Has Anyone Shrunk?

Loss of muscle mass can cause you to shrink. It’s the muscles that hold the spine / skeleton up.

I didn't think I had, but the summer dresses on sale this year are swamping me in length, so maybe.

Lost 2.5 inches, obviously all from my spine, but given that I always had a relatively short body and dlong arms and legs, I now look like a spider. All limbs, with a little round body in the middle.

I’m like you watermeadow- curvature makes me short. That’s my excuse. But seriously, I used to be taller than my daughter, now I am 2” shorter…. 5’1 .

I have a curving spine and, as well as losing height, one hand is now a bit lower than the other. I tell myself to stand up straight 20 times a day but instantly forget. I’m just so grateful that it doesn’t hurt.
In a crowd I’m very aware that most people, especially the young, are way taller than me and I used to be a very average 5’ 5”

Ive lost 2 inches - used to be 5 ft 8 ins. Still tall for a woman so I can look most men in the eye.

Granmardaby10 - losing height as age is not related specifically to either gender. Both Men and Women do (as explained by B9exchange).

In my 80's now I have lost just over two inches, taking my 5'4" to just below 5'2".

Everything does tend to go 'southwards' as we age. Not the worst thing that happens to us.

I am more concerned at my rounded shoulders (start of what used to be called Dowagers Hump - do try to deliberately pull myself up straighter - but my spinal problems do make me bend forard

The only parts of me that have shrunk are my feet. I have been size 5 all my life - now I am a 4 or a 4.5. Is it me or have shoe sizes got bigger?

I've had 3 spinal surgeries and have lost 3.5 ins. I was just over 5ft 7ins and now barely 5ft 4ins.

I've lost 2 inches. Had osteoporosis. My spine seems to be OK but I know vertebrae can crumble. My mum had a couple of fractures in her spine.

I was blaming M&S for making R size jeans longer, until I was measured at a hospital appointment and I have lost 3 inches!

As we age, the discs between the vertebrae compress, reducing our height. You will lose on average half an inch every 10 years over 40, so at 70 will have lost an inch and a half. Nothing you can do about it, unless you want to risk life and limb in platform shoes!

I've lost a couple of inches - well I think I have because everyone around me including my teenage grandchildren and boyfriends are giants!!!

DH and I have both lost 2 inches. He is mortified, from being 6’1” he is now 5’11”! It does not bother me, just part of aging.

Yes Sparklefizz I have, and I thought for ages that it was ‘cos I don’t wear high shoes, but on measuring myself last year I discovered the shrinkage. Not funny but like you say Redhead56 it’s happened…..
Perhaps if It had been highlighted in the same way as other female related health issues are such as fertility (not leaving it too late to get pregnant for example) this might have helped.
But in my opinion it is just another aspect of womens’ health, to NOT be taken seriously like cardiac/menopausal to name just two such.
We are living (it seems to me) at a time when it is almost as though females have just been invented and we are living longer (God damn us) than ever before with many single, childless through choice women or as in my own case, I completed my family before I was 20 and being pretty healthy, and resilient by nature, have rarely had good reason to “bother” doctors.
That not everything in a woman’s lifetime health story is related to sexual health/gyno/fertility, pregnancy and child birth. We have all the “other” body parts too.👹 rant over and out.

I have lost my long waist. In fact my body is waistless. I despair as I look at my aging shape. I used to be size 12 down to my hips and 14 beyond. So bought 12 dresses with some kind of a flare and looked quite shapely. I am in my eighties and have put on half a stone - so ten stone. I look in the mirror and I am overweight.

I was 5’6 now just over 5’5, I have been diagnosed with cervical & lumbar spondylosis so guess it’s that! I’m trying to improve my posture as I can feel myself hunching my shoulders up at times.

I am annoyed to have lost 2 inches and can now longer reach the second highest kitchen cupboard let alone the top one !

I used to be 5 foot seven, and I’m now 5 foot five, but I put it down to the fact that I’ve never driven a car and always walked a lot! 😁

😂 I have lost about an inch and half in height but put about ten inches around my waist! It’s not funny but if I didn’t laugh I would cry!

I have shrunk. I used to measure 5' 4" I am now 5' 3 and a little bit. I find my 29" jeans now touch the floor.

Yes. I've lost two inches. And that's official in my hospital notes. The nurse commented on it. Strange isn't it. I do have a lot of back problems which may be the reason.