To be sick and tired of the fucking menopause?

[Miladymilord]

I'm in bed. Feel wide awake, alternatively hot then cold. I've got leg cramps, greasy hair (wtaf), I feel really grumpy. Can't relax. I know ill wake up again in about 3 hours, drenched in sweat with restless legs. It's totally shit.

Does anyone else get hot feet at night? I am 52 and have not had any other major symptoms of the menopause or perimenopause.

It started when we had the hot spell earlier this year in the UK, so I thought it was that. But I had hot feet last night as well when it wasn't hot, so I am wondering if it is a perimenopause symptom.

Yes hot feet here! Have them hanging out of the duvet at all times.

OK I might start an hrt diary thread if anyone's interested? Will probably name change ninja

@ blogshog re I'm optimistic. I've also started taking testosterone which intrigued me - could be the missing link for me.

If you are in UK how did you get testosterone - my GP says she can't prescribe it and the menopause clinic wasn't much better ... Sorry if you've answered this after page 8 of the thread but I wanted to ask before I forgot the question :)

That's why I love my doc I hate the cold.
She is over 50 and has a shit ton of experience in women's medicine.

I wouldn't see a young inexperienced or male doctor about this. Some people think women should just accept suffering. Fuck that.
I missed my period this month too but had INSANE pms. And I have come to terms with the fact that I just can't drink at all-it exacerbates everything. I quit smoking last year as well so now my body is a twatting temple.

It’s a shame that so many gp’s know so little about hrt. Mine just sat looking at the computer screen saying ‘it’s so confusing.... there are so many different types’. It’s not as if menopause is a rare phenomenon!

Marv1nGay3 it's a real worry, esp with so many women having personal/family histories (eg breast cancer) which need careful and confident navigation.
My gp didn't even bother to look at the options, she's just opposed to hrt in a vague and unscientific way, possibly because she is not confident in her knowledge. How is it that they don't understand that by avoiding some risks (again eg bc) they're exposing you to others (osteoporosis) and the key is figuring out where you stand in that risk vs benefits landscape?

OK I might start an hrt diary thread if anyone's interested?

I like this thread. Is there a problem with keeping it going? Is that why you want to start a diary?

I think that the problem with a diary is that it will get much less traffic. It is very useful to have lots of different views and experiences.

Also, it is going to affect all women, so it is a very important topic.

There aren't many other subject which affect everyone.

I am post menopausal, not had a period in about 7 years. While actually going through the menopause I was rarely troubled by sweats but for the past few months I’ve been waking up drenched every morning. Too late for HRT.

IfNotNowThenWhen1

lol at twatting temple

I actually started eating very low carb (keto) for 4 months. my waist came back, my symptoms got a lot better.

I don't find im able to stick with it all the time though, which is fine. haven't re gained the weight and it sorted out my snacking and sweet tooth.

Just to say I tried patches but was allergic to them and they never stayed on. I asked for the gel after reading about it on the meno board on here and it’s been brilliant. It’s also the safest way to absorb it I think from reading around abit. My GP had ltd knowledge but was very happy to help (she herself is female mid-40s) but it’s sad that what is such a natural process for half the population feels so under resourced with knowledge and “just get on with it” attitude. At work we have a women’s network and they recently launched a menopause discussion pack to help talk about it. Mainly I think because the work force is aging more and more and far more women are in employment? Or maybe I’m noticing it more because I’m directly impacted by it. I actually didn’t do a key piece of work today because brain fog just means I’ll end up re-doing it next week so I’ve left it till Monday when hopefully I’ll be feeling more alert I did something less taxing off the to-do list.

I've just read the whole thread and it's great. Might be good if it was in the Menopause topic?
I have always been wary of blaming everything on hormones (or lack of) but it seems to me that all these symptoms are either menopause related or just a factor of growing older. I wonder how many, if any, of the common symptoms are experienced by men but not talked about?

