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Original poster

Do you go to docs to confirm menopause?

89 replies

LindaLooky · 29/11/2021 23:11

I think menopausal things are happening to me. For months I've had...

Hot flushes most evenings
Super heavy long periods
Insomnia
Anxiety

I'm wondering whether I should go to the doctor?? Is it necessary to rule out other things as the cause (eg night sweats are a sign of cancer arent they?). Or should I just muddle on until things get worse?

I'm mostly managing at present. I have off weeks but always did.

OP posts:
oneglassandpuzzled · 30/11/2021 08:29

@Pascal80

No I did not go to the doctor. It was blatantly obvious what was happening to my body, and as I don't want fake hormones made of the urine of pregnant horses (poor things), as ''therapy'' and couldn't anyway as I have a benign breast tumour, doctors have nothing to offer.

I have spent a fortune on ''supplements''. The only thing that was recommended to me that worked - was Sage tablets for hot flushes and night sweats.

No horses’ urine used in HRT these days in the UK. Synthesised yams are the main ingredient. And I’m talking mainstream NHS.
oneglassandpuzzled · 30/11/2021 08:32

To be more exact—the only people I know who use Premarin tend to be older and/or in the States. None of my younger friends are on it. It’s considered more dangerous.

Bagelsandbrie · 30/11/2021 08:40

If these are new symptoms for you I would go to the GP for blood tests just to check it is menopause related and nothing else weird and wonderful - blood tests aren’t necessary to begin HRT (according to NICE guidelines) but they can be useful to check if anything else is going on.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

General health Menopause Women's health
nannybeach · 30/11/2021 08:41

I did go to the GP because I had regular extremely heavy periods,had a baby the previous year,was only 41. O did have blood tests,was confirmed 2 years and peri. I was always of the oh it's perfectly natural,after monthly hell since I was 11, operations,drug treatments. He said as I was small,young and had had a fracture,(not following a serious accident) I should take HRT for the osteoporosis protection. What I didn't know,and Marian Glanville says doesn't happen if you're on it 5, years,is if you stop,the symptoms return. Friends who sailed through asymptomatic, thought a hit flush just means feeling a bit warm. I can feel really unwell with them. This might not be you. Often having a late baby kicks the hormone levels up,and delays the meno

Bagelsandbrie · 30/11/2021 08:41

@Pascal80

No I did not go to the doctor. It was blatantly obvious what was happening to my body, and as I don't want fake hormones made of the urine of pregnant horses (poor things), as ''therapy'' and couldn't anyway as I have a benign breast tumour, doctors have nothing to offer.

I have spent a fortune on ''supplements''. The only thing that was recommended to me that worked - was Sage tablets for hot flushes and night sweats.

You need to have a read up on modern HRT. That’s a very outdated view - as others have said HRT nowadays has nothing to do with horses!
Bagelsandbrie · 30/11/2021 08:42

You can also have modern HRT if you have or had had breast cancer or breast issues.

ASinisterPlot · 30/11/2021 08:49

@MollyBloomYes

I don't know but I'm paranoid about early menopause for no other reason than I have a mirena so have no real way of knowing! I discovered a home menopause in the chemist the other day so perhaps get one of those and then take it to the dr with results? But I'm pretty sure my friend went to the dr with symptoms and got a blood test to confirm she was peri. This was pre-pandemic though so god knows what they might be advising now. Always worth at least a phone call I'd say
Believe me, you'll know. You don't need your periods changing to know you're in perimenopause as there are so many other signs and symptoms that can come with it.

I had the same concern as you because I was on the mini pill and that stopped my periods - so how would I know I was perimenopausal? I worked it out from the insomnia, rage, dry eyes, dry vagina, dry skin, memory problems, lack of concentration, wanting to be alone all the time, finding everyone annoying and being so tired that I seriously considered leaving my job as I was falling asleep mid afternoon every day

ASinisterPlot · 30/11/2021 08:54

@LindaLooky

I'm 45.

Ah to sleep @VanGoghsDog! I would like to sort the insomnia out, that's for sure.

The insomnia for me was awful - I was a walking zombie during the day and was falling asleep mid afternoon. Literally the very first day I started on HRT I slept right through the night. I've been on it a month now and the sleep benefit alone means I never want to give it up. I used to go to the loo in the middle of the night and then I'd be awake for at least 2 or 3 hours. Now I either sleep all the way through, or if I do wake up for the loo, I fall instantly back asleep again.
GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 30/11/2021 08:56

It wouldn’t even have occurred to me to bother the GP, but then my symptoms weren’t particularly severe.

ASinisterPlot · 30/11/2021 09:01

@Kezzie200

I did but was lucky in that my doctor was quite pragmatic so didn't throw "options " at me. She mentioned them, as if in passing, but suggested as I was coping, for me to give nature it's time. She'd be happy to look further at the options with me in future.

That was good advice because 12 months later things got better. Brain fog cleared, flooding periods were every 6 months (so horrible but copable).

My fear looking back would be getting a more gun ho GP that would have advised one of the things much earlier and it turned out to be unnecessary. However, for you, you'd like some peace of mind over other problems. They may be able to do that for you.

That's great, but did the GP also outline the longer term benefits of HRT that aren't about fixing the short term symptoms? E.g. cardiovascular protection, protection against osteoporosis. I'd hope GPs are giving women enough information on HRT that they can make an informed choice about it.
DotBall · 30/11/2021 09:11

That's great, but did the GP also outline the longer term benefits of HRT that aren't about fixing the short term symptoms

Just to point out that, after stopping HRT, you will then go through menopause. It just delays the inevitable. My DM was on HRT for 25 years (early menopause) and ended up having to go through it all anyway.

