Managing menopause naturally

[That1950sMum]

I'm really suffering a the moment with hot flushes, poor sleep and itchy skin. Just wondered if anyone has had any success with natural remedies or changes in diet.

[paganmolloy]

I had been all over the place. Tried HRT but it didn't make much difference to my symptoms. It felt right for me to go down a more natural root. I tried menopace to begin with but it still wasn't quite right and now I take Menomood once a day. It's helped with hot flushes but more importantly it's helped with my anxiety which I didn't realise I had. I was getting really worked up about small stuff and over thinking. Helps me sleep better too. There is a great website called menopause matters that I've found very helpful with good forums on all topics.

[Abra1de]

I take promensil double strength.

I also eat a good helping of ground linseeds each day.

The only symptom I have is insomnia and very occasional night sweats and this is managed by accupuncture. I don’t have mood swings.

The reality of HRT in our local GP practice is being put on the cheapest form to start with and having to wait three months before you can switch to the next cheapest form. After six or nine months gaining weight and feeling awful, several friends have just given up.

[ssd]

I agree, get off polly's back, who the hell are we to tell her when to post and what style she should be posting in?

sheesh, some of you here need to look at yourself

there's a few posters on mn who get my back up, but I ignore them, I dont come on and criticize their style of posting or everything they say

[olliegarchy99]

it is not 'natural' to spend 30-40 years without estrogen and the health issues this can cause. In the past most women died at 40 or 50 and didn't experience menopause. it's only relatively recently in evolutionary terms that women have lived to 80+.
That is an extremely sweeping statement.
You mean women to put up with the loss of estrogen during the menopause (not the meno - not sure what that is?) before the advent of HRT have spent 30-40 years unnaturally living with massive health issues Tell that to the women in their 70s, 80s and 90s !
If someone has extreme symptons of the menopause then HRT may well be the answer. BUT there can be health issues with it, menopausal symptons are not usually life threatening.
OP- HRT is not essential and you do not have to take it.

[PollyPerky]

ollie as it happens, yes, there are many women in their 70s 80s and 90s who are unwell through lack of estrogen.

*1:2 have osteoporosis over the age of 50.

• Heart disease in women rises to the same level as in men after the menopause (as estrogen protects the arteries)
  
• Degeneration of joints, especially the collagen in the spine, happens with loss of estrogen
  
• Insomnia - many older people accept it as normal- is a key symptom post-meo.
  *Anxiety, depression and agrophobia often start post meno.
  *Pelvic floor and bladder function is affected by loss of estrogen.
  
  More women die from the complications of a broken hip and disability than die from breast cancer.
  
  My mum is over 90. She is very fit but she is unusual amongst her friends. She if fit because she doesn't drive, walks everywhere, digs a huge garden, eats helathily and has never allowed herself to be overweight. All her friends are either ill, dead or younger than her.
  
  She still has hot flushes and she has terrible insomnia. She asked for HRT when she was early 60s and due to the licensing laws at the time, was told she was too old.

[PollyPerky]

ssd Thank you

My sentiments exactly!

[CrabappleBiscuit]

I know women in their 60s 70s and older crippled by osteoporosis...

With early menopause hrt should be prescribed. That’s just the facts.

If you are older when you have the menopause. Can manage your symptoms and do load bearing exercise then great for you if you don’t take hrt.

I bit my gps arm off when offered it at 47 as I couldn’t manage peri symptoms. Don’t scaremongers or guilt people into not taking it.

[CrabappleBiscuit]

menopausal symptoms aren’t usually life threatening

Well...mine were having a completely debilitating effect on me, I was struggling to hold down my job and relationship. Son no not life threatening ....but I’m glad I found something that stopped those effects.

I run, I eat well, I don’t party drink.

[SophieLMumsnet]

Hello, everyone.

We just wanted to remind you all that we've not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have any medical concerns at all, we would always suggest consulting your GP.

Thanks

[CaraBosse1]

Ok, Polly, so you've potentially caused fear in women who can't take HRT. What do you suggest they do? I know you're not engaging with me but you really ought to offer them some alternatives.

[ssd]

she did CaraBosse1

PollyPerky Wed 21-Feb-18 09:16:44

"minty I have left links many times here to the information published by the RCOG on exactly this.

(Which is why I don't take kindly to accusations that all I offer is HRT!)

If you do a search you should find the link. I left it only about 2 days ago for someone else.
'Alternatives to HRT, RCOG.'"

[PollyPerky]

Thank you ssd

I did a quick search and the number of times I've posted this goes back years...

Here is another from 2 years ago.


