Exercise and the menopause

[LaGattaNera]

I'm 49. Been a keen exerciser for 20 years. Did half marathon a year ago and my usual week would consist of perhaps 3 x 5 or 6 mile runs, 4 body pumps, a spin, a step class and a combat class. However, the last few months I ache nearly all the time. I used to train 6 days a week so perhaps 2 activities each day and one rest day but now I can hardly train 4 or 5 days a week and I do not feel recovered even after extra rest days. Legs seem to permanently ache and right now my upper glutes are killing me even when sitting down.
I am resisting HRT as don't want to risk sore breasts, water retention, weight gain or to increase breast cancer risk due to family history but today am feeling teary and upset about not even being able to do an hour's training without feeling like I have run a marathon.
Any advice? Even body balance makes me ache. Many thanks.

[megletthesecond]

Bumping for you. I swear I've hit a slight early meno and do hurt more than I used to.

[LaGattaNera]

Mine started 2 years ago. Everything feels alot of effort at the moment. Problem is all the instructors and trainers at my gym are teenage or 20 something guys and not sure they are the right people to ask about such things lol

[lljkk]

How would you know it's (peri)menopause rather than "getting older"?

There are a few good triathlete fora where maybe you could compare notes with similarly athletic women of similar age.
fwiw, a friend who has high cancer risks feels she needs HRT, but that's because of confusion/anxiety rather than fatigue/soreness. You may not know what works for you until you try it.

[Backingvocals]

I'm about to go on HRT in the hope that it will combat the aches and stiffness I suddenly have. I don't do one tenth of the exercise you do but I am so stiff and achy and tired (47). I know I'm in meno as have had the tests.

[LaGattaNera]

My lack of energy and achey muscles and joints started at exactly the same time as my hot flushes last year so feel sure it is due to being menopausal rather than just getting older. Not had a period for 25 months but the first year or so had no meno symptoms but all around the same time symptoms started around 9 months ago.
Have discussed HRT at length with 2 different GPs at my practice but don't like the sound of the potential side effects that I might end up with. Also I understood I was a candidate for the continuous HRT as so long since a period but both GPs were reluctant and I don't want to start having bleeds again which I am likely to with the other HRT. The female GP said that HRT merely delays meno symptoms and that when I stopped HRT they would re-appear so that didn't sound appealing. I lost 3 stones in the last few years and so many people I know have weight gain with HRT so yet another reason why I resist it.