Do you go to docs to confirm menopause?

[LindaLooky]

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.

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

Luckily for the rest of us, medicine has used studies, trials and scientific data for its evidence that women have increased risk of heart disease, osteoporosis and early death, and not an anecdote from BleuJay that she has been okay.

@LindaLooky

I'm 45.

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

I'm 46 and had telephone appointment with DRs about being peri last week.

I was a bit nervous and didn't want to waste time so had appointment with FP first and it was her that said I needed to speak to a DR. I about a bit nervous about HRT as my DM was taking one of the HRT that were taken off the market due to breast cancer and she had indeed got cancer. Tbf that was about 16 years ago but still made me nervous.

Dr was lovely, she advised that Red Clover and Sage supplements are brilliant as a natural alternative to HRT and there is proven research in their effectiveness to help with symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, flushes and reduced libido, I found some perimenopause supplements from Amazon (they had them in H & B as well but were much more expensive), we agreed that I would try them for 3 months and if no improvement then she wanted me to call back and get appointment with her to discuss HRT again. Also reassured me that HRT does come with a risk for breast cancer but actually less than drinking regularly.

I am only a week in taking the tablets so not sure yet. I have started taking CBD (a good brand not H&B) and I have slept pretty much through the night since (I was great at going to sleep but then would wake up with terrible anxiety and not be able to get to sleep again for hours).

I know that they are linking dementia to menopause so for me I didn't want to wait until everything was really bad before I spoke to someone.

I didn't. I had the most horrendous flooding, periods that lasted 2 weeks, etc., endless uterine biopsies, scans, blood tests, Various hormone tablets to stop the bleeding. That went on for 5 years, then everything stopped - when I was 59 1/2

I went to the docs because the insomnia and sudden hot flushes were quite bad, and I was becoming very irritable with my dh (how dare he breathe loudly!)
No tests, but offered Eostrogel (or tablets/patches) ...I'm 53 but had a hysterectomy at 36 so only need the Eostrogen.
It has helped considerably and I'll stay on it!!

@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.

Symptoms can return when you stop HRT. Screenshots from NHS and NICE websites. Please don’t call people ignorant when we are nothing of the sort.

I had a blood test which confirmed i had menopause

@DotBall
Of course symptoms can return if you stop HRT, that's not what I said.
I said using HRT cannot delay menopause, you'll be menopausal whether you use it or not, and it is ignorant to believe such nonsense.

Thanks lockdown. I'll ask the GP to check.

@PastMyBestBeforeDate

Thanks lockdown. I'll ask the GP to check.

They are only supposed to use a blood test if it's early meno. If you're of the right age and no other factors, they just do it from symptoms.

I don't have easily discernable symptoms Van.

Sorry clarification. All of the meno symptoms could occur in another diagnosed illness I have and I had a very successful ablation so no periods for a long time.

Most of my friends are a bit older than me and a few are entering menopause a bit earlier than expected, and it seems the process it get lots and lots of blood tests, argue with doctors incessantly for a year or two, more blood tests then HRT.

@PastMyBestBeforeDate

Sorry clarification. All of the meno symptoms could occur in another diagnosed illness I have and I had a very successful ablation so no periods for a long time.

The issue re symptoms is the same for everyone.

I don't have periods really due to merina, but I have them lightly about four times a year. Other than extreme bleeding, changes in periods is just one part of the matter.

So, regardless of your lack of periods, if you're the right age and have meno symptoms the NHS guidelines are not to give blood tests as they are not conclusive anyway. The GP will try to rule out other causes, obviously.

But that means I'll be none the wiser ever! I don't know how they can rule out other causes because my other permanent illness could easily be the cause.
I'll have to have a chat with the GP.

I would very strongly advise anyone who has recently gone through the menopause or who is about to reach it, to give very serious consideration to HRT as a preventative measure for osteoporosis.

I'm nearly 64 and reached menopause 14 years ago with very few problems ( just a few hot flushes which subsided after a year or so. I never went to the Dr.

Two years ago I had a bone scan which showed that I have severe osteoporosis of the spine. Basically my spine has only about 60% of the amount of bone of an average fit person. The lack of oestrogen caused by the menopause was deemed to be the primary cause.

I'm about to start taking HRT for the first time, 14 years post-menopause. I can't regain the bone that I've lost, but I'm hoping I can prevent further loss.

Every woman owes it to her future self to research all of her options at menopause and to take action to minimise bone loss. I urge everyone to research and choose the best way for them to care for their bones as they enter into the post-menopause part of their lives.

Lots to think about on this thread.

I think I will speak to a doctor, then it's their call if they think I need to rule out other reasons for my symptoms.

I would take HRT not just for my immediate symptoms but also for the longer term issues mentioned by others including the osteoporosis risk.

Thanks everyone!

@DotBall The explanation on the NHS website is badly worded and it's not surprising people misunderstand its intended meaning. Here's a better explanation:

Does taking HRT just delay the menopause?

