Feeling rubbish - looking for reassurance please

[Notcontent]

I am approaching 50 and pretty sure I am going through the menopause. Have had some hot flashes of and off for a few months and have not had a period since January I think.

My main problem is that I feel really exhausted all the time. I have always been a bit sleep deprived (lone parent so juggling lots work and everything else) but the exhaustion I feel now is like nothing before. I also have a weird nagging pain on the underside of my left arm and some pain in my left hip. Very odd as I am slim, fit and have always been healthy.

I am seeing a doctor next week but in the meantime really worried. I do have slight health anxiety, which makes this worse, as I am imagining advanced bone cancer or something. But hoping it’s just my body not enjoying being starved of oestrogen…

I'd guess your fatigue is menopause related, it's so common. As are general aches and pains.

Obviously get bloods checked to check ferritin and thyroid ok but if they are the choice will be try HRT (body identical oestrogel and utrogestan seem to be the gold standard) and/or try lifestyle issues like ensuring physical activity every day to improve sleep and limiting/stopping alcohol and caffeine.

P.s if it were advanced bone cancer I'm sure you'd have had lots of other symptoms! Fluctuating and rapidly decking oestrogen does cause havoc with aches and pains.

Thanks, I am sure you’re right.