The info, advice and support thread for peri and newly menopausal

[lastlines]

Hi,

As lots of us are feeling apathetic, lethargic, anxious, moody and don't know what to do, I thought it might be a good idea to have a thread where we can offer each other advice and support and ask questions.

If you are feeling drained and out of sorts due to peri and menopause symptoms, pull up a chair, put up your feet, help yourself to virtual and .

I'll start.

Symptoms:
exhaustion, lethargy - could sleep 18 hours a day and still feel tired!
apathy
anxiety about small and big stuff
weight gain (15-20 lbs in last 5 years)
thinning hair
very papery skin

Tips:
Liquid iron is good if you are getting anaemic. Much better than iron tablets. Floradix herbal iron is best but Ferratin is half the price and works very well.

Daylight - been trying to spend an hour a day outside, even if too tired to go far or exercise strenuously. Feels like it's making a difference.

If you have any suggestions for what helps, any recommendations, any questions, or just want a whinge about it all, pile in!

That's a shame wee. I wonder how long ago that research was done and what hormones were used?
There is some evidence that natural progesterone is 'neutral' for breast health and it's the synthetic progestogens that are the possible cause of breast cancer - which makes sense as women who don't take it have less cancer.

Have you looked into things like acupuncture, chinese herbal medicine and yoga?

I'm getting proper hot flushes now(along with all the other symptoms) so pretty sure menopause on the way. Will try and book an appointment for GP but it will be weeks away. Hot flushes are awful - for ages I thought I was actually ill with a temperature! I am fair and have big cheeks anyway so look like a right giant rosy red apple when I get them!

I suspect I won't get HRT due to migraines (which have come back - only got them in pregnancy and now again in peri/menopause grr) and intermittent high BP!

fox I've posted this for someone else on a recent thread here. Migraine is not a contraindication for HRT according to my consultant gynae, who is highly qualified and an expert in menopause. Neither is high BP, but it ought to be managed with lifestyle changes ( exercise, less alcohol, less salt, more fruit & vegs) and if necessary, medication alongside HRT.

Thanks pink. Will be interesting to see what the GP/gynae says and how up to date they are!

fox this was in the BMJ and if you look right to the end- practical uses of HRT- it says that there should be no difference between giving HRT to women with migraine.

jfprhc.bmj.com/content/33/4/245.full.pdf

Practical recommendations for use of HRT
(Box 1)
Headache in perimenopausal women is most likely to be a
reflection of the background prevalence of migraine in the
different age groups.49 Prospective data do not support an
association between migraine with or without aura and
ischaemic stroke in postmenopausal women, but do
support an association between migraine with aura and
increased risk of ischaemic stroke and myocardial
infarction. Given the association between aura and
cardiovascular risk factors, it is important to evaluate these
risk factors and treat them appropriately.

There is no evidence that the treatment of menopausal
symptoms in women with migraine should differ from
standard recommendations, including use of HRT.

There are theoretical and clinical benefits to non-oral oestrogen
replacement for all women wishing to use HRT.50 For
women with migraine, the evidence suggests that low-dose
non-oral preparations of oestradiol should be
recommended as first choice. [THIS MEANS PATCHES OF GEL- TRANSDERMAL.[

Continuous progestogens are
better tolerated than cyclical progestogens. Changing the
type of progestogen can help, as side effects are fewer with
progesterone derivatives such as medroxyprogesterone
acetate and dydrogesterone than with testosterone
derivatives such as norethisterone.20 Drospirenone is a
more recent well-tolerated option although it is currently
only available as an oral preparation combined with
oestrogen.51 Changing route from oral to transdermal
progestogen may also be effective, as may reducing the
course of cyclical progestogens to only 7–10 days per
month, although the latter is potentially associated with
increased risk of endometrial hyperplasia. Natural
progesterone is available as suppositories, micronised
tablets and vaginal gel, although the availability of these
different formulations varies worldwide. Sedation is a
common adverse effect of natural progesterone. A welltolerated
option is the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine
system used with oestrogen supplementation.52
Occasionally progestogenic adverse effects are sufficiently
bothersome for a woman to choose to discontinue
progestogens. In these cases specialist referral is
appropriate for regular endometrial assessment.
Although migraine attacks may increase when HRT is
initiated, there is usually improvement with continued use.

I have a GP appointment, which in our area is a minor miracle.

If I ask for blood tests do they need to be completed on a specific day of my cycle?
Only my cycle is random.

Well woman clinic appt last week for check up. Am 51, hot flushes, irregular periods etc etc. Have had two periods in March, both very heavy, and today started again.3 in 8 weeks!
Nurse said my cervix looked fine but then casually hit me with an appointment for a biopsy to be taken " as routine" . Asking friends, it doesnt sound that routine to me! Why do I need this and more to the point, how much is it going to hurt???

Your nurse sounds barking. No one has biopsies of their cervix unless they have dodgy cells after a smear. Run- and find another practice! seriously- never heard anything like this ever. )And seriously, ask the practice or better still see a DR and query why this is done- it is NOT usual.)

I am now waking up with hot flushes every morning. None at work which is a relief but they are truly awful things.

Also, joy of joys, I have terrible nausea in the morning and I thought it was a side effect of the bad reflux I've been having (had a bout of gastritis). But I noticed today, the nausea comes with the hot flushes - Googled it and it's a common symptom that comes along with them! Hurrah!

I think I need to join this thread
I have many of these symptoms
I need to see the gp, I think
I am fed up of living my life as s zombie

I am now 52 and suffered dreadful peri menopause from early 40's. Symptoms included exhaustion, anxiety, very heavy periods, cramps, brain fog etc.

When I turned 50 I had the Mirena coil inserted and this has completely stopped my periods (much to my delight!) and the period-related symptoms went away also. I am much less tired now and sleep well most nights. The only downside I have from the Mirena is weight gain; I've put on about 1 stone and it was noticeable directly after I got the Mirena, not through eating more etc. So I need to address the weight gain as I do feel awfully fat and uncomfortable, but don't want to get rid of the Mirena and return to the menopause symptoms...

I now also make a conscious effort to say 'No' to people. I just cannot do everything for everyone anymore and I will not take on more than I can handle. If people are unhappy with that, that can go jump! I read an excellent article a few years ago by a prominent Gynaecologist in the US saying that Menopause was also an important time psychologically where the woman's mind and body is saying 'enough! - now it's time to look after yourself'. I feel this is crucial and after 20+ years of being wife and mother, now it is MY time....time to stop and smell the roses, take up a hobby, time to go travelling and see the world...enjoy life