Page 16 | What symptom of meno really surprised you?

Potnoodly · 21/04/2025 08:54

menopausalfart · 13/04/2025 20:52

I've had most symptoms associated with perimenopause, including some really nasty ones.
The symptom that surprised me the most was the memory loss. If I don't do something the moment it enters my brain, it's gone.
I've been taking HRT, vitamins, collagen, and I exercise regularly. This symptom, along with anxiety, has stubbornly persisted.

I’m peri menopause and have never suffered from anxiety in my life!!… But in the past 2yrs it comes from nowhere, like bam!!! Panic disorder too, mostly in bed. It has impacted my normal daily life to some extend. I’m much more nervous attempting stuff independently such as dog walks and social gatherings where I attend alone.

I am also suffering from memory loss in which I have developed a stutter. It’s on the tip of my tongue, the most simplest word in the sentence and I can’t seem to remember it!

godmum56 · 21/04/2025 09:29

SuperBlondie28 · 20/04/2025 23:40

For me, it's gotta be digestive issues. Mainly constipation. Started 2014 and still ongoing. I can't even say it's ovulation / period related, they've been few and far between and very light. Now have stopped I think. On HRT Patches since 2021.

I don't believe I have IBS. But am more sensitive randomly. Say I eat an apple, my tummy bloats, painful trapped wind, mucus if I do manage to fart lol. Another time, absolutely fine. It's bizarre. Definitely no diarrhea ever.

Despite the Dr's saying more fibre to poo more often, brown bread, brown pasta, leafy veg, does sweet FA! Just makes thing worse 😢

That and untrained, unhelpful doctors!!

I do have IBS, had it since teen years, used to be mainly IBSD and now its mainly IBSC. Regulating it with food has always been pretty impossible as, like you my reactions to some foods change and some are always a big no. Recently I have been using Fybocalm capsules and its been massively better. They aren't cheap and I find they smell fishy when I take them but for me worth both the outlay and the yuck.

MiserableMrsMopp · 21/04/2025 09:38

PyongyangKipperbang · 21/04/2025 01:57

OMG!! Just had a furkle and a look and my "hanging outside" labia minora isnt hanging outside anymore.

This whole disappearing labia thing was news to me....but its gone. I know I habe viginal atrophy as I have pessaries for it (top tip, dont get a bladder oscopy [sorry, cant remember what its called] from a man who thinks he is parking a fucking van up your urethra), but thank you for educating me about the labia thing.

Edited

I know, right???? How can a body part just disappear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lashy · 21/04/2025 09:53

ForeverDelayedEpiphany · 13/04/2025 22:15

In no particular order:

Itchy ears
Itchy deu skin
Horrible brain fog, worse than normal as I have always been (undiagnosed) ADHD brain, coupled with a head injury and post concussion syndrome a decade ago, which I'd say has made it a million times worse lol 😆
Terrible gingivitis and awful sore gums, that would bleed loads and make me cry when I cleaned my teeth before my period - I'd never had a cavity or gum problems ever before
Burning mouth syndrome and excess saliva
Weight gain around the middle that is very muffin-top like, which is shite as I'm slim everywhere else
Nosebleeds
Frizzy hair
Worse pompolyx eczema and the horrid Itchy blisters on my hands
Joint pains

Ooh, I forgot to add that I had much worse symptoms after I'd had my third baby in 2020. Funnily enough, i think these were just due to postnatal hormones decreasing hugely, but the burning dry eyes, severe excess saliva and burning mouth syndrome, along with all the general anxiety and depression were very similar to the symptoms that I get now - but actually worse back then.

I remember reading that women postnatally suffer very similar symptoms to menopausal women, which is why I don't feel like I'm going through any unusual things now lol 😆

Could you possibly tell a little more about your burning mouth syndrome please?
Does it affect you all the time, or mainly when eating particular food stuffs?
I had very low ferritin (4), which was affecting my red blood cells and it transpires one of the less common symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anemia is very similar to BMS.
I'm my ferritin is now much higher and RBC's are back to normal, but the BMS remains.
I'm now wondering if if this could be a Peri symptom instead / as well 🤔

JuneFromBethesda · 21/04/2025 10:06

menopausalfart · 18/04/2025 22:38

It seems that a lot of us get anxiety. Has anyone found ways to deal with it?
HRT helped take the edge off but it's still there.

