I feel old suddenly!

I so empathise, especially with the teeth. I had to have a front tooth out in November because I snapped it straight across and it couldn't be saved. Then the one next to it broke too. The upshot is I'm managing with a temporary bridge but will hopefully be getting an implant and a crown fitted towards the end of April. Yes, the implant is expensive but I'd rather have that than a car, holiday etc. I found it really hard to smile with a gap and it was making me sad. And yes, I'm 68 and have started to notice saggy skin on my arms. My hair is fine too but I get it cut and coloured regularly which helps. I just have to be sure never to go out without makeup and I won't even mention the nights spent drenched with swear, my temperature control has gone AWOL. Mazza you sound like you're doing really well coping with your health problems so keep your head high and

Sweat, I meant sweat not swear

My dentist suggested 2implants for me and recommended a dentist she refers to in Brighton who charges £800 per implant. So prices vary, worth checking around . Getting older is hard, I've never been a beauty but still hate it, it must be devastating for those who were once lovely.

Five years ago I would take my mother out in her car each week. She'd refused to have knee replacements and had got to the stage of being unable to lift her feet from the ground. Just slid them along with her knees together as they'd collapsed inwards. Her insteps had dropped so she had to wear NHS boots. Anyway, I would lift her feet and unbending legs into the car, stow her sticks and take her for a drive. Today, having had a knee replacement last Monday, my DH lifted my foot and unbending swollen leg into,the car, stowed my sticks and took me for a drive to our DS's so I could borrow his shower. I looked at the short leather boots I was wearing with the baggy trousers (the boots look fine with boot cut denims) and it was my mum's legs I saw. I've been looking like her more and more lately too and, having had to cut right back on my HRT for the op, plus the effects of the anesthetics my skin has gone all saggy and my hair straight and lank.

I am my mother! I am really depressed! Hopefully my leg will recover at lightening speed and my saggy skin and horrible hair will recover from the effects of the op. I'm so glad I had it done but ...!

The DC used to have two 'speaking' soft toys and one of the phrases was 'I'm falling apart at the seams'
which we repeat quite often these days!

Well, I've never been lovely

Oh, and I had my four front teeth capped a couple of years ago, after all as my smarmy dentist at the time said, the first thing people see is your smile. They'd worn right down and were very sharp, but not painful. He quoted £2,250. I went round the corner to the other dentist in town for a second opinion. If I'd waited until they hurt I could have had the crowns done on the NHS, but if I waited until then there wouldn't be enough for decent pegs. His quote was £1,875. And he wasn't smarmy! I'm very pleased with the result. If you have an NHS dentist and can claim that your teeth (or lack of) is causing pain, difficulty eating, or it's making you so self conscious it's affecting your mental well being you can get a considerable reduction. Although finding an NHS dentist is getting harder these days.

That's all I want, my two front teeth capped or veneered but she won't do it.

and I will pay

Oh jalima you have my sympathy with the broken foot. Been there ..... Got 2 T shirts. And it was (so my kids told me) all my fault because I was wearing totally ridiculous very high wedges and fell off them. did you have to wear one of those massive boots whilst your foot was healing?

The teeth are the worst thing. I've been to dentist every 6 months since I was a child .... I don't understand why mine are so problematic.

My 70th is looming next month! Yuk'

The ankle bone is mended but I think ligaments etc are taking longer! Yes, I have the boot, it's under the stairs!

Jalima Why can't you have caps? I wanted veneer, but was told it would be a waste of time. That it wouldn't last. Have you tried other dentists?

Mazza, I think you have fallen among kindred spirits which I hope is comforting.
Spot, thank you for your wise words on the many faces of beauty.
to you both.

I completely understand so much of what others are saying. On the one hand it seems shallow to be worrying about how we look when awful suffering is on our TVs screens every day. BUT rightly or wrongly most us want to look our best and feeling like our
younger selves. Let's face it a smile is the first thing people see when they look us in the eye and says so much about us I know I was really upset at having s small skin cancer removed from my face a few years back. Despite not thinking of myself as a vain person more of a jump in the shower 5 minute to get ready kind of woman it did matter so much to me what I was going to look like afterwards. It was fine and my old boy still says I've got a great smile crooked teeth but a great smile

Haven't I just! I can't believe such a string of lovely comforting messages with good wishes, hopes and goodwill emanating from you all, almost without exception. It's wonderful to know that there are all of you out there with the same feelings, lack of confidence sometimes but dogged determination to make the best of things. So many and varied health and body problems but all taking the time to reassure me and wish me well. I'm quite overcome.

