New here.....looking for menopause advice

[TrueBlueAngel]

I'm new here and really need some advice. I'm 48 and have been on the depo provera contraceptive injection for years, must be around 15 years or so. I've started to get joint pains for the past 6 months that get worse from time to time (hobbling out of bed in the mornings as my feet aren't flexible or getting off the sofa at night with hubby's help and pulling myself by the bannister up the stairs, its misery making for me), but nevertheless, it's daily and has been for months. I've gone up a dress size, but as I have an eating disorder (binge and bulimia, primarily binge), and despite going to the gym four times a week, I suppose I'm not surprised. I do get night sweats from time to time (last couple of nights was pretty bad) and I'd say they were increasing. I've had bloods done last week that have come back relatively normal. My GP has ruled out rheumatoid arthritis (thank goodness) and is inclined to go with the menopause, which I have to agree. In all honesty, I'm surprised I never got it earlier (my gran and mum went through theirs at 40 and 39).
It seems the only surefire way of knowing is to come off the depo and if I don't have a period in the next 3 months, then I'm likely to have gone through/am gong through the menopause. Then I can start HRT which would help with the joints pain.
Has anyone gone through this and can offer advice? Any thoughts on HRT as I'm clueless on that too.
TIA

HRT affects people in different ways. Some women are fine on it and it improves their quality of life considerably. It made me bloat, gave me hot flushes and did me no good at all. I stopped it and the bloating and flushes went.

I had a blood test to determine hormone levels and a bone density scan.

You need to consider that your diet has been lacking in many things and will affect your body, this might be causing the pains. Could you take liquid meals?

It might be the best solution to stop using any hormones until your body is clear of them before taking a decision, you do need to try to find out the reason for the pain.

I get the joint pain and hot flushes at night. I am taking sage complex which seems helpful and also overhauled my diet.

Hi raininsummer, my main symptom is nasty joint aches, have had them since peri started 2 years ago. I have been on femoston 1/10mg about 6 weeks ago to help with joint aches. The results so far are that i sleep much better, no low mood, don't go to the toilets at night anymore (doctor put me on vagifem too). However the joint aches are still very much there and have worsened and spread to every bone except the jaw ! Maybe because i talk for England and i keep the joint mobile ! But you know, you must eat super clean during the meno or you'll get bad flushes and other stuff, there is no way around it, eat to live, not the other way round. Give it a try.

Apologies this was meant for Trueblueangel

I take Vogel menopause support tablets, and also turmeric tablets for joint pain. Both have eased my symptoms considerably.

Thanks for all your input. My dilemma is that I'm not sure if it's menopause, perimenopause or what?! So I'm so reluctant to come off the depo in case I start bleeding, I really don't want my periods back if they are still there. There's just no guarantee that it'll be as straightforward as my GP suggests - come off the depo, have 3 months straight of no periods, then start HRT. I should've been a man, their bloody midlife crisis is to get a sports car!