I feel old.

Excellent aerobic exercise though - knees and hips knackered but strong heart

Where to start?!

- swollen foot (ex fracture) - painful!!
- blue swollen ankles with thin skin
- pain in R knee
- pain in L hip
- pain in R hip - which has been replaced and should not be hurting at all!
- pain in R shoulder - caused, I think, by using the walking stick
- can't lie on my right side in bed without a rubber ring to cushion it
- can't get downstairs without a double rail or a stick
- pain getting out of a chair and climbing stairs
- etc.etc...........

BUT.......everyone tells me I look about 20 years younger than I really am - it is a mere illusion because my hair is still dark brown and my face not wrinkled at all.

I actually feel 20 years older than I am!

The rot really set in when I broke my foot - mobility gone down the pan, can't really exercise as I would like.

But I am alive!!

I am old !!!

Harrigran - I was going to post a list of my achey/sore bits then read that you are going through chemo - makes everything else pale into significance. Hope you are as ok as you can be. xx

Meanwhile, I knew I was getting old (aged nearly 61), when I started buying those souvenir t-towels when we go places ... sad, or what? Oh dear ... I also have to buy shoes built for comfort rather than style (although I do try to do both), but that's always been the case. I would post a photo of my bumpy feet (I have bunions on my bunions) but your internet would probably crash.

One age-related question - where do our eyebrows go? Not just greying, but actually disappearing and, annoyingly, one more than the other. I've never worn eyebrow pencil, never needed to, and when I tried it out it looked really strange, even though I used a very light one, as I have (coloured) blonde hair. I wear specs but they are below the level of my missing eyebrows, so no hiding there.

Good luck Harrigran. xx

I'm 73, and always thought I wasn't too bad for my age. Apart from trouble with eyesight (ARMD) I am lucky that I don't have too many aches and pains and am able to get out and about. I went with family to visit DGS, who is presently working in Vietnam, over Christmas and joined in all sightseeing, walking tours and even terror rides at the funfair- much to the amusement of all present! I was beginning to feel quite invincible, but pride comes before a fall, and on an internal flight from Hoi An to Hanoi I was asked about my age by a flight attendant and made to change seats with a poor fella sitting with his family further down the plane. Apparently, regulations don't allow passengers of 60+ to sit near emergency exits. Allegedly, in case of emergency, I would have been unable to carry out the necessary procedures to open up the exit. Perhaps they were right.
Whilst in Vietnam, I did notice the difference in attitude towards older people. Without exception, everyone was considerate, respectful and protective of those perceived to be older. Unfortunately, although it was meant with the best of intentions, it made me feel as old as Methuselah! Do other Gnetters think that other people's perceptions of them affect their self-appraisal? I have recently returned from a short visit to Kraków, where I was treated as 'one of the gang' - no concessions given or expected. Thank goodness, I'm beginning to think I'm not that old yet.

Dear me you do all sound a bit sorry for yourselves! Think of the positives - we are living in a wonderful country, we are not in poverty, we are enjoying Spring flowers, the birds are building nests, Radio 4 is fabulous, a glass of wine is so enjoyable, the dogs love a walk and I haven't finished all my Easter chocolate yet. My granddaughters give me 'help and advice' on make up and clothes and I am having French Lessons to resurrect my 'O' Level French. I am off to the Isle of Wight soon with 3 friends (all widows!) and looking forward to the Summer weather. My son died aged 19 and my husband aged 53 so I owe it to them to enjoying every minute of this precious life and I intend to!

Feeling all of the above! About to give yoga a go! It will be one to one so the lady can start me off with the level that I can do. I would feel embarrassed if I were in a class. Hope I will like it. Wish me luck!

Yes, I feel old.. but that's because I am.. Here's what I think about it, written in my local Geordie vernacular, so it comes with an Oxford English health warning, and many vowels and consonants have been shamelessly abused in it's production... :-)

Me Golden Years

Thuh tahlk aboot wor “golden years”, when wuh’ve at last retired,
An’ of ahll the opportunities for those not quite expired.
There’s adverts on the telly aboot special funeral plans,
By that fella Michael Parkinson, appealin’ te his fans.
Thuh include a “speshul free gift”, just designed te mek yez sign,
Like a telly or a radio, but ah think ah’ll just decline,
As ah’ve got them things ahlready, an ah’ve put some dosh aside,
Te fund me final plantin’, somethin’ cheap but dignified.
Anotha thing te cheer yuh is some fella eatin’ fruit,
As he bites into an apple, an’ his choppers don’t fahll oot,
Coz he’s got some speshul fixative, that keeps them falsies in,
As he torns towards the camera with a sparklin’ toothy grin.
Then thuh tahlk aboot incontinence, it doesn’t seem so bad,
Just protect yah’re public image with a handy little pad.
An’ speshul chairs designed so ye can sit doon withoot groanin’,
Ah find there’s lots o’ time these days when movement has wuh moanin’.
An’ yuh’re wahrned aboot yuh’re eyesight, te be careful where yuh’re sittin’,
Or yuh’ll end up on some funfair ride, so totally unfittin’,
For eatin’ yuh’re cheese sarnies as yuh whizz roond upside doon,
An’ yuh’re elderly confusion spoils a lovely afternoon.
There’s dye te hide yuh’re grayin’ hair, an’ even worse than that,
An advert for a toupee that looks like some raggy mat.
Wuh cannat keep the years at bay, howivvah hord wuh try,
Relax an’ just accept that as wor later life gans by,
Wuh divvent need a nip or tuck te hide those signs of age,
Accept wor face, grow old with grace, become the fam’ly sage.
Be proud of ahll wor wrinkles, as wuh’ve earned them ev’ry one,
A mark of wor experience gleaned from ahll those years noo gone.
When wuh were young, wuh knew it ahll, of that wuh had nee doubt,
But passin’ years have noo revealed wuh actually knew nowt.
Wuh’re learnin’ still, fer good or ill, as evr’ day gans by,
An’ still can get aboot the place, ahlthough wuh’re not so spry.
So life’s ahlreet, in fact it’s sweet, an’ one thing’s very clear,
Te be an old’ un may not be golden, but at least wuh’re ahll still here…

