We need to talk about normal aging versus signs of problems. Don’t we?
Posted by Greasystools@reddit | GenX | View on Reddit | 195 comments
So during my pregnancy every complaint was dismissed as “yep that’s pregnancy” until I had the baby and had to have my gallbladder removed the day after getting my newborn home. It wasn’t normal and I found out after the pregnancy was over.
Now I’m having loose teeth which I automatically assigned to “being mid fifties” until I googled it. Nope that’s not normal. I only looked it up because I have a bump on the roof of my mouth that keeps coming back. The two symptoms together are signs of mouth cancer. Shit! Where’s the guide to when I need to perk up my attention?? I could have sought a medical professional six months ago
Folks who have had symptoms they brushed off as nothing that turned out to be something, tell us about them. What’s not “normal fifty-something” wear and tear?
SimpleVegetable5715@reddit
Welcome to doctors. I realize most otherwise healthy women do not deal with doctors extensively until they’re pregnant. I have a chronic illness that took almost 20 years to diagnose. They really hate the diagnostic part, like how most people want an easy customer or client over a complicated one. Only a handful of doctors are actually curious and interested in their work.
ConsequenceFeeling96@reddit
This. I have a rare genetic disease causing severely enlarged organs, significant anemia, low platelets among other things.
Genetic. Present from birth.
Diagnosed at age 23 after an ex forced me to go to a doc over serious unexplained bruising. Only dx then bc my blood results suggested several increasingly devastating forms of cancer starting at liver and ending at bone.
Not dx after deadly hemorrhaging after my daughter was born, sans any pain medication bc my platelets were too low. Or when I checked myself out of hospital post birth with a hemoglobin of 6. (Normal for women starts at 11-12)
Not when I was 1-3 yrs old and had my iron checked every 1-2 mos for yrs.
Not when a rural ER was certain my spleen had ruptured so rushed me to a bigger ER … only to find me awake, & conversant, so decided that palpating my spleen after a 15’ fall must just mean it’s bruised …
Other chronic shit has been dx more quickly but only bc by now I’m a fierce advocate - and they’re somewhat terrified that my family might sue if something is missed bc the expectation would be extra vigilance with a rare condition already on board.
Plus, having an infusion nurse to myself every two weeks for decades is a great teaching tool on how to communicate your seriousness to doctors 🤣
Dry_Yogurt2458@reddit
I woke up with very dull hearing in one ear, I went to see the Dr and was told it was probably an infection. I told him that I had no symptoms of an infection but he was adamant and sent me on my way with ear drops. A week later I returned as this time my hearing had gone completely in that ear. He told me that it was definitely just an infection and said he didn't understand why I had come back.
I was working as a practice manager at the time for a different surgery and we had a trainee General practitioner on placements with us. she had previously worked in Ear Nose and Throat in a different part of the country and had decided that she didn't want to specialise and wanted to be a general practitioner.
I was joking around with her about things that you want to say to some patients sometimes but can't and having to bite your lip when you are having a bad day and it's all getting on top of you . I mentioned that my Dr had blew me off that morning with "You didn't need to come back" and that he must have been having a bad day and wanted to say more. She suddenly became concerned and asked if she could look in my ear. Having done so and after asking me a few questions about other, seemingly (to me), non related symptoms she said she would come and find me shortly.
When she did find me it was with an appointment for a CT scan the following week.
two weeks following that I was in surgery for eight hours having a tumour removed that had been growing behind my ear drum and had eroded away my hearing bones (hence the hearing loss). I am not sure it was uber urgent but the surgeon did say that I was lucky that It had eroded my hearing bones as I was having no other symptoms and the first that I would have been aware of it was possibly when it started eroding the bone between my ear canals and cranial cavity. I was thinking that I was lucky that I had a trainee GP to hand because my own GP wasn't interested
So it wasn't something that I necessarily ignored. It was something that my GP ignored.
Wascally_Badger@reddit
Were you able to get your hearing back after the surgery?
nocowwife@reddit
Jesus! The lack of sympathy and basic curiosity of some physicians is criminal.
Dry_Yogurt2458@reddit
He actually did turn out to be a real criminal. A year or so after this event he was investigate for fraud and for stealing from his partners. He is now in prison.
EitherOrResolution@reddit
🙏😍🫶🏻
UnhingedBlonde@reddit
THIS. The lack of curiosity in physicians really irritates me. Medicine is a science, science is about research, and the steadfast belief that they already know everything really is asinine.
Spiritual_Oil_7411@reddit
And what did the GP say when you told him?
Dry_Yogurt2458@reddit
I was at a meeting with the CCG months later and he was in the offices too. He took me to one side and apologised. The consultant that operated did say that a GP may only see one of these events once or twice in their career. However he really should have made a referral to ENT if he wasn't sure what he was looking at, especially with the rapid progression from dull hearing to no hearing at all.
He is now in Prison BTW, he defrauded and stole from his partners.
EitherOrResolution@reddit
Good!!!!
BaloneyCommercial@reddit
Whatever incompetent quacks say.
Tiny_Noise8611@reddit
Dang
ElleGeeAitch@reddit
My older brother lost gearing in one ear due to a benign tumor like this. Sucks.
Katsaj@reddit
I’m hating the perimenopause/menopause scapegoat for everything. Recently a friend a few years older than me said “my menopause shoulder is acting up.” Apparently frozen shoulder is a menopause thing along with everything else under the sun.
DameEmma@reddit
In Chinese it's called 50 Year Old Woman shoulder. My physio told me that, not sure if it's true.
eleighbee@reddit
Elder millennial here.. super excited to advance from "it's just anxiety/depression" to "it's just peri/menopause." Woohoo!
croissant_and_cafe@reddit
This is true though, frozen shoulder can be due to declining estrogen. There are estrogen receptors in the shoulders. I had it, and when I went on HRT it disappeared
CharmingWoodpecker68@reddit
littlelassie1976@reddit
I started perimenopause at age 43, had difficulty regulating body temperature, gaining weight and uncharacteristic crippling anxiety. Just attributed it to aging. Nope, a benign pituitary macroadenoma (big tumor) wreaking havoc on my mental and physical health.
scooter76@reddit
If you have a muscle-pull type pain in your back or upper trunk, and it gets steadily worse in the next hours. So bad you can't lie down, it hurts to breath in, and you know its hospital time...
It could be a pulmonary embolism.
I spent 8+ hours with one waiting in the ER. Basic triage tests and bloodwork didn't show anything alarming. I know usual back pain, this wasn't it. When I finally got seen and the Dr ordered a test for clots, all of a sudden it was bright lights and ICU time.
So ya, that's a thing that can happen apparently. Speak up about the abnormals, I should have been louder, and I got lucky.
Forest_of_Cheem@reddit
Glad you’re still here! I got lucky too. They were so painful. I couldn’t even get up and down in bed without help for like a week? It was back in 2008 so it’s hard to remember exactly.
