Getting older is getting very expensive!

[JMAngel1]

Anyone else feel like this?
I’ve always been high maintenance since my teens but in the last year or so, the list of what I need to keep me looking well presented and feeling “normal” seems to be getting longer.

This morning I’ve just placed orders for what I now consider essentials - plumping serum, vaginal moisturiser, hair dye, neck and chest cream, hair styling cream, 4 different supplements and progesterone cream. I’m 48 and my budget seems to be going more and more on these types of products and there is less and less for clothes and pretty things like make up.

At this age I thought I would be shopping at Jaegar and John Lewis and buying Bobbi Brown or Charlotte Tilbury. Instead I have to buy from eBay and Primark and most of my makeup is MUA or NYX.
Anyone else feel like this?

justanotherneighinparadise Yes, please, please link. I looked at a load on Amazon and was a bit hmm, thinking they would burn your skin or something. Would love to have something like this, a local beauty salon wanted to charge me £50 a skin tag!!!!

Ah now you have to go careful with it. It doesn’t scar but it does leave a red mark behind that will take months to fade. So keep that in mind and don’t do what I did and tackle all then simultaneously and then look like I had a terrible disease for months 🤣🤣🤣

It’ll be your Pilates and exercise that keeps your skin ‘up’ not your silly creams. Bet my last tenner.

Sorry, that was rude. I’m grumpy but that’s hardly your fault. I apologise.

I do stand by the basic point though. Do whatever you like to pamper yourself...I’m all for that. Enjoy it.

I believe that a basic moisturiser with sun protection is all you need to keep skin supple and somewhat protected from sun damage. Your lifestyle, diet, overall health and of course your genetics account for the rest. I think skincare industry is a marketing dream cashing in on women’s insecurities by selling them superfluous products that have little to no effect on the ageing process.

"Trust me you don’t want to delay the menopause. It’s one of the most liberating things that ever happens to you. The joy of getting rid of the hormonal rollercoaster and all the mess is immeasurable."

No thanks!

Why would you "delay the menopause"? Not that you can anyway.

@VanGoghsDog

Why would you "delay the menopause"? Not that you can anyway.

There are schemes on the go. I wouldn't go for it now before it's been tested, but it's definitely not something I'm looking forward to and if it was easy to do, I absolutely would delay it.

OK but it was one of the most liberating life stage for me. The renewed energy and emotional equilibrium when it’s over are fantastic. No skin off my nose if you choose not to have those benefits.

You didn't answer why?

And what "schemes on the go", what does that mean?

Anyway, menopause is simply your periods stopping, you realize the hormone reductions start from age about 35?

I take HRT. I suppose I am delaying menopause in a way.

And I felt utterly shit and went a bit mad during the menopause. Wouldn't wish it anyone.

@VanGoghsDog

Why would you "delay the menopause"? Not that you can anyway.

Because the night sweats, insomnia, cognitive impairment, mood swings and joint problems (family history of serious osteoporosis) would have wrecked my life otherwise. In any case HRT doesn't "delay the menopause", it treats the adverse symptoms of menopause. I've still stopped producing eggs, regardless of what hormones I put into my body.

Glad you had an easy menopause. Not everyone does.

"but it's definitely not something I'm looking forward to"

It isn't awful for everyone. As with most things you only tend to hear the negative aspects.

Like VinylDetective I got off very lightly. Apart from the cessation of periods my migraines became far less frequent. Post menopause the hot flushes have gone, and my brain seems to have sharpened up again.

I do pilates and walk a lot and at 61 don't get the aches and pains that so many people complain about.

I sort of understand what a pp is saying about the relief of not having to deal with the emotional rollercoaster of hormones during monthly menses.

I have PCOS and three times was put in an 'artificial menopause' like state in my IVF cycles. I read on infertility threads that this is usually the hardest bit of the cycle with hot flushes, headaches etc. But I actually felt totally calm & serene each time, to the point that people close to me noticed the difference. The 'foggy' brain feeling I usually get disappeared and I was mentally sharper. I've not reached menopause stage yet but it did make me wonder whether it's a different experience for those of us have battled with significant hormonal imbalances during their fertility years. 🤷‍♀️

I don't think regular menopause makes women calm or their thinking sharper.

Actually I didn’t get off lightly or have an easy menopause. I’m not entirely sure where this idea has come from. I used HRT for around three years to help with night sweats, brain fog and terrible mood swings. But I had dreadful PMS all my life, there were days when I could have bitten the head off a chicken and I flooded to the point of anaemia. I certainly didn’t want to continue with that.

The menopause was the storm and the calm afterwards was and continues to be lovely.

During it, anyway. Maybe after.

that sounds positive vinyl

@Janevaljane

I take HRT. I suppose I am delaying menopause in a way.

You're alleviating the symptoms. Not sure it's the same as delaying menopause.

I didn't have PMS or mood swings, and very rarely had awful periods. Maybe that was why I got off lightly. Maybe my hormone levels were always low, so the change to much lower hormone levels was less noticeable.

@CaraDuneRedux

Not sure why you posted that to me. I never said HRT delays menopause, I don't think it does, it just alleviates the symptoms. Which is totally valid!

Also never said I had an "easy menopause" nor that anyone else did or didn't. I'm 52, no idea if I'm going through peri menopause or not, because there is no way to tell, is there! I still have periods but I have a Medina coil so it could well be masking issues.

I'm confused OP. As we approach menopause, our oestrogen and progesterone levels drop but it is the lack of oestrogen that causes vaginal atrophy, aging skin, brittle bones, reduction of collagen, thinning hair etc. WHy are you on progesterone supplements and an anti-oestrogen product? Surely you need more oestrogen, not less.

Does anyone suffer with Overactive Bladder as a side effect of Vaginal Atrophy?

I've had it since DD was born (I was 42) and I'm.only just finding out that it can go alongside Vaginal.Atrophy.

Before lockdown I was referred to a local clinic as I was getting up 3/4 times in a night to go to the bathroom. I felt knackered as sometimes I couldn’t get back to sleep. It took two months for them to call me (no face to face appointments, obviously) and hey said they’d send some info about “training” the bladder to hold more fluid. I’ve not heard anything since.

I take HRT.

@damnthatanxiety

yes it is strange, I agree but I have had severe acne which has been due to oestrogen dominance. The DIM supplement doesn't reduce oestrogen, it just diverts it's metabolism to "good" oestrogen metabolites. So it's not reducing my oestrogen levels per se.
I added the progesterone natural supplement cream to improve my libido - I just started it and it works a little too well - have had to reduce it to every other morning as it has increased libido but wierdly I started with joint pain in my fingers - I've cut it down now to 3 x week and the noint pain has gone.

I still can't get a GP appointment - I absolutely have to say what it's for to the receptionist. Couldn't even book a smear test which is crazy as it's overdue since April.
I think I can order oestrogen vaginal cream online (more money - hah!)