Sorry, Harrigran, meant to say good luck.

Brilliant micmc47! Too right!

80 next month, wrinkled with age spots, feel fit, no aches, have been to gym regularly for decades,lifting weights and aerobic exercise, is this the answer?

Feeling really old and tired today, still trying to shake off sedation given for procedure yesterday. My get up and go has definitely got up and went. But it's a gorgeous day, the birds are nesting madly in the hedges, the sun is shining and I've forced myself into a chair exercise class and a walk this morning.

Rubylady, like you, I'm in my 50s (57 in July). I have been feeling down recently, thinking that the aches and pains shouldn't slow me down this much yet. Although I wouldn't wish 'feeling old' in the 50s on anyone else, I find it quite reasuring to read your post and realise that I am not alone.

Hubby and I tend to holiday on cruises and since each port stop is usually one day, to make the most of it means very early starts, lots of walking and worse, standing. I have a dodgy knee, arthritis in my lower back and feet, so I have taken the decision to buy a folding walking stick. Not to use all the time, but just on holiday when I'm tired and sore. Logic tells me that it may help me walk straighter and so be better for muscles and joints, leading to walking more, but emotionally, it troubles me.

At 65 I don't think I'm all that old. But I have a sprained knee at the mo and that seems to suck the life out of me. This was me when I'd completed ten out of eleven locks on the Atherstone flight on the Coventry canal.

At 70years old, I just don't have the energy I had ten years ago.

Also, due to scoliosis (bent spine), I can't stand for too long or walk around for too long either.

I look after my baby grandson and it really tires me out. Just wish I was younger and more energetic. (Don't we all).

The spirits willing but the flesh is weak, today it is raining very hard and I find on rainy days I am much stiffer in my joints.
I think a lot of people imagine Arthritis is just a few aches and pains not the grinding pain it really is, roll on summer and hopefully a little sunshine.

The pain I am currently experiencing is the grinding pain Sheilagh describes. It is in one knee and when I stand or walk a few yards is almost unbearable. This has come on suddenly and 18 months ago I could walk a fair distance and 5 years ago I could do 7/8 miles. It has made me feel really decrepit not to say totally miserable. So enjoy what you can do now but be aware it can change.
It's being so cheerful that keeps me going, which comedian had that as a catch phrase?.

I think it is a bit of a shock when your body starts to fail you. I played badminton into my 60s and walked everywhere because DH worked away and he had the car. I will be out walking again when the drugs, that make my feet sore, are finished.

I was 62 when I had BC harrigran and I felt my body had let me down I was very cross with it, totally stupid but I had never been ill before and as is often the case in that type I felt perfectly well. I know without being smug I didn't look 62 and we were both very keen on walking. I hope your treatment and recovery go well and you will soon be back doing all the things you did before. I had another 13 or so good years after my treatment and I hope for the same for you.

Whilst in Boots the other day buying 2 bottles of saline I was quite flattered although very puzzled when the assistant asked if I had proof of age with me. Laughing gaily I asked why she'd need to know I was over 18 to buy saline - came down to earth with a bump when she politely told me it was to prove I was over 60 as you get extra points on your card

Well done! That just about says it all!!

That remark was meant for micmc47. 50 old? 60 old? Even 70? You're all
spring chickens. Try 80! grin

You are getting there harrigran ready posts I think most of you are brill remember age is just a number ?

73. Just finishing a BA degree course but can't remember how to use bits of my laptop which I need and used to be easy. My knees have gone recently so am glad to have the downstairs loo (different thread). Face about to go - using loads of Anusol in the hopes of propping up the sudden eyebags - does it work? Dunno, using it anyway.
Jingles - also have old lady bendover - mine is bent from the bum, not the back. What's that all about? Perhaps protection against losing sight of the ground and tripping over.

However, still like white wine; chocolate; chips; John Nettles; most of my grandchildren (no, all of them really); watching telly sitting next to my old chap.

Why didn't we know it would happen so suddenly?

Anusol! . Good luck.

I've started slightly worrying where the ground is, when I'm out.