I got pulmonary embolisms from the faulty bc patch when it first came out. I wasn’t a smoker, sedentary, or obese at the time. I hadn’t been on a long flight in months. They didn’t know at the time that it was faulty. The dr at the urgent care said it was unlikely, but he sent me via ambulance to the huge hospital in my city. They didn’t want to do the ct at first until I pointed out my mom died there from a missed pneumothorax and I told my dad to sue if I died. I didn’t think I actually had pulmonary embolisms. Imagine my surprise when after the test, the doctor told me that persistence pays off and that I do have pulmonary embolisms. It was like he was congratulating me. 😡
Bluehoon@reddit
I had these kind of symptoms after a very very long flight from Bali to Boston.....It was just a back spasm but it hurt to even breathe in all the way so that was the symptom that made me go to the ER.
Last-Relationship166@reddit
...as if the mfing medical community won't dismiss everything, anyway. My family has had physicians dismiss symptoms of pneumonia, Crohn's disease, hypothyroidism, Lupus, a spinal cord injury...the list goes on and on. The messaging is always about "advocating" for yourself...but physicians distrust anyone who attempts to do this.
I'm sick of playing games with these mfers.
Lucky-Remote-5842@reddit
It's so hard because I can see both sides. I've worked in the medical field, and there certainly are some.... interesting characters out there.
And then there's some of us who don't want to complain too much, have issues that are hard to pinpoint and don't really know what to say to get them to check the right things.
Last-Relationship166@reddit
It should not have taken the medical community 30 years to diagnose a family member's hypothyroidism. Nor should that same family member's PCP sat on ordering lung imaging after she repeatedly complained of pain in her lungs. That eventually turned out to be caused by 2 infiltrate pneumonias, leading to a partial lung collapse. The same PCP refused to order a spine mri when this family member had calcified disc's at C5-7 and spinal stenosis. Every single autoimmune condition my family has been diagnosed with...years later was dismissed for years. One family member was administered an infusion she discovered an allergy to. When she mentioned the allergy at the infusion clinic (heart rate and blood pressuredropped to dangerouslylow levels after administratio, metallic taste in mouth during, etc),, the head pharmacist gave her shit for refusing further treatment. I worked at that hospital at the time and called that pharmacist and read the riot act into his voicemail box. The next day, that family member mentioned how nice everyone at the infusion clinic was to her. Gee...I wonder why...and one staff member confided, "We were afraid we were going to lose you." If that's the case, why the fuck did you continue this treatment??!!?? It shouldn't have to be this way. I'm just fed up. These are only a handful of my experiences...and the bullshit continues to this day.
Lucky-Remote-5842@reddit
Oh, I'm not doubting or discounting what you're saying at all. I also think I have something autoimmune going on. My bloodwork all comes back fine, so it's hard to figure out where to go from there, especially with symptoms that come and go, a high pain tolerance, an lifestyle where you have no choice but to push through and get things done.
?So it's not stopping you from daily activities?" No... I just do them while in pain... I would like to be able to do them without pain (or fatigue, or swelling, or whatever the case may be.)
I totally get where you're coming from.
Last-Relationship166@reddit
I didn't think you were attempting to discount my statements. :) I just needed to vent. A number of my in-laws have seronegative autoimmune conditions. My mother-in-law was seronegative for rheumatoid arthritis even as it was causing deformation of her fingers. Another family member was referred to a psychologist for years after reporting Crohn's symptoms. ...had to develop a fistula before being diagnosed.
Lucky-Remote-5842@reddit
Oh, good. I just wanted to make that clear because it can be hard to tell online. Wow, I wonder what a patient has to do to get serious testing? Like, you might be reporting Crohn's symptoms and the doctor just doesn't put 2 and 2 together unless you say, "I think I have Crohn's"? I mean, a lot of patients don't know anything about these illnesses, it's the doctor's job to put that together and look for the cause. How frustrating. And then if you did say you thought you had Crohn's, you'd probably just get dismissed because of one little symptom that's off.
Last-Relationship166@reddit
I wish it were that simple. Many times the statement, "I think I have X" or "I need X ordered" were dismissed for months or year...or decades...until whatever we suggested is ordered or investigated, rather than outright dismissed...and we've been right every fucking time.
Quixand1@reddit
I don’t care if they distrust me or dislike me or even despise me anymore. lol. I "do my own research" using pubmed and other sources of peer-reviewed papers and abstracts. I’ve had to go full Karen on my husband’s doctors because since he’s an older man with many health problems, they seem to think he’s a lost cause.
After a year of severe anemia, now needing transfusions every other day, they’ve decided maybe it’s his severe aortic stenosis they’ve been waiting to repair in hopes he will just die first. Guess what? I suggested that months ago!
I’ve had two episodes of gross hematuria with no pain and no uti and I can see a urologist the end of July. Their first assumption was that it was vaginal/uterine because at 59 I probably can’t tell.
I trust science. I have a degree in biology. I don’t necessarily trust a PA here in mulefart, nowhere who looks like they still live with their parents, and I definitely don’t trust the insurance companies who are calling the actual shots.
Last-Relationship166@reddit
Yeah...honestly, fuck them. I don't care what they think anymore...except that they are the gatekeepers for diagnostic orders...which sucks.
jestingvixen@reddit
My new doctor wanted to put me on Asprin. I tried to point out I have (increasingly frequent and intense) vertigo and healthy-to-low blood pressure and didn't think that was a good idea. She tossed my file on the counter, said, "It's just a suggestion, do whatever you want," and stormed out of the room. No further input. I'm still reeling (and I did try it, still don't know why, did indeed feel worse on Asprin Days, and have stopped). I'm waiting for an appointment with a new new doc. Because I'm pretty sure vertigo like this is Not Standard issue. But also no thanks, no more blood thinners without some conversation!
Tippity2@reddit
How is your cholesterol? Dementia in my family due to repetitive vertigo spells associated with, later on, the source of multiple tiny strokes over several years.
Suspicious-Loss-7314@reddit
Women's symptoms are always dismissed in the US. Is very typical for us to be told that a concern is "nothing" or "anxiety" or "just aging."
Isn't it interesting that we have to do our own legwork on what could be wrong, even though we pay about 20 grand a year for our family health insurance plan?
azlady55@reddit
I haven’t had that experience. I’ve had absolutely wonderful care from both male and female physicians
Connect-Account-2855@reddit
Are you a rich white woman?
azlady55@reddit
Haha. No. I’m not. but I 100% know what I want and don’t put up with BS. Ever.
Significant_Ruin4870@reddit
I had a male doctor say to my face, about sudden excessive bi-weeky menstrual bleeding, "We're wondering if you might be just a little bit depressed.". He couldn't have been more condescending if he'd patted me on my little head. I self referred to a female doctor and was given a treatment that enabled me to function again until menopause hit.
Potential-Pool-5125@reddit
Years ago I had a GYN who changed my birth control pill. I bled for 6 weeks and through the first month's supply.
When I called him to express my concerns he told me I was overreacting.
He also did the whole "but your husband may want children in the future" BS when I brought up a hysterectomy during a cancer scare. Fun times.
TurboLicious1855@reddit
That's wonderful. I wish that was my reality.
