What changes have you made?

[Happyinheels]

Hi everyone,
I turned 47 a few weeks ago, I had a hysterectomy when I was 33 but still have my ovaries. It's taken me a while to connect the dots as it just never crossed my mind that the way I have been feeling was down to being peri menopausal, with not having periods. I have practically every symptom going, I've gone from being a well put together, intelligent woman to someone who is beyond exhausted all the time who struggles to hold a conversation. I've lost so much hair and my joints and muscles ache so
much that it keeps me awake.
I've been reading up and researching and trying to get my head around the next step as I really can't go on like this. The low mood, brought on by sheer exhaustion, is so debilitating. I'm normally fit and active.
My question is please can you share with me effective changes that you have made to your lifestyle? Do you take any supplements? What have been the best changes you have made? Thank you so much!

All this is because I'm 'too young' (43) so my GP won't prescribe HRT

I don't have horrendous symptoms. My joints felt better though when I lost weight or went vegan. I lost weight when I became vegan, so unsure which did it. Lost 20lbs.
Normal weight now. On top of this I've tried to eliminate processed food,alcohol and sugar.

HRT HRT HRT!!! Total game changer. And a magnesium supplement to help sleep and restless legs.

All this is because I'm 'too young' (43) so my GP won't prescribe HRT

You can still get it at that age, the GP should test your hormones if under 45. Check the NICE guidelines for menopause

I can’t take HRT and am on medication that actually makes all menopausal symptoms much worse.
Things that help:

exercise. I force myself.
vitamin D supplements.
Magnesium
Glucosamine
Vegetarian/vegan

I haven’t conquered the permanent insomnia, though.

Thanks for the ideas everyone. After 177 calls this morning I've only managed to get a telephone appointment later this morning. I'm a bit disappointed that I couldn't get a face to face appointment despite me telling the receptionist what it was about. I can't see me being prescribed HRT over the phone! Let's see what happens.

Doctors appointment that is!

Just to update - had my phone call, which I knew couldn't get me prescribed HRT over the phone but anyway the process has begun, it was really positive. I am classed as menopausal, not peri. I had no idea that even though I kept my ovaries you are classed as menopausal from the date of your last period. And for me that was when I was 33 - 14 years ago. Obviously I have to go in and get my blood pressure done so thankfully the doctor has prebooked me an appointment for next week with a view to starting HRT. I asked her about the bone density test and she said I was absolutely right to bring it up so massive thank you @JinglingXmasbells for raising that. She said that she needs to research it with me still having my ovaries but said we will speak about it next week.
Does it sound stupid and over the top if I say I'm just a bit shocked? I'm not a dramatic person, very much a stiff upper lip and crack on kind of person. But I'm sat here thinking about what an absolute struggle the past few years have been and how much this has been impacting my daily life and I could've done something about it if I'd realised. I think when your periods go skew or you have the stereotypical hot flushes it can be easier to identify what's happening with your body. I feel quite stupid for it not even occurring to me. I feel a mixture of relief and just emotional. Sounds stupid I know. Over the past few years I've been to the doctors about my bladder, how I feel the urge to wee all the time, urine test came back as clear so no infection so that was that, quite a few times about the absolute utter exhaustion and I was given some iron tablets and oh other things. But none of us connected the dots. Sorry I'm ranting now. I'm feeling so many things right now.

HRT.
Stopped drinking alcohol altogether.
Upped the exercise.
Taking a daily probiotic supplement.
Meditation.
Talking to friends in the same position makes me feel less alone with it all. I’m very great to Davina McCall for opening up the dialogue about this. It was long overdue.

I got my HRT over the phone. I had to go for a blood test, but other than that, it was straightforward.

No many of us have been neglected as you have in a similar way. When I finally went private, they mentioned a DEXA to me, and I still have all my reproductive organs and menstruate. It was because I’d been experiencing symptoms since 38 and at the time I went I was 45, so they were concerned about the effects of low estrogen alm that time. You were left way too long OP but thank goodness you are now on a better path.

@DuncanBiscuits I know there's a bit of Davina hatred on here but I think it's down to her opening up the discussion that got me wondering about what was going on with me and I'm grateful for her doing so. I've watched a few of her IG which have led me to other knowledgeable people which led me to post. So yes I'm grateful to her. And the doctor wants to do my blood pressure first before giving me any HRT.

I had to Google DEXA 🤣 Did it come back ok? Hopefully all these aches and pains that have been keeping me awake so much aren't more than I initially thought. I'll try and do some more research myself before my appointment next week. It definitely put me in a better place with the conversation with the doctor today, being armed with information. She actually said that I seemed to have done my research and was well informed.

It was a private place and I could only afford the appointments and HRT, not the private DEXA, which my GP didn’t think was necessary because of my age and they officially don’t think that low Estrogen js an issue unless it’s out of their range, which there is debate on. My private practice don’t like it under 250. I’m going to save up for a DEXA though! Just to check. I have had a number of accidents on my bike and in outdoor pursuits in the last 15 years, no broken bones so hopefully that’s a good sign! I have been exercising all my adult life and do weight bearing exercise and things that are meant to build up good bone density, maybe that’s why the GP didn’t bother.

So, had my face to face appointment today. I've got Evorel 50, patches. We talked about getting testosterone and the gp wants me to see how these first 3 months go with the Evorel first.
Re the bone scan she said that she had researched it and because I had my ovaries left then I scored low on the scale for a bone scan.
Really hoping I see a miracle now!

So pleased you have got your HRT!

But PLEASE ask your GP to think again on the Dexa scan.

The assessment they use (the FRAX score- you can do it yourself online!) is not that accurate. I had almost osteoporosis at 49 even though I had regular periods till 52. I only went for a private Dexa scan after a friend had one and got a poor result.

The fact you have your ovaries is almost irrelevant as you are now classed as post menopause at 47 and possibly were years ago.

I have a colleague whose periods stopped at 45, totally symptom-free menopause, felt great, and she has severe osteoporosis now, is on daily injections for it, and has the bones of a woman aged 90+- no joking.

I'd really push for this scan. If necessary, you could pay for it- they are around £200 but only need doing every 3 years.

Hi op Im on patch upped my dosage. Am feeling more positive and sleep wise too. Still sweat but small steps. Davinas videos are good. Im 49. I was wiped out for ages I feel much better now.