to whine and moan about my hot flushes?

[solidgoldbrass]

Because I have been alternately whining and laughing, really. And it's occurred to me that I might in fact be acting like the sort of person of whom my mother always says 'The only trouble with her is, when you ask her how she is she tells you...'

I know!

I have managed to get back to my pre-menopausal weight by eating about 25 calories a day but I am a different shape.

I am now old lady shaped

Ah yes - the old lady shape.

Embrace it, and have another piece of garlic bread.

I did 20 minutes power walking along the bridle path the other morning. Apart from the shocked look on the spaniel's face, the worse thing was I couldn't move by lunchtime.

I prefer gentle exercise to the fridge and back.

Ah. My weight has been plummeting, not increasing, though this is more to do with the job which involves walking about 5 miles a day.

I want time to read this thread. I want time for a good talk about them and people to listen. HRT is fab - just changed to progesterone patches and oestrogen pills on a 25 day on and 3 day off cycle. Did it two weeks ago and have already lost 4lb.

I owe my sanity to HRT - the risks are less than generally bandied about and afaik my quality of life got so bad that HRT was worth risking a breast for.

And I said, after my mother's well discussed and tiresome menopause that I would never ever talk about it or impose it on anyone else. It is the most awful thing if it is bad.

Mind you, that's another thing I want to know - can I consider my periods as having stopped now I'm having hot flushes, or will I get a few more? I have been very erratic for a couple of years already.

I started getting bloody awful hot flushes last year 3 months after my last (final?) period, they were so intense it was like having electric shocks and left me feeling nauseous and faint on occasion. Night sweats, waking up 6+ times per night, the works. Am 51. I also lost my oldest friend to breast cancer earlier this year, she was only 54, so haven't wanted to go down HRT route yet.

Started taking a daily phyto soya supplement several months ago and the flushes and sweats stopped within a week, like magic. They only came back temporarily when I ran out of tablets. Just saying! Might not work for everyone, but is deffo not just placebo effect, my physical symptoms were all too real! I've switched from dairy to soya milk as well.

Now, turning into a monstrous lard arse with arthritic joints and crippled feet I HAVEN'T found a cure for yet. . Am now fatter than a fat fat thing - 3 stone overweight - I used to be an hourglass, gradually became a bit pear-shaped and have suddenly turned into an EGG Have joined a gym with DS, but my joints are often so stiff I can't face going, even though I know it will do me good.

am a fat blimp, have back troubles and haven't even started the menopause YET

god help me

I can't believe no-one has mentioned Chillows! I love mine, I've only been using it for a week and already I'm waking up less with the sweats and flushes. I'm on tamoxifen and I'm only 28 so I'm guessing I have many years of this ahead of me... Bah.

Another vote here for sage tablets.

Perhaps I do enough exercise-just not strenuously enough!

I was "lucky" with my periods-last one 20months ago & had one a year before that.

They just stopped!

Also only (so far) had a couple of nights when I´ve woken up "bathed in sweat".

My periods went wonky from 41, and after the world's massivest period that lasted 5 months (I kid you not, only had three weeks off for good behaviour - and drugs) ended at 46. Hot flushes began at 45 and now, at 54 are still several a day (and night) Just had a red faced whopper at work and managed to desist from ripping clothes off and standing by open window.

Am just about keeping on top of the randomly sprouting "witchy" hairs.

saw whoopi goldberg on 'something' she called them her personal summers piss off whoopi

I wake up at 4 am most nights and can't settle again in the quilt out the quilt blah de blah drives me and DH insane

My 70 yr old auntie still gets them

I am 41 nina been flushing for a year now sigh

I can recommend a small hand held fan to cool down with. Also, M&S sell sheets (fitted and flat) and pillow cases which keep you cool. They are called something like "cool tech". Before discovering them I was moving across my bed to find a cool spot, and then making a return journey. The sheet has really helped.
Hope this helps someone, as a last resort I have found standing in front of the open fridge works temporarily.

Oooh like the sound of the cool sheets. (my OH won't!!) It will make a change from roaming round the bed and ending up in the spare room!

Bloody hell I now feel like a total lightweight, I am not suffering nearly as much as some of you. Just these blazes of warmth a few dozen times a day, bit groggy, and the aching joints are something I've been used to on and off for years anyway.

12 year old Inexperienced Trainee GP New Part-time locum Bless

"I am here because I have chronic heartburn. In spite of taking Omeprazole every day."

"Do you take anti-intflammatories on a regular basis?"

"Yes." -

"Well, I wouldn't have prescribed XYZ drugs. Have you tied YZX drugs?"

"Yes"

"Have you ever considered giving some thought to your lifestyle choices?"

Fuck off you patronising juvenile bitch, and then fuck of again...

Have joined gym. Go X 3 per week. Have awful gut probs. Find dietery restriction v. difficult because I have to take certain meds with food.

I have arthritis in my feet, back and hands, I have Plantar Fasciitis in my feet, have had steroid injectionsinto the soles., I am menopausal, etc etc. Read my notes.!!

"Have you weighed yourself recently?"

"14.5 stone. BMI of 18.5. Yes, I know I am perilously close to being clinically obese."

"Do you have anything constructive to suggest?"

And answer came there none..............

Er, a bmi of 18.5 is normal. Mine's 19.2, and that is within the normal range.

But they say now your waist to hip ratio (i.e. is the first bigger than the second) is a better indicator of obesity, or increased risk of heart disease etc.

www.bbc.co.uk/health/tools/bmi_calculator/bmi.shtml

There is also now something about your waist to height ratio being more accurate than bmi now too, in various medical studies

www.health-calc.com/body-composition/waist-to-height-ratio

And SGB, YANBU!!!

I am not sure if any of my physical/psychological ailments are due to the menopause or not (I'm 52 and haven't had periods for at least a year). I don't think I get flushes but I am bloody tired and quite depressed at times.

I had a breast cancer scare last year and, like a lot of you I feel nervous at the idea of HRT...

Aargh! no! BMI is 28.5 . I would have to be 7'6" to have a BMI of 18.5 at my weight!

And when I'm not actually having hot flushes I'm freezing. Cardigan on. Cardigan off. Cardigan on. Cardigan off.Cardigan at the other end of the fucking house again... Or is this at least partly due to the 'summer'?

I went to the GP (more about my sore hand than the menopause), he was as cheerfully reassuring as usual. 'Are you getting more ratty and short tempered?' I said I wasn't sure if that was menopausal or just a matter of living with a 7-year-old.

I am having the feeling really cold thing.. but no hot flushes.

My feet are almost permanently cold..

I don´t get the feeling cold.

It´s been warm here the last couple of days-wearing shorts & tshirt.

So there´s NOTHING TO TAKE OFF

Menopause = broken thermostat. Either boiled or frozen, there is no longer any "comfortable in between".
This is proven scientific fact.

I´m comfortable atm-wearing a tshirt & pants!

Problem is I can´t go out like it!

Go on diddl...see if anyone notices! (testing the "menopausal women are invisible" theory!!