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Menopause

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Talk to me about the bone crushing tiredness of menopause

170 replies

TheMarbleFaun · 23/04/2019 09:11

I seem to be permanently knackered - never get enough sleep & I feel like every afternoon I need to take a nap - is this normal?
Are there any supplements I could try ( or any other tips) ?
For info I’m 47 and been on HRT about 3 months (Elleste duet 1mg)
Thanks in advance! Smile

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GreenDragon75 · 24/04/2019 18:56

I have just come on to ask the same thing so am posting to check the replies - hope you don’t mind. I think I am peri as have some symptoms but still having periods. I don’t sleep very well but I feel so tired mid afternoon- early evening. Comparable to early pregnancy exhaustion. Am trying gentle exercise - not easy - and black cohosh but am fed up of feeling exhausted. Am watching with interest.

TheMarbleFaun · 25/04/2019 08:04

Hi Green yes I’ve been thinking that it feels very similar to the tiredness of early pregnancy
I’ve been taking floradix for the last few days and it seems to have helped a lot

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BlitzenandMikey · 26/04/2019 14:13

Same here. Permanently tired and by mid afternoon, ready for bed!
Not helped by job hunting and general life stuff.

Not sure what the answer is. Get an early night whenever possible, exercise, watch your diet etc But it definitely feels like early pregnancy exhaustion to me.

scottishdaisy · 30/04/2019 19:05

I started testosterone mid Feb.... it's really made a difference to my energy levels, I'd say. Although still no libido....

YoureAllABunchOfBastards · 01/05/2019 14:27

Yes! The only time I have ever felt this knackered was in early pregnancy when my feet would just take me up to bed every afternoon when I got home. Fell asleep on the sofa the other day after closing my eyes for two minutes.

GillBiggeloesHair · 01/05/2019 14:42

Yes I'm exhausted no matter how much sleep I get and I sleep really well.

I do have an early start and a fairly long commute which probably doesn't help but I've just had a week off work and feel no better for it.

KaliforniaDreamz · 01/05/2019 14:54

yes i feel like this and i am on HRT.

Liz38 · 01/05/2019 14:58

Oh god yes this exactly! It's been about 6 months now and I don't know whether to try hrt to sort it but I wanted to avoid hrt if reasonably possible. I've had enough, I'm 47 and I'm still having periods so it's not going away any time soon is it?

TheMarbleFaun · 01/05/2019 17:38

HRT doesn’t seem to make any difference to the tiredness ( to me anyway)

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Superjaggy · 01/05/2019 18:23

This sounds like me too. 47, been on HRT for 18 months (it has helped hugely with flushes and the need to stab), fairly active and busy job but have dumped on weight and have no energy. I'm going to the doc next week to ask whether I should consider changing my HRT or whether I could have my thyroid levels tested. I can't go on like this for another 10 or so years!

Superjaggy · 01/05/2019 18:24

The things I'm reading most about in terms of helpful things to check are iron and vitamin D levels. I've tried Menopace and found it of no benefit, but it might work for others.

Dontforgetyourbrolly · 01/05/2019 18:26

Almost 44. Not even this tired during pregnancy!
I've hot sweats, sore boobs and achy body. Still having regular periods but they are heavy and ovulation pain that I never had before

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 01/05/2019 19:56

WTF is this? Does it get better?

TheMarbleFaun · 01/05/2019 20:47

I’ve been wondering about the Vitamin D as I think I felt this way last year too I imagine the levels would be quite depleted by this time of year.
Floradix (liquid iron) does seem to help a bit

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Liz38 · 01/05/2019 20:59

I've found Menomood (st John's wort and black cohosh) good for the mood and utterly useless against night sweats. Pharmacist today recommended getting bloods tested to check levels, especially iron, and boost that if it's low. And co-enzyme q10 for energy levels. I bought some of that, it's supposed to take 7-10 days to start having an effect so fingers crossed!

millmoo · 01/05/2019 21:03

Some days I could fall asleep sitting up in the afternoon -doctor put me on the mini pill which had helped so much as no periods for 3 months now . Helped lots with the mood swings (my DD’s said the other day “ mum you’re not moody anymore 😂) but the tiredness is a killer so any suggestions would be fab

Summersunshine2 · 01/05/2019 21:04

Can I ask how you all know your symptoms are down to menopause?
I have health anxiety and already worried I'll be getting confused about my symptoms when they start.

TheMarbleFaun · 01/05/2019 21:57

I explained my symptoms to GP Summer and he asked if I wanted to try HRT
Anxiety was one of my main symptoms

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Liz38 · 01/05/2019 22:02

I don't know. It's a guess based on my age and best fit of symptoms. But I don't think it actually matters greatly as if I can treat the symptoms and keep them manageable, I don't much care what's causing them!

EvaHarknessRose · 01/05/2019 22:10

It totally sucks, but if I eat sugar and don’t exercise the bone crushing tiredness comes back. Meno is keeping me healthy in the way nothing else ever has, its such an incentive to eat well. Am on oestrogen only HRT.

I also found Menomood good but do beware photosensitivity it totally messed with my eyes (recovered now).

GreenDragon75 · 01/05/2019 23:20

I definitely think sugar makes me worse but can’t seem to break the habit....I think my mid afternoon slump is definitely sugar related. I have also put weight on. I am taking black cohosh and vitamin d supplements (when I remember) & make sure I get an hours walking in after work in the fresh air.
The mood swings seem to have improved but Dd has gone back to uni so that may be more to do with it 😀

WeeWeed · 02/05/2019 00:06

It's the pits.

I have been trying out some herbal stuff, right now I'm taking Red Clover, St John's Wort and a daily multivitamin. I feel so much better after a few weeks. I hardly ever feel tired now and I'm excersising more because of that.

My mood has improved, I'm more relaxed and the anxiety has reduced significantly. No more sweats either.

swingofthings · 02/05/2019 05:42

HRT doesn’t seem to make any difference to the tiredness ( to me anyway)
Sadly it didn't to me either. I was reluctant to try it but in desperation decided it was the right thing to do. It did absolutely nothing for the exhaustion and the progesterone part made me feel much worse. I stopped after 3 months and felt much better but still didn't sort the tiredness.

In my case, I know it is because of poor sleep quality. I sleep 8 hours at night, but it isn't restorative sleep. I don't go in that slumber sleep I used to and wake up as knackered as when I went to sleep.

I know that's the issue because the rare week I get better quality sleep, I suddenly get a hint of what life used to be like before the menopause and it is heaven, but as I get used to it and start to feel human again, it hits me again, sleep is poor and I'm back to survival mode wondering each day how I'm going to make it to the end of it.

It's hard to cope with, but the hardest part is facing other people who only see a grumpy, miserable and stupid person as memory is shot, as is ability to concentrate, respond quickly etc... unless you go through it yourself, it is really hard to explain that it is the fatigue that turns you into that person, it's not who you are as a person.

ItsalmostSummer · 02/05/2019 06:00

Yes, to being tired and having hot flashes and grumpiness and always seem to hate my life right now. Yes, that’s menopause :(

BillywilliamV · 02/05/2019 06:19

I have felt so much better since I cut down drastically on my sugar intake. I wish it wasn’t true because I love the stuff, but I feel so much more energetic, I’m sleeping better and less headaches.

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