Outside of wrinkles, what was your rude awakening to getting old?

[Anonymous]

I went through menopause at 51.5 relatively unscathed.
However, I turned 58 and here comes the pouch.

[Anonymous]

Having "age" be a risk factor doctor uses to explain my problem.
Vaginal atrophy.

[Anonymous]

Daily aches and pains…I have body pains, joint pains, back pain, foot pain.
Gaining 40lbs since menopause (I’m 55). Now losing weight but it is SO HARD. I’m down 8lbs and fighting for every pound. Yes, this has a lot to do with the aches and pains, I know.
Brain fog, ugh.
I’ve also switched roles with my elderly mom. I’m the parent now and she’s the child.

[Anonymous]

Not being able to eat and drink whatever I want.

I hit 40 and all kinds of new allergies and food intolerances popped up. Red sauce after 2 pm = indigestion city. My spice tolerance has also lowered as well.

[Anonymous]

I don't like working out in the morning anymore because I'm just too f&&king sore. Civilization needs to adjust and free up the afternoon for old people needing exercise.

[Anonymous]

The extreme rapidity with which the musculoskeletal system becomes entirely unfit if you're stuck in sedentary desk jobs and struggle to make time for fitness.

[Anonymous]

I’m 55. I used to feel cold often, but now I’m hot all the time. I don’t really have hot flashes, so it’s more like my internal temperature has been turned up. I can’t stand heavy sweaters or coats that I used to wear comfortably.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My eyes! I miss my young eyes that could read tiny print on medication labels without a magnifying glass

this!!

[Anonymous]

Chin hairs are out of control.

[Anonymous]

54 and:
Hair loss
Eyes weak
Jowls
Neck falling
Cheeks getting hollow
Can’t stay up late anymore without killing the whole next day
Osteopenia
Sarcopenia (replacement of muscle with fat) makes getting / staying in shape harder

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mine involves literal rudeness.

A little self-entitled Gen Z girl pushed past my elderly father in a line to catch up with some friends. Didn't say excuse me or anything. Just literally pushed him aside. My father started to tell her off and she got combative. So I stepped in and told her to move along. She persists to argue so I repeated just move along. Finally, I told her to hush her mouth. She seemed shocked. She looked at me and asked, "How old are you?" (I'm 53). And then very seriously declared, "It's amazing that I'm only 25 and so much more mature than you."

Gen Z really is an obnoxious lot lacking in basic manners. But I've noticed a lot of ageism from them. It's wild.

I have no idea why you decided to pick a fight with someone 30 years younger than you and more than 50 years younger than your father. Shake your head and move on.

I didn't pick the fight. She did. Do try to keep up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mine involves literal rudeness.

A little self-entitled Gen Z girl pushed past my elderly father in a line to catch up with some friends. Didn't say excuse me or anything. Just literally pushed him aside. My father started to tell her off and she got combative. So I stepped in and told her to move along. She persists to argue so I repeated just move along. Finally, I told her to hush her mouth. She seemed shocked. She looked at me and asked, "How old are you?" (I'm 53). And then very seriously declared, "It's amazing that I'm only 25 and so much more mature than you."

Gen Z really is an obnoxious lot lacking in basic manners. But I've noticed a lot of ageism from them. It's wild.

Yeah, you escalated the situation. She's right. You should have declined to engage beyond the first "please don't push a senior citizen".

She continued to berate my father. I merely told her to move along and she turned on me. Entitled little see you next Tuesday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Spontaneous injuries that cascade into permanent problems. I rented a car for a weekend that sat low and had the gas pedals arranged differently than my more upright suv.

It caused Achilles tendinitis, which wasn’t responsive to rest, booting, shockwave treatment, and a million other things and progressed to tendonosis and 24/7 pain for 2 years. I’m literally waiting for my Achilles to rupture so it can be surgically repaired- but of course I can’t be off my feet or not driving for months, so I also dread that. All because I drove a rental car for a weekend!

Someone on this site recommended Epsom Salts in cream form. Game changer for spontaneous injuries and also for muscle cramps in the middle of the night.

[Anonymous]

64 and I think I’m in that early 60s phase where they say you suddenly age. I now have those smokers lines around my mouth and my buccal fat pads have suddenly burst forth giving me the Bulldog jowls. I always looked young for my age, but no more.

[Anonymous]

I've recently lost a lot of weight (with the help of weight loss medication). I bought a new dress with a side zipper in what I thought was my new size but couldn't zip the top of the zipper. I was trying it on without a bra and realized that it zipped easily when I lifted my breasts to where they should be. So sad.