Cardiovascular support and osteoporosis can be managed though diet, exercise and prescribed supplements so there is no real NEED to take HRT. It may be the best option for some women, but many will cope once the short term symptoms have gone.

LucentBlade · 30/11/2021 09:34

I didn’t bother to go to GP, I was about 46 and I didn’t want HRT, my friend and my other friends Mother both had cancer and had had HRT but mainly it just delays the inevitable.

I’m glad HRT exists for very young women who have premature menopause but I was just about spot on for age had insomnia and brain fog, a few flushes, aching joints was actually the worst thing for me and itchy inner ears.

VanGoghsDog · 30/11/2021 09:35

Yeah, no-one talks about the itchy inner ears but my GOD!

ASinisterPlot · 30/11/2021 10:11

@LucentBlade

I didn’t bother to go to GP, I was about 46 and I didn’t want HRT, my friend and my other friends Mother both had cancer and had had HRT but mainly it just delays the inevitable.

I’m glad HRT exists for very young women who have premature menopause but I was just about spot on for age had insomnia and brain fog, a few flushes, aching joints was actually the worst thing for me and itchy inner ears.

Not necessarily. Some women find that when they stop taking HRT after just a few years, they have no more symptoms. Other women have a return of their symptoms when they stop taking HRT. See: balance-menopause.com/uploads/2021/09/Starting-or-continuing-HRT-many-years-after-your-menopause.pdf
ASinisterPlot · 30/11/2021 10:12

I'm sorry LucentBlade, I quoted the wrong post above: that was meant to be in answer to DotBall.

UnaOfStormhold · 30/11/2021 13:39

Part of the reason peri can be such a nightmare is that your hormones are all over the place, which makes it hard for your body to adjust (as well as hard to reliably test for). Menopausal women have consistently low hormone levels and my understanding is the body is more able to adapt. So for me taking HRT is more about getting over the worst bits rather than putting off the inevitable.

It's true that diet and exercise can help, but it's a bit like running up a down escalator with the hormones working against you. Our bodies deteriorate fast enough just from getting older so I'm keen to give mine all the help I can get to maximise the benefits of staying active. I'd also add that fatigue, weight gain and other changes can make some perimenopausal women struggle to get motivated to be active, which can be a vicious circle.

Finally many of the protective effects last even after you stop HRT - e.g. at the point you stop taking HRT your bone density will be higher than if you hadn't been on it. This is really important for me as I have bone density issues on both sides of my family (my grandmother died after a minor slip in the bath led to a fracture which made her bedbound). I am therefore keenly watching the research into the impact of taking modern types of HRT longer term as I suspect the benefits of doing so will outweigh the risks for me.

BiBabbles · 30/11/2021 14:25

I don't think night sweats on their own are a concern, but if you have any female reproductive cancers in the family which could raise your risk or other concerning symptoms like newer lower back or pelvic pain or pain during sex or getting full very quickly, losing appetite and/or constant bloating, you may want a double check.

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 30/11/2021 14:31

Would the GP be able to do blood tests to tell whether you're peri, in or beyond menopause? I haven't had a period since an ablation years ago. I'm in my 50s.

TinaWeymouthsBass · 30/11/2021 14:32

The ignorance on this thread is astounding... modern HRT is body identical and made from yams so not synthetic and taking HRT won't just delay the inevitable, your menopause will continue as it would without HRT but without debilitating symptoms.

nannybeach · 30/11/2021 14:44

I did and still do excercise, veggie diet.i Tried various suppliments,red clover,black cohosh. Just hot flushes,up to 12 a night, night sweats,brain vanished overnight, couldn't even remember to feed my animals.every joint in my body ached.i development dreadful eczema, could only shower with water. I had 2 school age kids, one older a baby and worked full time.

Justcannotbearsed · 30/11/2021 14:46

I went to the GPs because the anxiety, insomnia, night sweats, rage, and periods were impacting on my life quite severely. Got HRT which sorted all that out.

Back to normal insomnia and rage now.

HairyFanjoBanjo · 30/11/2021 14:53

@TinaWeymouthsBass

The ignorance on this thread is astounding... modern HRT is body identical and made from yams so not synthetic and taking HRT won't just delay the inevitable, your menopause will continue as it would without HRT but without debilitating symptoms.
I couldn’t agree more!

Also recommend checking out Louise Newson website and podcast.

gogohm · 30/11/2021 15:02

I spoke to the nurse when I was there for another reason, she said no need to be tested unless I had symptoms I couldn't cope with and wanted to enquire about hrt, which I do not plan on taking due to the elevated risk

BleuJay · 30/11/2021 15:10

[quote Justilou1]@LindaLooky if you want HRT, you don’t need to confirm this. Your symptoms alone are enough to suggest it’s a great idea. It’s best to get the jump on oestrogen replacement prior to menopause if possible (during perimenopause) anyway, if you want the best protective benefits for cardiovascular, bone and brain health.[/quote]
I haven’t had HRT and went through the menopause over ten years ago and don’t have any health problems.

VanGoghsDog · 30/11/2021 15:32

I haven’t had HRT and went through the menopause over ten years ago and don’t have any health problems.

You don't necessarily know that though, do you? You could have decreased bone density, heart problems - things that don't show until it's too late.

But yes, of course some people (most, actually) sail through and are left well. Just not everyone.

And people who got through it unscathed should not be telling those of us who are suffering that because they were OK we should also be OK and not have any support.

Why are some women so nasty to other women just because they have a different experience of life? Do they think this invalidates them or something?

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