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Menopause

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Original poster

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

OP posts:
Flobochin · 02/05/2019 06:54

It gets worse, as you get older sleep gets harder, factor in having to get up numerous times to pee and sleep amounts to a couple of hours.

wtffgs · 02/05/2019 07:54

Oh yes!

I have zero energy ever. Being overweight (bmi 28/9?) doesn't help, I know. I never feel rested. Just drained. Single parenting an arsey opinionated teen doesn't help Sad

downcasteyes · 02/05/2019 07:57

I don't know if it's the same thing, but I had a chemically induced temporary menopause in my 30s, which then reversed when the drugs wore off. I found that I had to eat really, really well to get energy - as a PP has said, sugar really seemed to be a problem.

KaliforniaDreamz · 02/05/2019 12:25

Summersunshine2 i knew it wsa peri menopause because cycle was changing, crippling anxiety and heart palipitaions but only 2 weeks out of 4.

Choccydoodle · 02/05/2019 17:03

I was just about to post a separate thread but this seems to overlap a bit - I feel exhausted mid afternoon and my arms and legs in particular have started aching and feeling really heaving (almost tingling)
The tired ness generally comes on after lunch but I am trying to keep that low sugar and light but its like having a huge sugar crash without having consumed it - are dodgy sugar high/ lows a symptom too?
This menopause lark is no fun at all - dread to think how I would be feeling without the HRT !

KaliforniaDreamz · 02/05/2019 17:17

i am making an effort to eat more proper 'whole' foods. so i am making myself eat breakfast with protein etc.
the sugar thing really contributes...

teta · 02/05/2019 19:21

I am eating really healthily at the moment as I’m on the fast 800diet. No sugar at all and no carbs apart from veggie carbs. I still feel absolutely exhausted with zero energy to do anything. I just can’t get myself motivated at all.

Superjaggy · 02/05/2019 22:24

I tried that too, teta. I'm willing to accept that I have too much sugar in my diet but all that happened on 800 calories was that my metabolism ground to a halt and I lost a grand total of 2lbs in 2 weeks 🙁

KaliforniaDreamz · 03/05/2019 13:08

800 cals is not enough!!!! teta x

teta · 03/05/2019 15:45

It’s a Michael Moseley diet and I think the science behind it is sound.
I have Pcos & insulin resistance & had gestational diabetes with my twins. That means I have a very high likelihood of developing diabetes.And when I put on weight it’s all on my tummy which is a classic sign. I’ve also put on a lot of weight whilst being on Hrt for six weeks ( whether it’s fluid or not🙄) So the science behind very low calorie diets & insulin resistance looks very promising. I think the idea is to start off with this for a minimum of two weeks and then go to a 5/2 way of eating. At the moment I’m doing 2/5 as I like wine at the weekend 😁.

KaliforniaDreamz · 03/05/2019 15:57

good luck then x

Superjaggy · 03/05/2019 16:17

The science behind it does seem sound teta, hope it works well for you.

teta · 03/05/2019 21:11

Me too jaggy.
Kalifornia thank you!

PeggyIsInTheNarrative · 03/05/2019 23:55

Feeling comforted by the thread so thank you. When I first started getting symptoms I looked at the Menopause Matters website (excellent) and actually cried when I read that the things to do for self help were eat well, be active and don't drink much. I was doing those already and still feeling shit.

Things that have helped with the tiredness include getting my B12 levels sorted a couple of years ago and now my vitamin D.

I'm trying to shift a few pounds so trying to have light lunch like egg salad or soup and yoghurt. An unexpected side effect is I am definitely less tired in the afternoons now than I was if I ate a sandwhich or cheese and potatoe pie.

BackforGood · 04/05/2019 00:13

I love an afternoon nap Smile

All my friends tell me they feel / felt SO much better at 60, than they did at 50.

Yes, it gets better Smile

swingofthings · 04/05/2019 07:02

All my friends tell me they feel / felt SO much better at 60, than they did at 50
Thank-you for posting this as 3 years on and it does indeed feel like this is doomed to bo it forever.

Saying that I wonder how much it is as a result of getting over the menopause and how much it is about stopping work. My mum sadi the same thing but put it down to stopping her stressful job resulting in feeling she'd shifted a weight, leading to better sleep, more time to do what she enjoyed and so starting to enjoy life again.

My friend stopped work in the midst of the menopause. She is now volunteering, no ties and she says she's never felt better. Sadly not an option for me (nor the naps).

Shockers · 04/05/2019 07:23

I’m sleeping from around 9pm until 4, when the cat wakes me. I used to get up then and start the day, but now I’m going back to bed until 7. I also tend to nod in a chair at around 4.

I had a period in January, where I flooded for about 5 days- nothing could stem the flow. Since then, I’ve had a week where when I wiped there was blood, but nothing on the pad to speak of. I seem to have constant period pains though.

My existing arthritis has become worse, to the point where some days, getting around is hard. I still walk every day though, but tend to have alternate days with less vim.

I’m taking a multi vitamin, an AD (two very recent and traumatic bereavements), and a collagen supplement for my joints.

I’m not working at the moment because my DD was very ill- this is rectifying itself and I’ll soon be looking for a job again. I’m 53 and feel 90. I’m so fed up with the menopause Sad.

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 04/05/2019 16:39

I'm very tired and forgetful. I also just feel a bit 'past it' and completely fed up with life in general. Also quite low and grumpy. Boo!

puppylovebaby · 04/05/2019 16:43

Look up Liz Earle. I believe she runs some fantastic menopause talks (and books)

Singlenotsingle · 04/05/2019 16:48

I didn't really notice the menopause, apart from one or two hot flushes. I was working so couldn't really nap in the afternoon. (Not much help really). Fifteen years later, mid 60s, I found I was napping in the afternoons, but that was something different entirely and the GP prescribed meds for.

Snog · 04/05/2019 16:51

Check out the thyroid UK site to see if you have symptoms of hypothyroid. The GP standard test (TSH) doesn't always identify this but if you have lots of the symptoms it's worth following up on.

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 05/05/2019 10:05

Well (selflessly) I have tested the theory for you all that alcohol isn't a good thing - and it's not

teta · 05/05/2019 10:30

I’ve been making a effort to take the dog out for a long walk the last few days and I’m feeling much better.

PandorasWhiskers · 05/05/2019 10:46

I’ve found my people

I can’t believe that this total exhaustion is natural and I just want to wind back two years where I’d eat whatever and loved swimming cycling and hiking and jump up on Sunday morning with a day full of exercise planned- I just want to be fixed and don’t know what do

47 taking floradix magnesium VitD berrocca totally failing at work as just can’t keep up with all the work that got piled on me years ago when I had loads of energy

What do we do? It’s not right
(I’m going to try zero sugar tho n start there)

Superjaggy · 05/05/2019 15:38

Lord, I'm in the same boat today. Red wine is not my friend!

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