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Original poster

What's post-menopause like?

28 replies

crankysaurus · 19/10/2021 07:51

Do things get better /easier post menopause?

Does the long list of symptoms significantly ease off just to be replaced by others or is it actually easier all round?

My mum's shit to talk about this sort of thing and most friends are still in their 40s so not quite there yet.

OP posts:
Original poster
crankysaurus · 19/10/2021 10:35

Bump

OP posts:
FOJN · 19/10/2021 10:40

I can't answer your question but I would love to know the answer too. I'm hoping to recover some energy and regain some mental agility.

Distantview · 19/10/2021 10:49

I didn't take HRT but made changes based on recommendations in a book called Hormone Intelligence. The author talks about peri menopause but the advice applies equally to menopause.

After dietary changes, supplements and upping exercise, yoga and meditation I find my sleep is better and energy levels improved. No hot flushes, but I never really had those. Mental clarity is back to normal too. I'm tireder than pre-menopause though, but in my 60s maybe that's to be expected.

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redfairy · 19/10/2021 12:38

I'm 54 and my periods stopped at 52. I have the occasional hot moment but nothing like the flashes I would suffer from during menopause. Whilst I wouldn't say I'm full of beans and I do get tired it is nothing to that totally wrung out bone tiredness I'd suffer at the peak of menopause. I would literally use every break and lunchtime at work to sleep. My hair is still dry and thinning and skin feels thinner too. I think i got away with the menopause quite lightly. I can't say my mental agility is that great but as I suffer from low mood and am folate anaemic I'm not surprised.

Purplewithred · 19/10/2021 12:43

I’m guessing I’m post menopause as I’m 63, but I’ve been on HRT for years and the HRT worked wonders for me. I tend to put any problems I have down to age in general rather than menopause. So all that irritating stuff your granny used to do like calling all grandchildren by the same name, hangovers lasting 2 days, hearing going, vision going…

On the other hand it’s brilliant to be pretty accomplished/experienced and rarely phased by anything any more, to be counting the days to retirement, and having adult children to taxi me home from boozy evenings out.

MissyB1 · 19/10/2021 12:44

It eases over time. I went into menopause head first, full blast, at age 47 due to breast cancer treatment. I’m 53 now and I’m medically considered “post menopausal”, I definitely feel better than I did the first couple of years of menopause (which were horrendous).

secretbookcase · 19/10/2021 12:46

It's wonderful. Absolutely bloody wonderful. I mean it. After decades of mood swings my mood is stable. After years of peri exhaustion and brain fog my mind is clear and my body full of energy. After the slow gain of layers of fat around my middle they are melting slowly away without me dieting. After years of trying to please others I blissfully don;t give a toss.

And I have witnessed this is so many friends - the weight loss, clarity, energy, self-confidence. They bound back to you.

I hope other women come on here and back me up.

Eviebeans · 19/10/2021 13:43

I agree. I'm 59. For me the symptoms didn't just disappear but I found ways to manage them that worked for me until they eventually passed. This included looking at my diet etc.
I feel better. I've found I've settled into my own groove and it works for me.

RealDinosaurofBarnardCastle · 19/10/2021 13:45

I’m on HRT, feel great, have an active sex life, sleep well and am pretty happy and healthy. I’m 56.

1moreglassplease · 19/10/2021 14:51

I'm nearly 53 and feel as though I'm coming out of menopause slowly but surely after about 4 years. Periods not entirely stopped but are definitely depleting. Physical symptoms were minimal and almost entirely stopped but the mental symptoms were a real pain. Greasy hair and spots were awful but everything is slowly improving and getting back to normal and I can't wait until it's over.

I haven't taken HRT but a series of supplements, good diet and exercise have definitely helped to keep me stable and losing weight was a bonus. I'm back in the office full time and do feel more tired but put that down to not being back in office routine quite yet.

Esca · 19/10/2021 15:03

I’m 52. The tough years were 48-51 with brain fog, insomnia and flushes. The last year has been good!

No HRT, but get it if you need it. Many swear by it. I maybe have one flush a month. That’s it. I truly feel better than I ever have. 🤞

Threewheeler1 · 19/10/2021 15:09

@secretbookcase

It's wonderful. Absolutely bloody wonderful. I mean it. After decades of mood swings my mood is stable. After years of peri exhaustion and brain fog my mind is clear and my body full of energy. After the slow gain of layers of fat around my middle they are melting slowly away without me dieting. After years of trying to please others I blissfully don;t give a toss.

And I have witnessed this is so many friends - the weight loss, clarity, energy, self-confidence. They bound back to you.

I hope other women come on here and back me up.

