We experience two ageing surges - and I'm in surge 2

[JFDIYOLO]

I've been reading how we experience two surges in ageing during our lives, and yes, I'm absolutely seeing and feeling the second one, in my post menopausal early sixties.

Over the last 3-4 years ...

Gynae issues have included two instances of post meno bleeding, both leading to hysteroscopy, polypectomy and biopsy (all ok results)

Recent complete disappearance of my labia minorae (which may account for the fact my pant liners don't seem to be confining minor discharge as well as they used to - perhaps that is one of their functions? When a bit of you you've had since you were a child goes, that's ... Disconcerting.

General deflating of the 'architecture', as my GP calls it.

I now have a progesterone coil, oestrogen patches and pessaries and I'm looking at getting some of that special oil.

Stomach issues have included several bouts of indigestion, stomach pain, wind, bloating, general discomfort - I've always had a cast iron digestion and have accepted my organs are also in their 7th decade and can't do as well as they did. Gastroscopy and various tests found nothing.

It comes and goes, and I'm consciously changing my attitude to food. A stone deliberately lost in two years, and ongoing.

Ears - a hissing tinnitus and increase in earwax build up - three times I've had to have it aspirated in the last year, compared to every few years previously.

Always been short sighted, so no change there!

Always had very greasy skin (with blackhead and acne issues) which I now think contribute to make my facial skin look and feel quite youthful!

Apart from the 'thing' that appeared on my face and the gp sent me to the hospital dermatologist for checks. Just sun damage, but have to keep an eye on it. All the sunblock from here on.

But body and hand skin I can feel and see drying out and oh the ITCHING ...

What I'm saying is, stay vigilant. We're all running this programme we didn't ask for and we have to evolve and adapt and realise when something's happening, use preventative methods and don't be embarrassed to ask for - or demand - help from GP.

https://www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/health/a61885875/rapid-ageing-44-60-study/

All the above has happened in the last 2-3 years.

Yes I am on the forties one now and it’s staggering.

Welcome aboard both! Yes, I really changed at 44 and then I changed again at 60, it's all fun here.

Oh. I’m 44 in a few weeks and currently feel like a wreck so perhaps this explains it…

Yes i after I turned 45 I noticed that I was starting to age, up to that point I could have passed for a lot younger. I am 61 now and I suppose I am entering the second phase now, I am in the process of losing weight so hard to tell if any changes in my appearance are due to aging or weight loss. The aches and pains are the worst of it so far for me.

I like to kid myself I appear younger than I am. It's a thing in my business. My habit of editing selfies perpetuates this self delusion. But other people's pics and unexpected mirrors ... tell the truth.

I’m 71 and remember feeling - not quite as bad as @JFDIYOLO - but bad enough.

But then I started exercising seriously, including weight training with dumbbells and much else besides. Reinforced my efforts to improve my skiing, started ice skating again after five decades and tennis after a quarter of a century, took up pickleball…

The older one gets, the more it becomes a case of use it or lose it.

In addition, and this is crucial, I started eating really healthy. Virtual no UPF, sugar, refined carbs, alcohol. Instead a home cooked Mediterranean type diet - lots of plants and a fair bit of protein.

I'm fitter than many women half my age. It takes a bit of effort to begin with, but I feel infinitely better now than I did 15 odd years ago.

This is absolutely a thing, I'm 45 and over the last 6 months or so things seems to have suddenly gone to pot, hopefully it'll slow down again soon!

@Enrichetta yes, I've definitely changed my eating habits after a couple of indigestion incidents and walking a lot more.

Yep.
At 44 and 60 apparently

I’m of a comparable age and have none of those things nor does my sister who is a year younger or our older sister or my sister in law of the same age.

All of us avoided taking the HRT route. All of us have been through the menopause with no to very few symptoms.

It could be just our genes as our mother and grandmother never experienced any problems either.

What we do all have in common is that we are all very fit and active and there is no obesity or even being slightly overweight in the family. We are also vegetarians or vegans.

I do think a lot of health problems later in life happen when people reach it and are overweight and unfit which may cause diabetes, thyroid issues, heart problems and hormonal imbalances.