Medical Miracles -- ahem....

Seems like after I turned 40, my body revolted against me... Little things like holding on to extra weight that previously easily slid  off.  Being very tired at the end of the day.  Joints and muscles feeling like they had been beat up...

What are some of the health problems you have faced since reaching the 40s -- and how are you coping with them?  Don't keep the information to yourself -- share.

In my late 30's and early 40's I lost a lot of my muscle mass as I gained fat in my mid section.  I got really weak and tasks that I could do a few years before quickly became a challenge.  My hair thinned revealing a mass expansion of forehead.  Later the missing hair was located in my ears and nose.   I started sleeping less and less but going to the bathroom more and more.  My knees were never a problem until one week at work I was using a ladder for a few days.  After that, my knees started hurting at the slightest stress.  I can no longer sit on the floor Indian style and I get this popping grinding twisting crunching sound when going up stairs.  Nice huh?   

On the plus side, I'm less stressed overall.  I have a wonderful wife who is helping me with my weight loss plan.  My daughter is starting her first year in college and the younger boys are doing great.  I have a job with flexible hours and work is really more like fun than work.  I like doing new things and learning new skills just for fun. 

I am 43 yrs old and disabled due to degenerative discs and nerve damage from having surgery in '99 for a herniated disc in my lower back. Now that one and the one above is literally crumbling. MRI shows I even have bone fragments laying in there!  Eventually they will be bone on bone and the drs don't know how long that will take. Everyone is different.

I have to watch what I do and really how active I am. Right now I'm in a flare up due to doing the laundry all in one day for my son and I. Too much bending and stretching caused the nerve to inflame. So I've just been laying around doing NOTHING for the last week. It's finally starting to calm down.

I can only walk with a cane but I do take walks regardless. I walk 2-3 miles a day when the leg isn't hurting too badly.

I take pain meds for my leg and meds for my back! Seems like I am always taking a pill!  :(

coping?  Well, I try to keep a positive attitude. I've dealt with this for years now and have developed a high tolerence for pain. And since I spend time laying down I read alot, do word search puzzles (I love those!), talk with the family. I try to keep communication open with my kids. Also, my hubby is great! He takes care of me and cooks when I can't. He takes me for rides when I feel down and babies me when I feel I can't take the pain anymore. Thank goodness there aren't too many days like that!

Well, I've written a small novel here so I should go!  Just remember even though you may be in pain, there is always someone else who is worse. That's what I do.

I'm 48.  Hypothyroid, High Blood Pressure, degenerating disc, allergies, bulging disc in my back and neck.  All since turning 43.  I cope by taking as little meds as necessary, using supplements from the health food store, chiropractors, massage therapist, exercising, stretching, hot baths, ice packs.  It takes all of that so I can work full time.  I actually feel pretty decent most of the time after all of that.  I just try not to look into the future.  My dad is crippled and my mom is in a lot of pain from different ailments and they are 80 and 76.  So I feel like we need to do what we have to and enjoy each day as much as possible no matter what our age.

I'm almost 45, I used to be very athletic, as in playing badminton app 3 times a week times 1,5-2 hours on a competitive (national) level untill just over 2 years ago. Being too buzy with everything - meaning: developing a new set of priorities - has gotten me in another track with almost no exercise anymore. Like doug I gained weight and lost muscle mass bigtime in no time And it's been followed up by all sorts of getting-older-pains-and-problems.

I've always eaten well though, too little of it and too much snacking I know now, but still: basically healthy. And I take food supplements, the phyto-kind (herbs) when I need it: ginger for my joints, flax seed oil for my skin and my memory, liquorice root for my stomach etc. I happen to know a bit about that, and I find it really works for me. But Lucy, you take the words out of my mouth: Most of all I keep positive and try to enjoy things as much as possible. And as I grow older I get a lot better at saying NO! in a nice but definate way and cutting off things that eat my energy or make me negative in whatever way.

Oh my, it's as if when we hit our 40s, our bodies go to hell in a handbasket. I always had oily skin so my face didn't age so I actually looked like I was in my 40s until last year. But now--whoa. Saggy above the eyelids and around the jowls and neck, and wrinkles now too. BUT--there is an upside! I now have beautiful skin, no oiliness but not dry, and thick, wavy hair full of body (it was limp and stick straight all my life until now). Loving it.