I had a doctor tell me that my shoulder and neck pain was literally in my head. Referred me to a psych. I said it's not in my head, it's real. He sighed and said fine, I'll send you to a rheumatologist, but he won't find anything. The rheumatologist looked at my hands and fingernails and asked if I had any psoriasis. I replied I don't know but I had this rash on my scalp. Turns out I have psoriatic arthritis. At 35. I wanted to cry, I was so grateful to find someone who took me seriously and put me on a path to better. I recently went to a spine clinic for mid back pain. When I said I need a refill on my phys therapy? The doctor didn't hear me say phys therapy and said well you can that ibuprofen. I'm 59 now. I know the doctors don't believe me and with the PA, I've had so much pain medication, I know what pain is. I haven't taken an opioid since 2017 and I usually just do what is ladies have to do, I fucking bare it, but when this doctor thought I was drug seeking when all I wanted was physical therapy!!! I called the nurse after I left and told them they need to be sent to training on how to doctor women in pain and to take their pain seriously!
lisep1969@reddit
Consider yourself extremely lucky.
Airportsnacks@reddit
It's not just the USA. The French woman who was on the Hanta ship was told it was just anxiety. I like in the UK and it is the same thing here. My GP was supposed to refer me to genecology in 2017 and just didn't. Even though I kept going in for the same issues over and over and the letter from the clinic asking her to refer me was right there on her, but not my, records.
largos7289@reddit
Well don't ask me... i was having gall bladder attacks and i didn't want to go until it had to be taken out because the pain was so unbearable, I begged the wife to take me to the ER. I kept telling her I'm not going to the Dr to have them tell me it's acid reflux.
aksf16@reddit
Yeah, my friend did that with both her gallbladder and her appendix. The gallbladder infection got so bad it went to her pancreas, ended up with pancreatitis that required hospitalization for a few days before they could operate. She ignored the appendix until it burst and nearly killed her. (She has chronic pain, which makes her ignore pain unless it unbearable.)
Pristine-Speaker-768@reddit
I had my gallbladder removed at 15. The bullshit i had to go through because they refused to believe a child could have gallstones. Accused me of faking, exaggerating etc. My mom insisted because she had hers removed at age 11. I remember them asking my mom where she got her medical degree from. I was told only overweight middle age women get them. I clearly was neither of those things.
Creepy_Radio_3084@reddit
Both of my exes daughters had their gallbladders out before the age of 18. Both were super fit, slim, sporty types.
izzieBean8@reddit
It took them years to find out my gallbladder was ceasing function. Meanwhile I'm in agonizing pain for all this time and I'm allergic to pain meds. By the time of my third hydascan, it was in atrophy failure(ER docs words) and was about to burst. Yeah they can burst like an appendix. So I went to the hospital and I barely made it into an OR. I've become my own aggressive advocate and rattle the cage more and more. I have multiple chronic illnesses and I have to know the ins and outs so what's going on now can be weeded from the chronic. Its a constant battle and I'm 52. Its been my entire life. It just gets more complicated and more frustrating.
shitposter1000@reddit
Gallbladder was the worst pain I've ever had.... had an attack once while driving and I had to pull over to throw up.
starfishpaws@reddit
You aren't alone. I had my gall bladder out two weeks ago. My Dr told me it was acid reflux but then a gall stone blocked my pancreatic duct and it was ER time.
KelsHouse@reddit
We used to tease our mom about being a negative Nelly (‘we’re all dying’) and a hypochondriac . She joked that she was going to have ‘ I told you I was sick’ carved on her headstone.
Now at 58-and-three-quarters I’m Googling about ankle cramps ..
jenteejet@reddit
I get these, and foot cramps! But the ankle cramps feel like my entire foot is being wrenched and dislocated from my leg...twice I was moments away from calling 911 because the pain was so bad. And then they just stop. I feel like they are looking down their noses at me (as though cramps have noses), saying "can't handle just a teeny tiny little cramp? Suck it up buttercup!" I have a doc appointment tomorrow and foot cramps are on my list for discussion.
VicDough@reddit
I’m
Mysterious-Ruby@reddit
Currently I'm going through this. I'm 49 and started perimenopause about 10 years ago. Had my last period April of 2025. Thought I was all good. I've had 2 healthy pregnancies and regular periods my entire life. So I never suspected anything.
Six months ago I started getting daily nausea and I attributed it to menopause and brushed it off.
I went back to my doctor in February because I'd lost 30 pounds in 3 months. And then we started investigating.
Turns out I have an enlarged ovary and endometrial tissue outside my uterus. Yeah, that's not part of menopause.
So far we are still figuring out treatment options but it's looking like surgery to remove the whole damn thing and then testing it to see if it's cancer.
Oy vey. Maybe I'm not out of menopause after all.
Mental_Explorer_42@reddit
A year ago I (55f) was working out 5x a week and in pretty good shape. Went to CO and went hiking and fell on the last hike. Not too serious. Took a couple months for my right knee to feel better. About 2 months after that got better my left knee started hurting out of nowhere. It got worse and worse. Went to Ortho-PT, still worse. Did an MRI and I have 2 sprained ligaments, a torn muscle and a ton of inflammation including a Baker's cyst. The ortho was stumped how I could have these injuries with no traumatic event.
After dealing with that for about a month my whole body started locking up- couldn't raise my arms, couldn't sleep from the pain, screaming out in pain it was so severe. Couldn't grasp with hands-couldn't put a bra or clothes on.
No pain med worked to kill the pain. Finally they referred me to Rheumatologist and put me on steroids-and poof! the pain went away. So now I am dealing with trying to figure out which autoimmune disorder is causing widespread body pain and weakness. And waiting for the rheumatology appointment which takes months.
zapperbert@reddit
Get tested for mytosytis.
BaloneyCommercial@reddit
Some people will take care of themselves and get sick. At the same time, a meth addict will ride a stolen dirtbike into a tree at 50 mph and get up and run. It's a fickle universe.
hattenwheeza@reddit
I totally feel this. It's why I struggle to chase down symptoms - it's exhausting to do so, then often have it lead absolutely nowhere or just require more money, tine, effort to chase it down further. This body is wearing down fast post-menopause. If there's some reason for me to remain here, the universe will keep me here.
Meanwhile, about 350 million kids don't have access to clean water worldwide. Dysentery, cholera, parasites, chemicals. I can't get too upset about aching knees, slipping memory, occasional shortness of breath.
borgeron@reddit
My dad has been going through this. He ended up being diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica. The step down on steroids is a very slow and steady journey, it took a lot out of him. He's off them entirely now but it was a rough 18 months. Having seen the mental effects its had on him i wouldn't wish it on anyone. So i hope your medical journey is kinder on you and you feel better soon.
sfdsquid@reddit
Try developing Hashimoto's hypothyroidism around menopause and having comorbid depression. It's definitely all in your head until they find out your body is literally attacking your thyroid and trying to kill you.
As it turns out it's not normal to need a 3 hour nap every afternoon at age 50.
