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Menopause

Good health and tiredness

16 replies

MagAbsorb · 17/10/2016 18:57

I'm 46, and have been perimenopausal for years. I haven't had a period in about 6 months. I go through many days when I feel like I have real PMT, even slight cramps, but nothing comes (is that normal?).

I'm really healthy; I exercise a lot, I don't drink, I watch what I eat and I take appropriate supplements. And although my sleep is interrupted, I do go to bed early.

BUT I feel tired all the time and am currently having my third cough/cold in less than 5 weeks. I have to keep stopping and starting exercise classes.

I feel lame. And a bit low.

I don't want to go onto HRT, I don't think I need it, but I don't want to feel like this.

Would like to hear if anyone else has felt like this.

OP posts:

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PollyPerky · 17/10/2016 20:23

Maybe pop to the drs for a blood test for anaemia and thyroid- just to rule them out?

'phantom' periods are common yes, even long after the last one- some women report all the signs but no bleed.

Don't rule HRT out. You are on the young side if you have no more periods, and the risks of HRT wouldn't apply anyway until you were 51 (age of average meno) as you'd only be putting back what is there for most women. Think of it as a supplement.

MagAbsorb · 17/10/2016 20:51

Thank you, PollyPerky. I think it might be worth testing anaemia, you're right, but I know my thyroid is fine. Should HRT really be thought of as a supplement?

Aah, phantom periods sound awful...

Please don't take this the wrong way, but I've done a thorough trawl through the threads here as I'm new, and you suggest HRT a lot to women. A lot!

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Foxyspook · 17/10/2016 20:55

I am 49 and this sounds like me. I had 6 months without bleeding and felt as you describe, and then a couple of months' ago, I had a period, and after that 28 days' later, another one, and I have energy back again, although I feel full of water retention, etc...I will be interested in the responses you receive.

PollyPerky · 17/10/2016 21:30

Mag Don't shoot me I'm only the messenger! :)

The HRT as a supplement idea is what the chair of the BMS says

www.menopausematters.co.uk/pm-definition.php

Premature menopause, or premature ovarian failure, is frequently defined as being menopause that occurs before the age of 40 years, but in the developed world, it is thought that it should be defined as menopause before the age of 45 years, the loss of estrogen having particular long term health risks in this age group

www.menopausematters.co.uk/pm-management.php

If you are just 46 and have been in peri for 4 years, that would be considered quite young -see above. You are 'on the cusp' of having had a premature menopause.

I've got no axe to grind on HRT but I just hate to see women suffer when something safe - and maybe necessary- is out there to help.

DustyMaiden · 17/10/2016 21:35

I'm 54 still having periods but have suffered very much from tiredness and constants infections. B12 has made a massive difference.

MagAbsorb · 17/10/2016 21:52

yes, but the messenger for who, Polly?

I haven't had a premature menopause.

We are getting off track here.

Anyone else with non-HRT related thoughts?

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PollyPerky · 17/10/2016 22:06

The messenger for the science that is out there.

You haven't had a premature menopause - but it's a moot point that if your periods have almost stopped/ or might have stopped at 46 you are pretty close to 45 which is considered premature.

The average age is 51-52.

MagAbsorb · 17/10/2016 22:14

It's not a moot point. I have no idea if I will get a period tomorrow, or next month, or go the whole year without. Only then can I decide if it is considered premature menopause. And, as such, it's not relevant to this discussion. And I know what the average age is.

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PollyPerky · 17/10/2016 22:23

I'm going to butt out of this forum now. I'm not looking for an argument. I'm not here to be on the receiving end of snipey comments. I'm trying to be helpful, passing on advice which I've had from one of the UK's top meno consultants, from peri to now post meno, for many years. I mentioned HRT to you in passing along with other things. I feel great on HRT so what's wrong in saying so? And reporting the facts?

Good luck with it all.

MagAbsorb · 17/10/2016 22:29

I apologise if you feel I was snidey. That wasn't my intention. But it felt a little like I was in a discussion with someone who wasn't listening to what I was saying. You were saying what you wanted to say.

Don't worry about going. I'm off. I don't think this place is for me. And you clearly pass along a lot of advice that people want.

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DustyMaiden · 18/10/2016 00:20

Would it be wrong to laugh at women on the menopause thread getting the hump with each other and stropping off😃

Deux · 18/10/2016 16:27

I am smiling at Dusty's comment. 😀

What you describe about the Intermittent PMT, feeling as though you're about to get a period, I can relate to. I was the same. From what I can understand it's down to crashing and unstable hormone levels. So it's where your ovaries are trying to ovulate but they're not producing the hormones to make it happen.

I put up with feeling like that for a long time as I didn't feel consistently terrible. So when I felt fine I didn't see the point in seeking any help, then I'd feel rubbish again and so the cycle continued.

Dare I say it? I'm on HRT now so the mood swings, pmt, aches, brain fog, lack of energy, acne/spots, tetchiness have all disappeared. I am also quite badly anaemic and on iron tablets for 3 months.

I think it's worth getting some blood tests done to check for anaemia and also vitamin d levels. You could have 2 things going on - hormonal upheaval and a deficiency of some kind.

lljkk · 18/10/2016 20:39

How can you be tired all the time but exercise a lot... if you were tired all the time you wouldn't be able to exercise a lot.

Can you rule out simple iron anemia?

MagAbsorb · 18/10/2016 21:14

Thanks, Deux. That's really interesting. Maybe i need to go back to the specialist I saw. I'll give it some thought.

Iiijk - I think it's possible to exercise and be tired? You exercise, hoping to kickstart more energy but it doesn't happen etc

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Deux · 18/10/2016 22:17

Another few thoughts Mag.

I didn't write it above but what prompted me to end up on HRT is that I suddenly developed hot flushes. They came from nowhere and were instantly relentless. So that was the tipping point for me.

Also, I've had experience of an unknown to me Vit D deficiency. i went to the GP feeling rubbish - low mood, tired and constant bugs and infections. I had an almost permanent cough. I actually burst into tears at the GP which was a first. He was going to put me on ADs but the blood test panel included vit d and my levels were barely registered. I was prescribed very high dose of vit d and I felt better fairly quickly.

This site //www.vitamindcouncil.org was one I found really useful.

Have you tried a magnesium supplement for helping get better sleep? I've found it works well. And also a bath with a good mug-ful of Epsom salts (buy in bulk from amazon).

Good luck with it all. I hope you get to the bottom of it and feel better.

MagAbsorb · 19/10/2016 21:28

Thank you so much, Deux. I really appreciate it.

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