I'm going to be 60 next year and was curious as to how others who are 60+ handled that milestone. And what issues are specific to us. So it's disappointing that this forum is so inactive...is this what I have to look forward to? Disinterest?

Personally, I've been post menopausal since I had a total hysterectomy in '02. Was on vivelle dot for 5 yrs and quit it cold turkey with not too many problems. I have the flashes, mood swings, wt gains, etc. but the worst has got to be dry skin, to the point where I am a hand and body lotion fanatic now. The only thing that really bothers me is being in the last year of my 50s. I had kids late and the decade of my 40s and half of my 50s was just a blurr of school activities and sports, etc. The kids are just getting out on their own now, so grandkids are waaay off in the future. So what now? I'm just not ready for what's next. That's why I was hoping for encouragement here. Anybody??

Hi Eminar My situation is so similar to what you related
(cept that I had only one and he's still in highschool-and now I
also have my very elderly parents to watch over) I turned 60
earlier this year; I didn't have a cake--didn't want one. (I am
so NOT embracing this new number--cuz in my mind it seems
as tho I CAN'T be "that old" )

Anyway, I still get H flashes--worse in hot weather; the skin is saggin
(I avoid looking at mirrors UNTIL I get my clothes on)--I weigh 20
pounds more than I did when I started menopause and yes--the
dry skin is the pits. We won't even talk about the quality of
a night's sleep! I think I'm not giving you much comfort...

(I wasn't prescribed any hormones but I tell ya, there are days
lately when I wish I had a half a xanax! )

I'm thinkin' the over sixty crew has mostly just rolled with
all the punches and found that they can just keep moving forward.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts
I especially can relate when you said, "just a blurr of school activities"

Hi you two and welcome to the "60's Club"!

I have been there for almost 6 plus years. Are things any easier......do I roll with the punches....no to both. Still on estrace and plan to always be. The dry skin, I finally got part of that under control by immediately moisturizing after I pop out of the shower. Makes a world of difference for me. I also am drinking more water which helps too. I find that I am more confident in the things I do (exercise is not one of them) but I do suffer more in the Summer with the heat and look forward to Fall and or Winter. Do I still have palps, yes, do I still have anxiety, yes, do I want to run away from it all, yes but.....I don't. Rolling with the punches....nope, just not talking about it as much. Not to say I care less about things, actually I care more but I choose my battles and the things I want to deal with. I think being that mature age gives you that right!!!!! Yes, I am still wanting to lose that 20 pounds but with that comes my wrinkles that I have earned (mostly from smiling) and my friends still love me, which is most important. I try and have my quiet times to refresh myself but that doesnt always happen so I just do the best I can. It seems to be that after I turned 60, I seemed to be embracing more of who I really am, than I ever have done before. My husband showered me with attention and love on my birthday. I am truly lucky to have him in my life for these almost 40 years. I wish you well and I also wish that this thread was more active.

lr3216

PS.....let me add this.....I think the reason not many over 60 year olds post to this forum, is that it is hard to locate. If it was included in the main screen, I do think more gals would post to it.

LOL! I am in my early 50's ...I am just starting to meow!

Shebee

Shebee, Thats funny !!! I guess I am meowing too , 8 more years to roar . lol

'cathym'



Whispering....
You do know that we are not quite old enough to be here don't you?

We're gonna get kicked off here! I just know it!



Ssssssshhhhhh....

Let's try to act more mature, maybe, just maybe they'll let us ask some questions.
It does get better, doesn't it?


I was very disappointed to hear that at 60, we still won't be sleeping? Does anybody sleep here?


No, I don't think so. As a child, I would sometimes wake up in the night.
I would ask my 93 year old great-grandmother, "Grandma, why aren't you sleeping?"
I would find her sewing or just laying next to me wide awake.

"Ssssssshhhhhh, go back to sleep Honey," she would whisper to me in her gentle voice.
"As you age, you will find that you require less sleep." She was a power-house of energy.




Maybe no sleep = Energy????????




Perhaps we should take up night-time hobbies. (LOL! Boy, that sounds bad) I meant to say that there should be middle of the night classes for meno women. Think of all of the fun things that we could learn while others just sleep!

softly meowing,
Shebee

Shebee, you REALLY crack me up!!!!
Still meowing for 5 more years then I can ROAR with the big girls!!!

Jan

I'm 51 and I started having my worst symptoms at age 37. I am on a lose dose patch and I am still having bad symptoms. I was just wondering yesterday if this is going to follow me around for the rest of my life. I didn't go on anything until age 49. I am just so frustrated. To think that I may have to endure this when I'm 60 is very scary.