UntamedMegasloth@reddit
I hear ya! My chronic fatigue turned out not to be simple inactivity but very severe sleep apnoea. Amazing how I now do not need a three hour nap very day!
__redruM@reddit
Was it clear in your blood work?
Greasystools@reddit (OP)
Holy fuck I have the nap thing but it’s “idiopathic hypersomnia”
the__post__merc@reddit
My son (18m) has idiopathic hypersomnia as well as delayed sleep phase onset. These last few years have been tough because his school starts at 730am... he hardly ever goes to sleep before 1 or 2am (and yes, we've tried everything, including sleep psychologists). We had to get a 504 plan for him so he wouldn't get dinged with a tardy every single day. We're hoping that college will be easier on him because he'll be able to register for classes that start later in the day.
kurlygirl@reddit
Make sure he visits the college’s disability center for academic accommodations for this condition. Accommodations can go a long way in helping him navigate college!
Awkward-Actuator-596@reddit
Yeah I was labeled as chronic pain by at pulmonologist a large local "academic hospital " getting sent to a pain clinic was the beginning of the end for me. I specifically because I refused narcotics. That made me a difficult patient.
Once that was in my chart everything went to hell- no one even looked at my nonunion fractures because it's all in my head. Even though imagining showed non 2 unions and bone on bone arthritis.
The fight to try and get them to understand my pain was biomechanics causing depression not depression causing fantom pain was ridiculous.
I went across the country found a doctor that was a pelvic trauma specialist and put me back together again with plates and screws.
That same label still haunts me- got bit by a spider- leg blew up went to urgent care and first thing they said was ohh you're a pain clinic patient. B$&@ I have not been there in years and I am certainly not catching spiders to get pain meds...
coastywife123@reddit
I developed that in my teens and was told I just needed depressants by different for 12 years (despite having just about every symptom in the book) before a doctor finally believed me. Within weeks of getting on Synthroid, I was pregnant and voila…. depression again until I showed up at the office with a pee stick in hand.
Every single person on my mother’s side of the family has Hashimoto’s. Now my kids are getting it and getting them diagnosed has been a fight, in part because doctors are handcuffed by insurance companies refusing to pay for routine labs.
Cupcake541@reddit
SERIOUSLY! Last year at 49, I found out I had hypo. I thought all of my depression and being dead tired all of the time, and just not feeling good in general was from peri, and getting older…nope. Thank goodness I got that taken care of! Life was really sucking back then, for a few years!
Glum_Manufacturer232@reddit
It’s effing constant!! It sucks because when you have a symptom, medical discovery will cost you an arm and a leg in time and money as doctors rarely discover something early on or insurance won’t cover the scan/diagnostic. Specialist after specialist or a major event is usually how you’ll figure it out.
Not an older person issue but when my son was 14 he had unexplained headaches. No other symptoms so he got written off as migraines, growing pains, puberty etc, and given some pills. Flash forward 6 months they became unbearable and it ended up a brain tumor. Hence the discovery process we went through and as a mom screeching at the medical system to freaking scan him!!
cleveland_leftovers@reddit
Oh my gosh that’s horrific. Poor guy! So glad momma bear advocated for him. Damn good on you. Amazing how everything goes by the wayside when our kids are hurting.
I had a similar incident when mine was 14 (though not a brain tumor….they thought it was), and even though he was sprouting little chin hairs and looking me straight in the eyes, mom was still going to throw down like he was 2 years-old.
MRIs and pizza? Check
Lumbar puncture and pizza? Check
Optic nerve tests and pizza? Check
I hope you’re both doing much better now!
Admirable-Attitude-9@reddit
I was 60 at the time and had a ton of itching, exhaustion and brain fog. Was told it’s normal, use a better moisturizer and get more rest. Nope! I had a rare chronic blood cancer. (Polycythemia Vera).
__redruM@reddit
My energy levels hit a wall at 50, and it keeps getting a little worse each year. Blood work shows nothing, and I’m walking a mile a day. I’m curious if GLP-1 will change how my body handles blood sugar and help. But not enough to try yet.
Anyone have experience with Ozympic and Energy Levels?
exhaustedoldlady@reddit
Have you thought of getting a continuous glucose monitor to see what your blood sugar does on a real day-to-day basis? Not just fasting snapshot.
Invisible-laugh-line@reddit
Tbh I found my energy a lot lower when I was on Ozempic. It’s one of the reasons I went off it. Gained weight immediately but feel better.
shitposter1000@reddit
It's because you dont eat while on it. I've lost 80lbs over 2 years and the first year I was exhausted all the time. Energy levels have returned though.
Clairefun@reddit
I started getting migraines at 44/45. Heard that was common in peri / menopause, but 3 months later lost vision in one eye. Opticians told me it was a retinal vein occlusion and sent me to the eye clinic at the hospital 10 days later - no hurry. They said its also known as an eye stroke, blood clot to the eye instead of brain, likely caused by long term high bp. Mine was fine a few years back during my hysterectomy so guess it could be? They took it - 268/155. Oh. Further testing on admittance showed bp was averaging 245/160, "likely for months or years" and had also caused ckd and heart damage. It all turned out to be caused 'by' the hysterectomy in a way - one kidney had been damaged causing hydronephrosis, which was misdiagnosed as a kidney infection so untreated, meaning that over time that kidney failed completely, the increased fluids caused by that raised my bp to crazy amounts which then damaged my healthy kidney, heart, and triggered the blood clot to the eye. It was a very exciting week.
(Bp meds are amazing - saved my sight, reversed or controlled much of the heart damage, and have kept my kidney function stable, bp now averaging 120/80 at rest!).
ShartlesAndJames@reddit
"10 days later - no hurry."
WHAT THE FUCK?!
toooldforlove@reddit
My foot hurt. I have only worked on my feet all day in retail. They called it "normal" aging, they said I had arthritis. They said I had foot fat pad atrophy. They all took Xrays, gave me cortisone shots and special shoe inserts.
But it was only my left foot!
I FINALLY found the right doctor. He is doctor number 4. I actually have a dislocated metatarsal, caused by a slight deformity of my toe that caused my bones to shift. Now I need reconstructive surgery. I worked 3 years on my feet (because I can't find other work) in pain every day because somehow other doctors missed this completely, even after staring at my Xrays and knowing about my little deformed toe.
BMisterGenX@reddit
I feel like COVID rapidly excellerated my aging process. I felt like before that I was "normal old" now I feel like I'm way worse shape than my parents seemed at an equivalent age.
hattenwheeza@reddit
100% me too. Aged 15 yrs in 4 years
GogglesPisano@reddit
I got a nasty case of OG COVID in Dec 2020. It put me out for two weeks, I was very nearly hospitalized.
I consider that episode the dividing line for when I started to feel "old". I've experienced aches and pains and brain fog since then that I did not have before getting COVID.
BMisterGenX@reddit
similar situation. I got COVID in October 2021. Ever since then, if I ever get a cold it much worse than it was in the past, hits harder, lasts longer etc. I randomly get mystery pains and confusion. Sometimes feel crazy tired in the morning like I was up partying all night when I went to bed at a normal time. Not all the time but probably at least two or three times a month. Also if I get a little bit sick my sense of taste and smell gets weird for days or weeks. Like I'm smelling things that aren't there like mold, smoke or maple syrup.
