General menopause chat

[50isthenew20]

Hello fellow fuzzy headed, irritable, hot, bothered and knackered menopausal ladies. 😂I have finally managed to accept I am menopausal... I need help! Do you have a general chat thread?

This is it .

Most women are going to suggest you try HRT or if you can't use it, other alternatives.

OK, thanks. I need to research HRT before a docs appt at the end of the month and I have no idea where to start. I think I will be classed as menopausal soon as I cannot remember when my last period was. I am struggling with everything. Low energy, exhaustion, short temper, brain fog, aching.... mourning the loss of my fertility.

If anyone is interested in a support thread I'd be glad to use this to kick one off. I found the pregnancy threads camaraderie so helpful.

There are already a lot of threads on symptoms, but they all have different subject lines!

I hope you have a good GP. Mine is world-beatingly crap.

I think it really helps to have read the NICE Guidelines before you have the conversation, and to be able to have as much information as possible about your last menstrual cycle(s) etc.

Have you seen the Davina documentaries?

Thanks for this, please can I join? I have random pains in my nether regions. Gynaecologist couldn’t find anything so I’m guessing it’s perhaps a menopause thing? Anyone else get this?

I’m in for a general support thread. For me it’s all the little niggles of meno that combined together and accumulate into make me feel generally like a clapped out old fart! HRT can help so do try it OP and see how you get on. It’s helped me with some symptoms but definitely not everything.

Sounds like a lovely idea. I started patches 6 weeks ago, my symptoms have somewhat improved, but I seem to have others appearing.

It's funny how we individually think about menopause, some mention being old, worn-out etc. I don't really feel anything about it, I don't feel it defines me and, with the right treatment I am no different. In fact I am enjoying this time in my life, I am trying to concentrate on improving my health and enjoying myself as much as possible.

I started an oestrogen patch in January, in combination with a mirena coil, and definitely feel far more energetic — I didn’t really have other symptoms other than sluggishness. Unfortunately, I’m wondering if the excess of energy is related to having developed a giant crush on someone inconvenient…

There's a Davina McCall documentary on the subject on C4 (All 4) that is well worth a look.

Hi! Consider downloading the Balance app (free) where you can log your symptoms and also take a menopause questionnaire and both together can form a report you can download to show your GP. In addition there is a lot of info on there about menopause, perimenopause and different types of HRT. I have found it really useful. Now in month 2 of HRT aged 44. Estrogen patch and utrogestan capsules (the latter for second half of the month).

Really glad some of you like the idea of a support thread. Feeling better already, just for having some company. ;-) I have one or two friends IRL who I share this stuff with. The school Mums generally are late thirties, so it's not àn issue they'd discuss.

My GP is amazing, so I think she will support me in this as with many other things.

I have delayed getting HRT because the gynae i saw, when being investigated for heavy bleeding and to rule out womb cancer, told me to avoid seeking medical treatment / HRT to get through the menopause. I now think that was a pretty bizarre stance.

I’ve not had any problems at all. I’m sorry you have. I’m not saying this to gloat, just to stop other women from worrying as they approach 50ish. About half of the woman I have spoken to about menopause tell me they’ve had no problems at all

And thanks for the top tips so far. I will look at Davin's prog. Hasn't Mariella Frostrup done something too? A book?

I am all for being open and saying the M word, but I don't know about you,isn't a small amount of discretion nice? I mean, a late 50s cousin brought it up as a topic of convo at a funeral recently. 🙄😃

@schulte I have tended to get hip pain related to ovulation on the past and seem to get it somewhat meno related. If it has been investigated, and no cause found, try Cod Liver Oil and Glucosamine. I find I get relief in about 30 minutes and it lasts a good few hours after that.

the stats show that 75% of women have significant symptoms.
Some of course have none but that doesn't mean they are going to sat healthy, long term.
The menopause increases women's risks of bone loss, heart disease, dementia, and pelvic prolapse. Hot flushes are a nuisance but other more serious issues can come along 5-20 years later.

Yes definitely a bizarre and unhelpful stance and proof that they are not up to date.

