u/BruvMates

Hey all. 54F, been hiking for most of my adult life and it's honestly the one thing that keeps me grounded. About two years ago my knees started getting worse and worse and I got diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Downhills have become pretty brutal and some mornings I'm so stiff I have to sit on the edge of the bed for a while before I can even get moving.

I've messed around with compression sleeves and KT tape and popping ibuprofen before hikes but nothing really sticks long term. The physical stuff is one thing but the mental side of feeling like hiking is slowly being taken from me is honestly what's getting to me the most.

Would love to hear from anyone dealing with something similar. How has it affected your hiking life and how are you coping with it both physically and mentally? Feeling pretty alone in this lately.

I turned 47 last month and I swear I aged 10 years overnight. I'm not exaggerating two years ago people would literally tell me I looked 30. Now I look in the mirror and see my grandmother staring back at me.

My neck. My GOD, my neck. When did it get so saggy? And these jowls appeared out of nowhere. My face looks like it's melting down my jawline. I know that sounds dramatic but that's genuinely what it looks like.

The worst part isn't even the physical changes, it's how invisible I feel now. I used to walk into a room and people would smile, engage with me. Now? Nothing. Even salespeople treat me differently. Like I'm just another "old lady browsing."

My husband says I'm being ridiculous but I catch myself avoiding mirrors.

I've had a solid skincare routine since my mid-20s: good serums, sunscreen religiously. None of it seems to matter anymore. My doctor mentioned HRT but the side effects scare me.

I'm desperate to know:

• Did this happen to anyone else this fast?
• What have you actually tried?
• How do you deal with feeling like you've lost yourself? Some days I feel like I have no value if I'm not pretty anymore and I HATE that I feel this way.
• Is there ANYTHING that actually works besides surgery? (it isn't an option I can't afford it)

I feel so alone in this. Please tell me I'm not crazy.