PollyPerky Sat 27-Feb-16 11:23:29
I've seen quite a few posters asking for info on options to HRT. I came across this and it's worth reading to see what they suggest based on research.

//www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/patients/patient-information-leaflets/gynaecology/pi-alternatives-to-hormone-replacement-therapy-for-symptoms-of-the-menopause.pdf

[gnushoes]

Two things here. 1. I don't believe Polly is scaremongering. What she is doing is countering 20 years of scare stories about HRT which are putting lots of women off even considering the idea. Good for her. Believe her or not but don't have a go at her.

1. mummyretired you might have read that hot flushes don't go on beyond six minutes - not in my experience. Pre HRT I'd have a flush going up my back in bed which lasted hours. I believe they're called ember flushes. They completely knacker any thought of sleep.
   

As you all were.

[PollyPerky]

My link to the RCOG info was for ssd as a continuation of her comment. It wasn't in response to the request from Cara with whom I am not engaging further and whose snipey post has been reported.

[bananaskin123]

Well past meno now so can't really offer any advice but just to say I had a post meno bleed last year and had a Mirena coil after investigations as to why it happened. I was surprised to be offered this at my age but it seems to have done what it was supposed to in my case, ie thin the lining of the womb. Polly was so helpful during this time and at other times when I have posted.

[TellsEveryoneRealFacts]

Ok, Polly, so you've potentially caused fear in women who can't take HRT. What do you suggest they do? I know you're not engaging with me but you really ought to offer them some alternatives.

you of course are free to offer your own alternatives.

Personally, i have a before HRT and an after HRT story. I went into early menopause at 42, and my female doctor refused to give me HRT, as I was apparently too young for the menopause. It took 7 years for them to give me HRT. I finally went back when I was literally on my knees, unable to climb the stairs at the end of the day. And bearing in mind my job was Head Gardener, it wasn't like I wasn't getting exercise all day every day.

I had all the symptoms, and my whole body ached from dawn to dusk, and my bones literally felt as if they were hollow towards the end. My male doctor finally gave in, and prescribed HRT. I put one patch on, had two more hot flushes and haven't had one since. I was eventually bone scanned, and turns out, due to lack of estrogen, I have osteoporosis. Great. At 49.

I have not seen any scare mongering and for those giving Polly grief, you are as free as she is to give advice on the topic. If you do not like it, do your own research and counter it. Otherwise - give it a rest. HRT can literally change your life into one that resembles being human again.

[Emerald13]

Sorry tells for feeling so bad! I’m 42 and on hrt. My body started to suffer a year ago and my gyn was absolutely careless! My last gyn said that I have to take hrt high dose immediately, he sent me for bone scan and blood tests. We have to take care of ourselves cause nobody will do it for us! There so many women who just know nothing about meno, they trust wrong gyns and spent their lives suffering! Hope you are in better health now!

[TellsEveryoneRealFacts]

i am thanks. I think of my auntie who was bent double from her 30s and think 'fuck that for a laugh'. Women need to know options and that doctors don't always know the latest info on HRT.

[CaraBosse1]

at my posts being deleted. No personal attacks from me.

[Astrabees]

people my mothers age (91) seem to accept that osteoporosis, broken hips and incontinence are just normal signs of ageing. I don't think my generation will put up with all that nonsense HRT is a really valuable tool in the armoury against it. I'd suggest that anyone who feels there are medical reasons not to take it gets a professional and objective view about it, certainly some people who have had breast cancer continue to take certain types in risk assessed safety. I'm sure that there are other methods of reducing the symptoms of hormone deficiency but HRT is the gold standard treatment.

[RaininSummer]

I seem to be passing through things without needing HRT though so guess I will still get osteoporosis etc. Surely if it is so beneficial it should be encouraged for all women of a certain age.

[CrabappleBiscuit]

my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/10091-menopause--osteoporosis

This explains it well...I think.

[Emerald13]

It’s a combination of factors that cause osteoporosis and a very common cause is an early meno. It’s a very helpful link, thanks.

[Copenhagen]

HRT didn’t suit me. Made me put on weight 1/2 stone in six weeks & felt bloated & uncomfortable. Always find it funny when people say no it’s the menopause when I was in the menopause before & didn’t gain weight. For me it was HRT......but that was my experience. I was lucky though as came off fine & feel better. For some HRT is best & for others like me it’s not the best option but my symptoms where hot flushes & in the grand scheme they are annoying in the summer & sometimes enjoyable in the winter. Do what works best for you. We are all different and respond differently. I think that there is no need to put multiple links in about HRT as they are pinned on this board. So what alternatives worked for others posters.