I’d love to hear suggestions for dealing with the anxiety too. HRT has helped me hugely but my anxiety is still getting worse. Some days I just want to hide from everyone and everything.

Thank you for starting this thread @menopausalfart. I have cried and laughed in recognition, and it’s comforting to know that I’m not the only one battling with all of this.

LizaRadleywasonthespectrum · 21/04/2025 10:10

The hot flushes being linked to emotion/concentration.

AvoidingPandaEyes · 21/04/2025 11:05

LizaRadleywasonthespectrum · 21/04/2025 10:10

The hot flushes being linked to emotion/concentration.

I noticed mine were definitely linked to types of emotion and stress: anger, guilt, frustration, embarrassment but not to concentration as I seem to have lost that ability 🥴

MrsCreek · 21/04/2025 11:37

Londonwaiting · 13/04/2025 21:00

Liquid flowing out of my vagina. The first time it happened I honestly thought I had pissed myself. Apparently it’s a thing some women get in menopause. No one, not even the nurse at the menopause clinic, can tell me what this is. She said it is a peri-menopause thing though. I’ve never seen in mentioned in a list of menopause symptoms. A friend said she got it too.

I very rarely post on MN but had to reply to this. I get this! It is so bizarre! I couldn’t find anything online to explain it - so thank you! I feel better knowing that I am not alone with my weird liquid dispensing vagina!

ColourByNumbers88 · 21/04/2025 12:10

@MrsCreekI was so glad to read that this wasn’t unique to me too. Such a relief to hear of others having this issue because my doctor is making me feel like a freak.

JinglingSpringbells · 21/04/2025 12:42

ColourByNumbers88 · 21/04/2025 12:10

@MrsCreekI was so glad to read that this wasn’t unique to me too. Such a relief to hear of others having this issue because my doctor is making me feel like a freak.

@Londonwaiting It's actually a sign of vaginal dryness/atrophy although the correct term now is genitourinary symptoms of menopause GUM.

my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15500-vaginal-atrophy

It doesn't mention watery discharge here but it does on some online sites. It's a sign that you've lost estrogen from the vaginal walls that can also affect the bladder and your pelvic strength.

The treatment is vaginal estrogen- nothing to do with HRT- cream you insert or a tiny tablet.

ColourByNumbers88 · 21/04/2025 15:10

@JinglingSpringbellsthanks, yeas after reading around mumsnet I asked for this but 2 months in and no sign of improvement for me. The GP didn’t offer it though. I had to do my own research and go back and ask.

JinglingSpringbells · 21/04/2025 15:15

ColourByNumbers88 · 21/04/2025 15:10

@JinglingSpringbellsthanks, yeas after reading around mumsnet I asked for this but 2 months in and no sign of improvement for me. The GP didn’t offer it though. I had to do my own research and go back and ask.

The 2 x a week is on the conservative side. Many women need more - such as every other day or even another shot at the daily for 2 weeks.
It can take some time.

longtompot · 21/04/2025 17:15

I have been put back on the cream due to itchiness down there by a consultant in the local gynaecologist dept, which is due to atrophy. I have to use it every night for four weeks, then every other night for four weeks and then twice a week after that. I am also using the tablet internally which I have restarted on doing every night for two weeks and then twice a week after that. I really hope it tells but a week in things are still itchy and sore, though it's not split like before.

BooseysMom · 21/04/2025 22:10

MrsCreek · 21/04/2025 11:37

I very rarely post on MN but had to reply to this. I get this! It is so bizarre! I couldn’t find anything online to explain it - so thank you! I feel better knowing that I am not alone with my weird liquid dispensing vagina!

Show quote history

Liquid dispensing vagina!! 😆 Seriously I have this weird phenomenon too. Coupled with a horrible burning sensation. I have to wear pant liners every day.

TitsInAbsentia · 21/04/2025 22:14

PyrannosaurusRex · 14/04/2025 22:11

So many of these, plus insanely heightened sense of smell. I can smell our neighbour smoking all the way down the lane. I can smell dog pee on tiles that have been steamed and scrubbed. I can smell everything constantly.

This is an interesting one...we've just assumed my husband has zero sense of smell post covid but wondering now if it is that I'm a meno super sniffer!!