I've posted twice before and both times received a few negative and unfriendly messages and I was quite discouraged from posting for a while but this has been a different kettle of fish altogether.

We went to this race night tonight that I wasn't looking forward to, I got dressed up, made up, put rollers in whilst in the bath and then mussed it up across the front to cover my scalp shining at the parting! I didn't say much to anyone but I did yell at the races. The only one I won was when I bet on Cavity ridden by Den Tist! I thought you are the only people, apart from DH, who would appreciate that! I had a few drinks which I'm not really allowed and DH drove, which is unusual but I wanted to relax which I did.

I'm glad that this thread has encouraged others to share their difficulties and I really hope that all your physical challenges are overcome in time and we are all around for a long time to enjoy our particular sort of 'friendship' via Gransnet.

Lovely post mazza

I hope you get sorted out soon with your teeth mazza. I know the day is looming when my top ones go for a Burton. I have always done everything I am told to do ( regarding teeth that is), flossing, inter dental brushes, hygenist and everything else you can think of, but they are still a nuisance. My Mum was the same, and i think I have inherited that. I do have a Bridge at the front, not because of decay but because of an accident many years ago.

I did ask about implants but the price is so high, anyway my Dentist said my Gums are not good enough so do keep in mind that perhaps they are not for everyone. I for one will have to settle for an upper denture. I know I will cry because that has always been my worst nightmare to have false teeth, but then when I look in the mirror at my saggy but haggard miserable looking face, I look miserable even when I am ecstatic lol, I think what the heck, can't make that any worse.
Let us know how you get on please Mazza, good luck

I did all the right visiting the dentist stuff throughout my life too. I can only think they're past their sell-by date. Which means only one thing. I'm old! The worst is that when I say I'm nearly 70 to someone, they're not surprised. They don't even pretend. It rather makes me suspect that I look older! Ho hum. It had to come sometime I'd just rather hoped to be one of those smiley people in the Saga ads.
But, I've started my diet already. A stone to get rid of - any more and the wrinkles will show too much. And when I can get to the hairdresser I'm having hi-lights. Getting back on the HRT too as it does seem to make a difference. I'm going down fighting!!

Never regret getting old, it is denied to many.

I do sympathise - up till 2003, when I had a really bad fall, I felt about 16, looked young and was blessed with good health. Suddenly everything triggered - arthritis, diabetes, high cholesterol, thyroid problems. At the same time, I had problems with my teeth, which had to come out - my new dentures felt horrible, seemed to take up all my mouth space and worse, stopped me breathing.I knew that it was all linked, but suddenly felt really old and still feel that there's nothing much to look forward to! I realise, of course, that this is just the depression talking, not me, but it's so easy to give up. Now spring's here, going to get my life back in order - declutter my home, get my dentist to advise what, if anything, can be done about new dentures, beat my horrible garden into shape and then sort out my equally depressed family.Good luck, everyone! Love, Skweek1 xxx

I don't regret getting old Experigran, just the way it's happening. It's down to the media again isn't it. Raising expectations too high. All these visions of good looking, smart grey headed smiley people with good jaw lines and everything still where it should be! I should know better! But I am going to try to keep as much going for as long as I can. The sun is shinning, life is for living and daytime tv can go back onto the back burner!

Dont believe your dentist who says you haven't enough bone for implants. You can have bone grafts - sounds worse than it is and its only a minute, tiny procedure. I guess not all dentists are trained to do it, it does add to the cost but not by much and you have it done at the same time as the implant. Do some research!

Mazza, can you walk your doggie? If so then give thanks. I can't walk our doggie. I can't walk myself. However, I am going to keep on trying.
Good luck for the future, you WILL win through. Have a nice holiday.

I was interested in what suzied said about bone grafts. My dentist does them as part of the implant procedure as necessary, I didn't need it but she quoted for it and talked to me about it beforehand just in case. It adds about £200 to the cost and is done when implanting the titanium root. It apparently isn't at all complex. I absolutely agree with everything suzied says so take heart all those who thought they couldn't have implants, they're evolving all the time.

I think it must be the time of year when we are all feeling a little fed up with ourselves.
I have just turned 80 and am really beginning to feel my age. Nothing major but things like I can't seem to get rid of the 7lb I put on at Christmas,I am not satisfied with my hair even though I go to the hairdressers every week,one of my nails has started to split and my bust [which I always felt was too big] now seems more saggy than ever.I have always taken pride in my appearance so I'm feeling old.
But I have a lovely husband and have had a nice Mother's day with my daughter and daughter in law so who am I to moan? But I feel better getting it off my [enlarged] chest.