To ask for your positive non HRT menopause stories

[Upthebracket22]

I am 49 and having a shit time in perimenopause- I think it’s actually triggered PMDD possibly and it’s just all awful. I tried HRT and it actually made some of my symptoms worse especially really awful headaches & the utrogestan made me feel extremely dark.

So at the moment, I am not on HRT but in won’t completely rule it out.

I am interested in your positive non- HRT storied though- what did you go? How do you feel now? I read a story about someone who said her life was like a calm sea once the hormones had gone! Anyone else?

I am about 9 years post menopause. Periods stopped at 46, hot flushes, night sweats, thickening waistline, loss of willpower and motivation followed.

Now, I feel much calmer, (liking the "calm ocean" description) and much less sexual and social. Can't be bothered with much.

I take antidepressants rather than HRT. My choice.

I feel content, far less concerned about what anyone thinks about me/my appearance, and find happiness/joy is easier to achieve.

As said up thread, it's the luck of the drawer. My mum had a horrible time with the menopause: anger, anxiety and depression

I've gone through the menopause without taking HRT . I had a few mild flushes but sailed through. I am concerned I should have taken it for bone density though .

Sorry to hijack. Do you have a link for that as I do have a family history of bc so have avoided HRT apart from the Mirena which I had for endo.

My periods went to one every 3 months and then stopped. I had one hot flush.

I have a theory that you either have problems when you start your periods or when they finish, just mother nature keeping things fair.

I missed two periods at 36, thought I was pregnant but wasn't, never had another period so I suppose that was my menopause, didn't really notice it and it wasn't such a commercialised money maker as it seems to be now! Definitely no HRT.

Sage leaf tablets for night sweats

I'm on HRT now but used these prior to taking it I also used to take a tablet called "menopause" from eBay and it worked pretty well

I couldn't/wouldn't take HRT because my mother died from advanced breast cancer.

For me, it was a relatively easy process. Periods gradually disappeared. I started getting hot flushes, which are not that pleasant - but I started taking Boots Menolieve, which definitely helped.

Low carb, and avoiding caffeine and alcohol are also recommended. I managed one out of three

Insulin resistant Mediterranean type Diet, cut out alcohol, exercise, low impact strength training. Lots of water.

In theory 😊 but I struggle to keep on top of it so am on HRT.

I've not had a good experience on HRT to date and so I came off it ten days ago and I'm waiting for an appt with the meno clinic. So far, I'm okay.

I was put on Femoston 1/10 for approx 6 months (I'm 52) then had unexpected major surgery where my ovaries were removed last year. I was put on Femoston Conti by my surgeon but I was bleeding throughout. Then I was moved on to Evoril Conti patches. They were great for two months and then I just didn't stop bleeding. My longest 'period' lasted 6 weeks. Its a shame as the patches were good at managing the flushes, energy levels and most importantly seem to manage my joint aches.

Now I'm waiting for a specialist appt to see what support they might offer me instead.

Its not right for everyone (possibly including me) and experiences with menopause vary wildly - but I do think some posters can get a little defensive around whether to take it or not. You do you.

Why wouldn't you replace lost hormones. You don't go through menopause. Once they go they are gone.
If you try one hrt and it's not right try others.

My night sweats, that I only got when drinking, have stopped

now that's interesting, did you get night sweats the evenings you drank or did you give up for a few weeks and then they stopped?

I'm 53 and don't take hrt at the moment

I did get some and took it for about two months but it didn't make a huge difference to the very slight symptoms I was having

The hot flushes have ramped up recently but they are still manageable

Basically I've weighed up my symptoms against having periods again...I do not want periods anymore

Was never offered HRT but wouldn’t take it as I am hypothyroid and it can interfere with the absorption of my thyroid meds. Fortunately I did not suffer greatly with hot flushes or night sweats.

HRT shouldn't give you periods back.

check out 'Balance' app by Dr Louise Newson as that will give you info on alternatives to HRT. Can you try to get an appointment with your local Menopause NHS Specialist? I did but it did take 6 months for my first appointment with them. Also check out Vogel website as that has useful info on alternatives to HRT. There are various different types of HRT so you may find something that works for you. Good luck!

I’m in the middle of it I think as periods about every 4 or 5 months but apart from some mild hot flushing not
major symptoms. I worry that despite this I should be on HRT for bone / heart health. Also I might be feeling some fear of missing out as friends on HRT and saying how miraculously better they feel. Then I think - I feel ok, but have I just got used to it.

However the thought of trying to negotiate the GP online form with pages and pages to describe your symptoms when I actually need to say -‘ I feel completely fine but I’d like to talk to someone about whether I should be on medication anyway ‘ is stopping doing anything about it.

Wealth of info:

www.balance-menopause.com/

Useful to take to GP:

balance-menopause.com/uploads/2021/10/Menopause-Symptoms-Questionnaire-1.pdf

www.nice.org.uk/guidance

I'm almost done, no HRT or anything, hot flushes, night sweats being sad have all calmed down, 2 years were hard but I kept going. Occasionally had night sweats, definitely sleep bad and only gentle flushing during the day, I remember yanking my arm out of a cardigan and taking off shoes to try to cool down. It wasn't easy but I'm out the other side

i had awful reactions to hrt so stopped taking it after a few months that was about 8 yrs ago and no issues. A few hot flushes in first couple of years and that’s it. Bone scans are fine, sex drive is fine, teeth, skin, weight fine, mood fine.

I'm 48, haven't done anything about menopause. I feel fine. Had a phase of night sweats a few years ago, they just stopped. I eat well and exercise a fair bit, but drink a lot. My hair is falling out but I've got loads of it. I'm less patient with people, but I think they're getting used to it. I do have mirena coil, which may be helping. Not going for HRT unless thing deteriorate a lot. Most of my friends are on it, but it sounds like a bit of a hassle.

My GP told me if HRT isn't recommended if you have cancer in the family. Strictly speaking HRT doesn't cause cancer but somehow people predisposed to cancer heighten the probability of them catching it if they take HRT. So no matter what Davina says, best to jeep away from HRT if you're predisposed to the disease. Even if for the sake of peace of mind.