Besides Gray Hair, What Was (Or Were) Your First Sign(s) of Aging?

Gray at 16, first line at the corner of the eye detected late-20s ...now at 55 I have a lot! more lines but still get the "you look younger thing..." Nothing has bothered me until the last five years or so when my depressor anguli oris muscles started to slacken causing martionette lines around my mouth. Yuck. There's not much creams or skin procedures can do since it's an underlying muscular issue.
 
There are plenty signs of aging during a person's whole life with some periods more obvious than others. Maybe the 25 to 35 year age least. But then I understand the OP was actually referring to signs of old age degenerative aging. In my 40's, my beautiful fine light brown hair began to slowly recede at my forehead hairline. Now at 73 years, now half grayish half brown hair has thinned across my crown though still thick on sides. So wear a baseball cap now during midday sunny outdoors.

Most people begin rapidly aging in their 50s while it has been delayed personally to the mid 60s maybe because I have long teleomeres. Although I may be at the 0.1% of the Bell Curve, such does not mean one cannot suddenly come down with a long list of afflictions and genetic diseases as I just found out with a rare bone marrow cancer producing excessive RB/WB cells.
 
Wrote this 12 years ago when I turned 60


Here and Now

So, here I am, on the wrong side of sixty, weird things growing, wiry hairs, warts, splotches, odd indefinable patches, moles the size of gophers, and that’s just on my hind end.

I’ve got good hearing, but only in one ear.
It's why we have two of most everything.

Vision is going south. Reading glasses are strategically laid throughout the house, cars, tackle boxes, and shop.
It’s not a serious issue just yet, but need to demonstrate more patience when trying to get the neighbor’s hibachi to fetch.

I make little noises when I commence to get outta my lay z boy.
I notice that those same noises will emanate from my wretched larynx when I commence to sit in said lazy boy.
Speaking of larynxes, I find that throat clearing takes several tries…like starting an ol’ model T.

I have partial recall, and even that is a struggle.

I can put on 157 lbs in 13 minutes, just from sniffing a bran muffin.

After sixty, while you slumber, a pubic hair can grow the length of 3 feet…on the pointy part of your ear lobe.

Things grow, and things that were already there will up and move

‘Doc, take a look at whatever that is on my left knee.’
‘Gary, that’s just your right testicle.’
‘BTW, when’s the last time I ran my finger up your pooper?’

When in your 60s you must learn the difference between the words colostomy and colonoscopy…it’s important when checking in.

Of a morning, you’ll look in the bathroom mirror, and find a goblin looking back.
So just comb back your ear hair and greet the day.

Self-keeping becomes secondary.
‘Honey, there’s a puffed wheat in your mustache.’
‘Oh…..so?’
‘We had puffed wheat two weeks ago.’
‘And your point, dear?’

By sixty your underwear from high school has finally given up the ghost, so you retire the little strands of elastic,
but consider the frugal acquisition of 12 headbands.

You discover your new fresh (actually brilliant white) briefs are quite the contrast to the occasional poop stain
…of which is no longer so occasional……poop cake can become a concern.

Oh, and you discover you no longer have a hind end.
It has gingerly crept up and nestled onto your lower back, leaving you with just a six inch line and a tuft of hair.

The fire in your eyes is now just pain recognition.
Speaking of fire, get wunna those birthday candles that doesn’t blow out.

It’ll help you keep the fire.
 
I turned gray, but otherwise stayed pretty healthy until about 74, except for having to fight ulcerative colitis at 65. (It is still in remission with medication.)

The "fun" really started around the age of 74:

Rotator cuff surgery. probably the result of continuing to lift heavy weights. (This was very painful.)
Total replacement of left hip. (Very easy compared to rotator cuff surgery.)
Repeated instances of minor skin cancers frozen or cut out.
Cataract surgery on both eyes (One turned out great, the other not quite.)
Then came prostate cancer that kept me occupied and miserable for about 3 1/2 years.

I will turn 80 later this year and am happy to be here.
LOL, I do wonder what is in store for me.
 
hollydolly said:
When I started getting OA in my hands.. when people started called me Madam instead of young lady, or luv ( which is a common expression here) ... when I had to get distance specs as well as reading specs..
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This reminds me of something I got a big kick out of. Last time I was on vacation in Atlantic City, I was walking the boardwalk, like I usually do. There were a couple of men standing in the park talking (the park and boardwalk meet in one small section). When I walked by one of the men said "Hello Baby Girl". I was particularly tickled because that's what my son calls his daughter and I was thinking, this mask sure does a good job of camouflaging my age. The fact that I keep my hair covered in public doesn't hurt either. :ROFLMAO:
 
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Pappy said:
A really bad turkey neck and age spots.

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Pappy that laugh emoji is not for your turkey neck and age spots but for this GIF, which I find funny.

@win231 ROFL about your list. 🤣
@Fyrefox Re your reply: I guess I should add I started to realize I was old when my son started getting AARP solicitations...that was 3 years ago. My husband and I had just the opposite happen when we asked for senior discounts at restaurants...even ones that started at age 55. The wait staff would be like...no way you guys are seniors. I also got "carded" on more than one bus a few years back. Seniors must be 62. The drivers couldn't believe it when I told them I was almost 70 years old. I pulled out my license for one of them.

@Pepper I'm so sorry for what you've endured. My condolences on the loss of your beloved mother. I know the feeling.
 
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Pecos said:
I turned gray, but otherwise stayed pretty healthy until about 74, except for having to fight ulcerative colitis at 65. (It is still in remission with medication.)

The "fun" really started around the age of 74:

Rotator cuff surgery. probably the result of continuing to lift heavy weights. (This was very painful.)
Total replacement of left hip. (Very easy compared to rotator cuff surgery.)
Repeated instances of minor skin cancers frozen or cut out.
Cataract surgery on both eyes (One turned out great, the other not quite.)
Then came prostate cancer that kept me occupied and miserable for about 3 1/2 years.

I will turn 80 later this year and am happy to be here.
LOL, I do wonder what is in store for me.
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I'm so sorry for all you've been through MDB but so glad you are a fighter and survived all of it. I also admire the stamina you have now after all you've been through. You should feel very proud of yourself.

@officerripley My dear friend, my heart goes out to you when reading some of your posts. I wish things were better for you....you certainly deserve it!
hug-bear.gif
 
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I worked in a psychiatric hospital. At times some patients could become extremely violent, and combative. We'd have to pin them to the ground, and give them an injection to calm them down. It was one staff on each arm and each leg. I was about 50+, and there was an 18 year old male patient who needed an injection. I was holding down one of his arms. He was a moose of a guy, and strong. I just could not hold down his arm. The other staff kept looking at me, because I couldn't keep his arm still. It was then that I realized I wasn't "young" anymore. I couldn't be on that pin team anymore. I was too old to keep a pt. from hurting himself.
 

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