I was told 3-4 years ago I have MS (multiple sclerosis), although it hasn't slowed me down--mind over matter, as far as I'm concerned. Always had bad (flat) feet, but now the whole structure of my feet seems to be collapsing--big-time bunions and sharp pains in my ankles when I first get up in the morning. Never could run but I walk every day. My knee is starting to twitch a warning sometimes when I'm going up or down stairs. I suppose this means I'll be one of those senior citizens with her own little scooter or wheeled brace to push in front of her later on. Have had arthritis in my neck for about 15 years but now I think it's also moving into my shoulders. I'm paying for those years I was hunched over a potter's wheel. Can't read small print in dim places anymore like I used to.

It's a lot harder this time than any other time in the past to lose the weight, and the body seems to be remaining softer (the muscle mass thing). Just a warning to me that I'd better keep it off this time, or it'll be near-impossible to lose next time!

Sigh. I feel like my dad, sitting around with his friends comparing maladies. Another symptom of age, huh. You certanly realize your limitations at this age.

Ok I said I would keep my rant to my other online group but you asked :-)

Skin - What is with the skin tags popping up all over and where did the elasticity go.  A new wrinkle everyday it seems.

The girls - well lets just say they are bigger and now I understand why my mother would bend over to put her bra on ---avoided the high beam, low beam effect:-)

Please don't ask me to stand in line when headed to the ladies room.

Oh my aching joints.  They are killing me!!

I used to be able to sleep anytime, anywhere.  Now I toss and turn all night and have even heard myself SNORE!

Weight - well...we're all posting here so you get that one.

Vision - I've always been nearsighted but now even that is going to pot.  Bifocals in my future I'm sure.

Shoes no longer fit the same either.  My ears and nose are probably bigger too.  They keep growing you know.

Sex - who cares.  I'm too tired and don't feel sexy anymore.  Besides, with a 4yo and 2 yo can't risk another:-)

Hairs on my chinny, chin, chin.

Yep that about sums it up.  I'm wondering what mental picture you have of me in your head nowLOL...I'm the all american chubby blonde chic who's just trying to hang in there and have some fun along the way.

Hahahaha.  I know I shouldn't be laughing but after reading all of our problems again I had to pretty much pick myself up off the floor.  Having to laugh to keep from crying, I guess.  It is really like we are all one person.  The 40 somethings are great because we truly understand what it's like and can support one another though all the aches and pains. 

P.S.  Turtle I had skin tags frozen off just last week.

I have one that popped up under my eye.  I'm saving that one for the plastic surgeon/derm.  The one on my butt however I took care of myself:-)  HeHe

I especially loved the hair on my chinny chin chin!! Ha Ha Ha! I even found a couple on my chest! PLUCK! Now really how attractive would that be to a new boyfriend!!??? If I had the energy to even want a boyfriend these days! Have you noticed with the hairs growing where you DON"T want them that the hairs that you DO WANT like eyebrows and lashes are thinning at a fast pace??? I guess we do just have to laugh about it all to keep from crying or going nuts right?  Have a good day everyone.

Agreed: laugh! beats screaming...

Lots of familiar "faces" here!

Eyes, good grief. I was at an air show and an exhibitor had bifocal sunglasses at reasonable prices....I stood with this 40+ crowd as we all tried on sunglasses and tried to read our phones!

Ditto the skin issues, I always pooh poohed the girls who get "work" done...I'm poohing less these days. But still not going that route.

Hair: GREY! and of course not just the beautiful salt and pepper, "I look better now" grey, but #&%()#@$%@#$$%# I am a skunk! BIG white blotch right up front. Can you say L'Oreal?

My muscles...where are they hiding??? AWOL!

All sorts of good stuff though, a fight with hubby is unpleasant, but I KNOW it will pass quickly. I can take control at work and not feel the frenzy that a each new school year used to bring. Retirement is FUN to plan for. I am finally the good cook, and gardener I aspired to be.

Would I go back to 26? Nope.

Original Post by alylou:

Would I go back to 26? Nope.

 Me neither! I like myself and my place in life now--the only thing I'd want from my 20s is the body.

I know, everything hurts more then it used to But my biggest issue is the chin hair. What the?  I wax, I pluck etc!  anybody have a solution? The thing I do love about our age... Being comfortable in my own skin.  Taking people's opinions and listening and then either agreeing or letting it roll off my back,  Life is not even half over, Live it up!

Hi 40 Somethings!

I'm new to CC and new to this group forum.  Thank you to each and every one of you for reminding me that all of us, men and women, are dealing with the same or similar issues.

