Menopause - at what point did you go to the Dr's?

[Frenchcremefraiche]

Did you go to the Dr's?

I'm 46. Pretty sure I'm in perimenopause. Not suffering much (so far?) - main issues are that I'm too hot and really tired. And grumpy but if other people weren't such idiots, I wouldn't be grumpy. Being grumpy is increasing my DGAFs so is that even an issue really?

I've not had a period for almost 3 months. I cant remember the last time I had sex so I'm not pregnant.

It's a fight to get a dr appointment so I'm wondering whether it's worth it? By all accounts it wont be much use. I dont feel like I need HRT at the moment. Is there anything they can do?

I'm 51 and I've been recently.

I wasn't even sure that it was perimenopause. I don't have hot flushes, I haven't 'aged' significantly, I haven't experienced menopausal weight gain, my tolerance of.others hasn't changed and I haven't got the rage... I still have regular as clockwork periods.

My sleep is a bit shit though, my joints ache and I have brain fog. But I still didn't really feel the need to go.

The GP said my age will put me in perimenopause even with regular periods and lack of common symptoms so she's going to try me on HRT.

As much as anything, reduced oestrogen can have an impact on heart health, bone density, muscle mass etc - things you generally can't see or aren't necessarily aware of until you have a heart attack or break a bone.

HRT isn't just about addressing obvious symptoms it's about the changes happening in your body whether you can see them or not.

That's why I initially went to the GP because older (and wiser!) women told me to!

I'll give it a go and see how I feel. I'm also a bit wary of natural processes being pathologised but I also don't want to come a cropper one day health wise if it could have been avoided.

I started HRT last year. I was 51. I thought I could sail through the menopause until the hot sweats started. If they had been during the day, I would have coped, but they were all night long and after about 2 months of no sleep I'd had enough. I went on HRT in May last year, and I sleep like a baby.

I started peri around 48. Suffered a fair bit initially but made some lifestyle changes that helped somewhat. I'm not anti meds, I'm on long term antidepressants. But it was just never so awful that I felt I needed HRT. I'm 56 now and literally just hit the one year mark of no periods this month. So assume that's it now for me!

Literally the only thing that's still a bit of a pain is that I still get really hot at night. But in this weather I just open a window and in summer I have air con in my bedroom!

You don’t become “dependent” on HRT. The change/shortage in hormones affects women differently and you may be one of the lucky ones who sails through the hormonal changes with minimal impact. Or you could be one of the unlucky ones where the changes literally turn your life upside down and you can barely function. It’s estimated that 1 in 10 women find it so debilitating that they have to stop working because they literally can’t function.

Well my mum is in her 70s and her generation all seemed to be on valium so I will take HRT over that. Not everyone will need it but why do people always feel the need to judge women for taking something that will improve their lives both physically and mentally? Keep on suffering women, always seems to be motto

Thanks for not reading my post. I specifically said that other women might have different experiences.

And i'm 69. Yes, some women took valium , not ALL. And yes, it was a problem.

The problem with mn is the lack of nuance. I think that some women have a shit time during the Menapause, and thank goodness there is medication to deal with it.

But that is now viewed as the default position, and drug companies are making £££ from that.

How did you get the testosterone?

Never felt the need to.

I've not been yet as my symptoms are manageable. I get the odd hot flush, my energy was zapped for a while but it seems to be okay at the moment (I just altered my routine a bit so early morning gym sessions turned into lunchtime gym sessions so I got longer in bed). I do get brain fog at times and really struggle remembering words but it not bad enough that it affects my life.

The anxiety comes and goes. When I first hit perimenopause my anxiety went through the roof (that was a scary time) and the rage was unbelievable. However, 4 years on and I've worked out how to deal with it.

The periods started as unpredictable, i track though so I'm never usually caught off guard. They were really long and heavy for a bit then they went back to some kind of normal and have stayed like that for a year now.

Whenever I've taken the contraceptive pill I've always had negative side effects (they made me into a monster) so I don't like taking anything that may affect my hormones so am hoping hrt won't be needed.

My mum never took HRT, my sister does.

Hmm.

I took the pill when I was younger (combined one I think?) and later had an implant and I thought all was OK. However when I came off hormonal contraception completely, I realised very quickly that I had NOT been OK on them.

Within a fortnight of getting my implant removed, I realised I had spent the previous decade(ish) feeling almost manic. I just thought it was me. Suddenly my brain was "quiet".

Dr's told me I was talking nonsense of course. 🙄

I will admit I'm worried that taking HRT Will have a similar affect.

Likewise. Never.

Asked my GP, with reference to NICE guidelines. She said that GPs’ prescribing guidelines are that they will not prescribe testosterone unless it has been privately prescribed first and shown to have a positive impact. So I paid £250 to see a private gynae, got a private prescription once (about £30) and thereafter my NHS GP has prescribed it on the NHS.

