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Original poster

46 and feel like age has hit me with a hammer

22 replies

Liuckle · 02/10/2023 16:11

I've been super fit and strong for the last decade, eaten well and after struggling with depression/anxiety in my teens and twenties have on the whole been a very positive, bouncy person

But the last year has seen the peri menopause hit like a bomb

I've just been diagnosed with arthritis in both hips
I'm knackered all the time
Grumpy
Hobble about like an old woman
No sex drive
Angry

I feel like I've lost myself
It happened so fast

Please tell me there is hope to find my spark again
I'm not old ffs

OP posts:

cardibach · 02/10/2023 16:13

Won’t help with the hips, but - HRT.
Helps massively with mood, energy, general well being.
Can you get a corticosteroid injection in your hips? My knee was massively helped. Also resurfacing rather than replacement? A friend had this.

Original poster

Liuckle · 02/10/2023 16:14

Considering hrt yes 🙂

OP posts:

DustyLee123 · 02/10/2023 17:13

Yep, HRT. It’s not nice being angry all the time.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Menopause Women's health

eurochick · 02/10/2023 17:32

I'm a year older and similar. It hit me around 45-45 too. I felt about 22 before and then suddenly "older".

WildFeathers · 02/10/2023 17:34

Worth getting checked out for decificies - b12, iron etc. I got to the stage I wished it was bedtime as soon as I woke up in the morning. It was iron anemia for me.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 02/10/2023 17:39

Are you me @Liuckle ?! I could have written your post exactly!

I’m confused by all of the HRT options. I still take the pill constantly as my periods have always been horrific so I have no idea if I’m menstruating regularly or not which makes it even more confusing.

Is HRT really the saviour that other posters make it out to be?

ilovebagpuss · 02/10/2023 18:21

I didn't realise how angry I was until 6 months on HRT and I thought oh DH isn't annoying me as much anymore or at all! I was seething over nothing for months.
My HRT helped that and also low mood and random sudden bouts of anxiety.
Also the poor sleep amd aches in my hips.
Takes a while to get it as you want it so sometimes people give up.
I starter on combi patches and now have an oestrogen patch and progesterone tablet one a day.
I have changed my prescription 3 times.

Goneroundthetwist · 02/10/2023 18:23

Sugarmole · 02/10/2023 18:30

It can be a shock...I developed a tummy which seemed to happen overnight and made me feel old...peri symptom. Daily muscular pain made me feel old and was awful but I'm taking vitamins which I think stopped that.

Ask your GP for a referral to a menopause clinic. You can feel much better and look into HRT.

Periods all over the place...

Anger yes and even more happier in my own company. Having less patience with people and needy friends... maybe as I've never really put myself first and let people take advantage.
I'm tired everyday and have no motivation.

HRT didn't agree with me but vitamins have helped to some degree so I'm not fussed on exploring different HRT.
I've always been depressed so I can live with my mood as it's better then before as I've been in much darker places before.

EnchantedCastle · 02/10/2023 18:33

I’m not angry but I am incredibly tearful and I don’t like being this version of me. Mid forties, huge weight gain, and constantly blobbing.

Lastchancechica · 02/10/2023 18:53

I had two replacements- it changed my life! Not fitter and happier.

callingeveryone · 02/10/2023 18:58

I think sometimes the anger can simply be that we won't put up with crap anymore. Its not necessarily a bad thing.
Unfortunately living healthily does not necessarily stop issues like arthritis. But keep your weight down and keep active and that will help.

callingeveryone · 02/10/2023 19:00

And you will be a long way from hip replacement if this is all recent. A friend has arthritis in her hips and had managed it for 10 years and is still not ready for a hip replacement.
They put off giving them as they only last so long, and second hip replacements are rarely as successful.

Lastchancechica · 02/10/2023 19:03

Lastchancechica · 02/10/2023 18:53

I had two replacements- it changed my life! Not fitter and happier.

Meant to see so much fitter and happier!!!’
My arthritis was advanced so my THR happened 6 months later - best thing ever 💃🏼

Alltheyearround · 02/10/2023 19:11

Have you seen a physio about the hips?

Mine gave exercises and suggested weight loss. It impacts pain in the joint by a whopping 30%.

The strengthening and flexibility exercises helped a lot more than I thought they would. I'm 48 and both hips and lower spine show early signs of arthritis. The exercises can mitigate pain and help keep joint range of movement as good as possible.

MabelMoo23 · 02/10/2023 19:12

I’m nearly 47 and I hear you. I’m absolutely fucking exhausted. I’m on HRT which has sort of helped but not totally.

i feel so so old and I don’t want to

Original poster

Liuckle · 02/10/2023 20:07

It just hit like a bomb

This time last year I felt 21
Had boundless energy
Was competing in sport
In love with DH
Positive

Now I feel paranoid about my marriage, exhausted, pissed off with everyone apart from the dog

OP posts:

Original poster

Liuckle · 02/10/2023 20:08

I'm not overweight btw

I have a high muscle mass for my age due to years of training (weights, running)

OP posts:

MrsDeaconClaybourne · 02/10/2023 20:12

I have a slightly different list of symptoms but identify with the feeling so much. Feel like I've almost instantly gone from not feeling my age at all to decidedly middle aged aged - almost overnight. It's weird

TheThingIsYeah · 02/10/2023 20:21

You have my sympathy, OP.

'm 47 and I have osteoarthritis diagnosed in my knees. Just seemed to come on suddenly about 18 months ago. It can get quite depressing when simple acts such as getting up from a chair, or sitting on the toilet requires holding on to something for support. Not to mention the pain that will come with it. Kneeling down to pick something up or look in a cupboard are basically a no no. I mean I could do it, but it's painful. I also think I have it in my hips, that seems to be more painful when tossing and turning in bed.

I take naproxen pills which are great but I'm not sure what the effects of taking those long term are. I also try to take one pill every other day rather than twice a day. Only because they can be hard on the stomach and also when I have taken 2 a day I get a strange sort of glazed over feeling, bit hard to describe really.

Physically I feel so much older than, say 3 years ago. I blame being forced to WFH during COVID. I got lazy and only exercised at the weekends.

TabithaTiger · 02/10/2023 20:23

Echoing everyone else who has said HRT. I'm 47 and was feeling exactly the same as you. I wasn't sure about HRT and really had my doubts about whether it would work. Honestly, I felt like a new woman after a week. I've got some much more energy, my joints have stopped aching and just the general, miserable, grumpiness has lifted.

Sugarmole · 02/10/2023 20:55

I have osteoarthritis in my feet... it's not painful luckily but they look awful due to the bone growth...I can't get an operation on NHS as it's cosmetic and could grow back if I had it done privately anyway and could result in complications too... It's another thing that annoys me.

Take calcium for your bones and vitamin D if you can.

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