How long have your menopause symptoms lasted?

[ffab]

I'm 55 and have had hot flushes for 7 years. Tried HRT twice (different types) but the side effects were worse than the symptoms.

No one seems to be able to tell me when this will end. Also have, in no particular order; depression, anxiety, weight gain, hair loss, vaginal dryness, and just been diagnosed with lichen sclerosis.

DD suggested therapy and I was shocked to be assessed at 17 out of a possible score of 20 for depression.

My diet is all over the place and I'm a comfort eater par-excellence, the weight gain is the most depressing thing. In the past I've managed to shift the Christmas weight gain but not this year.

DH tries to be supportive but having been made redundant last autumn he too is down.

Ironically people tell me I look great and twice today I was mistaken for DD's sister. I come across to strangers as confident and attractive, and that is part of my personality, but I feel like I'm struggling to hold it together.

How is everyone else dealing with it all?

Any tips?

13 years and counting! Had radical hysterectomy 13 years ago, eventually went on HRT after trying all the natural stuff in health shop. Should have started HRT day after op and have no intention of stopping taking it. I have recently moved to patches as I do frequent long haul flights as supposedly less risk of DVT. If you find anything which works as well as HRT you will be a millionaire! I have gained a little weight over November December time but this is just down to pure greed on my part and usually my weight is stable.

It's horrible and I wish I could give you wonderful tips which would help

My STRONG advice is that you try to get a type of HRT which suits you.
My consultant who is a meno expert in the UK is adamant that women may need to try several sorts to get the right 'fit'.

If you tell me what you used before, I may be able to help. It's usually the progestogen part that isn't right for you and if you were using the no bleed conti type this can make it all worse, as you'd be using both hormones daily.

I've used HRT for 10 years, felt great on it from day 1.

The other thing is you had a relatively early meno- 48? This is 3-4 years before the average, so you could be at risk from low bone density anyway due to loss of estrogen.

The depression etc is treated with HRT if it's hormonal. If nothing else you should be using vaginal estrogen (which is not the same as full HRT) for your vaginal atrophy.

Come back and give some more information so we can help.

Hi Pollyperky can't remember the brand (damn you memory loss) but I'll make an appointment with my GP to try again.

Side effect was extreme breast tenderness.

I had breast cysts at 46 and was told then that I was probably approaching peri-menopause.

It's usually best to start with a sequential type which will give you a bleed every 4 weeks. This way, you will only take the progestogen for 12 days a month not daily. You will be able to judge if it's that which is giving side effects. If you use a no bleed sort- which your GP will want to give you as you are post meno now - you risk not knowing if the estrogen dose is right, or if the progestogen is right for you.

I suggest you read up on this a bit so you know how to have the talk with your GP otherwise they are likely to just dish out what they think you should have, because they tend not to know much about HRT.

I had hot flushes for about 2 years they werent very bad though
I'm 52 and I don't really get any symptoms now

I haven't taken HRT by the way or used anything else for the menopause

I have a mirena coil for the long acting progesterone & have a low dose HRT patch. It really helped my depression & I am off anti d's for he first time in years. Life is better in many other ways so thst helps.
Howeve I have fallen apart in many other ways physically & am struggling to get rid of the lethargy too. My memory has improved a bit but still atrocious when unwell.
Following for any tips, you have my sympathies OP

Ooh the other thing we found was my Vit D levels were in my boots, & I felt tons better with supplements, so ask your GP to check .

Would HRT help with the poor concentration and shocking memory that I seem to have got since starting the menopause?

Might do Liz, but get your Vit D levels checked too. My GP said most of us are a bit low at this time of year but I was off the charts.

That & the HRT have helped .

DorynownotFloundering not taken vit D for a while, thanks for reminding me, will get back on top of that.

Feeling better since I posted, thank you ladies, problem shared and all that.