I didn't, but I had the easiest menopause ever so wouldn't have considered using resources other women needed much more than I did. I think if it feels not normal for you, it's worth getting it checked out.

I realised I was in perimenopause at around 44 when my periods went from being fairly light and very regular to much heavier, erratic and totally unpredictable. I put up with this for 18 months then decided to talk to my GP, who recommended a Mirena coil. It worked like a charm and I never had another period. It was worth getting the appointment. I didn't feel the need for HRT at that stage, though I did start it a few years later.

This is a great thread as its telling me symptoms I didn't realise were symptoms! Will be seeking a mythical doctors appointment tomorrow!

I went to the Dr's last year at 42. I had had 3 rounds of failed ivf in the year and a half before and put down my moods, rage, loss of libido, insomnia and weight gain down to that. Then the hot flushes started! My gp was brilliant and referred me to the practice gynaecologist and I was diagnosed with early menopause and on HRT within 6 weeks. My hot flushes have stopped and my moods are more even. Both my mum and grandma had osteoporosis so hopefully starting early will help me not go down that path.

I’m 41 and started it for anxiety and palpitations

I had an early menopause at 44.
The tipping point for me was I went to the station to get the train and I just couldn't get on the over crowded hot train and go to fucking work.
I called my husband to come and pick me up, phoned the dr. (it was 16 years ago so got an appointment straight away). I said to the doctor give me HRT before I kill my husband or someone (light hearted and before woke safeguarding, don't suggest this as a strategy) he gave it to me then and there. I was on it for 2 years then I felt I could cope. I have had a pretty easy menopause to be honest and was out the other side quite quickly either that or I have just embraced the "don't give a fuck" movement.

Not until I was 53 and was realised it had happened as I wanted HRT to protect my bones. I had very mild physical symptoms that didn't need help. I naively hadn't realised that other things like the anxiety, early waking and low mood that I'd experience for the previous 8 years or so were connected, so it never occurred to me to try HRT earlier.

Doesn't it depend on symptoms? I'm 60, and my periods stopped when I was 56 (hallelujah!). I haven't seen a doctor at all, about any of this stuff, because I feel fine. I'm not going to waste their time. But if you feel unwell, then it's up to you, OP.

Interesting thread for me. I've been meaning to find out whether the advice is that everyone should take hrt irrespective of symptoms, or what. I'm 43 and have symptoms mainly being hot all the time like the op, also some flushes of extreme heat and sweating, plus tired and no mojo but makes you think perhaps I'm just being crap ha ha. Totally agree things sneak up and it's hard to see a line.

I was brushed off too. I remember going back about 5 years ago to try the pill again, when I started dating after my marriage ended, and telling the nurse at the time I didn't want to go on Cerazette as it turned me into a monster and I didn't recognise myself (those were my exact words). She prescribed the same thing under a different name and told me to try it. So I did, same thing happened again.

I took the combined pill in my early 20s and felt so nauseous, I mean it helped with weight loss I suppose as I just didn't want to eat. I stopped after 3 months as I just couldn't go on like that. Before that the one they gave me made me so moody.

I've decided fake hormones just don't agree with me.

OP- I've also been wondering at what point I see the GP? I'm 48 and still having very regular periods. For the past 6yrs though, I've slowly gone from a 32 day cycle to a 26 day one now. My skin is dry and I don't sleep the best, but otherwise don't feel too bad.

Years ago I used to go my local NHS, family planning clinic. Sometimes they are part of sexual health services. Other than contraceptive clinics, they also had menopause clinics. The clinics were either run by a consultant gynae or a specialist nurse and for contraception, they had far more knowledge than my GP/Practice nurse. Just as an option to your GP. You can search the link below, but you'd need to phone the individual place to see if they do run menopause clinics.

www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/sexual-health-services/find-a-sexual-health-clinic/

I’ve been experiencing quite bad anxiety, low mood and sleeping badly/not wanting to get up. Is that enough to go to the doctors with? It’s a bit vague and difficult to explain 😕

I think that if you’re not sure if you need it, as pp said the symptoms creep up so slowly you don’t see them, try it for 6 months and see if you feel better.

I was unsure about starting HRT five years ago, and all the evidence for me at the time seemed worth the risk. Symptoms were impacting my life quite significantly and HRT was great for a while.

Unfortunately, I’ve had to stop HRT for health reasons, but after stopping it a couple of months ago, I have found those symptoms to be not so bad now.

There are other ways to manage the symptoms. Movement is key, running, brisk walking, lifting weights, clean eating, hydration. All great for positivity, inspiration, aching joints, anxiety, stress, sense of achievement, feeling strong, metabolism, lowering inflammation.