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[Alicemtaylor2000]

I'm going through an early menopause and I originally thought I had no symptoms - I'm 46 - but I'm struggling with night sweats, hot flushes, nausea and just generally feeling shit, combined with the anxiety that I'm just imagining these things and feeling sorry for myself. I work in hospitality so I can't take time off without forgoing wages - any words of advice would be welcome

Have you considered HRT?

I can't take it, because I was put into menopause medically to help stop my breast cancer spreading, BUT even without HRT, I take a drug called Oxytocin, which helps massively with the night sweats and hot flushes.

This is not early menopause, op. It's peri-menopause, and can often happen years earlier. You need HRT. There is no need to suffer like this.

www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/well-good/teach-me/113666670/perimenopause-lead-up-to-menopause-very-uncomfortable-and-poorly-understood

To add, my peri started at 43. Night sweats, hot flushes, insomnia, irregular, horrible periods, and horrific anxiety I had never had before. HRT has been a total lifesaver. Almost immediately I got my life back.

I have similar aged 41 OP and am currently taking HRT to try and improve.

@Aquamarine1029 you mention an immediate improvement. I just went up to 3 squirts of oestrogel yesterday after a consultation and I feel like the real me today! I don’t know if I’m just in a good part of my cycle or if it can work that fast but I do feel really different (not placebo)

@Alicemtaylor2000 Early meno is an end to periods before 45. You don't have that- you are in peri meno.

I haven’t had a period in 2 years so just presumed it was the menopause- as I understand it the symptoms of peri menopause and actual menopause are the same ? I’ve thought about HRT but worried about the association with breast cancer

There isn't a proven link though.

While you decide on HRT, magnesium before you go to bed really helps. Epsom salts in a footbath or the bath is even better at getting magnesium into your system. Find out your vitamin D level. It's important not to be low with your symptoms.
Definitely cut out alcohol - it causes hot flashes and disturbed sleep unfortunately. Cutting out sugar and processed carbs can help balance hormones too, particularly if combined with Intermittent Fasting (16:8 or 5:2).
Others swear by daily exercise for improved sleep.

Sorry @@Alicemtaylor2000 I think posters incl me didn't understand your periods had stopped, so yes, it's early menopause.

The medical advice from NICE is that women with early menopause use HRT.

This is to protect your heart and bones in the long term, regardless of whether you have flushes and other symptoms.

HRT used up to the age of 51 (average meno age) does not have the same risks as it does for older women. You are simply replacing the estrogen you have lost, 5-6 years too soon.

So you could use it for at least 5 years without any risk at all.