I think the answer to that is yes, LOL, my Mom is 73 and still has hot flashes and night sweats, and really she doesn't sleep that well at night either. Once a meno woman always a meno woman????? An older friend of hers is 83 and she also still gets symptoms LOL. Good luck to us all.

Shebee -you crack me up too!!

What I want to know is why didnt I know any of this till now !!!! Other than on PS I NEVER hear anyone around me speaking of this . Just what is going on , I feel like I just fell from another planet .... *sigh*

Wow...I have been wondering this, too. However, in all fairness, who was I gonna tell that I felt like I was going crazy. Who could I tell that I felt indifferent to my family...and when you don't sleep for weeks at a time, who cares?

I remember that I stopped going to lunch with friends and put away my hobbies....and etc. & etc. Already everyone thought something was odd. Do you think that I wanted to admit that I could not think...or reading was impossible because I could not remember what was at the beginning of the paragraph? LOL! ...or that my short term memory was shot? I thought I was heading toward Alzheimer's. No way I was sharing that with anyone. I did not want to be committed! LOL!

I think that meno is so horrible, that women mind-block it. However, thanks to Oprah & Sommers, the CAT is out of the bag!


Grrrrrrr.... LOL!
Shebee

HI,
Alot of the ladies are on facebook. Come join us.

Whoa, SheB...you said it--I was just thinking it! Thanks!
I still have to go through my mental 'roladex' searching for
the right words more often than not. Can't tellya how many times
I've told my kid to put something back into the television or some
other large appliance...when really I meant the fridge.

Aint' it grand

Thanks yetta and lr3216 for your replies. It's encouraging to know that you're out there and can relate. I guess it's all about attitude and yes, picking your battles. Thinking about it, physically I really shouldn't complain. ; the kids are fine, my mother is still living and has a great attitude and outlook and in good health. Been married almost 36 years soon. I'm afraid the bulk of the teasing when I turn 60 will be from my husband who will be 62 by then. I'm just not ready to face the 60s right now, so I'm giving myself a year to get out of this funky mood. A year!

I think I'm done feeling sorry for myself ...at least for the time being...you know how it is

I agree with you, lr, about the placement of this forum. You kinda gotta know where to look. However, a few "kids" managed to find it today. lol

Em

I just turned 50 and I am having a h@ll of a time, lol. I was not prepared to detest it as much as I do. I'm hoping 51 is better. The serious peri on my way to menopause kicked in at 50 and I already had plenty of crud for 6 years previous which I had thought was a nuisance...hmmmfff, little did I know what was coming. Erratic periods, crazy a$$ anxiety, inner trembling, twitching toes and fingers, it's all too fricking much, lol. I thought my life before this had it's dramatic moments... If this doesn't kick my a$$ then I am officially a SUPER HERO!! I will have to design a costume to wear and I will fly (yes I will have gained super powers) and help all our PS sisters kick menopauses tush!!! I have just about had enough of this!! Wasn't childbirth enough? Who did we piss off anyways, lol.

Hi, I'm 62 - no kids, second marriage to a great man! Sex is non-existent, too painful, I couldn't even get a pap smear done. My main problem now I seem to be through the menopause is vaginal dryness, so I am trying Replens and I'm with you on the dry skin. I have to plaster myself in creams. I still wake in the night boiling hot, but no flashes. I did gain about 16 pounds a few years back, partly menopause and partly a back problem, but then had surgery on my back and then went to Weightwatchers and lost 14 pounds.

I still find 60 a scary age. I'm quite fit and still work, but I often think about death, which is crazy. It seems a lot closer than it used to be!!

Jean

Oh yes..thoughts of death...looking ahead to the next 20 years is definitely scary if they go by as fast as the last 20 did. I use my 83 y/o mother as a model. She is active, youthful acting, and she dresses way better than I do. No frumpy clothes for her! It's all in the attitude.

Mind if I ask you what creams/lotions you use? I'll try anything. You should see the top of my vanity Right now, I like Gold Bond Restoring w/CoQ10. It has taken care of the bumps on the backs of my arms!

Em

Shebee, Cathym and Jan:

I join you in the roaring for another 8 1/2 yrs - What are we going to do when we turn 60? Judging by the posts on this forum a lot of women are not enjoying turning 60 - I know when my two aunts turned 60 they did not have a party and tried to keep mum about the fact that they turned that age. I think women like to think of themselves as young for as long as they can - 50's or at least early 50's can still be thought of as youngish/middleageish, but its hard to think of yourself as young when you are 60 (even though you may be "young at heart") However I do know a few 70 yr olds who are quite happy and at peace with themselves - they say once you get over the vanity issues of skin hair etc. life can be quite enjoyable. So lets hope that happens to us - In the meantime lets enjoy our early fifties while we are still glamorous LOL

Lara Falcon