I appear to have hit the menopause

[DarkMother]

Hot flushes. Lots of them. All day and all night. They are weird. Not sweaty just burning hot all over, I get really restless, my heart pounds and I’m wide awake over and over. Its worse than having a newborn and I’m knackered.
Along with achy knees, zits and dry bits, and assorted other things.
I am a crone.
I really really do not want to go down the hormone route but the herbs have made no difference whatsoever and I really need to sleep.
Any suggestions?

Welcome to the club .

Can i suggest you read the 'don't be shy, list your menopause symptoms...' thread. Sorry cannot link.

It's shit isn't it?

HRT is a lifesaver. Peri-menopause can last for years and you need to protect your bones and heart health. Why suffer if you don't need to?

I wouldn't be afraid of HRT (unless you have a history of breast cancer in the family).... it is marvellous stuff and it is why I now feel (vaguely) normal again after feel ancient, mad, and furious for quite some time...

(Snap Aquamarine1029....)

A no sugar diet and a shit load of exercise.

That's all I've got, in answer to your query sorry. But I couldn't summon up the energy to exercise until I had the replacement hormones. I had your symptoms two years ago. Tomorrow I'll run 10k, on Sunday I'll swim for an hour. I've lost 10kg since September (and my being overweight represents 10x the known cancer risk of HRT to people over 51 my GP told me - I'm under 51 so evidence suggests no increased risk currently - check latest guidelines because advice changes all the time and I might be out of date). I've had a brilliant year and the only days I get brain fog are when I forgot to put on the oestrogen gel in the morning.

Acupuncture sorted or at least reduced all my various problems without any hormones.

Why dont you want to try hormones.
They really help with protecting against certain age related problems and help get you back to normal

How long after the menopause can you go on HRT I wonder?
You also have to come off it eventually and then the symptoms return.

I’m wary of HRT because I’ve never reacted well to hormonal contraception and my own have never worked properly. So possibly irrational but the less the better?
I’m looking at diet and exercise but that’s hard to increase if you are hanging from lack of sleep.
I’m being acupunctured later today.
Magic wand anyone?

@DarkMother Might be good for you to read about HRT.

Not the same as hormonal contraception. HRT is natural estrogen and progesterone (if you choose those types) and birth control stuff isn't.

You can't say HRT won't suit you unless you try it- that's illogical!
You might feel better especially if your own hormones have been out of kilter all your life.

Lifestyle stuff is great.
Acupncture is great too but at around £50 a session it can't be for everyone.

True. But I’d rather avoid if at all possible

That's a personal choice of course @DarkMother, but before you discount it, make sure you've made an informed decision.

This site is great and there is masses of info here.

www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/menopause/busting-myths-around-hrt

@SunsetBoulevard3 Sadly, another myth around HRT is that women have to stop.

Your first question, ideally HRT should be initiated within 10 years of the last period but you can start at 6-+ if necessary at a low dose to begin with.

Medical stance on this now is you can use it for life. If you stop, you may get symptoms back, but you'd have them anyway even if you'd not used HRT, so it's not that HRT delays the menopause, it's that while you use HRT you avoid the symptoms (which can still affect women at 60, 70 and 80.)

That ought to be 'you can start at age 60 if necessary.

So possibly irrational but the less the better?

Yes it's irrational but also incorrect .

I really do advise that you read all about HRT because you don't understand it, or the benefits.

It protects the heart, bones against osteoporosis, brain ( against dementia) and against bowel cancer.

Heart disease is the biggest killer of women now and HRT can reduce arterial build up by 50%.
Likewise, more women die from osteoporosis complications than all female cancer together...

Just some facts.

I'm with you on the avoidance, OP. A lot of pros and cons with HRT, sadly evidence changes with almost every new study.

I can't have (don't dare) because of family history.

I have tried red clover fermented extract (plant estrogen), it worked for me with the flushes. It's hard to come by in UK, I think and must be the liquid version.

herrens-mark.com/red-clover-extract/

I'm starting HRT a week Monday and I really hope it fixes stuff. Herbs didn't and I don't want another year like the last! Currently enjoying peri

@madambee If you are using an alternative which is still giving you plant estrogen, what do you think is the difference between that and licensed HRT?

@JinglingHellsBells

In the hope that the plant based vs the artificially manufactured ones were 'better'. For every pill you take, there is bound to be side-effects, most of it is pure chemistry and I had a hope getting hormones from food products would be better. I have stopped taking it, I'm not brave enough. My sister died because of the brca gene .

@madambee It really saddens me that so many women know so little all about HRT and perpetuate the misinformation.

All the HRT I use is made from yams. Plants. It's licensed HRT. Gel and micronised progesterone.

Herbs are natural yes, but not necessarily safe(r.) Estrogen is estrogen whether it comes from a herb or a plant but at least with prescription types you know the dose and it's all regulated.

Very sorry to hear about your sister. Have you been tested for the BRAC gene?

I would not have got through it without HRT.
The flushes were like being plugged into the mains.

@JinglingHellsBells
Yes, tested free. Though the risk of cancer is perceived to be greater even if you are not tested positive, but in the family. This is not well documented, and isn't recognized where I'm from. So if you are not positive equals no extra checks etc. My aunt died recently from ovarian cancer despite being tested negative. Despite it might be a coincidence, who dare risk that? Sigh.

I see. Not sure what you mean about your aunt - and not showing up as positive?? There is no test for ovarian cancer except the C125 blood test ( or a pelvic scan) and these tend not to be done as screening, only if a woman has symptoms.

The C125 test is inaccurate and only shows a true result in 80% of women who have ovarian cancer, so 20% with it would have a negative result.
Many drs now will ignore the C125 test and go straight for a detailed pelvic ultrasound which would show a tumour.

Early menopause due to radiotherapy but done and dusted in 3 months. When you've taken steroids on and off for years you're pretty immune to the hot flashes and that's absolutely the only issue I had

I thought HRT was made from pregnant mare's urine?
It is not plant based!
I also had a lot of problems on the contraceptive pill years ago so am very wary of chemical hormones. I am also extremely sensitive to antibiotics and all sorts of other things.
I thought the risk of breast cancer was greater than supposed in the light of new evidence? My family do not have a history of breast cancer, but I am still very wary.
I am several years post menopause now and the worst is over but my energy levels have never returned to what they were and I still get overheated on a regular basis.

My GP also says HRT causes weight gain. Last thing I need!