The vision loss, the hair loss, the unwated hair, the increased weight, the fatigue, the insomnia, and OMG the skin tags (I had to laughed out loud), the wrinkles, the shoes not being comfortable, the aches, the pains, the night sweats.  I'm sure I've forgotten something . . . oh yeah, the memory loss!  Unfortunately, these characteristics are what make us "The 40 Somethings."

Seriously, though, I cope by focusing on the positive things in my life.  My children, my husband, my extended family, and my few but very good friends.  They keep me grounded.  Does being 40 Something come with stress, no doubt about it.  But I try to remain focused on the tasks at hand and check each one off my to-do list as it's completed.

Wow - how did this all happen?  Overnight my vision went and nothing sent me backwards faster than when my kids shove a toy in my face and say "look at this".  I'm gettin a better knee jerk reaction or they are getting kinder and stopping at the door.  Under my eyes are in a contest with my boobs for sagging and there are some very rude lines from the inner corner of my eyes that I believe came from my father.  I have two white patches of hair on either side of my part - one from the first born and the other from my youngest.  The blonder the hair the better the highlights look. =)

I watched Dana Carvey on HBO and he said the bad thing about getting older is that you hurt from doing nothing.  He is hunched over holding his back groaning and someone says "What did you do?" and he says "I took a nap!".  I love that!!

My daughter in law said that 40 is the new 20 or some crap like that.  Although I love everything that comes with 40 on the inside I thought to myself, "really?  you should try it and see if you still think that?" =)

Alas, it is better to be 40 than 20 something any day.

Cheers to all of us!

I had my eyes checked just after my 40th birthday and needed glasses. My back hurts, I have crow's feet, I weigh SO MUCH MORE than I did at 20...

But I have 2 gorgeous kids, a great husband, a house, a great job. My health.

I wouldn't trade it...but the body at 20? Sure!That's why I'm here-to make the most of this one!

Eegad... chin hair, reading glasses, hormonal weirdness from peri-menopause and hip pain.

Has anybody noticed the drawbacks of losing weight in our 40's?

The skin is sagging off my face! my once voluptous chest didn't just get smaller (which I like) its all deflated! and sagging skin on my thighs... sigh.  I'd actually like to take off 10 more pounds but I'm afraid of what that would do to my face!

That said, I wouldn't go back to my 20's for anything in the world. I just would not trade my personal power for tight skin... !

Original Post by alylou:

Eyes, good grief. I was at an air show and an exhibitor had bifocal sunglasses at reasonable prices....I stood with this 40+ crowd as we all tried on sunglasses and tried to read our phones!

 Hehehe! I have the same problem with my cellphone! Does anyone know if they sell them with giant print!

Well, actually, I feel BETTER now.  I had a hysterectomy in May and didn't realize that the aches, loss of energy, and lack of interest in just about everything, was caused by my body trying to cope with hormones, cysts, etc.  I feel like I'm 30 again!  Of course, I felt like I was 40 when I was 30...

Oh...and no bi-foculs yet!  My arms are still long enough to hold a newspaper far enough away to read it.

  I joined the army when I was 39, I'm stationed over here in Iraq, I turned 41 last November.

I am a certified chef, I joined the army to cook for the generals or teach AIT students culinary arts. Also, I was a Chef in nevada and the party lifestyle was getting to me. I didnt want to end up like a lot of my friends, 40 years old and passed out on wine every night!! But before I could get the "ball rollin" I got to my first duty station and they told me I was going to Iraq in 5 months!

I was 164# and 5'3 when i joined. I lost 20 # in basic training but got stressed out with the upcoming deployment and balooned back up to 154. Since i've been here, I work out a lot and I'm down to 133#.

I guess I am really lucky, I had a blood panel done 6 months ago, my hormone levels are good and cholestral is normal. Blood pressure excellent. I have a bit of arthritis in my knees but when I am running, i just fight through the pain and push myself! [PAIN IS WEAKNESS LEAVING THE BODY....HOOOAH!]

Being out here in the desert, my skin is really dry and I've REALLY been getting some wrinkles, I am getting really freaked out about it!! And as I am loosing weight, the skin on my body is just not like it was 20 years ago! I have to pee alot which is also getting on my nerves too! I've also lost quite a few teeth and have to wear a partial! Ha! Ha!

When people ask me my age, I always proudly reply, "41"! I LOVE being 41, I know who I am, what I want, my kids are grown and it's time for ME! I have been married 18 years, and my sweet husband supports me in EVERYTHING I do! My boys are 19 and 22 and my daughter is 16. [My husband is raising my daughter without me for a year while I am in Iraq]

Hi to all you 40's!!

My skin looks crazy too since I lost weight! Ha! Ha!