To not want HRT

[Howszaboutthat]

Need some advice from ladies-in-the-know

I never got on well with contraceptives. They gave me perma-pmt and acne. So, for the last 15 years I’ve had a copper coil which is coming out soon. I was hoping to just ride it out sans synthetic hormones.

I’m 46.

However, Over the last year, the brain fog and poor sleep has set in. I’ve partically solved this by giving up alcohol, taking vitamins and magnesium. The brain fog is getting worse. I feel like such a dunderlinger and my role requires a lot of brainpower.

Other thing - dryness down there. My first UTI in 25 years.

What can I do that is not going to turn me into a fat, lifeless blimp? I was hoping to ride this out. But I think I need to re-think. Also I don’t have time to be endlessly up the doctors (we’re not allowed time off work for appointments in working hours)

Any advice? Am I doomed?

Yeah I had to go private too. And do lots of self education! HRT is very complicated and takes quite a bit of tweaking to get right. I wasn’t confident I’d get that service from the GP.

Bloody expensive though. I can only hope things change for the future. Considering 50% of the population will go through the menopause..

I think that’s true. When you dig deeper with those that appear to have ‘sailed through’ they seem to accept that aching joints, fatigue, lack of energy, poor sleep etc are just part of getting old.

No part of me aches. I finally sleep, my mood is so much better..

This is true. I don't have aching joints and I have lots of energy. Women 10 years younger say they have joint ache.