GogglesPisano@reddit
My wife and I had it at the same time. One weird aftereffect is that we both smelled phantom cigarettes for months afterward (neither of us smoke).
BMisterGenX@reddit
yeah I would randomly smell smoke the weird thing is sometimes it smelled like cigarette smoke others times more like burning wood smoke. But more often cigarette smoke.
GogglesPisano@reddit
My wife and I had it at the same time. One weird aftereffect is that we both smelled phantom cigarettes for months afterward (neither of us smoke).
Lower_Classroom835@reddit
I had a long covid that left my underarm puffy and a brain fog. The brain fog is chucked to age, but I didn't have it before, so I know it's from covid.
HortenseDaigle@reddit
i actually got in really good shape during COVID, I accelerated my weight loss to get out of the obesity range, ran harder and worked out a lot more. I was so scared of getting it with my comorbid conditions (obese, pre-diabetes, asthma). I have had it at least 4 times and never got that sick. After vaccinations, though, the fear ran out and I gained all the weight back and then some. But I'm still running.
13maven@reddit
I have chronic pain that is becoming debilitating. I have doctors appts today, to follow up on some X-rays that were taken a month or so ago. I’m sure they will say lose weight. No dur
Not_High_Maintenance@reddit
I just started having pain every where. What the hell is happening. 😞
Chefy-chefferson@reddit
I removed all wheat and corn from my diet and my inflammation is gone. No more pains at night, no sore hips. And I have a physically demanding job, on my feet 8 hours with no breaks. It could change your life!!
Quixand1@reddit
FFF is a favorite dx. Fat, female and forty (fifty now). So many things get dismissed.
My husband is in his 70s with Parkinson’s, his unrelated medical issues get dismissed too because he’s just another sick, old man. They don’t get too excited about diagnosing something in someone who isn’t ever really going to get "better".
Xavelle@reddit
It's the worst! I suffered for years because my GP attributed EVERYTHING to being overweight, over 40 and perimenopause
I've lost 55 pounds in the past year and my gp retired. Hoping my new doctor takes me more seriously when I have issues. I literally had a rash for six years that my new doctor finally prescribed me some cream. It's nearly gone now in just over a week. But, six years of a bloody, itchy god awful rash on my arm. Long term medical issues really wear on a person mentally.
glitterandjazzhands@reddit
That is awful - I’m so sorry that you had to endure that.
glitterandjazzhands@reddit
FFF is for real -- and because of that, so many things are "have you thought about losing weight" -- like when I went in for pain in my hand -- arthritis in my hand -- have you considered losing weight? Do you think I'm doing handsprings Doc?
hattenwheeza@reddit
I'd never experienced the level of dismissal that FFF brings till I gained alot post menopause over the past decade (stressful years too). Yes, I'm aware I need to lose weight. But the old ways aren't working and I don't know how brain fog relates to my waistline.
Quixand1@reddit
Not related to FFF, but a weird doctorism re arthritis in my hands. Guy told me "people in third world countries have terrible, gnarled hands from arthritis and they just live with it and keep working".
Uh. Ok. That doesn’t really help.
bullfrogftw@reddit
55yr old male
For the last few years I have noticed a decline in my spatial awareness and finger/hand dexterities.
For example I drop my keys ,now, probably a dozen times a week, a decade ago, it was maybe once a month.
As far as the spatial awareness, if I have an object in my peripheral vision, I used to be able to extend my hand and without turning my head or moving my eyes reach out and grab whatever object I was focused on, without knocking anything over or missing the target object, now I either completely miss what I am grabbing for, or knock 2 or 3 things nearby over on my way to the object.
Been to 2 GP's neither has a clue so fare
Tiny_Noise8611@reddit
Omg the dropping stuff all the time is annoying
SheBrokeHerCoccyx@reddit
You need a neurologist.
Jane-The_Obscure@reddit
Voting this up. Neurologist and also an ophthalmologist, the specialty kind.
Xavelle@reddit
Unfortunately, GPs are the worst at anything beyond basic medical care. Find a specialist, start with your eye doctor. Then maybe a neurologist.
Available-Bison-9222@reddit
For women it's hormones, menopause or anxiety.
I'm constantly astounded by how lazy the medical profession is when it comes to women's health.
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
[removed]
GenX-ModTeam@reddit
{community rule 7}
Happy_Dog1819@reddit
Or we're just fat.
Available-Bison-9222@reddit
I forgot about weight. Silly me, it must be menopause!a
who-waht@reddit
Yeah, I went through the trouble of losing weight so they couldn't use that. So now it's just menopause or anxiety. Sigh.
New_Needleworker_473@reddit
Every time! For once I would really appreciate the doctor looking at the labs and x-rays before giving me the modern day version of a hysteria diagnosis. FFS!
madtownjeff@reddit
Had a varicocele repaired a year and a half ago. Made me start wondering about my lethargy, weight, gain, hair loss, etc...that I thought was just getting older. Got myself checked and sure enough my testosterone levels are low.
Neither_Remote_4818@reddit
It’s so hard because even doctors don’t know everything, I wish they did, but they can make mistakes. And sometimes you don’t want to be a hypochondriac, but it actually IS something…
I had a tiny spot of vision missing out of my eye, assumed was a scratch of some sort. My husband said it’s nothing but I went in, referred to specialists and it was MS so I was able to get on a good drug.
Once I had three tiny red dots on bottom ribs and felt like it was shingles. My husband said I was crazy, I went in because it was Christmas Eve morning and it was shingles so I got on a good drug fast which helped immensely.
Once I noticed listening to Harry Potter book driving on a road trip that in the sad part I only cried out of one eye, not both. I suspected Bells Palsy, husband thought I was crazy again lol. But I went in and it was, and I got on a good drug to help it early on.
So, I guess listen to YOUR body and it never hurts to go to doctor, even if you end up being wrong, just go check it out if your spidey sense goes off.
Sometimes we catch stuff and sometimes we can’t, sometimes doctors right, sometimes they are wrong… I guess it is life.
Significant_Ruin4870@reddit
Your husband needs a serious attitude adjustment if he dismisses your concerns like that. Over and over again.
Sweaty_Sleep_3405@reddit
I cant help but agree . You need to advocate for yourself as its you that lives with the fallout if it's missed.
Pretend-Judgment-506@reddit
Husband sounds like a real gem.
BBorNot@reddit
Wow new Fear Chest unlocked! Hope you are doing well now.
thirtyone-charlie@reddit
Yeah I was about to respond to the effects of MJ post yesterday. I smoked a lot between 14 and 35 and some days I feel like I’m slipping a little, in fact I know I’m slipping a little but maybe it’s aging more than the other. I’m talking to myself which I have never done but I’m retired and no one home until the youngest kids gets out of school. I damn sure talk to the dog a lot.
