We've shared the symptoms, now let's share what helps

[DenbyGirl]

Having read through the thread of symptoms, it seems we all agree that the menopause is crap. But by knowing we aren't alone I think helps.

Just a thought, it might be nice to share little things we have found helpful for different symptoms. Either long term "cures" or just temporary relief from niggles.

So I'll start....

For hair that has gone frizzy (mine used to have a gentle wave, now frizzy curls) unless I use Cantu curl activator creme. It is remarkable. Look at youtube for video evidence!

For painful ankles/heels I was recommended to stop wandering around barefoot and to stop wearing flats (ballet pumps/converse). So now I wear FitFlops around the house and the change is amazing. I can walk properly straight away when I get up instead of hobbling for the first 10 minutes.

Share away

[barearsedloverofthigh]

HasThisSoddingNameGoneToo Try 'food state' magnesium chloride (not sulphate). I take one 100mg tablet twice a day. I find it takes two or three days to get my levels up. After a couple of days of forgetting to take them symptoms (anxiety/jitters/palpitations) return. If I keep my levels up, ALL those symptoms disappear.

[Dee2019]

Exercise is essential daily,
Eating healthy,
I use HRT Cream for dryness.
Routein is important, any changes to routein impact me... I have not cut down on weekend wine, but I feel its probably time as I suffer significantly with tiredness post sharing even a bottle of wine. Confidence is impacted, I too lost confidence with driving amoung many other things, and occasionally feel a tightness in throat also,in general feel so tired...and paranoid...I feel I am trying to live as I did pre symptoms but I guess as my body changes I need to also. Because I feel my reaction time is slower and I am "Foggy" it takes a while for me to consider "The next symptom" as a possible menopause symptom so I usually go through an multitude of emotions before I think to myself or get GP to confirm that my most recent worry is another symptom.

[RaininSummer]

Rather anecdotal but in agreement with poster above who mentioned flaxseed - i have been having some in my porridge and have had less hot moments at night this week. Have also ordered Menopace. I really want something to ease the stiff joints as that is making me feel and act old.

[mcmen05]

Starting fematab today anyone else take that any advice.

[justilou1]

Just out of interest ladies... if there was a specialist clinic for perimenopausal and menopausal women, what kind of specialist would you want to include and why?

I’m thinking GPs that don’t judge if you decide medical interventions might be the best choice for you
Counsellors
Dieticians
Naturopaths
Psychiatrist
Cosmetic doctor & nurse - to help with hair removal, laser, Botox, etc

Can you think of anything else

[mcmen05]

how do you actually know it is the Menopause
My gp says it's not
Im 48 hot flushes, bad anxiety, no period as have mirena coil.
Started taking sage helps with hot flushes
Taking tablet for anxiety and vertigo nothing working any better.

[ThePittts]

Flaxseed capsules helped me reduce flushes, and more recently past month or so royal jelly, helped a lot more.
Tumeric tea, tastes ok actually, helps with the aches and pains

[Thehagonthehill]

You have to give her a few months but if it's not working go back to your GP,took me several goes to find what worked.I was also (reluctantly)persuaded to have a Mirena ,no more sore boobs,bloat or teooemtial bleeding.
The biggest thing is getting a full night sleep as it makes everything else easier to cope with.
I could to without the joint pains though,I didn't realise this would happen to me in my 50s.Feeling it now as its getting colder.

[HasThisSoddingNameGoneToo]

Tablets. If they sold tankers of vitamin D I’d probably buy one - but it was just tablets today.

[HasThisSoddingNameGoneToo]

I went to the shops today and I was going to get those MenoMood tablets, but ended up buying an ultra-strong Vitamin D tankers instead. I don’t know why! 😆

So I’m now taking:

Menopace
Iron
Vitamin D
St John’s Wort
Magnesium liquid

I used to take vitamins for my hair (Viviscal and Florisene), but I’ve run out and they’re v v expensive, so I’ll have to see how I get on without those for a while. My hairs better now - it fell out last year when I became anaemic.

I’ve also restarted WW, upped my fruit and veg, and am committing to more exercise. I did 2 15-minute power walk workouts earlier and I feel brilliant.

