Peri menopause

[babyinarms]

Why is peri menopause so hard! I’m on HRT about 9 months now. Yes, the aches and pains are gone, my anxiety is less, I’m less snappy and I feel a bit lighter ( mood wise ) BUT…. I don’t feel like myself anymore. I lack motivation to do things, I’ve no get up and go anymore, I feel drained and I feel sad and angry a lot of the time.
I used to take things in my stride ( kind of … always a worrier but I was lively and vibrant ). I just don’t feel that way anymore.
Had a review by gp lately and she won’t up my dose of oestrogen because my levels are ok and she’s afraid I’ll start bleeding heavy again.
So, anybody any advice please? What can I do to get back to feeling myself again. I feel I’m no fun to be around, am sluggish and just unmotivated.

Post menopause here. Peri is a slog, in fact dreadful. Had to keep my world very small. No advice, didn’t take HRT myself but looking back I should’ve done.

Menopace is supposed to help also sage and exercise. Do you exercise ?

Hi @Goingundergroundagain,yes it’s a slog. I’m glad I’m on HRT as I’m not sure how I’d cope without it.
You see I don’t exercise. I used to but this is where the lack of motivation and get up and go comes in. I can’t motivate myself to get back to it! I suppose I’ll have to try to push through and make myself.
I’ll try the sage s as I’d see if it helps thanks

What's your lifestyle like, do you limit alcohol and caffeine? Is your diet and bmi healthy?

It is hard to exercise with low motivation. Try 10k steps a day, I lost a few unwanted pounds easily walking briskly every day. It really boosts you. The fresh air and having my favourite playsuit blasting kickstarts my day and absolutely improves my sleep.

Our bodies seem to tolerate unhealthy lifestyles in our 20s and 30s but once older you really need to take care. So drink 2L a day, avoid junk food. Try calming apps for mood.

We really need to take a proactive approach to mental and physical health once in peri then post.

Exercise doesn't mean having to be sweaty or doing a high impact exercise class. There are proven health benefits to something as simple as getting out in the fresh air for a walk. The recent wet weather has been awful for me as I haven't been able to get out in the daylight for a walk, it really does affect me if I can't get out for an hour.

Also I take a daily Vit D tablet and multivitamins.

I feel you. Peri is a very lonely time, and I'm still finding out about it. Switched from patches to tablets after the intermittent bleeds among heavier periods became consuming. They are working out well - still have symptoms just not the rage and flashes.

Since autumn I've lost motivation to exercise, am tired all the time. The scratchy eyes and low level headache this morning prompted me to search the boards for others feeling like this.

Isolated and worn out.

You've reminded me I need to get up and out, a walk around the block is still more than none.

I think some of this feeling is being haunted by the memory of what I used to be, not how it is now? I feel like the early months of motherhood again, when you're tired and stunned and still in process of emerging into a new version of yourself, if that makes sense?

I feel a bit ‘low’ because I know my youngest will leave home in the next few years, then what ? My oldest hardly contacts me, it’s not the relationship I thought I’d have. I know I’ve lived the largest part of my life, and I often look back and feel sad.
Im not depressed, I just assume it’s a normal part of ageing.
I do find that passing the goal of 10,000 steps makes me feel like I’ve achieved something every day. Try it, you just need some supportive footwear, and to get into the habit.

Thank you all, no, I don’t exercise. I was always active, either walking or going to classes etc but the past 2years with my low mood and lack of motivation I’ve done literally nothing!
Every day I swear I will at least go for a walk but doesn’t happen.
I know it’s unhealthy, I know the benefits etc but it’s not enough to get me moving. I hate seeing myself in the mirror, for the first time in my life I’m overweight and have an unhealthy BMI.
I’ve made an appointment with a gym for Friday to chat and see if that can get me motivated! I think I need external motivation cos it’s not coming from within.

@melemone you hit the nail on the head. Yes, probably missing the person I was. I was lively and loved life. Now I’m dragging myself through each day. I hope you’re right about emerging a new us! That would be nice.
@KangarooKenny oh I can imagine that’s tough, the kids flying the nest. I feel drained from mine at the moment cos they are all bang in the middle of teenage years and I’m a hormonal mess too but I’ll miss them when they move on, that I know! So big hugs. Yes, I’ll try to steps…. That wouod be a great start to be honest.

With regards to exercise, I'd say start small - so even just make yourself go for a 10min walk. You'll probably find that it's easier to stay out longer and do more once you're out, but, if you don't, you've still achieved what you set out to do, which will help you to feel more positive...and a 10min walk is better than no walking, right?

I think it can take a really long time and lots of tweaking. I think exercise helps but actually not the all out super charged sort at this point. Walking is as good as or slightly better for you than jogging for example. Gentle swims etc

I'm nearly 4 months on a 100 patch and think I'm only just starting to feel like myself. I have also increased Utrogestan and do think that helps too for me (doesn't for everyone.)

I've started tbe ball rolling re testosterone with the Gp as a private test showed low and I have low libido and other issues that potentially could be that. But still want to see if I improve more on this level of patch