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 didn't go to the doctors. Basically my previously erratic periods got heavy and regular and then they stopped.

Interesting. When I came off the pill at 30, I felt as if I'd been unwrapped - my senses were heightened, I was more 'present' and engaged with everything.

Unfortunately, my periods went straight back to the erratically-spaced WW1 trench warfare re-enactments that had put me on the pill in the first place. I had PCOS, though it wasn't diagnosed until I'd been putting up with random bloodbaths for a further 15 years.

Back to your OP question, anyway: On my 50th birthday, I had my first hot flush. It was unmistakeable. I walked to the GP in a snowstorm and presented for a same-day appointment. I had to wait a couple of hours, which I did outside in the snow, having stripped down to my vest 🥵

On the HRT, I carried on having heavy periods though they were, at least, to schedule. They tailed off at 62 (!) and I reduced my dose until I wasn't taking it any more. I was irritable and had occasional hot flushes, frequent night sweats. Once Conti patches became available, I got those because it's a very low dose. My main concern is fending off osteoporosis, though I have to say I prefer not being inexplicably angry about nothing or stupidly hot for no reason.

Agreed. For those of us who have no/minimal symptoms, why should we medicate? I don't take medication for anything else either, but I guess I will have to if something crops up. We are all different.

When I started flooding and my periods became very erratic to the extent that I was worried about going out and my ferritin became extremely low. I was put on HRT and not only did it resolve all that, but it also worked miracles on my sleep, sweating, moods, and itchiness! I finally went at 44 but had been having the latter symptoms for a couple of years prior.

I started HRT at 47 because of hot flushes, and because it prevents osteoporosis, which runs in my family.

Also - the recently discovered link between menopause and Alzheimer's is worrying and I can't help but feel glad I live in a area where I can get HRT easily.

Older women on this thread who say that taking HRT is "over medicalising" natural ageing and that "drug companies are making money" perhaps need to do a bit more research into the wider benefits of HRT.

The combined pill works very well. For anyone 30s/40s having peri symptoms.

I never thought once to see a doctor , only symptom apart from period stopping was some hot flushes , not everyone needs medication

I'm not sure why you would go to the doctor. They would just give you HRT and you don't sound like you really need it.

My GP told me that after 5 years the risk of cancer (due to the HRT hormones you are putting into your body) increases so to wait as long as possible unless really suffering, e.g
with night sweats affecting sleep.

I never felt the need to go to a GP

I've not really had symptoms so not really considered HRT. However, I'm not a fan of taking medication unless necessary. For example, I've never taken the Pill.

I’m 44 and recently started HRT. I made two big mistakes at work and while I do not claim to be perfect they were very out of character. I was so restless when sleeping (I said I was like a rotisserie chicken just spinning and spinning all night).

I have a condition that can put you into peri early but I was in denial, the mistakes were what made me make the call. I had to be referred to gyno due to the PCOS but referral was quick and I was started on an hrt patch and I’m so very glad I made the call.

I had no symptoms other than periods getting irregular in my early 50s, so never went to the GP.

I didn’t ever see the gp. I just put up with the hot flushes and a few months of nasty painful really heavy periods, then it all just stopped

no HRT

I never went to the drs. At the time my MIL was ill and then my mother so I wasn't really conscious of any issue. After their deaths I realised that my periods had completely stopped and I wasn't pregnant. I didn't really have any symptoms so I was lucky I guess. I've been ill recently but my dr was saying that my hair was growing quickly and I have seriously long strong nails which people assume are false

This is my thought.

It's not just about hot flushes and brain fog but heart health, osteoporosis and the impact of a reduction in oestrogen etc.

Menopause can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, raise blood pressure and lead to an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes as a result.

Obviously, it's like anything and not everyone will be negatively affected but I'd want to get it checked out at least.

The biggest relief from HRT, it’s not touched the libido, the rage, the memory loss, the flushes, insomnia but it has helped my joint pain tremendously and as heart disease and osteoporosis run in my family I’m so glad I’m on it.

I went when my face was covered in rosacea. When the doc asked me if I had any other concerns, it all came tumbling out. But it took the mess of my face to get me there as the rest I could mask. I will forever be grateful for her intuition and care.

I went to the GP and asked for HRT due to massively disrupted sleep patterns and anxiety plus a clear indication of falling muscular strength as I had developed an ongoing knee injury. I was 50 but because I still had regular periods and had no hot flushes I was fobbed off with anti-depressants (which I didn't take as I wasn't depressed).

My physio went ballistic and tried to get me to go back with the NICE guidelines printed off. I eventually went back a long time later and asked again. By this point I'd had flooding and periods had become more irregular though still no hot flushes though I had been a bit overheated at night at times. However, I still had to wait for another appointment to let me 'think about' HRT in between.

Nothing to think about for me. I was already well informed and the protective effects for bone strength and cardiovascular health plus potential future brain health and the immediate difficulties I was having in terms of overwhelm and insomnia (I'd had to sign myself off work at that point) meant it was a no-brainer.

I swear I felt the difference in days of putting that first patch on. I'm just angry that I had to jump through so many hoops and had to put up with it over such a long time unnecessarily when this could have been avoided if I'd been listened to in the first place.

I can really recommend Dr Catherine Coward she used to work at Newson Health but now works from Myvia Health, appointments are online, but pricing is really transparent and she encourages you to go back to your GP after the initial appointment and continue your treatment through the NHS.

https://myviahealth.co.uk/menopause

I think even if you think you don't need HRT it can really help with other things such as your bone health, and heart health, so there are lots of long term health benefits that you might not feel the results of straight away but your 80 year old self would be thankful for. Lots of myths and dangerous information around HRT, but it's really very safe and life changing for lots of women.

My periods stopped at 47 and I haven’t been to the drs or taken HRT as I don’t feel the need. I do get hot flushes occasionally but not to the point where they are affecting my life (other than having to take a jumper off) - and I think a general ‘fucking hell life can be really shit’ is just part of getting older isn’t it?! When you start to wise up to life / people in general.
i am very fit, train daily and run marathons so not worried about my heart / bones / sarcopenia etc as I am fitter than most people I know.
you don’t HAVE to take it, though I do feel there is a strong ‘you must take HRT or you will wither away like a husk and never get sex again’ attitude on here and in the media generally which irritates me greatly

After this thread, I contacted my GP a week ago. She prescribed oestrogen pessaries which Ive started and OMG! The dryness has gone, the anxiety has eased and as an added bonus my boob's are a bit fuller 🤣🤣🤣

Im getting bloods to see if I need stronger dose but honestly I feel 1000x better already on the pessary.

Fwiw Im 44 but had a baby at 41 (this can trigger peri).

Sorry I ought to add ive had 6 months of night sweats and erratic periods (36 day/21 day cycles).

HRT is not like hormonal contraception and doesn't impact women the same way.

Your GP is misinformed