Mine started at 52. I had a Merina coil which spared me years of horrible flooding and PMS. The hot flushes were something else though. There was a period of about a year when I had them all day and all night. It did ease off after a while.
I have never had forgetfulness or rage though I have had dreadful joint problems and now have RA and OA and arrhythmia. I'm reluctant to blame the menopause for those though.

I am 60 and have been through the menopause probably 5 years now.
I am still left with a faulty thermostat and the night time itching drives me nuts.

My sleep is appalling. I haven't slept more than 3 hours at once since 1995 when pregnancy intervened. I go to bed early and get up late but sleep in short bursts.
The poster who described the nocturnal duvet dance was spot on.
Off/on , legs in and out, hot then freezing.

I have evolved some techniques which help.
Room as cold as possible
Fan on bedside table
Two single duvets so DH can have a warm one.
A thin duvet and a cotton sheet. You can throw off the duvet but not freeze when you fall asleep again.
A thin strappy nightie when you are having night sweats can be peeled off and replaced.

Oh God if I have to give up carbs I might just bore myself into a coma! (I will try...)
It's disgraceful how little most doctors know about menopause-it affects 50%of the population ffs!

Oh God if I have to give up carbs I might just bore myself into a coma! (I will try...)

That is exactly what I thought. I loved bread, pasta, rice and grew up eating them every single day.

I have now replaced them all with good carbs and don't miss them at all. I have lost weight and feel so much better.

My husband used to love pies and fast food so it was an even bigger change for him, but he doesn't want bad carbs at all now.

We still treat ourselves with the occasional cak or chocolate (but not every day like we used to) otherwise life isn't worth living, but if the main part of your diet is healthy then it doesn't matter.

Try ground flax seed too (golden not brown). It is also called linseed and is often cheaper than flaxseed even though they are exactly the same.

linseed and is often cheaper than flaxseed
Well I never knew that!

I didn't put weight on with the menopause, lost some in fact. I love carbs like bread and potatoes but don't eat much sweet stuff.

Trialling Dormeasan® Valerian-Hops oral drops - 50ml [[https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006D57OJQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_d8wPBbHJNME2X?tag=mumsnetforum-21 dormeasan]] tonight and will report back. It tastes absolutely disgusting.

Dormeasan® Valerian-Hops oral drops - 50ml [[https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006D57OJQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_d8wPBbHJNME2X?tag=mumsnetforum-21 this stuff]]

Oh fuck it. It's called dormeasan and it's on amazon.

I think I slept quite well. Feel groggy this morning though. And the taste is unbelievably bad

Op this may be a silly question but are you diluting the drops? If you're taking 30 drops for sleep you can dilute it as much as you need for it to be palatable. I mean valerian always tastes green and bitter and smells like dirty socks but sufficiently diluted it shouldn't be unbelivably bad. You can drink it in juice, squash, lemon water etc (then rinse with water and wait 30 mins before you brush your teeth to avoid thinning enamel).

I didn't dilute it enough!

I've taken first oestrogen pill today!

The patches...they leave a blue fluffy gluey outline on my legs when I take them off. It’s impossible to remove. Any tips? I scrub at it with a loofah but that just leaves a red patch and doesn’t budge the glue.

Soaking in a bath helps a bit but if I have a bath, the patch often comes off too so I can only have a bath on days when I change the patch and I don’t always have time.

I’ve even tried nail varnish remover.

Hi MIlady, I suggested Valerian drops. They aren't nice (I don't dilute) but they are good! Sleep is better, no? Good luck with the estrogen pill. Is there any reason you didn't go for gel or patch (Transdermal delivery?)

I also take hemp oil for sleep. That's good too. And sometimes - like tonight - I'll have a pipe (weed). That's even better!

Bestiswest - if you rub at the patch glue with a little baby oil, it does help. Which patch are you? I was on Evorel and they are huge, but Estrodot are tiny by comparison.

Which estrogen pessaries do people take? I didn't realise they were licensed in this country.