Terrified by menopause

[Elaston]

It’s great there’s more awareness on the menopause, but does anyone else now just feel eeven more anxious to enter it?! The discussions have turned away from supporting women to treating through ‘the change’ towards labelling it as a ‘disease’. Literally. Terrifying!! As if women don’t have enough to deal with…

Who's labelling it as a disease?! It's not a disease, it's a natural part of the female aging process.

Ignore the hype. Millions went through it before it was a 'thing' and just got on with life. At least now if you need support it's there.

I have been fine. Hth!!!!!

I just consider it another round of puberty but in reverse.

I don’t see it talked about as a disease anywhere. There is more awareness that symptoms are treatable if they are bothersome. A good thing surely! And I have also been fine (I take HRT). Don’t be terrified OP.

@Elaston, just go on as normal. If you have medical issues you want medical help with, go to your doctor. If not don't.

The upshot is there are some treatments for menopause related issues.

Yes agreed. Feel really nervous now and am old enough to likely be in peril so I think about it a lot!

Doesn't bother me in the slightest. I'm firmly Peri and looking forward to being a dried up old chrone.

But I get you being unnerved by all the hype. Thing is the 'health and wellness' industry have cottoned out there's money to be made...

Same old, same old. Convince women they have a need and provide a solution at a cost!

And I say this as a menopausal woman. No treatment (have had breast cancer).

It’s fucking awful. Destroying my life. I’m in constant pain. My eyes are bone dry and it’s affecting my vision. My period is so heavy that I can’t go out of the house for two days a month. I’ve actually considered suicide because I can’t cope, it’s too awful being in pain all the time. I’d give anything to be a man. No wonder they rule the world - because their bodies don’t betray them at 45.

Unfortunately it is being talked about as a disease. Dr Louise newson who has led this movement has called it a “hormone deficiency disease”. It is kinda ridiculous when you think about it. But seems to be (hopefully) a lot of scare-mongering going on

@Blimpton sorry to hear this. Won't your GP help?

You're forgetting the billions of women who go through the menopause with little more than minor symptoms that you don't hear from
It's a perfectly normal process for women

GP denies it’s caused by perimenopause (because I’m too young at 45) and won’t help. I can’t access any treatment.

I’m 51 and can honestly say I feel like shit but I’ll get through it just like my mum, my grandmothers and all the millions before me have done.

I’m under a lot of stress caring for my mum who has dementia and maybe without that added anxiety things may not have been that bad.

Menopause is a different journey for each of us, you may simply sail through it.

I dip in and out of Louise Newson’s stuff … and I’ve never heard her talk about is as a ‘disease’. She correctly claims “Menopause is a long-term hormone deficiency” (and advocates HRT). You’re talking yourself into a problem which as PPs have pointed out might not even materially affect your day to day.

@Blimpton oh, that sounds difficult. I found incontinence pads good for when I did have heavy periods for a time. My cancer treatment, I think, speeded up the whole process but I don't recommend that! I remember Agnus Castus did seem to help regulate my cycle too. Could look into that.

@Blimpton but you might want to see if your surgery has any specialists / policies regarding menopause care. I think my GP's has a statement about it but I've not really looked into it.

Honestly, OP, don't believe the bullshit!
There is mileage for a great many people in pushing this concept of menopause as a disease - and a huge range of commercial activity, as a consequence. Certain private doctors no doubt have the bank balances to prove it.
It's almost as if some women are trying to turn the clock back to show older women as feeble and worthless, and it's profoundly anti-feminist to do so.
The reality is that it's a completely normal life stage - one to be welcomed because, finally, you are freed from the monthly tyranny of periods.
Yes, some women may experience some symptoms or difficulties in menopause but, if so, they can go to their doctors for treatment.
Many women have no or few symptoms at all (apart from the afore-mentioned end of periods) and never need to see a doctor.
It is not an illness. Don't believe all the nonsense you read, and just view it for what it is - a liberation.

The menopause used to be called 'the change' - and that's a much more useful descriptor than calling it a 'disease'.

There are a few things you can do to prepare yourself and mitigate against symptoms and long term effects, for instance:

• educate yourself about HRT; I'm not advocating for or against, but you should be able to make an informed decision.
• control your weight through eating a healthy, Mediterranean style diet; so many women gain weight during the menopause and once gained it can be hard to shift - not to mention all the other benefits of healthy eating.
• start exercising seriously if you are not already, especially resistance based and weight bearing exercise.

I'm 70 and the above has stood me in good stead. (Though I never took HRT, which had a bad rap 20 odd years ago. Today I'd probably opt to take it.)

This!! I've often said I feel like a teenager at puberty again due to hormones up and down and irrational rage! 😁

I'm very worried. A colleague was signed off sick for 8 months with symptoms. She's back but still struggles with the role. I can't afford to take that much time off. And knowing my luck I'd get sacked! It really scares me.

@Blimpton
See another doctor and ask for HRT again as surely you've a right to it
For what's worth I'm not allowed any HRT whatsoever due to other health problems so I can sympathise as it's not nice

The menopause has been the best time of my life