How are women supposed to survive this?

Hrt is life changing not just for symptoms but for cardiovascular protection. Go back to your go and get some x

Mirna I'd and estrogen patches. Risk is reduced with topical estrogen. Also sertrialine to keep my level. Have improved diet, started gentle exercise and things looking even better
Life is good and I have my get up and go again.

Yes the stuff that comes out of a tap

Exactly, I’m currently 8 weeks post hysterectomy so I’m still finding out what I need and trying to get the levels right.

I’m completely with you, as long as my dr says I can take it, I’m taking it, I cannot go back to how I was before!

Also @LadyBracknellsHandbagg , "HRT" isn't just one thing. Different combinations depending on your circumstances. I have had a hysterectomy so am just on oestrogen patches, no progesterone, and have been told these are "practically zero risk". Plus vaginal oestrogen for atrophy which is never going to get better on its own.

there are some women who look down on women using HRT as lesser, they ate better because they sailed through menopause with a bit of positive thinking and some yoga. Well bully for them. You'll be ripping my oestrogen patches off my corpse.

Yes to this. HRT and no booze has helped a LOT.

I’m not in anyway disagreeing with your choices, but you said ‘people who don’t know any better are happy to risk the cancers involved’. I have informed myself and researched it extensively before I decided to take it. The risks are tiny for me as I luckily have no history of any female cancer in my family. I also take bioidentical hormones, not synthetic.
Risk is a factor in our daily lives, 2-3 women per week in the UK are murdered by men that they know, compared to that the risk of HRT to women is incomparable.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/in-depth/hormone-therapy/ART-20046372

Watch panorama on the newsom clinic before you go there.....

The water supply?!

There's risks with the pill both to health and the water supply or has that been debunked?

But YOU were the one who said "people who don't know better are happy to risk the cancers involved". Which suggests that you think if people did know better, they would not take on this risk. This is why I, and I suspect others, are finding your statements a bit frustrating. You are right that women with a history of breast cancer are not usually recommended it, although that is also decreasing now with careful monitoring. But that's because the risks for group A are different to the risks for group B. It's not a blanket risk.

You are also referring to "artificial hormones" which suggests that you haven't read the research. Most HRT these days is NOT artificial. I mean, fair enough if you're worried about inflated amounts of hormones in the water system - I haven't got a clue if that's a thing although it certainly doesn't feel like it to me as my hormones are absorned into my blood stream, not washed down the drain, but maybe I'm missing something and if there's an issue with this, I'd be interested i reading the research. But they're not "artificial".

’For you’ is the factual part. Doctors won’t prescribe it if you have a history of breast cancer or a high family incidence. Strokes are high in my family as well so an additional complication. I also object to it on environmental grounds as the incidence of strong artificial hormones going down the toilet every day damages anything in its path that drinks water. But as I’ve said multiple times, everyone makes their own decision. It’s clearly a sensitive issue as I’m getting several people ignoring what I’m saying, repeating my argument and posting in defence of their decision. We’re all women trying to get by. I just have a different definition of ‘survive’ than a lot of lucky people.

1 in 20 cancers in women are caused by obesity, 4% of breast cancers are caused by smoking, whereas HRT only modestly increases the risk of breast cancer in women over 50 who have been taking it for 5 years. It’s important to be factual when assessing risk.
HRT has also been shown to reduce your risk of developing coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke, and promotes bone density therefore reducing the risk of osteoporosis. There are some studies that show that HRT also reduces the risk of diseases that cause dementia, and given that 61% of dementia cases are women that has to be a good thing.

For me, the benefits far outweigh the potential risks, when you look at it factually.

I’m equally bemused as to why you’re conflating your statement with mine. You’ve clearly absorbed the research, applied it to your specific situation, and are prepared to tolerate the risks. You understand your friend does not. Why don’t you understand my exact same decision? Your comment smacks of men shouting about ‘Not All Men’ when we talk about rape or DV.

I could have written this post. Similar situations lone parent, no help available from family. My symptoms have really scared me, mainly because I have no idea who this person is, worried, anxious, can't eat, can't sleep and completely over parenting, it's sometimes like being a passenger in my own body. I tried HRT but it didn't help..... wish they had menopause groups like they did with substance abuse or something... at least we could suffer more together!!!

I wouldn't tout HRT as a miracle cure but I'm a bit bemused by this statement: People who don’t know better are happy to risk the cancers involved

Particularly coming after comments about people not having read the research.

I've read the research. The very very small increased cancer risk (for me) is a decision I'm very happy to have taken. I didn't take it because "I don't know better". It's an odd thing to say. I have a very close friend who would ove to take HRT, but she has also read the research and because of her specific situation, the increased risk is NOT very small, and therefore she does not take it.

It doesn't mean menopause - mine was very early perimenopause (still have regular periods).

HRT (Newson clinic will help you) and a course of therapy OP.

So you’re not touting it as a miracle cure, are you? The risks still stand and each individual responds to them based on their life experiences. I wouldn’t take up smoking occasionally and I won’t take HRT. People who don’t know better are happy to risk the cancers involved and may even be choosing based on the reductions of other cancers the research shows. Your comment seems like a knee jerk reaction to perceived critisism as it’s agreeing with what I said.

You point out your medication dose hasn't changed but has your TSH changed?

If you use the online NHS app, it might be worth checking your TSH and looking back and seeing if the levels are the same ir have increased even with the same dose of medication

I remember hitting menopause (without knowing it was that), and honestly thinking I was going mad or had early onset dementia, and would have to give up work (which I cant afford to do). HRT and Sertraline have made a huge difference op. Takes a bit of time to find what works for you best, but defo consider HRT (and maybe A-Ds if anxiety is your issue as it is with me). It really is life changing. See a specialist menopause doctor if you can - I got referred from my GP and it took 2 full years to see her but she’s great. I also take magnesium and wellwoman max supplements (which include vitamin D). I don’t drink alcohol either now - personal choice, and I don’t know if it helps but I like to think so. I also remember we all go through this in some form, and some of us suffer more, some less, and some lucky women not at all! My mum didn’t work, or have a mortgage which probably helped her too - I have a very different life, and different stressors. Good luck with everything.