A thread to discuss the extra less obvious bits to the menopause

[GetStrongKeepFighting]

I've been to the GP today and she's said most of what I was telling her are due to the menopause.

I had to come off HRT so I'm just on starflower capsules, Angus castus and vitamin B.

I'm having blood tests and have been referred for a neurological appointment.

My menopause started after the shock of a traumatic event well two and it's been 2-3 years ish. Periods all over the place, anxiety for first time ever, daily painful headaches, not sleeping very well, emotional, knackered, suicidal at times PMT like grouchiness, lack of motivation.

Sigh.

Vaginal atrophy!

Stabby breast pain. Like neuralgia.

Yes! Stabby breast pain

Joint pain (ankles). I can't run any more due to this. Menopause is truly shit.

Knee and ankle pain too. No more running for me I feel like the Tin Man every time I give it a go.

Somebody on another thread mentioned smelly hair due to meno. 😦

Watery eyes

Itchy flaky skin on t zone, and just generally itchy.

^This and I have the scratches to prove it. Hands, feet and neck are the worse.

Somebody on another thread mentioned smelly hair due to meno
OMG! I would never have mentioned this as it sounds so dumb but this is me. I can always smell my hair because it always seems to be damp. Whether my sweating is obvious anywhere else, I can always feel it in my hair. So gross and so stinky.

I am a hot bed of meno symptoms. I haven't had a proper period since last July but did have some super super light spotting followed up with some gunk recently. I itch, intensely. I'm fatigued. All of it. I also cannot ever take HRT and that really sucks.

Sounds gruesome, OP! Just to let you know, I get severe migraines and am on oestrogen-only HRT gel. It’s been fab. About to ask if I can have my dose increased as my hair loss has started again. So far no side effects at all. (It’s been six months.) I sleep better and the sense of impending doom seems to have lessened.

once you are confirmed menopausal and can go on HRT. - this has confused me as my blood tests confirmed peri but I was prescribed HRT.

The problem I have currently is the manufacturing problems with Tridestra so have to pick up a new prescription for a different one this week is there any issue about going from one type of HRT to a different one? (Not sure until I collect prescription what they have put me on)

cricketballs3

Not sure who said 'once you are confirmed' etc etc.
But maybe they meant confirmed as in peri menopause?

You can use HRT at any age and stage once you have symptoms. There are types of HRT for peri and post menopause (and they can overlap anyway.)

NICE does not want drs to do blood tests for menopause. Waste of money and pointless as not accurate. NICE says treat symptoms in women over 45 without doing blood tests.

You can use whatever you are being given but not HRT for women whose periods have long stopped.

How quickly should we expect to feel a difference after going on HRT?

My eyes, feet and ears are sooooo itchy. My joints hurt. My sleep is all over the place, i often sleep much more than the norm, but I'm always tired. I'm about 10 days in.

@JinglingHellsBells it was this post (13/3/19) that I quoted

GahWhatever

Ah,my people. I am perimenopause: thinning hair, irregular periods, teeth seem to be on the move. My gut seems to have given up: I am eating those fancy yogurts and veggies but that's about all that doesn't cause problems.
I asked the GP if this was my 'new normal' and he laughed and said no: it gets better once you are confirmed menopausal and can go on HRT.
Marvellous.

Not sure about the NICE advice, but my GP sent me for blood tests when I saw him due to menopause symptoms and the results confirmed peri and after a discussion I was prescribed Tridestra

Aching joints.
Loss of sense of smell & taste.
Blocked nose - it’s not hay fever, it’s not a cold, it’s blocked! I can be fine and a second later, sound like I’m deliberately sounding as if I’m full of snot; delightful.
Unable to eat properly i.e. sit down to eat a meal and it gets stuck, literally stuck. I have to take myself off to the loo, stick my finger down my throat and bring it up to clear the blockage. Once it’s cleared, I’m ok (why?).
There’s ALL the usual symptoms too, but they’re my ‘top 4’ 😩
I’m on patches having tried weeks of white ones and two weeks of grey. That resulted in a 4 day migraine at each colour change.
I have been a migraine sufferer all my life but they were diminishing in their regularity as I was getting older. Imagine my utter joy at their return.
I could turn my attention to the WEIGHT GAIN, but it’ll make me even more depressed....

Main symptoms for me...
Palpitations, headaches, brain fog so bad I'm starting to wonder if theres something more wrong, sense of overwhelming that makes me want to keep my hubby and children close so I can protect them!

58, four years post menopause

Waking up with hip pain that goes away once I'm up and about
Staying in one position for more than 10 minutes before moving involves hilarious old lady impressions
Lack of stamina
Not exactly depressed but not exactly happy
Unpredictable bowels (plus flatulence that can frighten pets)
Broken sleep - just love those 2am/4am interludes where you get unrivalled opportunities to catastrophise about literally anything
Cannot focus on books/films/anything for any length of time - is menopausal ADHD a thing?

And..... constantly rolling my eyes (so hard you can hear them rolling) at the world (may not be menopause related)

Broken sleep - just love those 2am/4am interludes where you get unrivalled opportunities to catastrophise about literally anything
You've described so accurately! How can we laugh at something we know we should control yet feel so utterly poweress to do so?

Cannot focus on books/films/anything for any length of time - is menopausal ADHD a thing?
Yes, yes yes! Definitely something I wasn't prepared for! So bad, got gp to agree to test for cortisol levels (came back normal) and yes, considered adhd medication, thankfully didn't go that far! How can sex hormons have such an impact on our brain!

To add to unexpected symptons: tinnitus, pins and needles and blury vision.

Oh yes, the 2am and 4am worryfests. Over nothing.

MummaPI wrote
Main symptoms for me...
Palpitations, headaches, brain fog so bad I'm starting to wonder if theres something more wrong, sense of overwhelming that makes me want to keep my hubby and children close so I can protect them!

Yes yes yes!

Plus yes to pet scaring flatulation a pp posted!! It's so good to know you're not alone.

I even forgot what hours I worked recently. My boss had to write them on a post it to stick on my pc! Luckily I work with all women so they get it

saythatagain have you seen your GP about your swallowing. That doesn't sound right?

@saythatagain
See above

Why are so many of us surprised at the things that happen during menopause? I bet a lot of women just think it's periods being erratic and hot flushes yet going by these posts there are a hell of a lot more common symptoms.

I have shabby breast pain, knackered all the time yet waking too bloody early, lay period was over three weeks long and I'm now over two weeks late.

It sucks to be a woman sometimes.

Joint pain for me - random pains in knees, feet, hands neck..

saythatagain Unable to eat properly i.e. sit down to eat a meal and it gets stuck, literally stuck. I have to take myself off to the loo, stick my finger down my throat and bring it up to clear the blockage. Once it’s cleared, I’m ok (why?).

That doesn't sound right - i would go to your gp about that.

Reading with interest as I think I am also peri menopausal. Lots of these symptoms seem very familiar. Particularly itching! My back has never itched so much. I also have one ferociously itchy nipple . Is anyone else suffering wi5 itchy boobs?!