[HasThisSoddingNameGoneToo]

@Choclips I don’t know how long HRT takes. Loads of women say they felt better straight away, but they might be looking back with rose-coloured specs on! My GP asked me to go back for a review after 3 months, so that might be the standard time..?

[Choclips]

Starting a diary to see if differences appear as my brains too wishy washy to remember.
Aim to start basic exercise regime, dietary overhaul.

How long for hrt to kick in? A month and o don't feel different.

[HasThisSoddingNameGoneToo]

My memory had got a bit better but now it’s gone again. I’m trying to remember what made it improve - but of course, I can’t!

I’m back to groping around in my brain for words, and trying not to panic at work in case they realise I’m now hopeless.

Something definitely made it better. It was better over the summer. What was it?? Argh, no idea. If I remember I’ll post it here!

[IdiotInDisguise]

Same here, I feel like I have dementia, I cannot leave anything for later because I will forget it forever.

[BlitzenandMikey]

Hasthis,this is exactly how I feel right now!!! In convinced I’ve got dementia as I’m not right either!! I’m all off balance, can’t drive; life is pants!

[HasThisSoddingNameGoneToo]

It’s all horrible. I don’t know if my symptoms are menopause, or Alzheimer’s, MS, a huge tumour somewhere or what. Im just not “right” but all oestrogen gel did was make me emotional, bloated, with sore boobs and awful rolling heart palpitations so I gave it up.

[HasThisSoddingNameGoneToo]

I’m taking magnesium in a liquid. I wasn’t sure it was doing anything but I’ll carry on.

[BlitzenandMikey]

Nothing is working for me. Started HRT gel and the only thing it has done, it reduce the number of hot flushes. Anxiety is terrible, as are palpitations and racing heat. About to stop driving as I am unsafe (although this could be another condition, I don't know). All in all, life is rubbish! :-(

[unwravellingagain]

Also, magnesium has helped me massively with palpitations- like disappeared- and takes edge off anxiety and sleep problems too

[HasThisSoddingNameGoneToo]

I’ve never collapsed. I don’t even trip over. But I feel a bit light-headed.

[HasThisSoddingNameGoneToo]

Does anyone else feel slightly off-balance now? Sometimes I walk around and feel like a badly stacked Jenga tower that might collapse any minute.

[HasThisSoddingNameGoneToo]

Yoga, Pilates and weight training has helped so much with anxiety and palpitations.

I’ll try this and the other suggestion about avoiding carbs in the morning. I’d love to get rid of the anxiety. I’ve always been a worrier but it’s awful now. My world has shrunk as I’m too scared to drive my car, I talk myself out of doing anything, I over-think and stress. I had a full-blown panic attack last year and it was terrifying. Plus psychosomatic symptoms like feeling my throat was closing up (it wasn’t, and as soon as I saw my tracheotomy photos all my symptoms vanished).

It’s ruining my life. ☹️

[JinglingHellsBells]

I think a healthy lifestyle helps a lot.

I feel i can't really comment too much here because I started HRT at 53 within a few months of my last period. For me, that seems to work fine but I am very careful with my diet, and like others here don't drink (for other reasons- it irritates my bladder), ditto caffeine drinks, and I've pretty much given up sugar and refined carbs. I try to keep my sugar intake to almost zero ( maybe 1 tsp honey a day) and the odd 'treat' like homemade cake or dark choc. I also try to exercise 4-5 x a week and get in some light weights/ squats on a couple of days at home in the lounge.

[Candleabra]

I've started taking menopace tablets following the recommendation from the other thread. It might be a coincidence but I do feel a lot better. Particularly re: the horrible spreading hot flushes during the evening and the night sweats.

Other than that definitely no alcohol plus healthy eating, exercise including yoga/Pilates and try to get 8 hrs sleep. God, I'm so boring!!!

[rosie39forever]

I had no choice with alcohol either one glass of wine bought on monster hot flushes and a hang over that made me feel like I'd drunk a whole bottle, same with caffeine and I bloody love coffee, so it's one cup of decaf and red bush tea only. I have to say its amazing how quickly you adapt.
Yoga, Pilates and weight training has helped so much with anxiety and palpitations.