SolomonGrumpy@reddit
I've always talked to my dog. And sometimes I answer for the dog as well. 😁
tiredoldbitch@reddit
I had a sudden onset of elevated blood pressure. Im talking 170s/100s.I also experience nausea, headache and dizziness at its worst. I know the drill. Doctors want 2 weeks of blood pressure readings before they do anything. I recorded my BPs for 2 weeks and took it in to my doctor.
She is a woman and even SHE asked "Do you have anxiety?" Fuck no bitch. I have new hypertension.
Anyway, got my blood pressure meds and and demanded a referral to cardiology...where I can only see a nurse practitioner. That upcoming appointment will be fun.
Anarchic_Country@reddit
Dude I HATED NPs until I was desperate (so fucking depressed, but even with extensive and inpatient treatment, not resolved) and made an appointment with one in a private clinic in my smallish city.
She took every single one of my "female" complaints seriously. She asked to screen and diagnosed me with ADHD after a few visits, and while I don't take medicication for it, the coping skills have helped alleviate burnout. She diagnosed me peri menopausal so I could get on estrogen patches and that's helped tremendously. Previously, docs would do the labs, say, nope, you're normal, no menopause. This NP said you have so many symptoms of menopause, let's just try the least invasive route and see if it improves your life.
I have such medical trauma from being diagnosed with Somatic Symptom Disorder that I was going to give up on life until I found this NP. I hope yours is as good as mine turned out to be 🫶🏻
PintoOct24@reddit
This happened to me in my early 40s after having low bp beforehand. It took a while to get my bp sorted but I got lucky and my cardiologist is really great. I think having an attentive and interested doctor is key and if you have options, definitely shop around. Mine is slammed all the time but when he’s in with you, he’s yours. He is very attentive and he’s curious so if he sees things that seem off, he will discuss and investigate further. Best wishes and I hope everything gets sorted quickly.
TraditionalTackle1@reddit
My sister is a Nurse Practitioner who does wound care, the amount of people going blind and losing limbs due to uncontrolled diabetes who think it’s just a normal part of aging is baffling to me.
Lucky-Remote-5842@reddit
I think the problem is it happens gradually, so they don't realize what's happening until it gets BAD.
TraditionalTackle1@reddit
True but some of these people have a sugar of 400 all day every day and don’t care.
draggar@reddit
So - as a normal person (yes, I work in a hospital but I am the least medically trained person in the entire organization (not joking)), outside of testing, are there signs that I should look for to see if I'm in this area?
FleityMom@reddit
Constant thirst, hunger, and exhaustion. Blurred vision and confusion that occur,or increases, after you eat.
If it's something you're worried about you can get a generic, cheap blood sugar meter from Walmart without a prescription. Check your sugar right after waking up in the morning. If your sugar reads over 150 then you need to go to the doctor for testing (it's possible that the meter didn't give an accurate reading). If your fasting sugar is over 250 then you probably should go to the ER so they can get you admitted to the hospital and get your sugar controlled.
As a 30+ year diabetic I will tell you that primary care doctors DO NOT know enough about diabetes, type 1or type 2, to help you properly control it. Plenty of PCPs will prescribe whatever medication they think you need, but I've talked to a LOT of people in my endochrinologist's waiting room who were suffering a fair amount of long term damage because their PCP only looked for 'normal' diabetic symptoms and solutions and missed serious problems. If you do get diagnosed, please find an endocrinologist. If your PCP won't give you a referral, find a new PCP...it's that important.
draggar@reddit
Thank you - and the symptoms can be quite vague. I've always drank a lot (and the result - going to the bathroom often) and blurred vision, as per my eye doctor, our eyes tend to get worse in our 40's. These can easily be missed.
The bad news about being admitted to the hospital? I work there (non-medical position), I'm sure they'll still expect me to work. 😁 The good news, I get along with our ED and MS staffs very well.
FleityMom@reddit
One blood sugar crash while you're supposed to be resting and learning how to manage diabetes and how whatever medication is prescribed affects your body - they'd probably let you chill. Those first 6 months of learning how to properly regulate cane be...interesting.
draggar@reddit
My wife's doctor suggested that she (and I'm assuming I) should have a "pre-diabetic" lifestyle. Mainly, because it's considered healthier, but it also helps with the adjustment if you ever get diagnosed with diabetes.
The hardest part - is making that change.
FleityMom@reddit
Oh, don't I know it. But I will say, after about 5 years of diabetes, my taste buds started changing. I do still enjoy some sweet things, but it's in moderation and most of my sweets have a bitter/salty/sour/spicy flavor too. I can't handle straight sweet flavors unless my sugar is seriously crashed out.
I've actually helped a couple of friends switch to a more 'diabetic friendly' diet (one wanted to do so in solidarity with her older sister who had been diagnosed and the other was told she was prediabetic). They said that my 'add one, lose one' method helped the most. Basically you choose what sweet or snack you're going to eliminate and what veg/complex carb/protein you're going to add at the beginning of a two week period. When you go to the store you choose not to buy whatever your 'loss' is anymore and finish up whatever you have in the house, and you purchase whatever your 'add' is and make sure to incorporate it into meals for the next two weeks. The next two weeks you do the same thing, but you continue purchasing/not purchasing the add/loss from the previous week. Then you maintain the add/loss for that month (forever if possible) while taking a two week break from change. Then you do another six week cycle. It's basically changing purchasing habits, and allowing your body and brain to adjust to the additions and absences of different foods slowly.
Shytownmofo@reddit
Another odd symptom of diabetes is pruritis, or constant itching. I was wondering why I always itched so much, along with the fatigue, constant thirst, then running to the bathroom.
Sure enough, diabetic.
FleityMom@reddit
Oh no, that's a side effect of neuropathy. That means you'd been dealing with high blood sugars for at least a couple of years before you were diagnosed. I'm sorry honey.
Shytownmofo@reddit
That's wild. Thankfully,it's been 6 years, and I have my sugar well in hand. It was definitely a wake up call to take better care of myself. No More pop, limiting sweets to bare minimum, and cooking and eating as healthy as I can.
TraditionalTackle1@reddit
Symptoms of diabetes can include, excessive thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision and sudden weight loss or weight gain.
draggar@reddit
I can easily see how the first three are missed.
I've always drank a lot of water (and because of that, I go to the bathroom a lot) and blurry vision is a common symptom when people get over 40 (as per my eye doctor).
Now, losing weight.... yeah, that would be nice, but in a healthy way. 😂 Since the weather is nice, I should start taking my dog for a walk when I get home from work.
momandmax@reddit
Thank u for asking that!
Lucky-Remote-5842@reddit
Oh, I totally get that.
Working_Park4342@reddit
The heart is a muscle. My heart hurts, like a cramp, every morning when I get up and put the clean dishes away and feed the cat and normal morning routine. It feels like someone has their finger right on this exact spot in my heart. But! Since I'm an older woman... It's probably just menopause.
vrananomous@reddit
Hopefully you’ve mentioned to doc? It could be stable angina. I have had that pressure feeling being persistent. Have a zero calcium score/no plaque and doc thinks I have small vessel disease and put me on ranolazine and the pressure went away.
