Is this is?

[lampshadehatstand]

Can’t put my finger on what it is exactly. Feel out of sorts. Can’t focus. Fidgety. Hot. Can’t get comfy. Headachey.

Oh crap. It is, isn’t it?

Oh fuck. Look, a typo in my title 🙄

Get yourself two tower fans- one for the sofa and one for bed- and strap yourself in!

I was convinced I’d got away with it.

What weird symptoms does everyone have?

You have described it perfectly. Just not right. As if you are missing something in your body. But can't put your finger on it. Where to start with weird symptoms: palpitations, feeling weak and 'watery' in the mornings, sore mouth, indigestion, anxiety....

i feel like a second hand car with bits about to break at any point... a little bump on the road, and i fall appart.

Been and gone (hopefully): palpitations, burning tongue, frozen shoulder, anxiety, hair thinning, insomnia,

Currently experiencing: dry vag and flaps, sluggish digestive system, restless legs, periods becoming slightly more spaced out and lighter, more facial hair, lack of appetite, lower sex drive, general lack of enthusiasm, a deep attachment to my house and staying in.

I still think I have had a pretty easy ride compared to some women.

@Beekman i read and think... bloody hell, it s bleak, isn't it?

i don t have burning tongue, or dryness, but the rest, i do - and i remember when i thought hair thinning was as bad as it could get (oh sweet summer child!!)

i wish more people spoke about it, openly

So grim @Beekman!

While you have more facial hair, I’m the opposite. Eyebrows and eyelashes thinning, after years of constant preening and plucking because of such fast regrowth. My beautiful head hair has stopped growing too. Forgot that. I don’t know if the fanciest shampoos and conditioners in the world can fix that.

What are the good bits?!

Over the last four years I've had phases of rage, low mood, flooding, anxiety, itchy sore vulva, hot flushes, insomnia, brain fog, more low mood, and loss of confidence. Symptoms seem to go in cycles. BUT no period for several months now and I feel much, much calmer and more settled.

Glad to hear things have calmed down for you @FigAboutTheRules

I don’t even know what I want to eat or drink. Or watch!

Itchy ears, rage, extreme clumsiness, tingling fingers and toes, indigestion, anxiety, panic attacks, gum disease, huge weight gain, complete lack of joy, lack of interest in everything, regular UTI's, balance issues, lack of libido, inability to orgasm.

Those were in the order they came over an 8 year period. All solved by HRT but how I wish I'd started it sooner.

Similar to mentioned above. I can’t decide if i have adjusted to symptoms or they’ve eased a bit 🤷‍♀️. I’m 46 but have experienced different symptoms for a while.

Anxiety is defo my biggest one. But i deal with that currently with yoga, spin classes, use resistance bands and lots of outdoor walks in nature plus try and aim for above 8-15k steps just for movement. Insomnia on/off but i’ve had that since my twenties. Bloody itchyness everywhere and also itchy ears. Brain fog: not remembering words or why i’ve gone into a room! I get a bit hot sometimes at night and i think im running a bit warmer too. There’s more….

I eat nutritionally well maybe 70/30 so could improve but protein and fibre focused and lots of plants/nuts/seeds. I take collagen( unsure about it but my hips and knees feel better) magnesium for sleep and menopace. Not adverse to HRT but don’t feel i need it right is. I know there’s pro and cons and i’ll take it as needed.

Adding reflux to the list now too.

Oh god, the reflux!

Some of the good things: genuinely no longer giving a fuck. I go to the shops in my tracky bottoms and no make up -5 years ago, I would have died rather than gone out fully done up. I go see a movie on my own wearing the same outfit. i do what I want, not to the point of being obnoxious or alienating my friends, but I don’t do things out of obligation any more. I left a (terrible) play at the interval last week because the seats were far to uncomfortable to do another 90 minutes on. Before I would have been mortified to do that.

The physical symptoms of menopause are bloody awful but I honestly feel more comfortable in my skin than I ever have.

Not giving a fuck has to be the number one thing about getting older. I’m ready to go 100% on that.

So I’ve had my first foray into menopausal malaise. I’m starting to feel a bit more like myself now but what a ride the past 48 hours have been.

I’ve had red-ringed eyes so anyone who’s seen me must have thought I’d been crying for long periods of time (weirdly though despite the pain, I’ve not cried at all).

Someone told me red eyes - this is because your eyelashes are getting thinner and therefore it’s harder for them to break through the skin which causes discomfort and pain. Has anyone heard that one before?

Was walking down the street yesterday and just wanted to cry , no reason, it just felt so sad ..plus I have everything you have mentioned apart from headaches

Hugs @Needaglowup
Did you end up crying and letting it all out?

With a thread title like this, this is definitely is 🤭
HRT will save you I promise

I stand with you. I have just missed my first period had my first hot flash/flush. I cannot form sentences, spell, phrase things grammatically etc etc ... the way I used to (I did an English Language degree!)

I had already taken HRT for 5 years and had to come off it as I couldn't tolerate it anymore. My eyesight is awful too. I have just started taking Creatine and I am praying it helps.