Can menopause really be this bad?

[JeannieJo]

I truly feel my life is over - emotionally, physically and chronologically. I am so exhausted, I barely move in my sleep, I am mentally and physically worn out, I can’t concentrate, I’m sick of and can’t face work anymore, I have no desire or energy to exercise, I’m having horrific migraines, and I truly feel so sick and unwell at times, all I can think of is going to bed. Is this what everyone else has experienced?

I’m doing everything I can medically, all bloods tests have been done, a few issues so can’t get HRT at the moment, but hoping soon. Considering antidepressants etc but just want to know if generally it can make you feel this bad or should I be worried about something else? I pretty much constantly feel sick and as if I have the worst hangover ever. Does anyone else feel like this?

Sorry that you are going through this but it will get better. I couldn’t take HRT so found a medicinal herbalist who listened to me and made up a tincture that really did make a massive difference to my symptoms. What part of the country are you in OP? Assuming UK.

https://gen-m.com/signs/

Menopause can literally cause more or less all of the above, and more....

Yes, yes it does.

Peri very much ruined my life 9 years ago. I’m better but not much better now. I completely changed as a person and as a razor sharp career driven executive.

Still getting periods and every symptom going. Long road of HRT, changing it, experimenting with dosage etc. I’m sorry you have had such a bad time. I never tried antidepressants as I had a bad reaction to them before.

Does your employer have a supportive menopause policy in place?

Yes that’s my menopause experience. I had a complete breakdown and am now on hrt and antidepressants and feel mentally better than I have done for years.

I’m so sorry you are experiencing these symptoms. I was exactly the same - the exhaustion was beyond what I can describe. HRT saved me, but I needed to see a private consultant who tailored my HRT to my symptoms to get sufficient improvement to be able to function reasonably. Hope you can get HRT soon, and sending you sympathy and good wishes.

Ooft, feel your pain. I was honestly scared I couldn’t work again at first, due to such bad anxiety, migraines, etc. I am on HRT now, but started with Sertraline which really helped. I’m on Amitriptyline for the migraines. I saw a Menopause specialist after I asked for a referral from my GP.

Peri and menopause did this to me. In fact I left 2 permanent jobs as I just couldn’t cope. When I got hrt for menopause my life changed for the better.

It was brutal for me.

Thanks, appreciate that. Yes in the UK. Glad you got something that helped ❤️

Thanks. I think there are about 3 I don’t have 🤦🏻‍♀️

How old are you? Do you have your actual blood tests?

I would recommend seeing a menopause specialist, likely you will need to go private. Do you monitor your sleep? I found I was not getting any quality sleep which was why I was exhausted, it didn't matter if I exercised, had zero caffeine, digital detox etc my sleep was still awful. HRT has helped but my testerone levels are very low and that causes lack of motivation.

So sorry to hear you’ve had a terrible time. It’s so awful. I hope you find the right HRT. I am going to search for a menopause policy next week. I have a new boss who should be supportive but isn’t and in fact, has been the opposite. I have a really good job but considering leaving it as I can’t deal with the stress and exhaustion from it. I really would be happier if I moved to a remote location for the rest of my life.

Sorry to hear this too and glad things have improved. I think I am probably very close to a breakdown also. I’m a completely different person these days.

Sorry to hear this too and glad things have improved. I think I am probably very close to a breakdown also. I’m a completely different person these days.

Sorry to hear this too and glad things have improved. I think I am probably very close to a breakdown also. I’m a completely different person these days.

Everyone’s experience will be different. My only symptom, for example, was heavy bleeding.

I will say though, that I don’t know anyone who is experiencing what you describe. You should definitely get this checked out and not assume it’s down to menopause.

I can't stand it, my sleep is so bad now I can't rely on it. Everything I try from the GP or Supplements or alternative therapies seems to make it worse as I am prone to paradoxical effects. I used to be so laid back and calm always up for a laugh, creative and fun. Now I'm quite a brittle, fragile person. I hate myself and my life. I go on surviving but I'm not really living anymore.

If you can please see the doctor before you hit rock bottom. Good luck. 🤞

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Oh so sorry, OP. That does sound a very tough time.😢❤️

I have to say, my mental health symptoms are pretty awful, but it's the physical symptoms that are causing me to become even more anxious and generally considering whether I can face rhe next few years staying alive, letalone the next 30.

I'm going to write a longer reply properly in a bit, I am just getting my daughter to bed.

I’m experiencing similar OP. The exhaustion is overwhelming. The migraines are awful. And I manage one decent night’s sleep every few weeks.

I can’t take HRT so I am just trying to power through and hoping things will improve once I am out the other side.

Hugs op, my mantra the last few months has been I just need to ask for hrt and antidepressants and then I’ll get ‘me’ back. I just haven’t gotten the courage yet. I am simultaneously exhausted and waking up constantly, I get weird tremors, ridiculously over emotional but weirdly I’m more optimistic than I’ve been in a while so no doubting everything too😅 Best of luck to everyone x

Six months ago I was in a terrible place. Anxious, not sleeping well, drenched in sweat, fatigue, headaches etc.

Added to that a very toxic job, a sick husband, elderly parents and a huge garden to manage.

I can’t take HRT.

I’m in a better place now and attribute it to the following:

I moved jobs and work less hours
Husband’s health has improved
I take fluoxetine
I’ve (almost) stopped drinking alcohol
I limit caffeine to one coffee and one weak tea per day.
I drink 3 herbal menopause teas per day (recommended by someone on here)
I take one of the Sainsburys meno vitamins per day (also recommended here).

Sleep is better, flushes are better.

My migraines came back really badly too. I get terrible night sweats and when they wake me up, I get hit with a migraine! Dp and I were actually laughing about it because you just couldn’t make up how awful it is.

Last few nights I took a VitB2 lozenge before bed and finally I seemed to have stopped the night migraines. After finding a thread on here about Sage, I have got some tablets and start them today for the night flushes/sweats. I’ll let you know if they work but last night was the first night I have had a proper sleep in a while.

Migraines just zap your quality of life so big sympathies from me

Hey xx I was absolutely like this for a long time until I got HRT which was a four year fight. I note what you've said about getting it is an issue atm. What you said about the symptoms especially just wanting to go to bed all the time completely resonated with me. I thought I was literally losing my grip towards the end. I truly hope you can get support and the medical treatment you need xx