TitsInAbsentia · 21/04/2025 22:18

PyongyangKipperbang · 21/04/2025 01:57

OMG!! Just had a furkle and a look and my "hanging outside" labia minora isnt hanging outside anymore.

This whole disappearing labia thing was news to me....but its gone. I know I habe viginal atrophy as I have pessaries for it (top tip, dont get a bladder oscopy [sorry, cant remember what its called] from a man who thinks he is parking a fucking van up your urethra), but thank you for educating me about the labia thing.

Edited

I honestly have to tuck the long one up when I'm going for a wax 😂
My bladder oscopy was a walk in the park compared to my last smear...felt like she was using a hedgehog on a stick...😵😩

TitsInAbsentia · 21/04/2025 22:20

Fordian · 15/04/2025 12:24

Memory fog
Eczema
Weak bladder, needing to pee ALL the time. I use predators but I don’t think they help.

You use what now?!

What symptom of meno really surprised you?

godmum56 · 21/04/2025 22:32

TitsInAbsentia · 21/04/2025 22:18

I honestly have to tuck the long one up when I'm going for a wax 😂
My bladder oscopy was a walk in the park compared to my last smear...felt like she was using a hedgehog on a stick...😵😩

Show quote history

The day I aged out of smears, I celebrated with champagne.

Shirtyllama · 21/04/2025 22:45

JinglingSpringbells · 21/04/2025 12:42

@Londonwaiting It's actually a sign of vaginal dryness/atrophy although the correct term now is genitourinary symptoms of menopause GUM.

my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15500-vaginal-atrophy

It doesn't mention watery discharge here but it does on some online sites. It's a sign that you've lost estrogen from the vaginal walls that can also affect the bladder and your pelvic strength.

The treatment is vaginal estrogen- nothing to do with HRT- cream you insert or a tiny tablet.

Show quote history

@JinglingSpringbells @MrsCreek I assumed my frequent liquid horror was to do with atrophy, started using estriol cream which has been great, but the gushing liquid didn't stop. It happened most in the week after my period but could strike at any point, cue daily huge pads and real stress about travelling and not having a change of underwear- then had hysterectomy due to big fibroid and adenomyosis, and thank god, no more liquid. Phew. I think the liquid was from the fibroid. I wonder if any of the other liquid ladies have known or unknown fibroids that could be causing it.

I don't miss it! (And still use estriol, all good, think it's brilliant)

PyongyangKipperbang · 21/04/2025 23:03

I am currently in that "joyous" state of still being young enough for smears but old enough to need mamograms.

FFS.

SummerbodyIwish · 22/04/2025 00:05

tinnitus

godmum56 · 22/04/2025 00:37

PyongyangKipperbang · 21/04/2025 23:03

I am currently in that "joyous" state of still being young enough for smears but old enough to need mamograms.

FFS.

Yes, I did champagne again when I aged out of mammograms. I still self exam religiously though.

tobee · 22/04/2025 01:03

Burning pain in arch of sole of my left foot. Manically itchy right shin and calf do much so that it bleeds and the pain from the scratching is almost pleasant.

Misread words as someone said upthread. Keep doing this. Find it hard to read sentences across the tv often but that might just be me. The jumble it up.

Got out of the shower yesterday, put my usual anti perspirant on. Tried on brand new top and thought "great someone's worn this and returned it!" No it was my smelly armpit so had to wash them again.

tobee · 22/04/2025 01:06

Oh yeah and finger nails constantly tearing and breaking but I have under active thyroid so could be that.

Massive effort to lose weight - 3:4 fast diet and calorie restriction. Only lost 6 pounds in 4 weeks. Better than nothing

JinglingSpringbells · 22/04/2025 09:07

Shirtyllama · 21/04/2025 22:45

@JinglingSpringbells @MrsCreek I assumed my frequent liquid horror was to do with atrophy, started using estriol cream which has been great, but the gushing liquid didn't stop. It happened most in the week after my period but could strike at any point, cue daily huge pads and real stress about travelling and not having a change of underwear- then had hysterectomy due to big fibroid and adenomyosis, and thank god, no more liquid. Phew. I think the liquid was from the fibroid. I wonder if any of the other liquid ladies have known or unknown fibroids that could be causing it.

I don't miss it! (And still use estriol, all good, think it's brilliant)

Show quote history

Are you sure it wasn't urine? Big fibroids can press on the bladder.

A scan would have shown if there was fluid in your uterus.