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Menopause

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Useful things for surviving the menopause

70 replies

Egghead68 · 06/07/2019 17:04

I’ve found these cooling pads helpful at night:

www.<a class="break-all" href="https://amazon.co.uk/Chill-Mattress-Single-Comfortably-Innovative/dp/B073WHY2MF/ref=asc_df_B073WHY2MF/?hvlocphy=1006886&linkCode=df0&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvadid=309909280065&hvpos=1o3&hvdev=m&hvtargid=pla-696506022613&hvrand=11360041154179764583&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-menopause-3630998-Useful-things-for-surviving-the-menopause" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">amazon.co.uk/Chill-Mattress-Single-Comfortably-Innovative/dp/B073WHY2MF/ref=asc_df_B073WHY2MF/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309909280065&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11360041154179764583&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006886&hvtargid=pla-696506022613&psc=1

And this iPhone fan

www.<a class="break-all" href="https://amazon.co.uk/VIMVIP-Lightning-Portable-Rotating-Suitable/dp/B01LYJIA4X/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?s=gateway&keywords=iphone%20fan&qid=1562428974&sr=8-3&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-menopause-3630998-Useful-things-for-surviving-the-menopause" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">amazon.co.uk/VIMVIP-Lightning-Portable-Rotating-Suitable/dp/B01LYJIA4X/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=iphone+fan&qid=1562428974&s=gateway&sr=8-3

And a pedestal fan by my bed.

Anyone else got any tips on things they have found helpful please?

OP posts:
Beansandcoffee · 08/07/2019 19:35

30 years ago my mother was told that by having a positive attitude it would cure her bowel cancer. It didn’t. I had hoped that I wouldn’t hear that expression again when it comes to our health.

I suffered aching joints that it was getting to the stage where I couldn’t walk in the morning. The joints on my fingers were swollen and I couldn’t get my rings off. Night sweats.....horrendous I felt I had a bucket of water thrown over me. Lack of sleep for months. Painful, blending, sex. I felt like I was closing up. So I paid to see a consultant and went on HRT and vagifem and wow what a difference. Everything is 100% better and more so now I sleep through the night. I still don’t have a libido but can deal with that one issue.

BooseysMom · 08/07/2019 19:52

Hard drugs, alcohol and definitely no men

Sorry ladies, i know this is a serious issue but this did make me laugh Grin.. One can dream!

BlitzenandMikey · 08/07/2019 22:37

Great thread, but I hate the ' positive attitude ' stuff. Tried that with breast cancer 10 years ago, didn't work, but chemotherapy did.

I have just started hrt in gel form. Oh what a battle to get it , but I'm hoping to feel better soon !

PolarBearOnARaft · 09/07/2019 07:07

Yep, the positive attitude stuff gets on my tits. Anxiety, depression, hot flushes, vertigo, short temper are all symptoms of falling oestrogen levels.

For some women it doesn’t affect them, or they can ignore it...others can’t.

I did hav3 a small (long) chucklecat a friend who had suggested menopause, exercise and meditation to me as her ways of going through the menopause as it was working for her. Till she started gettin* hot flushes about 15 times an hour.

Egghead68 · 17/07/2019 17:23

Well you lot will be pleased to know I’ve requested a trial of HRT patches. I must say I’m doing this reluctantly but I suffer from severe asthma, which has got worse in the last few months, and there is good evidence that HRT may help improve it.

The elderly male GP was clueless (he said the risks are identical for pills and patches and didn’t seem to know there are patch-only versions - although he called me back to say this). He said that as long as I am aware of the risks he is happy to trial a low dose though.

OP posts:
raeray · 17/07/2019 20:31

Ahh I'm so pleased, I do honestly find mine life transforming as dramatic as that sounds!
It might take time to find the dose that works for you but see how you go and let us know!

MIdgebabe · 19/07/2019 07:29

whatever effect the brain has that can be triggered through CBT it is not positive mental attitude, which has been shown to make things worse. Possibly because you feel like you fail at the first problem,

And whatever effect the brain can have it’s stupid to think you can think away physical problems. But in things with a strong brain c9mponent , eg affected chemicals the brain controls, it’s not surprising that we can train a brain and it would be good to have more alternative to HRT

swingofthings · 20/07/2019 06:52

Melatonin to fall asleep, amytryptilin twice a week for a full on night at least that number of time (taking it more often doesn't work was well, upset my stomach and significantly increase my appetite).

Boots meno herbal pills, no miracle but helps.

No alcohol and LOTS of water throughout the day despite never feeling thirsty. I noticed that I get many less night sweat when I've hydrated not just before going to bed but throughout the day.

Postitive attitude doesn't do miracle, but acceptance has certainly helped me because what makes my symptoms worse is feeling frustrated, angry and upset. I've accepted that I'm not the person I used to be and it is absolutely OK. Accepting the symptoms, the brain fog, the waking up at 4am makes these symptoms so much easier to deal with them.

For the above, the best treatment I have found is to talk about it. Women self-esteem is so affe Ted vy it, I have found that most put the effort into trying to cope and hide it then accepting it is part of a woman's life and it is OK. I am now very open about it, not in a 'in your face way' but in a matter of fact way. The moment I do to women I guess are around that age, it's like releasing a flow gate, a massive relief that someone else will understand and not judge them.

Nothing else helps me more than hearing how a strong woman, seemingly confident and well in her skin is going through exactly the same. Only a small minority of women going through I've spoken to are using hrt, which surprises me.

Hrt is great for some, but it is possible to get through it without. I have no shame turning on my desk fan, getting the wipes out of the drawer even in front of my younger male boss. Even he now understands and respect what it means. I've found my confidence back.

