What can I do now aged 42 to ease the next ten years

[Pansypath]

I am starting to get symptoms of peri menopause. Shorter cycles, worse pmt. I am 42. What can I do now in terms of supplements etc to ease the menopause when it does come - any suggestions

HRT is a lifesaver, op. It is also very important for maintaining your heart and bone health whilst going through peri-menopause.

Ask you GP for HRT. I've spent the last 2 years trying supplements, the mini pill and anti depressants. Finally I have HRT, I still have regular periods but the constant rage of pmt was ruining my life. It's early days for me, but I think there's an improvement. Good luck

Oh I feel your pain! I am going through the same thing. I am getting night sweats, pre-period anxiety and a serious PMT/rage! My GP has ordered a blood test to check my FSH levels, but day-to-day, I have started taking vitamin D (which seems to help with hormone-induced anxiety), avoiding alcohol and trying to eat really well. I am also trying to practice good sleep hygiene, though not always successful. I also really like Liz Earle's podcast - she has lots of useful stuff to say about menopause. In a fit of good intention, I also bought a kettle bell, but so far it's only been used as a door stop...😳

Anti-depressants are not recommend to help with peri/menopause, and can often make things worse.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/news/health/menopause-antidepressants-symptoms-worse-hrt-shortage-a9148951.html%3famp

I'm 42 and I've got symptoms too. Horrendous PMS, brain fog, weight gain around the middle

Can't have HRT as increased breast cancer risk.

Thanks for starting the thread OP

@Pansypath I’ve not yet had the bloody menopause and I’m 10 years older than you 😤
I am in a better state than I was 10 years ago- I stopped drinking, and for me the thought of coping with disturbed sleep, hot flushes drunk was a real spur. Again with weight- I’m thin and it has to be easier to cope with flushes, bad sleep etc. I’ve made a point of doing exercise which builds muscle mass and also weight bearing for bone density.

All the usual stuff too, cut sugar & alcohol, exercise. Loose weight if you need to.

@CommanderBurnham

You should get the middle weight gain checked out if you're at increased risk of female cancers.

Another one saying "if you can take it (i.e. no medical contraindications) HRT."

Even if you have contraindications for systemic HRT, you can probably still take topical HRT, so get cracking on those oestrogen pessaries!

Yoga, physio, exercise.

Layers on your bed.

Wool, wool and more wool (you will sweat more, in my experience, you will unfortunately smell more - I find this even with showering twice a day and anti perspirants - cotton clothing begins to smell musty quite rapidly, and any sort of synthetic fabric just smells rank).

Read the NICE guideline for menopause make sure you are well informed and don't assume your GP will be though they might be. Blood tests are not usually needed for diagnosis . Hot flushes are a particularly indisputable clear sign. Antidepressants shouldn't generally be used for meno and make sure any family history of cancer etc is properly understood as to whether it actually increases your risk or not. If you have meno before the average age of 51 and don't take hrt you have an increased risk of osteoporosis so be aware. Eat less sugar and exercise more for better energy.

I'm the same OP. 44, regular periods, no hot flushes but full on rage, anxiety, brain fog, exhaustion etc.

@GilbertMarkham thank you. It's not bad and tends to go down after PMS but I shall mention it to the doctor as I have an appointment this week.

I also have a pelvic scan booked as I have had really heavy blood loss during AF too.

I’m 42 too. I have terrible brain fog. I’ve started taking a cod liver oil supplement which is supposed to help. Too soon to say if it is yet!!

Also, although breast cancer is a huge worry for most women, the risk is very small. Last week a new research report showed a possible risk of another 36 cases per 10,000 women (and that was using the old types of progesterone not micronised progesterone.) 36: 10,000 means a woman's higher risk is 0.0036% over a year.

@CommanderBurnham I fully get you may have an increased risk but without knowing your details, check it out with a specialist (and apologies if you have already.) It's just there are so many myths around where women are given wrong facts.

sorry I think that's 0.036 %

Start weight lifting and get serious about fitness and weight control.

Thanks @JinglingHellsBells , I have been assessed by breast clinic and and have been on yearly mammograms since I turned 40.

I still don't know how much more of a risk HRT would but when the time comes I will definitely seek a private specialist opinion. I've seen too many people on here that have had nightmares.

But like OP I'm keen to know what I can proactively do to help have the smoothest journey through. Losing a stone will help me the most at the moment I think.

Why are you having yearly mammos @CommanderBurnham? Do you have the BRAC gene or a previous history of breast disease?

2 paternal aunts and my mum have/ have had breast cancer.

Apparently they put all my family info into a computer algorithm and it spat out early mammograms.

My mum has been very recently diagnosed with a recurrence so when appropriate I will ask her to ask her consultant about BRAC testing.

Oh no does it ruin sleep too? My youngest has only just started school but still wakes once a night. Last night for some reason all three kids woke. What I mean is that my sleep hasn’t improved yet since having babies so I am not ready die it to get worse!

Another thing I have noticed about getting older is little cuts etc taking longer to heal.

Oh no does it ruin sleep too?

Sadly, yes. Insomnia is a very common symptom of peri. Luckily, HRT sorts it.

@CommanderBurnham I can understand your concerns. However, medical opinion is divided on this to say the least.

One of the top breast cancer specialists in the UK- Michael Baum- has a lot to say on this. His daughter runs the Latte Lounge - support site for women- and she is on HRT. Her mother died from BC and there is more in the family. You can watch them discussing this - it was on day time TV- might be there on Youtube. He has prescribed HRT to women who have had BC.

In theory, you would be advised to think about HRT if you have 2 first degree relatives with BC at a young age: that means a mother and a sister. That's what counts as a strong family history.

Why did you seek out the computer prediction in the first place?

@JinglingHellsBells thank you I shall have a look at those videos.

here we are @CommanderBurnham

Don't get me wrong- I'm not pushing HRT and appreciate where you are coming from.

However, it's important to know that opinions vary and this dr is one of the most respected on the topic.

I had a partial hysterectomy in my mid 40s and although I kept my ovaries I initially had a lot of issues (disrupted sleep, some hot flashes, mood swings)

What worked for me was regular exercise, going vegetarian and listening to short meditation videos to relax!

I am 50 now and the symptoms have completely disappeared :).