PristinePoutine@reddit
and when you are younger it’s your period
esp735@reddit
I remember when I wasn’t yet 50, and my doc said, “At your age, it’s normal to take an anti inflammatory now and then.” I had never been so insulted in my life.
BaloneyCommercial@reddit
The doctor looked at me like I was crazy when I told him the only medication I took was ibuprofen a few times a year.
Enough-Cow-6869@reddit
I got a big laugh out of your comment. Boy do I know that feeling!
crone_Andre3000@reddit
They don't take women seriously. Demand it. You might need to pay it for yourself.
sffood@reddit
I had a problem walking. My leg muscle would completely harden and swell up. Sometimes I could walk a city block. Other times, I couldn’t walk properly from the car to the grocery store doors without my leg swelling, and towards the end, I’d be close to being unable to control the leg at all. And it was happening to both legs now.
For seven YEARS, I kept explaining it to every doctor I’d see and since I couldn’t make it happen to show them, they’d all remark that it’s strange but had never heard of it.
Long story short, one doctor finally tested that leg, sent me to cardiology immediately, and an MRI showed 100% occlusion in the iliac artery. So much so that my body figured out a way to pull blood from my other leg, which then caused THAT leg to experience the same “no blood flow” problems. Had to have two stents put in but every doctor involved was fascinated that my leg hadn’t been damaged when I’d clearly been in this state for many years, given when my symptoms started.
Paperwife2@reddit
Our bodies are amazing! Glad you’re ok.
Good_With_Tools@reddit
For me, this is not even an aging thing. I was taught to tough it out or rub dirt in it since I was little. Afyer becoming an adult and being able to choose my healthcare, I started going to the Dr more often. Then the real problems arose. I'd either get bad care, or told there is nothing wrong. I've had more Dr's tell me I'm faking it than ones that want to treat me.
Half of my face has been going numb for 2 years now. I've had 2 MRI's and several Dr's look at it. I was told that there is nothing wrong with me. I'm so tired of being the first one in history (according to my Dr's) to have whatever symptom I have.
BananaMapleIceCream@reddit
That was happening to me when I had a severe B12 deficiency.
MrSniffles_AnnaMae@reddit
Half your face?
Full stop.
1) ever had chicken pox?
2) heard of shingles?
3) look up Ramsay hunt syndrome or Bell’s palsy
Nerves to half of your face come through a very narrow bony channel at the area where your earlobe and cheek/face meet. If any of nerve coming through that channel gets inflamed, the result is numbness on half your face.
If this is ringing true to you, req urgent appt with your dr to be seen/evaluated for facial shingles/ramsay hunt syndrome.
Why urgent? Nerve damage can be permanent the longer you wait. Your request to be seen ASAP is so that you can get documented as being seen AND get an Rx for methylprednisone pack and an anti-viral. Methylprednisone is a multi-day steroid treatment THAT WORKS for this situation. Do NOT accept the 5mg/ day steroid treatment, that DOES NOTHING for the inflammation in your face.
I hope you do not have Ramsay hunt syndrome, but if you do, you have new information to advocate for your own care. Good luck!!!
Good_With_Tools@reddit
I have some of those symptoms, but none of the scary ones. No rash, no drooping. Really, no pain. I do have tinnitus, though. Amd yes, I had chicken pox.
SamePhotographs@reddit
Same. And then the doctor won't talk to you until you address "your anxiety". Sent to her staff shrink who tells me that any anxiety I display is appropriate for the situation.
15 years in, and finally getting some proper treatment for the pain.
Available-Bison-9222@reddit
Chron8c migraine sufferer. The doc was putting it down to anxiety until I very forcefully said "Of course I'm anxious, I have constant pain. Now are you going help me or do I need to see someone else?"
Alarmed_Term_7770@reddit
I told a dismissive doctor that he was giving me my copay back! I got it, too.
bigdunker21@reddit
I was 40 (12 years ago) and was getting out of breath doing minor things like stairs, etc. I powered through and chalked it up to getting older….until I woke up one day in congestive heart failure. Turns out the excessive snoring I had since I was a kid was actually sleep apnea and 35 years of it had damaged my heart significantly. Thank God I recovered completely.
missmgrrl@reddit
Whoa!
justmeonlyme66@reddit
The groin injury i pushed through for about 8 years until my foot permanently pointed outward, I limped terribly and my lower back ached all the time. Dr noticed at my annual physical and got me a rec to orthopedic to see if I could get PT. My groin injury was actually severe late stage OA and my hip bones were basically gone. One hip replacement later and I'm good as new. OA runs in the family but I work out a lot and it never even occurred to me that it would present in that way.
missmgrrl@reddit
Yep, they thought my osteoarthritis of the hip was back pain. It wasn’t until a PT said for me to go back and advocate for getting an X-ray that they discovered I have late stage arthritis. Now I have two artificial hips!
fatyoda@reddit
Last October my neck and shoulder started throbbing. I thought I had pulled something, then I was having trouble breathing. I waited two days I til it got to the point I could not breathe unless I was sitting straight. I went to the ER thinking I had phunomia but it turned out I had a heart attack. One triple bypass and 6 months out of work and I am doing better. I still have to use a walker but I am getting closer to getting off that too.
missmgrrl@reddit
Was it the left side?
fatyoda@reddit
It was. Looking back I should have known what was going on
Littleleicesterfoxy@reddit
Standard reminder to check your boobs ladies.
raelovesryan@reddit
And to do routine maintenance like colonoscopy!!! Our age group is getting these cancers much more frequently
Angry_GorillaBS@reddit
Google will make you think you have everything under the sun if you let it.
the__post__merc@reddit
You've got leprosy
BuckyGoldman@reddit
According to Dr. Google I (56M) probably have cervical cancer, or maybe just a tummy ache.
Greasystools@reddit (OP)
Well you’re too old to be pregnant. Probably
sfdsquid@reddit
If you're on WebMD and go deep enough, everything means brain cancer.
ONROSREPUS@reddit
Are you my wife?
_ism_@reddit
I'm still in my 40s and all around me people 40+ are losing teeth. I still have all mine and I am a former meth addict so wtf. Even sober people losing their teeth. I finally asked my dentist kinda like "ok so i'm middle aged now, what can I expect with tooth loss, when do old people start losing teeth" and they basically laughed at me saying any tooth loss I see in people my own age is due to disease or poor hygiene and i'm more or less "blessed" with decent oral health so far. I really was embarassed but also relieved it's not necessarily a given. I realize I might have 30 or 40 more years to go.
Wascally_Badger@reddit
I suffered from severe gout for about 5 years. Every single f'n doctor told me I "must have dinged" my ankle. Xrays came back with no damage, so to them, that was proof nothing was wrong with me, even though I was in agonizing pain, and couldn't walk.
I told every single one of these bozos that my father suffered from gout, and that was what I suspected was the cause of my joint pain. I finally found a doc (still my pcp to this day) with the brains enough to order blood work to have my uric acid level tested. Once it was established that my uric acid was through the roof, I got prescribed Uloric and haven't had a gout attack since.