Doryhunky · 20/07/2019 07:08

I have been on h r t for a while and it helps but doesn’t completely get rid of the symptoms but omg I have now started a brand new for me symptom - losing my hair which has been my only one good feature!

JinglingHellsBells · 20/07/2019 08:35

I don't understand why anyone would faff about with things when HRT is safe, effective, and clinically proven through research to give more overall health benefits (far beyond just helping with over-heating) for women up to 60 ( and over.)

Yes @swingofthings maybe you were unlucky in not finding one that suits and I respect that fully, and that you have decided to do your own thing, but the vast majority of women do benefit if they are patient enough to try a few types if the first one doesn't suit.

rosie39forever · 20/07/2019 10:15

I don't get it either jingling I don't want to cope with debilitating symptoms and 'get through' what is a large chunk of my life, I want to feel good and get on with being me. I know there are medical reason why women can't take hrt and I know some women have easy menopause and don't need anything but if you're suffering why just cope when you don't have to.

swingofthings · 20/07/2019 11:50

but the vast majority of women do benefit if they are patient enough to try a few types if the first one doesn't suit
I am not convinced it is the case for the cast majority. The internet is full of women who are on hrt posting about how they do well on the oestrogen but hate the progesterone part and nothing seems to help.

I have two friends who are on hrt and swear by it. Then again, one of them stopped working at the same time and enjoy a life of leisure. I certainly have much fewer symptoms when I'm on holiday so I think that helps too.

I think her is great for some, a lesser of two evils for many, and worse for others. Many don't try because they find they can manage their symptoms ok.

JinglingHellsBells · 20/07/2019 11:56

But most women who are fine on HRT don't bother to use forums to say so.

I'm one of the rare ones who does, simply because my work includes writing and researching on health topics and that involves talking to experts, so I come here to share (as a type of voluntary work.)

I know women on HRT who are happy with it, who aren't on MN and never use forums.

I'm not disagreeing that it doesn't suit everyone - that's true- but this thread was started by someone who didn't want to use HRT (but didn't say why) and had now started it 'reluctantly' as if it was a failure to do so (that was implied, not stated outright.)

That's the bit I don't get.

It's like someone saying they will struggle on with terrible migraines because they don't want to take something that might help, even when they've never tried it to see.

Egghead68 · 24/07/2019 21:05

Yes it was started by me. I didn’t want to take HRT because my symptoms weren’t debilitating enough to take the hit of the increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer - they were just vaguely annoying and could be dealt with by fans and cool packs. The vast majority of menopausal and perimenopausal women in the UK likewise choose not to take HRT. Some people on this forum appear very evangelical about HRT but it’s not for everyone (or even the majority). We all differ in how troublesome our menopause symptoms are and how much extra cancer risk we are able to tolerate.

I have started HRT reluctantly on the advice of my respiratory consultant (I have rubbish lung function and there is a chance HRT may boost it - if it doesn’t within 3 months I will come off it.) I remain unhappy about the cancer risk. I will say, though, that it is pleasant (but not life changing and not, for me, worth the cancer risk) to be free of brain-fog and hot flushes for a while.

OP posts:
JinglingHellsBells · 25/07/2019 07:19

@Egghead68 The risk of cancer is tiny. Women who are a stone overweight or more have a far far higher risk of breast cancer.

There are also benefits of using HRT- stronger bones, healthier hearts, reduced bowel cancer, healthier brain (perhaps.)

More women die from either complications of osteoporosis or heart disease than using HRT.

4 more cases per 1000 on HRT, 24 more cases per 1000 if you are overweight.

This doesn't hit the headlines though, does it, despite 2 in 3 women being overweight.

People need to put risk into perspective and look at other risks they take without a thought.

There are 10 people a day dying on the roads in RTAs. Yet most people ignore that and still drive. There are not 10 deaths a day from HRT.

If you are very worried about HRT risks, maybe talk to your dr about using micronised progesterone alongside estrogen which a number of studies show as being a lower risk re BC.

I use HRT as you know and yes, I do worry about the cancer risk, every day. I'd be lying to say I didn't worry over it. But I also have other health risks which HRT mitigates to an extent, so it's about balance and quality of life.

JinglingHellsBells · 25/07/2019 07:21

You should also know that any risk of BC only kicks in after 5 years on HRT so you have plenty of time to see how you feel on it.

swingofthings · 25/07/2019 20:24

@Egghead68, I agree with Jingle on that one. The risk are really minor, and much less than these associated with other factors that many people ignore.

If it is helping you lifting the brain fog and hot flushes without the bad effects that some experience with the progesterone, then that alone is a blessing. I would have stayed on it if that had been the case for me.

In the end though I also agree that it is a very personal decision and even the very small additional risk can be enough to put some people of, and affe t them more than the symptoms they are experiencing.

Whatever you decide in the end will be right decision for you.

Egghead68 · 28/07/2019 21:05

Well I don’t drive, rarely drink and wouldn’t be a stone overweight as I view those as all too risky too. I guess I am quite risk averse.

Findings on cancer risk and HRT vary widely depending on the study.

OP posts:
Maximoo71 · 08/04/2021 12:34

🤣🤣🤣👌

hopelessbusiness · 10/04/2021 10:06

Just wanted to say in response to an earlier post that any reoccurrence of bleeding when you think you're 'done and dusted', menopausally speaking, should always be investigated by a G P.
My mum started bleeding again after a couple of years of no periods and was found to have endometrial cancer. Not trying to scare anyone but awareness is always good!!

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