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?

Had a very embarrassing hot flush while in a very important meeting. Rooms with no windows are not menopausal woman friendly!

I'd love a support thread.
I highly recommend Dr Naomi Potter on Instagram. She does Menopause Madness once a week with another menopause specialist whose name I can't remember! www.instagram.com/drmenopausecare/?hl=en

Every women is different, and at every age. I didn't even think about the menopause until recently, at 55 years. I was fed up with the nightly hot sweats, not sleeping, and high anxiety, but those were really my only issues. Still having regular standard periods etc. So, I have just started my HRT journey, and it was very good, until this last month, when I didn't have a period, after the Ultrogestan cycle, just a long series of spotting, but then, two weeks late, a huge and very heavy few days, never experienced that before, long period, no sleep, right in the middle of the Ultrogestan cycle. So bad, I contacted my GP, who tbf was lovely, but really only counselled to keep going, and it will settle down. So it has finished now, and I am into the Eostrogel only cycle, and all has settled down.

Sadly it seems I will potentially have the same during my holiday later this month, when I go back on the Ultogestan, and there is little I can do about it. Hey ho. Fingers crossed.

I'm 54 and had a hysterectomy; conserving ovaries, a few years ago. So no idea where I'm at! Keep getting what I assume are hot flashes as I just steam up my glasses etc.
I've just got no idea what to put down to menopause. Maybe I'm post menopause? Don't even know what threshold would take me to gp. Presumably if it was getting in the way of things? I don't know. Just feel confused. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Agree with this. There always seems to be an assumption that whatever symptom you present with, it is likely down to your age. It’s frustrating.

I've gained 1/2 a stone in a just over week, and a total of 1.5 stone since November when I started HRT. Is that not odd? I know about menopause HRT weight gain, but this seems like a lot.

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
I am so pleased to hear this. I was wondering if me and my close friends are weird with not heading off to the GP when our periods stop. I drink alcohol and coffee but honestly can't pinpoint any issue that I think is menopausal. I am afraid that, should I comment that I slept badly one night or felt anxious about a forthcoming event, society would expect me to get HRT because of my age or stop moaning, whereas a younger woman would be sympathised with.
Thedogissnoringagain makes valid points.

In theory HRT does not cause weight gain but some women seem to have issues with hormonal treatments. Apparently some women lose weight on HRT as they are able to be more active when their symptoms are controlled
I gained a huge amount with the progesterone only mini-pill which, apparently, is not a recognised side effect either. Lost it effortlessly (the only time I ever lost weight easily!) when I came off it

Thank you Queen. Hmmm!

Yes, I’ve lost a couple of stone since starting HRT in February. I feel so much less tired and sluggish. I don’t think it’s anything chemical in my case, just that I’m much more active again.

Hi all

I'm on my sixth day of HRT patches and so far so good no side effects noticed yet although it's obviously still very early days. I've been eating healthily and moving more to lose weight for the last few months and I've still lost 2 pounds this week so hopefully HRT not interfering in that. Too early to tell if it's helping with my meno symptoms but I'm going to carry on with it

I've been meaning to come back and chat a bit more, but honestly find it so hard to assimilate things and formulate ideas. The brain fog is so dreadful.

However, saw my doctor yesterday, was prescribed oestrogen patches and progesterone tablets. Weirdly I had my first noticeable night sweat, but I has a deeper sleep than in a long time and have woken feeling much better already. clearer head and less achey.

Might be a placebo effect, bit that's fine by me. Life is already feeling much more manageable!

I know there have been comments from PP about sailing through the menopause with no trouble. You are very lucky. I have been blighted by PMT. I would say it pretty much ruined my life at times, and then feeling like a wreck and aching and unable to think all the time. I am grateful there seems to be solution.

I am also with those of you fed up with people asking if their problems are the menopause, openly, no holds barred. I'm all for being a bit more open and making women aware of the issue, but it doesn't make it OK to use it as a catch all - insult almost. It's a bit like asking women if they're a bit ratty if they're on their period. I actually had the subject of the menopause and me brought up openly in a group discussion at a funeral of a close relative! Some discretion still needed!

if you started HRT yesterday Utrogestan can have a sedatory effect for many women and this can be a benefit in taking it. Hopefully it’ll soon start to help your other symptoms.

I’m all for open discussion on menopause at any time. I was recently in an online meeting where all the others there were gay guys and couldn’t remember something. I just said sorry, meno brain fail. They’ll all probably have female family members and friends.

Well, it's nice when people can be supportive.... !!!! Open discussion about it - The Menopause. At least we are moving on from hushed comments about 'the change'. As with many other things though it can be used against women in many ways.

Personally I don't want to make too much of a thing about it as many of the people I mix with are much younger. I don't want them to know I am 10-15 years older than them. And I have found facing no longer being able to have children very difficult to accept.

IDK what the exact prescription is, but I am bloody grateful to have an option of dealing with it. Really annoyed with the gynae who discouraged taking HRT. I imagine there is a correlation btwn experiencing severe PMS symptoms and finding the menopause a trial, so it is not a suitable catch-all to advise avoiding HRT.

I wish there were some better terms about the whole thing though. Going through the menopause, peri-menopause etc. Can all get mixed up and they are different stages to deal with.

Hi all it's been 5 weeks since I started HRT I've had no negative side effects only a little bit of breast tenderness. I think I feel better, more energetic, more optimistic. My main issues were brain fog and anxiety particularly when driving. I've forced myself to continue driving on the motorway and not had any panic attacks but it's like I'm telling myself I should be ok because I've got the HRT patch rather than actually feeling less anxious. I don't feel as brain foggy as before but I still keep losing/leaving things. Putting them down and forgetting where etc., Its not been the overnight improvement I was hoping for so far. How is everyone else doing?

I'm going well. Further to the horrendous bleeding I had last month, on holiday had a normal period, thank goodness, and very light. The only odd thing being it is not following my previous regular 28 days, nor the HRT cycle. I now seem to have a 35 odd day period cycle. I suppose it is still settling down.

Everything else fab. Boobs were tender to start with, that's now gone. Sleeping well, even in the heat. Still have my duvet on!! Probably will take it off tonight and for the next couple of days though.

@50isthenew20 I've just noticed this bit of your post "And I have found facing no longer being able to have children very difficult to accept" Sorry to hear that

Thanks @KitDeLuca I'm glad to be moving on from that feeling, but it is rarely acknowledged by anyone. I guess the payoff is a closer relationship with DC.

Had a hectic few weeks and now school has broken up, so not been getting through stuff as i'd hoped. Will try and pop back soon as it is interesting to hear what you've said kit and woolly.

My GP happily prescribed patches and progesterone tablets. It’s been life changing for me and I tell everyone I know who’s around my age to take HRT if they can.

I too felt like that re. children but to be honest I’ve had seven or so years to get over it so whilst I might have had a cry when the doctor mentioned contraception I’m actually not too bad really. Plus weirdly the HRT has helped with that feeling although I’m not sore why.

Funnily enough I've had my best day ever today so far since starting the patches. I've had a really busy last two/three weeks with work and I should feel frazzled but today I felt really great. More optimistic than I've felt since pre-pandemic times and I do think the HRT must be working now. There were times not very long ago when I just wanted to hide under the duvet all day and now (even though I'm under a lot of work pressure) I feel like I can cope fine. Fingers crossed this is the beginning of an uptick across the board....

@RudsyFarmer how long have you been on HRT?

I found Facebook Group 'HRT truth collective' run by Menopause specialist Jane Pangbourne really helpful, no nonsense approach