Menopausal, angry, short tempered, and lost

[mckenzie]

what might help me?

I'm already taking Kliovance which is keeping the sweats at bay but I am really short tempered, angry, miserable and a little lost. Can anyone recommend anything to help please?

TIA

I am really short tempered, angry, miserable and a little lost.

Maybe you need to talk to someone? Is this all hormonal or is something going on in your life which is making you angry, miserable and lost? ie are you happy generally with your relationships, work, hobbies, friendships? What makes you happy? What are you doing to have some fun in your life? Is anything missing?

It’s really unhelpful and patronising to suggest that the very physical problem of peri menopause and menopause is all psychological.
Op, I’m taking Jai Wei Xiao Yao which is very helpful (google research on its effectiveness and where to buy it). I’m considering trying Sage Complex.

@Alienspaceship
Have you read the OP's post? She is already using HRT. It's far from patronising to ask if other 'midlife issues' are part of the bigger picture. You're barking up the wrong tree to accuse me of being patronising re menopause. I've spent years on this board helping posters and suggesting HRT and other things that might help.

How is your diet?
What has worked for me is giving up alcohol, caffeine and sugar almost completely and eating a plant-based wholefood diet with some oily fish for bone health and lots of beans and legumes.
Regular exercise (walking and cycling) and yoga make a difference too.
If I stray from this, the irritability returns.

The other thing - in addition to the above post by @Firebreathingwoman is to think whether Kliovance is the right HRT. I feel great on my HRT (after 11 years) but I also do all the lifestyle stuff @Fire has suggested.

If your HRT is only helping sweats it might be worth thinking about the dose or whether another type would suit you. Kliovance does contain Norethisterone as the progestogen. I used to use that progestogen and swapped after 5 years to Utrogestan because it did give me irritability while taking it. I still stand by my first post though which is HRT is good but it's not always a silver bullet for everything if there is stuff going on anyway which needs addressing.

Thank you so much for all the posts.

I don't drink much alcohol at all and eat a relatively healthy diet (it could be better I know and I am in the process of making positive changes as I can see a link between what I eat and how I feel).

I exercise and love the fresh air (I have a dog ) although the summer break is playing havoc with my normal routine as 2 classes that are part of my core weekly staple are not on for a few weeks.

Life in general is not great. I'm feeling very much that I am/I have been wasting my life. I'm regretting some choices that I've made along the way and I know that I need to stop, accept said choices and move forward but I'm finding that I can't. I'm stuck.

I'm in the process of trying to get a more substantial job. I currently work very part-time (I'd call it part part-time) in a pretty basic unchallenging role but I've had so long off for motherhood, I'm struggling to get back (I still can't go full time just yet) into anything with a bit of bite. I've got 2 teenagers with a variety of issues; some normal for the age and some more challenging (1 DC is very quirky and at a testing stressful time).
I also have a DH with a business that is currently quite stressful.

Gosh - That was a massive dump on you all wasn't it?

I will look into changing the kliovance.

Ditching sugar I can do easily I think.
Decaf coffee ok?

jingling, Maybe you need to talk to someone?
Just this post has set me off; I'd need about 10 hours with someone and I can't afford that.

@mckenzie maybe we can help you here with your job quest? Have you any skills or training you could use towards something more substantial? Could you start training for anything through distance learning for example? Do you have any dreams about what you'd love to do as a job?

No need to answer but something to think about :)

Thanks again jingling. I will definitely give all those points some thought.
Today I made a doctors appt, to talk about maybe changing the HRT. It’s not until mid August but at least it’s booked.

update.

Today I saw the doctor and she has suggested that I try the patch and tablet combination.
No more Norethisterone but instead she's prescribed Utrogestan so hopefully JinglingHellsBells, that will have a positive effect on me like it did on you.

How long I wonder until I might see if there is any difference?