For those that have actually got through it..........

[Zoezoo]

Hi! I feel I've been in perimenopause for 8+ years and more often than not feel like crap. There's the odd day when things aren't too bad but usually it's the whole mix or variation of headache, dizziness, joint pain, anxiety, palpitations, sleep problems and many more. I put everything down to "my hormones" and imagine a future life where things will finally be done with and I can live a normal life. Is that the case though? For any of you who have got "to the other side" of menopause, do you become yourself again, or do all these bloody endless symptoms keep on going, even when your periods have finally stopped?

Surgical menopause but was peri for at least 4 years prior to my hysterectomy. I wish I’d gone to the dr and requested HRT sooner. Life changing!

Thanks for responding. I do keep hearing of lots of positive experiences with HRT lately and I have considered whether I should approach my GP about it but I have a strong family history of stroke and I think that could cause complications? I fret enough about my health, feeling awful most of the time, that I'm not sure it would be wise to add the further worries into the mix! Desperation might encourage me though.......!!!

Stroke is not an issue. There are strokes in my family history and it's one reason I use HRT as estrogen prevents build up of arterial plaque.

Transdermal HRT doesn't increase stroke risk.

Speak to your gp about hrt..I believe there is no increased risk of stroke with hrt if the patches are used. ( I am NOT a health care professional)

I think I’m through it. I do feel knackered most of the time, but the marvellous thing is that I just really dgaf anymore. I don’t want to go on HRT in case it makes me start giving a fuck again.
It’s so liberating at 53 to finally be ok with who I am.

@justnorthofsanity

Speak to your gp about hrt..I believe there is no increased risk of stroke with hrt if the patches are used. ( I am NOT a health care professional)

It's in the NICE info pinned on this forum :)

the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is increased by oral HRT compared with baseline population risk

the risk of VTE associated with HRT is greater for oral than transdermal preparations

the risk associated with transdermal HRT given at standard therapeutic doses is no greater than baseline population risk.

I don't want to freak you out but some women never get through it, it's not an on off switch. My 78 year old mother still has hot flushes and several other debilitating symptoms on top of osteoporosis. She has always been anti medication so HRT was just dismissed, but seeing how she's suffered over the years i went onto HRT at 47 as soon as the peri symptoms ramped up.

You don't need to suffer and live a half life.

I agree with @TinaWeymouthsBass that you really can't judge from other's experiences.

I've used HRT for ages for various reasons, but I know my Mum still had sweats, flushes and insomnia into her 80s.

My friends are ok on the whole, but some have developed aches and pains, sore joints, poor sleep etc, loss of confidence or energy. Sometimes what women feel can be due to a loss of hormones and it's not always recognised.

The stats say that a good number of women - maybe 15-20% have symptoms like flushes etc for 15 years or more, and some never ever find they end.

Yup, 58 here and the ‘don’t give a crap’ attitude i have now is fantastic! I feel like I can do anything in the world but actually just potter in my garden - because I don’t have to prove anything to anyone, least of all myself. And my sex drive has come back like a lioness, so I had to trade XH in for a younger model!

Basically, my 22 year old self is back 😊

Wow, that's encouraging! I don't really like DH seeing my wobbly bits nowadays so don't think it's likely I'd get them out for anyone else! I'm not really a person who's keen on medication so am loathe to go down the HRT route and just hoped there is the possibility of returning to "normal" so thank you! I'll battle on for a while longer and live in hope. I know my mum had reached menopause by 44. I've just turned 50 so maybe it'll be all done soon (please, please, please!!!). I'm getting better at not giving a stuff too about the things that would have really phased me before so that's a silver lining at least