I want this post as a poster on my wall to get me through! Thank you, it's seriously cheered me up! Grin
LessthanJurassicPark · 19/10/2021 15:15

I am thinking about going on HRT because I’m exhausted from the lack of sleep but I’m worried that I’m giving up too soon and that adjusting my lifestyle would eventually bring some relief.

I’m just too tired to start all the good healthy habits.

secretbookcase · 19/10/2021 16:23

I never tried HRT btw. I wish I had in a way as peri menopause was appalling - so shattered and brain fogged and anxious all the time. But I had two friends who had severe health scares due to it, and I heard it just delays the symptoms, so unless you stay on it forever you have to go through them at some point.

user1471538283 · 19/10/2021 16:26

I'm on HRT so I doubt I will be properly post menopausal but my god I couldnt take it. HRT changed my life and saved my sanity.

PricklesTheHedgehog · 19/10/2021 16:31

Following with interest!

maofteens · 19/10/2021 16:56

I'm in my late 50s so must of my friends are through it. I had no symptoms whatsoever (aside from a year or two if irregular periods), so other than not having to deal with that everything seems the same - my skin isn't any drier, I haven't lost any hair, my brain is functioning and desire the same.
And I have to say once through it most of my friends are relieved not to have the monthly faff, but otherwise no complaints or long standing issues. Everyone's weight is pretty much the same too. Must add that only a couple went on very low dose HRT.

TonTonMacoute · 19/10/2021 17:03

I feel great, but for me even the peri-menopause wasn't terrible. The worst thing was the night sweats but those are now well past and I basically just feel normal.

I have never taken any HRT or any other treatment, but I do know that I am osteopenic, so I'm not sure if I should be doing something about this.

Zero chance of discussing it with a GP any time soon so am considering a consultation with a local specialist privately.

Laska2Meryls · 19/10/2021 17:16

Its great , I feel like 'me' again.. the Me before puberty messed it all up with years of painful periods and hormonal migraines..
I have never taken HRT and wouldn't ... No more migraines ! yay!

My weight doesn't fluctuate , and although my shape is more 'mature woman' , I am not any heavier than I was for most of my 40s and 50s.. I'm mid sixties now
Skin is good..

The only 'downside' (though it doesn't feel like one to me as I just dont think about it ), is low libido..

However it is a bit of a downside to poor DH, but we are strong together and we manage..

Original poster
crankysaurus · 19/10/2021 18:06

Thank you for your responses, good to hear that there's light at the end of the overheated tunnel. I'm definitely in the not-giving-a- toss zone, quite enjoying that if I'm honest. And am conscious of osteoporosis as my aunt has it quite bad, am glad it's not all downhill though.

OP posts:
Boiledeggandtoast · 19/10/2021 18:13

Another one who thinks it's absolutely marvellous! I had a terrible peri with torrential bleeding, anaemia (despite being on prescribed iron), stiff joints, etc. I'm 60 now, periods stopped at 54, and I feel better than I have done for decades. I still have hot flashes and night sweats but I would take them any day over periods. Hang on in there OP, and good luck.

Boiledeggandtoast · 19/10/2021 18:16

ps I understand your concern about osteoporosis. I worry about it too as I was on strong oral steroids when I was 10/11, which can be a contributary factor, so I took up running once my periods stopped. Only 5k but I'm hoping it will help.

Craftycorvid · 19/10/2021 18:30

54 and coming up to three years post-meno’. Not on HRT but do use Vagifem.

The good news:
Lost weight and kept it off without too much pain for the first time in my adult life. Meno’ and peri-meno’ seemed to do something quite useful to my metabolism.

More energy and more consistently, not one or two weeks a month of feeling a bit meh.

No periods - but see below as that one is a bit mixed.

Confidence in my knowledge of life and the world. I feel I’ve found my feet.

The not so good news:

Weight loss did have consequences at 50+ and my skin does feel somewhat like clothing that’s a size or two too big.

My libido is different, in that if my head doesn’t feel ok, my body won’t cooperate.

I do often feel weirdly sad that I’ll never have another period (I know!)

Otherwise, all good so far!

MissyB1 · 19/10/2021 19:30

Yes my libido is an issue, I don’t “desire” sex anymore, I don’t mean I don’t desire dh, sex just doesn’t hold any appeal. That’s a shame because we’ve always had a great sex life.

Jellykat · 19/10/2021 19:42

At 58 i'm 6 years post meno, and its all good for me..

I absolutely love no periods and no mood swings, yes my hair and skin are drier but almond oil etc keeps that in check, and although i have no libido whatsoever, thats great for me as i'm single Smile

What has surprised me is how much stronger i feel mentally, especially when dealing with other people! I used to be a real people pleaser, nowadays i dont give a monkeys what others think of me, its really liberating!