Many women think that taking HRT just delays the natural duration of the menopause in your body. This is not
the case. If your symptoms return when you stop taking HRT, it is not because you have been taking hormones; it is because you would still be having symptoms of the menopause at that time even if you had never taken HRT. A natural, untreated menopause can cause symptoms for many years; the average length of time is four years but for many women, symptoms can last for decades.

I think my perimenopause started when I was around 46yo, I would miss a period (unknown for me) then back to normal for a year, then miss another. Over the next few years all that cranked up as my periods went a bit wild.
I had very few other symptoms, mainly brain fog and loss of confidence (I reminded myself of Judy Finnegan when she went through menopause - suddenly stuttering my way through the day).
I gradually came through the other side but have been left with mild incontinence and vaginal atrophy.

So yes, go see your GP and have a chat now. You need to be aware of all the variables with menopause and from what I read, if you can take it, HRT is absolutely worth considering.

I’ve got a call with the doctor later today. I’m in my 3rd week of a really heavy period, regular flooding and losing clots. I’m the right age for the start of menopause but no other symptoms.

@80sMum

I would very strongly advise anyone who has recently gone through the menopause or who is about to reach it, to give very serious consideration to HRT as a preventative measure for osteoporosis.

I'm nearly 64 and reached menopause 14 years ago with very few problems ( just a few hot flushes which subsided after a year or so. I never went to the Dr.

Two years ago I had a bone scan which showed that I have severe osteoporosis of the spine. Basically my spine has only about 60% of the amount of bone of an average fit person. The lack of oestrogen caused by the menopause was deemed to be the primary cause.

I'm about to start taking HRT for the first time, 14 years post-menopause. I can't regain the bone that I've lost, but I'm hoping I can prevent further loss.

Every woman owes it to her future self to research all of her options at menopause and to take action to minimise bone loss. I urge everyone to research and choose the best way for them to care for their bones as they enter into the post-menopause part of their lives.

Sorry to hear this and hope HRT stabilises things for you now!

Will you come back and tell us what happens please @EnjoyingTheSilence? Be really helpful to get an idea of what to expect

I haven't been to the GP - heavy periods, now very intermittent periods, hot flushes, insomnia. I have just presumed that these are symptoms of the menopause and nothing more sinister. Heck, it's difficult enough to get a GP appointment when I have something more obviously wrong with me and need medication; I'm certainly not going to stress about getting an appointment for this.

[quote ASinisterPlot]**@DotBall The explanation on the NHS website is badly worded and it's not surprising people misunderstand its intended meaning. Here's a better explanation:

Does taking HRT just delay the menopause?

Many women think that taking HRT just delays the natural duration of the menopause in your body. This is not
the case. If your symptoms return when you stop taking HRT, it is not because you have been taking hormones; it is because you would still be having symptoms of the menopause at that time even if you had never taken HRT. A natural, untreated menopause can cause symptoms for many years; the average length of time is four years but for many women, symptoms can last for decades.[/quote]
Or another way of explaining it:

Say your symptomatic menopause lasts five years. You decide against HRT and you experience symptoms for the full five years.

Alternatively, you live with the symptoms for the first year, then decide to go on HRT. You take HRT for three years and your symptoms cease while you're taking it. You then decide to come off HRT for whatever reason. This is now four years in. You'll then go back to having symptoms for one year because you would be having those symptoms anyway even if you'd never taken HRT.

A third scenario. You live with your symptoms for the first year, then you take HRT for the full four years after that and you never have symptoms again because you've stopped HRT at the time your symptoms would have ceased anyway.

(Sorry to bang on about this, but I'd hate the thought of other women reading the PP and are put off trying HRT because they believe you when you say HRT just delays menopause symptoms)

Will do @LindaLooky though appointment is now Friday.

I have to say some of these posts have made me feel bad about seeking help but I feel dreadful and whilst I’m pretty sure that there is nothing sinister and it’s ‘just’ the start of the menopause I want to get it checked out and all the advice states if you have anything going on that is out of the ordinary for you, go see your doctor.

So great for all those that sailed through or who suffered but didn’t want to waste their doctors time, try and think how your words make someone (who is worried and feeling bad enough as it is) feel.

@EnjoyingTheSilence

Will do *@LindaLooky* though appointment is now Friday.

I have to say some of these posts have made me feel bad about seeking help but I feel dreadful and whilst I’m pretty sure that there is nothing sinister and it’s ‘just’ the start of the menopause I want to get it checked out and all the advice states if you have anything going on that is out of the ordinary for you, go see your doctor.

So great for all those that sailed through or who suffered but didn’t want to waste their doctors time, try and think how your words make someone (who is worried and feeling bad enough as it is) feel.

Because of the "it's all natural, no need to get help" narrative, I paid for a private consultation. I thought my GP would not be interested.

My GP got the letter from the consultant and made me an appointment to discuss. She was actually better informed and more helpful than the £275 consultation, so I cancelled the follow up.

I'm not there yet, think my estrogen needs to be increased, but I am sleeping better, lower anxiety, skin has cleared up loads (was all huge red scaly patches on my face, nothing I did made any difference to it).