So who would knows about perimenopause and menopause then .. and how come we aren't taught / don't discuss in advance

[Twiglett]

OK I'm 40 so possibly in reach of the perimenopause which I understand can start 10 years before the menopause

I've had a bug that is also giving me hot sweats, I've also been raging more than normal

I've ordered a book that has been recommended to me but I know nothing

(much as I knew nothing about my cycle 'til I read Toni Weschler's book)

Well no, Wags, sadly not. I hate being bitchy too, I genuinely do admire her for not resorting to the knife (I assume she hasn't anyway....) but she changed so suddenly after her hysterectomy. Gulp.

JackieNo, here I am enjoying a perimenopausal Christmas

Hope she hasn't taken HRT. I'd want a refund. Bless her though, putting up with him.

And he's only 8yrs younger according to Wikipedia DH is ten yrs younger than me I've just told him we're discussing the menopause and he said "I am SO not looking forward to it" poor bloke has enough to contend with with my pmt

The "refund" word did cross my mind when I was saying that I assumed she hadn't had plastic surgery, too. Oh, I am being horrible. I blame my hormones.

Hang on, she's only 49? Surely not?

Yeah me too. We can blame everything on our hormones.

49?? No....

Well, www, if it's any comfort, my dh is 14 years older than me and is currently having a nap so he can stay up after midnight (we are having a dinner party)....

Sorry, she's 59, thank bloody god for that

Phew! IMDB say 59.

She seemed a bit better when I saw her on something recently, but as you say right after her hysterectomy the change was so sudden. She seemed so shaky and vague and just odd and the way she has aged. May be it hit her hard being in the public eye. I have friends who have been through the menopause and you would never know, they look fab as well.

Hmm, not sure if that is comforting Tamum. Dh is PATHETIC about sleep and I keep saying wait til you are ten yrs older matey, stop moaning you wimp. I'm sympathetic, me

Can we find some positive menopausal role models please?

Apols for Judy related scare there.

No, 59 surely...

Demi Moore?
Elle McPherson?
Marcia Cross
Sarah JP
Hillary Clinton
Fern Britton

Yes but those that look good, are they HRT'd up to their stitched up eyes? I can't take it because of high blood pressure and believe me I wanted to.

ooooooh at last, a clique I can join

Have been having a few menopausal symptoms for about 2 years now. That Power Surge site looks interesting.

Whoops, too slow there... Actaully she's not bad for 59 then really.

Wags, get your glamorous post-menopausal friends to come on here and give us some tips.

I'm not counting anyone who's had surgery. Tis not allowed.

My mother was fine and looked younger than her years for much of her life. She looks like an old lady now, but she is 77 after all.

I am determined to take after her.

Oh no, Marcia Cross only just had a baby didn't she? That's no good...

But she's 45
so is Julia Roberts I think, also just had a baby

Well one of them I saw recently and she sort of poo pood the whole thing. Said she had a few flushes and that was it. Made me feel like I was making a mountain out of a molehill. I comforted myself with the fact that she had her children in her early 20s not early 40s like I have done and maybe thats why I feel like a great bag of poo.