Lots of questions, Experienced answers would be very welcome.

[ColinRobinsonsfamiliar]

Hi.
At 52 I believe that menopause has arrived for me.
Ive been having symptoms for about 3 years.
Change in hair texture, hot flushes, anxiety with palpitations, depressive episodes, excessive weight gain, memory issues but regular heavy and painful periods. (Always had periods like this all my life though )

I track my periods, usually 23-29 days, but I’m now on day 41 but with period pains and feeling like it’s coming.

After years of symptoms, does the end just come and everything just stop?
Does that mean that all of those symptoms listed above will stop too?
Will I be able to control and reduce my weight if it’s all stopped?
Will my moods, depressive anxiety episodes stop as hormones are reduced and stable?
Do I need HRT to protect my heart and bones?

Thanks very much everyone.

So you have not reached menopause until you have gone a year after your last period. It does sound like you could be getting closer but everyone is different. Many people report that their symptoms settle once in menopause because they're not struggling with the fluctuations but not all. Bone density will continue to reduce and a DEXA scan could be a good investment to let you know how healthy your bones are. I'd suggest doing some reading about peri and menopause and speaking to your GP. Meantime being active is good for your mood and health, and weight bearing exercise is really good for your bones.

Thanks very much.

I wonder what the evidence is around calcium supplements?

My periods stopped 7 years ago and I find symptoms have been there, and changing for about ten years altogether. I have had periods of night sweats, palpitations, flushes, anxiety and depression. Also brain fog. I have lost body hair, including pubic, and have vaginal atrophy. My libido fucked off completely about 5 years ago.

My current main symptom is insomnia. I wake at 3am most nights for at least an hour and wake early. 6:30am on a Bloody Sunday. Alcohol makes me feel dreadful.

I not on HRT as "it's not bad enough" but am going to get a second opinion as sleep deprivation is the worst.

The Upgrade: How the Female Brain Gets Stronger and Better in Midlife and Beyond by Louann Brizendine is great for information about Menopause.

The most important thing to remember is that there are many unique experiences. Personally, I have been experiencing peri-menopause and menopause symptoms for 20 years (started in my early 40's), but have yet to ever have a hot flash.

The current recommendations are to take HRT because it has many many benefits, but you also have to figure out what dosage works for you.

Oh yes the insomnia. Up at 5am, up multiple times through the night, shattered.

You can't start HRT too late in the process. I'm peri menopausal and started HRT recently. I'm a bit earlier than you are in the whole process and I just remember that there was a strong message that you can't start HRT when menopause has arrived. Now is a good time for you to read up and see the gp. HRT can help with all the symptoms you've described. I feel like I've been handed my life back. I was on my arse with mood anxiety depressive symptoms and the awful brain fog. Could not function. A month into HRT I was a new person. Insomnia was hardest to shift though, I upped my dose to get that sorted

Vitamin D is definitely worth supplimenting for general and bone health, particularly in the winter months when most people are deficient. Calcium is a bit trickier as getting the dosage right is difficult - too little may not help, too much can cause other problems. Dietary calcium is better than giving your body a big dose from a tablet to absorb in one go.

Hard to answer everything as it's different for all women.

YOur periods will stop but could carry on getting further apart or closer together for some time yet.

The symptoms you have may stop or may not. That is why HRT is licensed for long term use, forever, if women need it. A small percentage of women, maybe 10-15%, have symptoms like flushes, insomnia etc for life and they never go (without HRT.)

Weight gain - try with eating fewer carbs - Try to eat more protein and fruit/veg and cut out white bread, biscuits, cake, pizza, white pasta, white rice, refined breakfast cereals and go for low sugar (that is under 5%) in bought products.

Calcium supplements are useless and unnecessary if you eat dairy and other foods rich in calcium ( plenty online on which foods.)

The evidence on taking calcium supplements is becoming clearer- they now think they can cause furring up of the arteries - but some GPs are still dishing them out to women with low bone density.

You need calcium to build bone but you also need to do weight bearing exercise like lifting weights, squats, lunges = resistance exercises.

You won't get a DEXA scan on the NHS unless you have had a fracture or a strong family history of osteoporosis. A private scan is about £200 and is done every 2-3 years

Maybe read up on the pros and cons of HRT. For women under 60 the benefits outweigh risks and for women up to 70 the benefits v risks are equal (and maybe less risk on transdermal estrogen.)

@crossstitchingnana Your symptoms aren't bad enough? Who has told you that???

You have awful symptoms.

Please see another GP and just ask for HRT.

Unless you have serious medical conditions that prevent using it, your GP has to prescribe it if you ask.

Thanks for the info re calcium supplements, I had read similar re cardiac affects.

It is going to a complete diet and lifestyle change to tackle this.

Education.

My "women's health nurse".