Starting to shrink

[Purplepeoniesdroppingpetals]

I’m 49 and in the peri menopause, with fibroids, mood swings, insomnia and really shit iron deficiency anemia (which leads to skin problems and gum problems) - basically all the good stuff. I had a hystroscopy recently and have shrunk by two centimetres. Consultant said nah don’t worry, but I’m thinking ‘another thing that I’m not keen on that has happened in the last two years’. Please hit me up with your experiences and advice, wise women.

Do you mean you have shrunk in height?
Why did you discuss this with a consultant or is that not what you mean?

If you have lost height, it's advisable to have a bone density scan (DEXA scan) to make sure you do not have osteoporosis and your spine is not fracturing.

For all your other symptoms- HRT! Have you thought about it or asked for it?

The hysteroscopy/I've shrunk thing is confusing to me too. I don't think I've ever known my womb dimensions! The only thing I'm aware of shrinking is my ovaries - had an ultrasound last year and they were described as "shrivelled like tiny raisins" 😂
Agree with DEXA if you mean you've shrunk in height though. Also second the HRT recommendation, it literally changed my life.
I also take menopause specific multivitamins and a vit D supplement on top. I don't have periods any more but when I did I mainlined Spinach and red meat during plus took Floradix daily.

Can you clarify what has shrunk @Purplepeoniesdroppingpetals Your womb? Your vagina? Your height? Did the dr say not to worry about that(whatever has shrunk) or your other meno symptoms?

What's shrunk?

Sorry had some wine and didn’t proof read 🙄😂

• yes I’ve shrunk in height and didn’t discuss it in detail with the consultant. I found the procedure he was busy doing really terrifying and whilst I calmed down, the height measurement was taken before I went in and it went out of my mind.

I’m going to call my gp and ask for hrt rather than the antidepressants I keep getting offered (am genuinely not depressed).will also ask for the scan referred to upthread.

Appreciate your advice x

@Purplepeoniesdroppingpetals No harm in getting a DEXA scan to check for bone density / osteoporosis but sounds normal to me. We lose height about 1cm every 10 years after 40. I am 55 and have lost 1 full inch and a smidge (excuse mixing measurements). The most annoying thing for me was popping my new height into the NHS BMI calculator and seeing I was a bit fatter than I thought!

Ah I didn’t know that (and sympathise with the sense of aggravation) my 96 year old gran was under five foot when she died, from having been 5 ft 5 and I think that she had osteoarthritis.

@JennyAct3 It's really NOT normal to lose height in your 50s unless you have had spinal fractures or an early menopause where the collagen between the vertabra can also decrease.. Have you had your bones checked? BY your calculation, I should have lost at least 2 inches (and now in my 60s) and I haven't.

Older women do but we're talking of at least over 70 and more.

I'd advise anyone who is losing height to get their bones checked.

@JinglingHellsBells yes I’ve had a DEXA scan and all normal. I have never had a fracture other than 1 broken toe in my twenties and am still having a monthly period. Harvard Medical School report 2015 found from 40 onwards we lose .5 of an inch with each decade. Main reason is spine compression. I thought this was common knowledge?

In any case of course getting your bone health check is sensible. Losing height suddenly or losing 2 inches or more you are advised to get checked.

I've gone from 180 cm ( full height when age 20) to 179 cm age 38 to 177.5 age 49. All GP measurements.

Is this something to be concerned about? I obviously have a longer back than average as I am tall, so percentage-wise it may be less.......

@JennyAct3 Women do lose height in time, but it's usually linked to fractures (compression fractures) and loss of collagen and muscle in the spine. There are other sources of info online that say a slight loss is normal, but not 2 inches.

Using HRT will help prevent this - both by strengthening bones and also maintaining the collagen between the vertebra.

It’s a common misconception that we are all doomed to shrink as we age. A tiny bit of height loss is natural – a half to three quarters of an inch – but two or more inches? That level of height loss is not a natural consequence of the aging process.

www.spineuniverse.com/wellness/avoid-height-loss-as-you-age

Final push I needed to get my gp to prescribe hrt rather than proffering anti depressants and saying let’s see how we go.

I've shrunk too. Had density scan and now on calcium, but thus is worrying. And I've put on 1.5 Stone since November, of which 1/2 a stone of that was in the last week.

I am a bit worried.

I thought everyone started shrinking around 50. My DM was 5'2 and was 4'11 by the time she died at 62. I haven't noticed any shrinkage yet but i don't think i'm perimenopause yet.

Even my ex who is a man, started shrinking after he hit 50. I thought it was normal.

@Oblomov22 I don't know why your GP has given you calcium. It won't help your bones at all, unless your diet is deficient. You need 700-900 mgs a day of calcium. Unless you avoid dairy, it's possible to get all of this from food. Taking calcium supplements does not make new bone. You need calcium to form bone, but it needs estrogen and exercise to make the new bone.

I think it won't be long before this calcium prescribing stops.

There was more research out last week that showed it can cause the arteries to be thickened and block and it's been linked to heart disease.

Just eat cheese, yogurt, milk and lots of green veg.

There are plenty of charts online showing how to get calcium from your food.

Are you on HRT? How bad are you bones now?

Men shrink too, some shrinkage is normal and within healthy parameters.

Yes Jungling I'm on HRT patch.
Well I never, I didn't know about the calcium. They just gave it to when my scan says osteopenia.

I'm an inch shorter than I was (I'm 60). I was 5'11. Menopause at 56. Sadly nothing else has shrunk.

I must be a bit shorter.
the other bits that have shrunk are my labia minora 😱

And just to add I have vagifem, Ovestin and Sandrena so definitely trying to look after it/them

@Oblomov22 I thought you might find this helpful.

It's the ROS info sheet on calcium.

It says what I posted- under calcium Supplements- that taking supplements will not increase your bone density if you are already getting enough calcium in your day to day diet.

strwebprdmedia.blob.core.windows.net/media/pf5fnebx/ros-calcium-supplements-and-tests.pdf

@lljkk shrinkage is never normal in younger people. My mum has shrunk but this started in her 80s, and she's lost about 3 inches, but she's now late 90s.