Anyone actually been through the menopause and come out the other side?

[OrmIrian]

If so please can you tell me how long it is likely to take. I am fairly sure that it's on it's way. 3 periods in just under 6 weeks, sooo tired, retaining water almost constantly. This has been happening on and off for over a year. I know I could go to the GP but I'm not getting any serious symptoms as yet. And it's not as if I'm ill, just going through a natural phase. But I am getting fed up with it.

I'm 43 and I guess this could just be the early stages. Any experiences ?

i still have periods i miss some here and there but basically not changed as that has always been the case i think i must have one ovary that doesnt function as well and i have endometriosis too
i take spatone

because i have very heavy periods and always have done

i think the evening primrose helps

and diet if you try a low gi diet then that is good

but see the gp because there could be a cause

and dont be fobbed off

this from someone who loathes medical intervention but you could be ill

let's hate the spate, we should really

you know what I hate? uncertainty. I want to KNOW what's happening. I want to know if mine are coming back, when they are coming back and then what's happening.

I don't like all this am I aren't I nonsense so I feel for you!

yes do go and get your hormone levels measured. But also be prepared for them not to be able to tell you much just in case!

I got off really luck, periods just stopped,completley, over 10 years ago,1 was 42, no night sweats, nothing different at all,apart from... no interest in sex, but i could get a bloody oscar sometimes

That's interesting FIS.

At the weekend I had all the PMT signs, followed by horrible period pain for 2/3 days but no period as yet. Did you experience anything like that?

How old are you btw? [nosey]

Completely agree with you Issy about the ageing skin.

Another symptom for me is awful, awful spots (crater style) and greasy hair. I didn't even have greasy hair as a teenager fgs!

oh mercy, I have exactly that. I get PMT and cramps and am convinced I'm about to come on but don't.

I'm 35 (but earlyish menopause runs in the family).

I've been convinced I'm about to get a period for a week or so now.

Worst thing is, because of the no periods, I am perpetually worried that I'm pregnant so have a stack of blardy pregnancy tests now arrghh (not that I'm not using contraception...but as it's failed on me once before, I don't have 100% faith in it).

issy - I've always known the names of garden plants (in Latin too thanks to my DB and mum) and I've always read in bed and I don;t give a t*ss about fashions. So does that mean I'll suffer less?

zippi - I usually follow a more or less low-GI diet. Am actually low-carbing atm for a month or so to get out of the bad habits that had crept up on me.

and Mercy, when I told the doctor that btw, they asked me to have an internal scan, just to check there was nuffink going on (like an ectopic pregnancy or remnants of a miscarriage etc.). Not to worry you but just to let you know. I normally have v v heavy and painful periods so getting crampy is not unusual and also is evidence towards me having/having had endometriosis which I think has always been suspected.

I can cope with the night sweats, I can def cope with the periods going from a week to two days.

But I cant cope with my loss of memeory!!

Arrggg where did it go!

Blood hell, i had forgotten about the memory loss!

Thats cos you have lost your memory

I have, but I do like the age I am at now, how about you, I know the flush of youth has long gone, but the real old age has not quite set in, I am having a ball, I think I have the best of both worlds,my own space when I want it, gd when I want lo's around, a little extra money, it's all good with jb

I'm nodding my head in agreement with Issy's list.

I am becoming my mother.

Thanks FIS. I'm definitely not pregnant though!

Sorry to hear you're suffering like that. Is there any treatment which would alleviate the pain and/or heavy periods?

Something else that has started happening with me is getting shouty and flustered. I thought it was just tiredness and young children but I don't know tbh.

After contributing to this thread, I have changed my name