To want to start HRT at 42?

[rollonretirementfgs]

I've had a mare of a few years health wise. I'm type 1 diabetic, have had numerous gynae problems causing the most horrific periods, and now I'm starting feel what I think might be perimenopause. Hot flushes, night sweats, brain fog, mood swings. Is 42 too young to be thinking about it? Does age matter? Has anyone else started early?

I started on mine at 40. Literally changed my life

And I'm almost certain I became peri at 38. At 39 I was told I was too young. Symptoms got worse and worse.

I don't know the answer but am going to tag onto this thread with a follow up question: someone at work was told by her GP she couldn't access HRT until she'd not had a period for a year. Is this true??

I started HRT today. Am (just) 43 , no idea if it will help as yet but GP was supportive about giving it a trial.

No not true. I still have periods and I started HRT in December.

Thank you for the response! I did suspect she'd been misled. I'm considering trying to get it myself.

I am almost 42 and am thinking the same.

I had symptoms in my early 40s. I didn't recognise that it was perimenopause, my GP then was very dismissive & I was started on antidepressants. I lost a few years of my life, & am slowly adjusting to a new normal since starting HRT.

Have a look at the NICE menopause guidance
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23

Check out Dr Louise Newson's information https://www.newsonhealth.co.uk/

and search this menopause support group for posts from women who have experienced similar https://facebook.com/groups/384849495215750/

I'm 42 and in the same boat, I want to try it but wonder if I'm too young and should hold off until my symptoms are worse than they already are. I'm sold on HRT but nobody talks about this bit in the lead up when you know you are gearing up to needing it but not sure when to take the plunge!

Wow I'm not alone on this one then! Can I ask what symptoms you all have?

Thank you so much for this info

Sadness, increased anxiety especially catastrophising, headache and migraine, 10 day long periods that start with days of spotting. Oh...and rage. A lot of rage

And then I'll feel ok. So it's not like it's constant and that's why it's confusing about when to start

Oh god the 10 day period... they go from spotting to a tsunami to nothing to another surprise tsunami! Making me miserable 😩

Yes mine too, I've been caught out a couple of times thinking it was over only to leak through a pad on the school run with a massive unexpected gush. Ffs

Doubling up with tampons at all times from now on until I'm totally sure it's gone 😂

I’m 42 and definitely peri, periods been irregular for the last couple of years and now I haven’t had one for nearly 3 months. I went the supplement route and my symptoms have gone, thought I’d give that a go before I tried HRT and it seems to be working so far.

What supplements are you taking if you don't mind sharing @VeryGoodVeryNice?

im 41 and just been prescribed HRT for perimenopausal symptoms (weight gain, sweating, irritability, itchiness). My periods are still regular. I’ve not started it yet so can’t comment on the effectiveness.
I didn’t bother going to my GP, I went through the bupa menopause service (so had to pay but not massively expensive ) and they asked my own GP to do the prescription.

Omg yes! Mine are so heavy too. I don't think my dr appreciates how bad it is when you have to wear a super plus tampon AND a night time sanitary towel AND period knickers and still change every 1-2 hours!

Which supplements have you taken that help? I’m trying to hold off HRT due to having had breast cancer so looking at other alternatives for now.

I’ve found ashwagandha is good for anxiety and really trying to focus on gut health as that’s supposed it help symptoms. My waking up many times a night is my worse symptom.

Yep and (sorry if tmi) I'm noticing loads more clots than I used to have. Sometimes they're the buggers that cause the massive gush/leakages

No. Incompetence worthy of being struck off. Not unusual in this area unfortunately. Tell her to get another GP, that one is unfixable.

I take this one

https://heynutrition.com/products/menopause-complex?_atid=skW4hMDy1CysQZuHWxluT7dmbPpDhe

I wanted to take one that contained soy as many moons ago I worked in a health food shop, in my early twenties. We sold a menopause supplement that contained soy, and we had middle aged ladies coming in in droves that were raving about it, saying HRT had been a nightmare for them but this supplement was great, and I logged that for future reference! From my personal experience of taking this one, my hot flushes have gone, the rage has gone, and my libido is back in spades. I just feel a lot more on a level and like me again.

Oh and migraines also gone!