Complete apathy

[menopausalmadam]

How do you get past the complete and utter apathy to almost everything.
I can get myself up and out, kids to school, pick them up, feed them, go to bed.
I have no desire, energy, interest to do anything. The housework is piling up and I just feel totally overwhelmed. The things that are so straight forward : housework for god sake just seems too much.
I don't want to do any grocery shopping as I can't really cope with people at the moment, either scream at them or burst into tears. I want to lock myself away, but can't.
I am peri-menopausal logically I know this but emotionally I feel like a basket case.
Hubby is away at the moment for work which is easier and more difficult at the same time. I don't have to talk, explain or justify to anyone, but neither do I have anyone to talk, explain or justify too.
Aaaaahhhhh
Periods are all over the place, nothing for months then it hangs around for weeks on end.
Better now.................
Seriously. Tell me I'm not going mad......

[SirVixofVixHall]

I'm like this too. House is chaos, everything needs painting, I even have novels I haven't bothered to start. However in my case I am peri-menopausal and also hypothyroid, I think the thyroid may be more to blame than the menopause but have no way of knowing.

[GiantJellyBaby]

I am you. I am perimenopausal. Just been prescribed HRT. Not started taking yet as not sure will help? I've got over the sweats. I just feel low (sometimes very low), a little anxious, and like crying a lot of the time. I am forgetful. I do very little. Get up, shower, feed DC, take DC to school. Come home, look at the list of stuff I'm supposed to do, then I either turn the computer or TV on and sit down doing zilch until time to pick up DC. I have no interest in anything whatsoever. Have been attempting to do some exercise, that hasn't really helped. I wonder if the HRT would work? Have you tried exercising? I got a FitBit to encourage myself, I wear it everyday, but lost interest in checking daily results. Have you asked for HRT? If you find something that works please let me know. You are not alone.

[Bananasandchocolatecustard]

It does improve gradually. I am 6 years into the menopause. I can cope with a full time teaching job, but when I get home all I want to do is sit down as I feel totally drained. Not using HRT because of the side effects, plus once you stop taking it you still have the menopause symptoms. HRT only delays the symptoms.

[GiantJellyBaby]

Bananasand... yes, that's what I've read about HRT too - you'll get the symptoms when you stop the HRT (though my Doctor did say you don't have to stop if you don't want to). Don't see the point in delaying would rather get it over with. I'm nearly 46. Also I'm hardly having any periods, and with the HRT prescribed I'd be getting one each month and would have no idea when they stopped. I take Black Cohosh and Evening Primrose Oil daily.

[DayLillie]

Have you tried vit D3 supplements - a lot of people are low, especially at this time of the year. You need it for proper thyroid function - so that your cells can use the thyroxine. Lack of it can give you symptoms like tiredness and low mood. It takes about 6 - 12 weeks on a 25ug supplement to get up to the right level. It also helps protect your bones, which go through a phase of rapidly losing calcium around menopause.

HRT can help slow this down, especially if you are under 50. Even if you only take it for 5 years, that is five years longer before you reach osteoporosis.

[pinkfrocks]

HRT does not just 'delay the menopause'. Common misconception I'm afraid!
How you react if you come off it ( and for some women there is no need to come off it) is different for everyone. Some women have no symptoms at all, others have them for a while, and others have them as before and go back on it.

Giant you don't really 'get over menopause' ever! Loss of oestrogen is a permanent state without HRT. Menopausal symptoms come in 2 types- short and long term. Short term are flushes and sweats etc which in some women last from 2-5 years but 25% of women have them for 10 years or more. Long term problems include osteoporosis, heart disease, pelvic floor atrophy and loss of collagen from the body. If you are only 45 you really ought to consider HRT because you are having an early menopause. 52 is the average age in UK.

I posted a link to a video all about HRT by the IMS- it's about 8 threads down- it's definitely worth viewing to get up to date with the current research on it then making an informed choice.

[pinkfrocks]

IMS HRT update

[WorldWhore1]

I am peri menopausal. Every month I get a run of days where I feel total apathy. Can only be arsed to do the bare minimum with the least amount of effort. Everything seems overwhelming.

Then conversely I get a run of days where I feel really productive with lots of energy and spend time doing fancy stuff like ironing sheets with lavender water. I just go to extremes.