Am I having an easy menopause or am I kidding myself?

[temporaryname99]

I'm 49, periods have been erratic for 2 plus years, sometimes 8 or 12 weeks in between.
I always suffered terribly with PMT; I was like 2 different people, 2 weeks normal then 2 weeks PMT. I'm so much better now, and all the symptoms people complain of remind me more of how I was before, when I had regular periods, not now.
I've had some minor hot flushes, and some tinnitus. I guess I'm more forgetful and a bit stiffer in my joints. But that's it.
Am I lucky or is this the calm before the storm?

None of us can tell you!
You will have to wait and see.

I had no symptoms at all till I was 52 then I had a couple of shorter and longer cycles, a few mild flushes, then my periods stopped and the flushes began on the hour and at night. At that point I started HRT as my sleep was up the creek.

Everyone is different, but I think many of the symptoms of menopause kick in properly a few years after the last period, when the body is adjusting to being so low on oestrogen.
I had a chemical menopause brought on by chemo and it was/is brutal as there wasn't a gradual build up of symptoms, they all came at once!

Thanks for these responses..... its such a mystery!

Not everyone has a terrible menopause. It's early days, no point worrying either way.

I've had a really simple menopause. Was having normal periods, which stopped on day.

Nothing since. Was 8 years ago.

I'm 57. My last period was 10 months ago. So far no hot flushes, no night sweats. I don't sleep particularly well but think that's more about needing to get up to pee and not being able to get back to sleep.

I do have brain fog but not sure if that's just age - DH (61) also has brain fog.

I'm hoping that's it

Of my say 8 friends: three of us had minimal or no symptoms - just irregular periods and the odd hot flush (I had none), a couple had it mild enough that they just weathered it (so no HRT), and a couple went on HRT and felt they got their lives back. One had it so bad she could not find any relief and resigned herself to suffering (and could talk of little else).
So who can say? My mother had an awful time, I sailed through it. I hope by the time my 18 year old goes through it they'll have come up with something better.

Nearly 59 and my periods only stopped a couple of years ago. Been pretty symptom free apart from poor sleep due to hot sweats at night. I'm on HRT as needed sleep to cope with work.
Still have lots of energy, keep very fit with cycling, running and swinging and it also helps to keep my sex life going. No complaints here.

It's impossible to say. For me it's the gift that keeps on giving. I'm getting new symptoms 5 years after the menopause. Hello there vaginal atrophy!

My MIL was like this!

I had two heavier than normal periods, a few hot flushes for about six weeks and then no periods and nothing else. Coming up for ten years now and feeling good. I felt like I deserved an easy menopause had awful periods, difficult births and dreadful PND so was really glad once it was all over and done with

I've really had no issues and I'm almost 10 years post menopause. My sister was the same. We both had our last periods at around age 53. Honestly, I feel great and am enjoying this stage in my life!

One word of caution: Be mindful of bone health. I'm a big proponent of weight training and credit this with staving off osteoporosis.

There's so much variation in how women experience menopause. I didn't feel that I needed HRT, but I certainly would have considered it if my quality of life was being impacted. There's no right or wrong way to "do" menopause, there's only what's right for you.

That’s what l thought….,

Then post menopause the anxiety kicked in and the insomnia. And the severely dry itchy skin with eczema. And the intense itchiness under the skin. Then l got thrush which l can’t get rid of. My eyes dried up and became unable to flush away allergens. So l have to use steroid drops. Would you like me to go on?!

I'm 57 and had my last period over a decade ago. Other than the odd flush or 2 I had no symptoms and still don't. My energy levels are fine, my sleep pattern hasn't changed, I still have a thick, curly mop of unruly hair and my skin is as it ever was. When I was having periods though it was awful. They were irregular (sometimes there would just be 15 days between them sometimes or they would be 3 months apart) and extremely painful. I'm so glad all that's behind me now.
My sisters, on the other had, had easy periods but are really struggling now.

Anecdotally, it seems to be the worse time you had with periods (very heavy, very painful, appalling PMT or any combination) the easier you find menopause. Whether it's the contrast with the menstrual horror, or actually easier, I don't know. But enjoy it - I did!

Thanks all for sharing your many and varied experiences!
Muddyford, that is exactly what I was thinking, maybe if you have bad periods and PMT, then menopause seems easier for you. I wonder if that's just wishful thinking tho!

I know there's a long way to go tho, as I'm only 49.... anything could happen!

I suffer debilitating pms (pmdd) and pretty bad periods. A quarter of my life lost every month.

Menopause can't cone quick enough. I'm 45 now, no sign yet.

I really really hope that means my menopause is a bit easier, I've suffered enough.

I had horrific painful periods, the pain was unbearable. Menopause has ruined my life...

So I don't think that theory stacks up!

I think its far too early to say, the Peri meno and then Meno can be a moving feast
your hormones continue to fluctuate and influence your mind and body
if you are ok and continue to be great, but if it changes and you start to struggle, the smart thing is to get a decent GP helping
hormonal depletion is a whole body experience
👍

I imagine the swinging helps keep the sex life going?

Similar symptoms to you, OP, without the tinnitus (so far). I’m 49 in a few weeks, still regular albeit shorter periods. Who knows what the next few years will bring?! 🤞🤞🤞

😆😂🤣😆😂🤣

Hahaha 😆

Hoping … My menstrual cycle has given me regular insomnia, hot flushes and night sweats, migraines, anxiety etc etc for 30 years. I feel at my calmest right before and during my period so a bit worried HRT would make things worse 🤔