Unexpected issues of Menopause.

[Kylie368]

Hi, first post here!
I started HRT about 2 years ago after thinking I was going mad with the snapping, brain fog, vaginal issues and then there was the change in my periods - never been as heavy as that :(.
I've settled mostly, but I'm still noticing that I tend to dribble wee when I cough, have itchy skin, and I am being plagued with insect bites from the garden that are unbelievably itchy and twice recently they have become infected and I've had to take anti-biotics. How's everyone else coping with the "unexpected" issues of Menopause?

I’ve gone from dribbling when I cough, to the occasional unexpected dribble, so it’s not going well for me. And I’m on HRT, not quite the holy grail that some make it out to be!

The wee issue is because the muscles of your pelvic floor are weak- very very common. You have to do kegel exercises. The NHS has a 'Squeezy' app but also google Elaine Miller women's physio - working as 'Gussie Grips' for her youtube videos.

You should also ask your GP for vaginal estrogen which helps restore some tissues around the bladder.

The itchy skin could be loss of estrogen so you could try upping the dose.

The insect bites- I think our immune system changes a bit as we get older. Nothing to do with menopause as such. I've always had really severe reactions to bites - insect repellent can help or something like Antisan cream the minute they'd bitten you.

I have infected legs every time I epilate. Is this to do with menopause?

Your skin micro biome change during menopause, I get a rash on my face because it’s disrupted. Called Malassezia. I get dime sized eczema on my legs due to the same thing.

No one tells you you’ll have hot flashes that last 10 years. Menopause the gift that keep on giving…

That's interesting, I'm at a similar stage, and been very reactive to insect bites the last 2 years, including infected ones! Never happened until recently! I on the itchy vagina phase at the mo!😱😆

Oh yea, I also have acne outbreaks now! Not to emotion hair growing out of a mole on my face!!

I'm just hitting this phase of my life and omg am I noticing the changes. yes for the weakening bladder actually getting paranoid that I may smell of wee at times. for the first ever time my period is very late this month I've previously been very regular and I'm 100% not pregnant. eye sight seems to be deteriorating quickly and the grey hairs appearing rapidly. no hot flashes as such yet but my body temperature is always very warm first thing in the mornings, I was previously always cold in the mornings and struggled to get out of bed as was too cold. Atleast I'm saving on my morning heating bills! Appalling memory, have been an anxiety sufferer all my adult life so not noticed much difference there. my body shape is changing and definitely starting to thicken around the middle. i keep catching site of facial hair in certain light in the mirror! oh the joys, really not looking forward to what other joys are to come.

I’m Peri and an unexpected theme
has been experiencing is feeling like I’m coming down with with a cold
or bug whenever I’m tired (OFTEN!), or in week 4 of my cycle… so about 50% of
the time. I’ve realised this started during Covid so I spent so much time constantly anxious that I had covid. So that perpetuated the other main symptom of anxiety!

Total nightmare

I haven't had this problem yet 😅

I have chin hair 😬

Interesting, I have this since my periods stopped. I'm just attributing it to tiredness. I'm trying to live my 30s life in my 50s.

I am getting bouts of dizziness that lasts for days. Need anti-sickness tablets to function. Lots of fun!

Developing new allergies is quite normal during peri and menopause. I started reacting to cut grass and other plant sap in my early 40's, then my back became so itchy I kept a backscratcher nearby all the time, insects that i never even noticed previously were leaving me with itchy red sore hives, it was only when I joined a FB group I learnt that it's connected to rising histamine due to fluctuating hormones. I recently did a histamine course (online) and it was incredibly informative. I wish I'd had that knowledge a decade ago. The FB group is based in Ireland but has members all over the world and the women who started it are so helpful and knowledgeable. It's called The Irish Menopause if anyone wants to take a look. The urinary stress incontinence is the reason I ended up fighting with my gp, she simply refused to believe it had anything to do with menopause, she kept doing urine tests which were clear and then saying I had a uti, by then I leaked if I sneezed etc, was getting up 3 or 4 times a night to pee, I bypassed the gp, seen a Menopause specialist, started hrt and all urinary issues cleared within weeks!! Get informed early, look after your health. It's absolutely astonishing to me how many things our hormones effect, the most surprising was that my eyesight improved with hrt.