Late 40s / Early 50s - Is This What You Expected?

[Dreamsofanidiotmaybenot]

If you are between your late forties and early fifties, where do you feel you are in life right now?
Is this what you expected when you were younger, or completely different?
Do you feel young and full of energy, or more tired than you thought you would be at this stage?
Do you have friends who have already retired in their fifties? How are they experiencing this period?
Genuinely curious to hear real experiences.

not sure if it's what I expected necessarily but at 47 I feel generally content. I recognise that this is due to combination of luck and good choices. In terms of luck, I have no serious health issues, neither do my husband or kids. My parents are still alive and also in reasonable health and not yet reached the stage where they need a lot of time and support. (I realise that time is coming) In comparison to many of my peers, I am lucky. In terms of good choices; we both work in a secure field (teaching), that whilst not earning highly is enough to offer a stable level of financial security and is AI proof , for now at least.

My marriage is generally happy , I chose a good man and I try to recognise that and be grateful for it. We are through the trenches of early child rearing and not yet hit teen drama so feel we are in a good, predictable place with them. Perimenopause actually brought a delightful increase in libido, which I have embraced and has strengthened my relationship. HRT has taken away some of the unpleasant symptoms like insomnia and aching joints.

WLI have led to 5 stone weight loss so I am looking and feeling much better and have more energy than I did 3/4 years ago. Right now, life is pretty good but I know from friends' life experiences things can change in an instant so i am trying to make the most of this now.

I’d like to ask the post meno women: when everything settles down, does the fanjo ever stop feeling awful?

@Newstartplease24 You need to use vaginal estrogen forever.
I've used it for years.

The cream can sting but you get through that phase once it starts working and your skin thickens. Perservere.

Ok thanks everyone

@Moveyourbleedingarse - fanjo feels great. We use lube to DTD but that’s fine. We find Eros (lube) to be particularly good.

@Dery the necessary introduction of lube is another hideous menopause symptom.

I bloody hate it. It makes me feel sick touching it. We use Yes water based.

But needs must!

Life hasn't chnaged much since my early 30s. More tired, menopause sucks

I found silk or silk style material knickers works to cut the friction. Just a thought if you haven't tried it plus Yes vegan lube.

@Moveyourbleedingarse - it doesn’t really bother me, tbh. But it took a while to find one that suited us - Eros was recommended to us and we really like it.

I guess it’s different levels of health issues.

Yes dealing with menopause sucks add in arthritis. But when I was at that stage I only really worried about money and cost of living etc. the health stuff was frustrating but not insurmountable.

But health issues like cancer or CHF really focuses the mind and you realise (too late maybe) what is truly important. I would swap all my money /
house etc for a working heart.

Sylk lube is good but don’t always need it. Vaginal estriol cream( Ovestin) is good and everyone should be using it to avoid atrophy. It’s 2 weeks of daily use and then just twice a week.

Live your life to the full until the end.
Start today.