I appreciated Julian Fellowes’ work long before he became known as the creator and writer of Downton Abbey. I first discovered him as an actor portraying the pretentious and often hapless neighbor of the MacDonald clan, Lord Sharon Kilwillie, in BBC Scotland’s beloved dramedy Monarch of the Glen, which offered 64 endearing episodes from 2000 to 2005. By turns jolly, irascible and pompous, Kilwillie’s attempts to best his friend Hector MacDonald, and after Hector’s death to woo his widow, Molly, were always supremely entertaining.
But who knew Fellowes could write?
Those who were paying attention.
During his appearances in Monarch of the Glen, he apparently spent his “spare” time writing the screen play for the Robert Altman film, Gosford Park, which may have served as an unofficial trial run for Fellowes’ best-known work, the above-mentioned Downton Abbey.
I was slow to join the Downton Abbey juggernaut as a fan because I thought, especially during its first season, that it ripped off a bit too much from the much-loved earlier British series, Upstairs, Downstairs. (And it effectively quashed the success of the 2010 Upstairs, Downstairs sequel.) Soon, though, the Downton Abbey undertow pulled me in, and I couldn’t escape it. Besides, who didn’t enjoy regular doses of Maggie Smith’s acerbic delivery of Fellowes’ written wit?
So, even though Maggie Smith left us last year, and she won’t be in the third and final Downton Abbey movie this September, I eagerly await it. In the meantime, I get my dose of Fellowes’ by now trademark gift for period soap opera with the third season of his American counterpart to Downton Abbey, HBO’s The Gilded Age.
While watching Sunday night’s episode, I saw a young Black doctor from 1880s New York discuss his profession with his new love interest, the earnest and ambitious Peggy Scott (series regular Denée Benton). He mentioned he once diagnosed a patient with “old man syndrome.”
That can’t be a thing, I thought. Then I googled it. Turns out, it’s a thing.
And I may well have it. I suspect so may have Julian Fellowes, since he’s of a certain age (75) and because he wrote a mention of the condition into this episode.
Google’s AI defines it as follows:
"’Old man syndrome’ is a colloquial term used to describe a cluster of behavioral and physical changes that some men experience as they age, often characterized by increased irritability, moodiness, and a tendency to complain. While not a clinical diagnosis, it's often linked to declining testosterone levels (andropause or male menopause) and other age-related factors.
“Key aspects of ‘old man syndrome’ or Irritable Male Syndrome (IMS):
“Irritability and Moodiness: A common symptom is increased irritability, short temper, and a tendency to be easily frustrated or angered.
“Changes in Testosterone Levels: As men age, testosterone levels naturally decline, which can affect mood, energy levels, and libido.
“Other Physical Changes: Besides mood changes, men may experience fatigue, sleep disturbances, and decreased muscle mass.
“Psychological Factors: Life changes like retirement, loss of social connections, and adjusting to a changing world can contribute to the syndrome.
“Potential for Misdiagnosis: It's important to distinguish between typical age-related changes and underlying medical conditions like depression or anxiety.
“Important Considerations:
“Not a Universal Experience: Not all men experience these changes, and the severity varies greatly.
“Lifestyle Factors: Factors like diet, exercise, and alcohol consumption can influence the severity of symptoms.
“Seeking Help: If symptoms are severe or disruptive, it's important to consult a healthcare professional to rule out other conditions and explore treatment options, such as hormone replacement therapy or lifestyle adjustments.”
I found that a lot to take in, but I had to admit much of it resonated with me, especially my body’s hormonal shifts and my reduced social contacts after retirement (when you look forward to medical appointments just for the conversation they offer, it’s telling), and might explain why my attempts to lose weight and improve my health during the past five years have offered middling results. While I have lost some weight and have managed to keep it off with the assistance of weekly semaglutide injections, my energy nowhere approaches what it was a decade ago. And when I see myself walking around my house in sweats on my security camera footage, I look like a walking sack of potatoes. (That alone is a reason to be irritable.)
This Wednesday, with “old man syndrome” much on my mind, I approached my regular weigh-in with my weight loss counselor, dreading the number I’d see on the scale. My home scale indicated I’d added about three pounds during the previous 14 days.
I have a new counselor, and I am yet to learn how she encourages – or discourages – her patients. After my weigh-in, she asked me how things have been going.
“I’m a bit flummoxed. I’ve gained weight, but I’ve been intentionally increasing my activity levels,” I said, explaining that I’ve returned to using hand weights for my arms and upper body, and have increased my time and effort on the recumbent bicycle and elliptical trainer (which hikes my heart rate and makes me sweat) at the Y. Additionally, while I’ve hired someone to mow and edge my hillside lawn, I’m still doing things like mulching my plant beds and putting in new plants, which isn’t a minimal effort, especially in South Carolina’s currently oppressive heat and humidity (Hell’s back porch is how I refer to the area where I live). And I’ve also focused on improving my diet, including more vegetables and fewer bags of chips and servings of alcohol (Chedder & Sour Cream Ruffles and Scotch whiskey are my weaknesses).
She looked at the printout from the scale, onto which I step barefoot so it can provide information on my body’s water and fat content.
Guess what?
My increased activity and dietary changes were not for naught. My body’s fat-to-muscle ratio has improved on the side of muscle. She told me to pay more attention to how my clothes fit (are they becoming looser?) as I continue my weight loss journey rather than the numbers I see on the scale each day. Otherwise, she encouraged me, saying, “You’re doing all the right things.”
Okay. Deep breath.
And much relief.
Because at only four months from turning 70, I seem to still be able to reduce fat and build muscle, even if it requires much more substantial effort than in decades past.
So maybe my “old man syndrome” isn’t all that “old” after all. Perhaps I fall into the “not a universal experience” category?
Here’s hoping.
But for now, I’m off to the Y!
AfterThoughts is a weekly column offering opinions and experiences from Farr’s seven decades of life. He is a retired writer/editor/photographer, occasional actor, vocalist, stage director and published novelist living in the greater Columbia, SC area. His novels include Favored Son, its sequel, And So It Goes, and its prequel, Dear Brüder.