Are you referring to me saying I’ve had no problems and know many other women who have also had no problems?

how is that bizarre on unhelpful? It’s true. I’m sorry done women have a difficult time, but there is no need to scare people. For many women it is all plain sailing

@12Thorns I think it is worth expressing that point as there is a lot of publicity about menopause at present which, by necessity, highlights the negatives and can be quite frightening so it is reassuring to let women know that not everybody suffers.

Like you I had very few symptoms, mostly things like insomnia, anxiety and poor memory which were not then acknowledged as symptoms and this was in the days when HRT was thought to be unsafe so I never considered it and now, although there is more information and evidence on safety, I am over the majority of symptoms and outside the window where I might get the long term health benefits.

I realise personal experience is not data but I would say the majority of my friends had some symptoms (and we have all discussed this at length over the years) but the number who had significant symptoms was probably considerably less than 50% and the number who really suffered and had HRT less than 25%. Almost all of us found symptoms resolved within 5-10 years. Vaginal symptoms have been far more common and I think a majority of us have needed something for that

HRT is wonderful for those who need it and want it, indeed it is essential for some, but there is also some excellent information around about diet, exercise, lifestyle measures, etc which can help those women who are unable to or choose not to take it.

"Are you referring to me saying I’ve had no problems and know many other women who have also had no problems?

how is that bizarre on unhelpful? It’s true. I’m sorry done women have a difficult time, but there is no need to scare people. For many women it is all plain sailing"

No, sorry, I was replying to the OP's earlier post about her GP and so many people replied by the time I pressed send it looked like I was replying to you. Sorry about that. Of course many women have no problems. I am very envious!

It's also good to be aware though of the hidden issues hormone insufficiency can cause like cardiovascular issues and bone density issues in line with research.

I would appreciate a support thread! I’m all the things mentioned in the OP and have finally conceded that menopause is probably what’s going on. I spoke to a locum GP at my practice yesterday. He seemed nice enough, listened to my symptoms and then rattled off a whole load of things, including HRT, that might help. He said he’d send me more information and I need to read it and decide what I want to do and then make another appointment. Is that normal? I thought a doctor would recommend the best treatment for me based on my symptoms, not that I’d have to choose my own

The info didn’t come until today and I haven’t read it yet, but I’ve just downloaded the Balance app, based on the recommendation on this thread, so I’ll have a good look at everything in the next few days and think about it all. At least I’ve taken some action now - with hindsight, I’ve had symptoms for ages, but nothing really major on its own. The cumulative effect of it all is becoming quite difficult, though!

I'm 45 periods increasingly closer together and heavier . Night sweats are common and just general crap sleep always awake from 5am Also full of rage and for the first time in a long while am finding my libido has disappeared . Don't feel the need for hrt quite yet as my life is generally pretty stressful and think some of this is due to that but aware could be menopausal as well .

Post meno here and this time of life is crap!
I'm on HRT and still feel crap.
Just had the Mirena and feel like death!

😢

Hello Ladies! 👋Nice to know there are a few people who'd like to be supportive. Am struggling to compose my thoughts at all today!! I'll come back a bit later when I can manage something more coherent!

Hi can I join please? Thank you for this thread. Great idea. I would love a place to come for general chat and support on this topic. I'm 49 been struggling on with anxiety, low mood, brain fog and feeling generally crap for a couple of years. Finally got up the courage to speak to my GP and she was lovely and explained all my options. She recommended Evorel 50 patches alongside the Mirena coil I already have. I've just applied my first patch this morning and I don't why but I feel a bit apprehensive about it.

Just a bit of general advice....

I was 'lucky' with peri meno and got to 52 before I had a hot flush. in fact I began to think I'd sailed through the menopause as all I had were lighter periods, still roughly once a month. I started HRT mainly for hourly flushes, and insomnia and I also had low bone density (although the HRT wasn't prescribed for that, per se.)

My consultant said that the reason I had few symptoms until then was lifestyle.
A very 'clean' diet, no booze (doesn't work for me), nor caffeine (ditto) and very little sugar. I also ate a lot of pulses like lentils and chick peas that contain phtyoestrogen.

Please don't think I am being holier than thou- but I just wanted to say that if you haven't given your lifestyle and diet a jolly good overhaul by your late 40s, it may well help to do so!