What is post menopause like?

[DustyLee123]

For those of you who are post menopause and not on HRT, what is it like? Do you still get some symptoms or have they gone now?

My children are in their 30s and I only need to work a few hours a week. I'm extremely relieved that I have organized my life like this!

Agree. I've still got too much to do to be sleeping poorly, forgetting things and aching all over.

@BlackShuck3 ah so you had a crystal ball and could see what was going to happen? Organise life? No one knows how life is going to unfold and what health conditions they and going to face, let alone financial ones.

For many, juggling families and jobs whilst experiencing debilitating menopause symptoms, is awful.

My apologies, I should have been clearer about what I meant!
I'm relieved that I happen to have organized my life in a way that worked out well for me in the long run. I'm not claiming that I was able to see into the future☝️😊

I’m nearly 58 and seven years post menopause. I haven’t gone on HRT as we have a family history of breast cancer.

I still have quite regular hot flushes, which don’t bother me half as much as the feeling of impending doom that comes immediately before them. I’ve sort of got used to them and barely even register them any more. Other than that I don’t really feel too bad. I do regular strength and resistance training exercises to help keep my bones strong, I walk a lot etc. I feel quite healthy.

I’m wondering what people on here are on about when they talk about being dry? I haven’t noticed anything like this.

Exactly like the rest of my adult life, but without periods. So, I'd say, absolutely fine. Obviously, I look old, but that's OK.

Probably we do. But it's still effort, and costing the NHS money. Those of us who don't need HRT may well be fortunate but there is zero point in taking unnecessary medication.

Dry hair, skin and vagina.

I'm on hormone blockers with no ovaries, that's why I'm suffering. Not all women do though obviously.

I’m wondering what people on here are on about when they talk about being dry? I haven’t noticed anything like this.

Ive always had greasy skin and hair. Now my skin is dry and flaky. Not just my face but even my legs shed skin like a snake. My previously sleek, shiny hair is now like straw. No amount of products or treatments can tame it! The dry nether regions are a pain, especially as DH sometimes takes it as a personal slight if I need some lubricant.

I am 49 but haven't had a period for over 2 years now so I think I must be post menopausal

I was not troubled a lot by hot flushes or symptoms generally so I am not on HRT. Plus my mum died young of breast cancer so I am scared of it. I never bothered to ask anyone about it.

My skin is drier but at least I no longer get spots. I use retinol products and whilst I have wrinkles they don't seem excessive to me.
My hair is drier that also seems good to me as I wash it much less often. I dye it.
I was always a bit pear shaped but with a flat stomach and I do notice fat redistribution to my stomach despite weighing the same which I find a bit weird and unpleasant but I work out a lot and try to eat a good diet so it's not terrible.
I get more joint aches and pains. My finger joints are arthritic which is somewhat annoying. My back aches on long walks and sometimes my knees too.
I have less energy overall. I find I can't pull an all nighter at work any more without needing catch up sleep.
I don't think my mental health is overall worse. I do get low and tearful and irritable but I always did. I don't think it's hormone related. I think it's just life.
Sex drive is pretty poor. I have to use localised oestrogen cream to make that work. This bothers DH a lot more than it does me truth be told.
I don't think I have brain fog. I can concentrate and produce good work.
I don't worry too much about osteoporosis or heart disease as I lift weights and have a good diet.

I am a bit worried that I am the only one missing out on the magic elixir of HRT and will end up a wizened old crone but my fear of getting cancer is pretty huge. I just can't see that the benefits could outweigh that fear for me (and yes I have been told it's a low risk but personal experience is hard to overcome)

Oh yes my alcohol tolerance is much less. I can hardly drink anymore. I just feel flushed and unwell so I don't bother much

I think on the whole I feel better in menopause than I did for the 7 years of peri . I’m more sweaty ( especially at night) ,feel like I pull muscles more easily and can’t run as fast or eat anywhere near as much . At the moment though I feel well 🤞- and I often didn’t through peri

And I LOVE not having periods any more and not needing contraception. That's a big plus point for me. I did not want HRT if it meant I had to go back to bleeding having experienced the joy of not bothering about that.

I’m on hrt and don’t have periods.

I don't think that anyone should be advocating for or against. I think its up to individuals to look at the facts as they are known at the time and make a decision for themselves.

When I saw my GP about it she said I'd have to have sequential and have withdrawal bleeds and that was pretty well enough to put me off.

I never took the contraceptive pill either. I am very badly organised and can never stick with any medication and the pill made me suicidally depressed as a teenager so I have always been wary about messing with hormones and just never wanted to do it.

The joint pains are the worst thing for me because walking in nature is a huge joy for me. The rest I don't care much. I have been taking supplements (but erratically) and have been looking into whether better collagen supplements might help.

That was discussed on Tv recently. Apparently there have been quite a few properly conducted studies on the effects of oral collagen on joint pain and function with zero evidence of any effect at all.

It's not disgraceful if that's their lived experience. Exercise isn't woo.

I remember getting told off for not eating breakfast because you needed to eat to see you through/ wake up your body etc. All it ever did was make me feel shit , rushed and hungry mid morning.
Now everyone says you might be better not eating first thing because tasting helps your cells.

So frankly I'm listening to everyone about their experiences.

I was talking about my experience.

I was talking about post menopause, not menopause.

I went through my menopause at 39 didn't have no symptoms other than no periods I only knew I'd gone through it as me and my partner was trying to conceive and wasn't happening so had to go to fertility clinic who then told me I had done my menopause

Do what the women of my age did. The HRT options were few and the side effects were worse. natural fibres, up your watery drinks uptake keep the house cool, moisturise like crazy and swear a lot.

Nor do I.

It's great (for me). Use topical estrogen vaginally but no hrt. Sleep, bones, energy all good.

There's a prepayment certificate and I just order mine via my GPS app. 20 a year. Marvelous

yup....the lizard legs 😃