't think looking after anything can stop your hair going grey! it's mildly ridiculous to say that!
I didn't have much grey hair until I was mid 40's either. I too had a 3yo at 46.
I don't yet sport any wrinkles and will be 50 next month.
Some aspects of growing old are genetic and there's no way to stop them. Others you can help a bit.

I turned 40 last December 3 months after having ds and 3 years after having dd. I feel that I've aged since ds was born - he's got silent reflux which has been a huge worry to me and it feels like it's showing. I'm still ebf so feel about as sexy as a wet fish and we're co-sleeping so haven't had a full night's sleep in nearly 6 months!! Strangely people have told me I look well over the past few weeks but I don't feel it. My usually thick hair has thinned post natally which I don't like. I'm not too bad with my joints etc. but I so need a solid few hours sleep.

I didn't say that, solo. Please reread.

I don't mind the extra weight, the aches and pains, the forgetfulness, but the frigging chin hairs really piss me off

Can I just say I wasn't being flippant about the menopause either, surgical sudden menopause is supposed to be brutal so I am delighted with my mild hotness at night but I'm aware it's a bloody nightmare for most women.

I'm 44 and I'd be pushing up daisies if I had a 3 y old.. how do you manage??
I've got another arthritic finger, wooooo me..!