I'm glad I finally got the bottom of my health issue, but holy crap, had one of these "professionals" actually listened to me, it would have saved me many hours of pain and missed work.
Peppyrhubarb@reddit
I doubt this is a comfort to you, but I started with arthritis in my big toe at 35. They told me it was gout — I was too young for arthritis. So you can’t win either way.
It wasn’t until 48 and people felt I was at a reasonable age for arthritis that people took me seriously and I got some orthotics. Yes there were many X-rays but it was early stages and therefore they felt inconclusive even though I kept saying the pain was terrible. I look back now and realize my age and gender probably led to years of being ignored. I was just a “whiner” at 35-40 who couldn’t accept normal aging’s aches and pains. Well I showed them — now those X-rays show undeniable severe arthritis in one foot and moderate in the other.!
Wascally_Badger@reddit
Ugh. Yes, I too got the "suck it up and stop whining" spiel from people too. Louis CK has a bit years ago when he's telling his dr. that his ankle is in a lot of pai , and his doc. just says "yeah, your ankle's just shitty and worn out" and does nothing but tell him he should take ibuprophen. I could def. relate.
Catfiche1970@reddit
The main problems, and I've seen them my entire life, is that people live in a human body, but have basically no idea how it works, how to fuel it properly, and how to maintain it/put forth the energy to maintain it. Doctors also get very very very few hours on nutrition. Most people I know eat like shit and take pills to combat the shit they eat.
TorrEEG@reddit
This is so true!
I had a similar pregnancy journey. My leg swelling was just part of pregnancy right up until it turned out to be the worst blood clots they had ever seen. Then my symptoms were just pregnancy until someone actually listened. Then I was rushed to emergency C-section because we almost died.
Now everything is because I need to lose weight. I don't disagree with the need to lose, but some of my symptoms are the reason I gained all this weight. I had the symptoms when I weighed 135 and exercised an hour+ a day. Then I was told I was overtraining. Now the same symptoms are from being fat and out of shape.
And this really is my first time in a 50 y/o body. I don't know if it is supposed to feel like this.
I was joking with my physical therapist that we all need a class in joint health when we are 40. They can teach us the new things we need to do to keep things working into old age. I said it as a joke, but there is some truth there.
We need to be pulled from work to go to reverse adolescence classes like they did right as we became teens. The class will be similar. "Hair will appear places it wasn't before and your body will go through changes."
Enough-Variety-8468@reddit
I had a tumour removed in 2017 along with my sigmoid and some of my intestines. Cancer free and "things will take time to settle in there"
It's taken years of me pointing out my post op inguinal hernia is getting worse/bigger and causing me daily pain and generally impacting most elements of my life to get an appointment.
Currently waiting for a date for an operation that will hopefully help
mjh8212@reddit
After losing 110 pounds and showing signs of perimenopause I started getting dizzy spells dr thought my blood pressure dipped occasionally and I went on for two years with it. Suddenly in Jan I had multiple new and constant symptoms I was also passing out I had high heart rate as well. I had all the testing bloodwork heart tests and a tilt table. Tilt table shows dysautonomia a dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. Just doing the dishes my heart rate gets up to 140 last time I cooked something on the stove it was 150 and I almost passed out I was in bed the rest of the day.
Margotkitty@reddit
Sounds like POTS. Which has increased in the population since Covid. There are ways to help mitigate the affects - look it up. My daughter suffers with it.
Available-Bison-9222@reddit
I was going say POTS too.
Vanifest0@reddit
For me it's the cognitive decline. Menopause could be the reason. ADHD? Long Covid? I haven't been the same for about 4 years now. Forgetting small details. Names. Passwords. Feeling confused by technology.
justmeonlyme66@reddit
My dad had similar start overnight. He would be in the middle of a sentence, see a random object and substitute that. Example: "I was driving the pencil and stopped for bread." Tons of tests and scans. Doctors couldn't find anything. A few years after it started, he was walking down the hallway, got really dizzy and suddenly couldn't hear out of his left ear. Turns out he had a tiny blood clot somewhere in the ear canal and it burst. He was ok. Never recovered his hearing but also never did that odd word substitution again. Human bodies are weird.
Available-Bison-9222@reddit
Menopause definitely caused cognitive issues for me. I went through a year of thinking I had dementia. Hrt was a game changer.
sfdsquid@reddit
Have your thyroid checked too.
So many possibilities! Yay!
Greasystools@reddit (OP)
Options options options.
nvr2manydogs@reddit
Same. I am so nervous about meetings. I know I'm gonna struggle for a word.
Smotheredsteak@reddit
This is also me! I also forget words and forget what I’m saying mid sentence. lol
froggity55@reddit
I feel this in my brittle old lady bones.
Crivens999@reddit
Tis just niggles. We are all adults who ignore symptoms and hope we don’t die. Half joking, but the fear of seeing the doctor is ridiculous compared to when I was young. I remember going to the doctor with like 4/5 of the diabetes symptoms. Wasn’t worried. Was like 25. Doctor feared I had diabetes, I was like oh well whatever. Turned out to be a urine infection. These days if my ear feels funny then it’s cancer. I might as well not bother anymore. Doctors can’t help. Then I’m ok the next day. Sigh….
who-waht@reddit
So much for 50+ women is blamed on menopause that it seems difficult to sort out normal vs signs of a bigger problem.
Greasystools@reddit (OP)
I know between aging and hormones it’s a total shit show
No_Conversation7564@reddit
Amen
liddybuckfan@reddit
My gyn said so many things are either just a normal symptom of menopause...or they're cancer. I'm just checking every weird thing out at this point-better safe than sorry.
Lucky-Remote-5842@reddit
I find that it's also hard to bring up things to the doctor, that you can't quite put your finger on, yourself. If it's obvious, like my leg hurts, that's easy to articulate. But things like, I have a lot of inflammation sometimes, but I don't know what causes it and it's not happening right now, but it was happening a few days ago when I made the appointment, are harder to get the point across.
Or like, I can't lose any weight no matter what I try. I know how to lose weight but none of those things are working anymore... when you're not obese, you're just at the top of the normal BMI but want your clothes to fit better, nobody takes that seriously. My doctors are like you're fine, you don't need to lose weight. It's not about the weight to me so much as why am I stuck? A lot of it is inflammation and water weight I think.
justimari@reddit
This is so true, it’s like, “my arm fell off, must be menopause”
Competitive_Swan_755@reddit
No Sir. We just just have issues. No one recognizes aging.
This-Assumption4123@reddit
I thought I was having anxiety attacks. I was being blown off. Forced my PCP to see me and told him “It’s happening now” and they checked my blood pressure it was 55/39. They started acting quickly after that.
marty505050@reddit
This was 20 years ago, but double vision and dizziness dismissed by two doctors as side effects of pregnancy. Was a benign brain tumor.
Trick-Mechanic8986@reddit
I had a life changing car accident 20 years ago. Everything has hurt since then but with arthritis its somehow getting worse. Its the pennance for not dying when I was probably supposed to. New symptoms need to rise above the day to day pain to even get noticed.