you look so young

[Joe S.]

I knew that I would not get a contemplative Dx when these words came from my doctors mouth.

So, do you look younger than your age, older, or your age?

I am told I do not look my age. (Younger)

[Carolina]

Oh Joe, isn't is amazing?

My Immunologist actually tells those working with her (grad students, medical students, fellows) "Look at her charts, don't look at her!".

I look 20 years younger than my true age of 72.  It's the just 'luck of the draw' with genetics.  I haven't had any surgery (other than medically required stuff of which I've had more than my share).

So I look younger from genetics and I guess that's a good thing?  But of course, my genetics have plagued me all of my life with bizarre conditions and life threatening conditions.  I guess that's just 'the luck of the draw' on the other side of the coin, as it were.  (To mix metaphors).

As a woman I find some people actually staring at me trying to see where I've had a face lift! And I'm sure they think I'm full of bo-tox or that filler stuff they inject.

Of course I can see the aging, and since inside everything is about 95, it does even out, doesn't it?

Hugs, Elaine

[Katybarstool]

Joe, what an interesting topic. I've always been told I look young for my age, but I think that is changing - I can see my skin around my chin and neck beginning to wrinkle, and I hate it. I'm 57, and definitely don't want to look any older.

Elaine, I have to admit to having had 8 rounds of botox - but not anywhere visible to an outsider ... and it's not all it's cracked up to be!

Kathyx

[sassygal]

I had always been told that I looked younger than my actual age and complimented on having beautiful skin.

Since Sjogren's came into my life, I have had a dramatic change and now look aged beyond my actual years.

Aside from feeling like crap on the inside, my outsides have joined in. Really depressing when someone who hasn't seen you in a year just stares at you in disbelief! Looking older though hasn't been a perk in getting doctors to take symptoms seriously though. They tend to say "of course you have aches and pains, we all get that as we age."

Gail

[quietdynamics]

I always looked younger than my age.
Fit and trim.
Thought it had a lot to do with working with teens and living near colleges.
Being active, adventuring.

But, now I look older, drained, tired ( which I am)
Have gone on YouTube to learn how to apply makeup. 

Just feel that life has been "sucked" out of me.
But, oddly.. I am still optimistic..

I feel as though the collagen in the skin has been affected? Eyelids, slight jowls too soon.
Beyond just normal expected aging. Brittle nails, stuff.. so SJS? SJS and other 'stuff" .. becomes a blurrrr.
Hydration and electrolyte balance are really easily off kilter .. so diligence. Except when I crash then all bets are off.

Maybe I need to go stand on my head?

[Ripvanann]

May face looks like I'm in my 20's (I'm in my 40'), my hair and body look like that of someone in their 90's. So all told, I guess I look my age. -=)

[angeldancer]

I use to look a lot younger.  When I was 40 I looked 16.  Now the cancer has aged me rapidly. I am hopeful that after the treatments my body and looks will rejuvenate.

[A66eyroad]

I'm always told I look younger than my 59 years --- but I think it's just because I act like a spoiled brat nine-year-old! Actually, I do try to keep current with my hairstyle, glasses and clothing, I listen to and keep up with popular music and television shows, and I work with a bunch of 20- to 30-year-olds.

On the inside, though, I'm an exhausted wreck. I can't believe I have to work for seven more years until I can retire at 66.

And the Oscar goes to........   

[Carolina]

EXACTLY Abbey.....

Part of my 'youthfulness' is that I'm so immature!

And so much of my body, inside AND beneath my clothes is about 95.

I am so thankful that the s..t of Sjogren's didn't hit the fan until I was already retired, which was at age 60.

I retired early due to coronary artery disease, and because we had saved every single penny once I went to work seriously.  I mean we saved the MAXIMUM every year in our IRA accounts.  We drove old clunkers and lived frugally.  And thank goodness, because I would have never been able to keep on working in high pressure positions like I had been once I developed Sjogren's and anemia, and Meniere's with deafness, and Interstitial Cystitis, and Peripheral Neuropathy, then Primary Immune Deficiency and so on.

If you look at my picture you see what someone with good bone structure and skin that was completely covered with SEVERE eczema for the first 21 years of her life, can look like at 72.

On the surface.  But as we know, we have to do all we can to keep our spirits up.  I'm in a book group with women who are 42-46.   Sometimes I'm so out of it, with them, and sometimes they complain about their parents who are sometimes younger than I am.  But it is what it is, I find.

And basically how I look on the outside isn't really me, anyway. 

Hugs,  Elaine

[Velcro]

My Doctor tells me I look young for my age.....I'm kissing him!

[machenza]

Sjo is changing me fast. My eyes are so pinkish and have no shine, and my face is turning gray.
On the flip side, on Friday I went to a mineral water spa that has sulfur, and my skin felt great and moist on the following day. I guess I will be doing this more often, and who knows I might get better complexion...

Nellie