Late 40s, menopausal and fading

[Swedes2]

I haven't as yet submitted to the full beard and elasticated waistband trousers. But heck, it's hard isn't it? I absolutely love clothes, make-up, and all that shit.... but I am becoming more and more interested in my garden (not a euph). Last night I went to the garage to buy milk in my gardening clothes.

Anyone else going through the same thing? Have you any tips you can share?

Hello, new to mn, really relating to this thread.

I'm 45, and have had gradual weight gain, hot flushes, hairy chin, mood swings, and bouts of insomnia for last 12 mths. Also have no libido whatsoever, which adds to insomnia as we lie there wondering... tricky. Saw GP in Feb who said very likely peri-menopausal, but I was only on 10 minute appointment for hip pain, and couldn't cover everything. Decided to try Boots for menopausal symptom supplements, seem to be helping and my Women's Institute (don't laugh!) all say black cohosh, so have been on that for 1mth and think sleeping's improving. Meantime have read somewhere that HRT is derived from pregnant mare's urine(!), so will wait and see whether symptoms develop further and how I react before I investigate that route. Life too busy for me-time :( just trying to keep calm and carry on...

Bloody hell, girls, started to read this thread but found my attention faded can I join? I am 50, and periods still regular but mood is evil cow meets Terminator Mum..... No libido At All..... Great beauty tip though is Eve Lom Eye Serum..... I have NO under eye wrinkles any longer...'tis bloody marvellous

I might have a go at this Black Cohosh stuff. I've never been one for herbal remedies and suchlike - give me proper drugs!

Periods - yes, hmmm, they are now ridiculously heavy, can't stray too far from a loo for the first two days. They got closer together over the last few years, then suddenly.......(tumbleweed).....there is a six, seven week gap.

Yes I had several floods. Once all over sofa while watching telly with DH and DS. Rushed to bathroom carrying cushion. Came back to find them both very pink of cheek, eyes glued to screen.

Once got dressed for important presentation at work. Got half way to tube. Flood. Went home. Changed. Just got back to tube. Happened again. Went home and asked DH what the bloody hell I was supposed to do? Lie in a drain?

@ lie in a drain

I flood too, usually at work with no warning when I am absolutely stuffed in dealing with it

thnkfully I wear a uniform of dark trousers, but I have had to throw away several pairs of good knickers and layer myself up with brick-like wads of bog roll as well as tampons and sanitary towels..

horrible

Don't put up with floods - assuming your family is complete then go for endometrial ablation - it's so liberating. Ten min procedure and little or no bleeding ever again!

I've posted on it several times in the past - had it done about 5 years ago I think

what's that then, and how do I get it ?

Yes I flood, usually when i'm in charge at work and I feel that terrible gushing sensation- or just on waking (DON'T EVEN MENTION A MOONCUP). I feel so ridiculous, a grown woman with 3 kids hobbling knees together to the loo at work so she doesn't drip down the corridor

My SIl had that procedure done fortyplus, but I thought it was a bit more 'major ' than that?

It used to be more involved but there's a device now called 'Novasure' which was new when I had mine done. In the US it's routinely done under local anaesthetic but my gynae recommended general.

I had it done privately as an outpatient - back home the same day - no pain or anything, You do get a clear discharge for several weeks afterwards as the womb lining has been burned and needs to heal - but you can't feel anything.

I'd recommend it to anyone with heavy periods - it's literally transformed my life. I'm pretty sure you can have it done on the NHS.

I keep putting off seeing my GP...

All sorts of things to discuss with my GP now! I think he will need to clear his diary for a morning.

I read somewhere recently that the pill is often recommended for peri-meno women, I must dig out the article as I can't remember why!

the pill gives me migraines, so anything hormonal is a no-no

and I am allergic to those other meds you can get for heavy periods...they give me hives

My GP ( middle aged woman) very dogmatic about menopause - requires no treatment, HRT dangerous etc. etc.

honestly I have put up with most of it but the bloody insomnia is really doing my head in.

Royalfucker - just give in to the Power of Nature. Give up your job and lie either on a couch or on the loo until the menopause is all over.

God! Makes you wonder what men would do if they had to go through this.

RoyalFucker - honestly get yourself there! I could've kicked myself for putting up with it for so long but we don't like to make a fuss, do we?

I didn't want the pill, either, though my GP prescribed Tranexamic Acid while I wated to see the gynae, But I wasn't keen on taking a clotting agent.

One top tip was don't use Aspirin based painkillers - they thin your blood so make periods heavier. I didn't know that before I went to GP.

@ giving in

can just imagine it...

lying on couch with a bucket under my arse, eating bonbons, for the next 10 years

I tried Tranexamic Acid (had forgotten the name)...I was allergic to it

it made my skin itch all over, my ears itched, even my throat scratched and swelled and kept me awake all night

was advised to never take it again as possibly sensitised to more serious anaphylaxis

that ablation sounds like just the ticket

Heyyy! This thread is great! The things that most depress me about ageing (I'm nearly 47) are:

the sprouting hairs on my chin
the etched vertical lines on my forehead between my eyes
the double chin
the way that weight just pops on when you're not looking, then likes it so much it stays
general flabbiness
heavy periods (never flooded through clothes until the last couple of years!)
where's my libido??
my droopy, downturned mouth, making me look like a miserable old bag!
How I am becoming a feardy-cat about loads of things! Skiing, cycling, rides at themeparks...

I am trying to exercise more - I drag myself out running and have joined a gym, but I have resigned myself that it is a case of holding back the inevitable for as long as possible.

Feeling in the company of like minded folk here![cwink]

at least my libido is still intact

I refuse to let that one go...

Revelling in low libido. Means I never have to expose fat ribs and gunt and I can stay up all night on the sofa in a duvet drinking tea and watching old films.

minnieegg you are utterly fab.

I will mourn my libido when it deserts me

I was a late bloomer

oh oh. Am reading this thread at the tender age of 41 and already I'm beginning to notice certain things happening to me. The hairs that are suddenly sprouting from my chin. The sudden outbreak of grey hair, which I don't mind in itself but what I DO mind is that it's all shorter than the rest of my hair following birth of my DD last year. The etched vertical forehead lines (I would contemplate botox but no way could I afford it). Plus my eyebrows have started to get longer and more curly, rather than thinner.

On that front, does anyone have tips to manage unruly eyebrows? Am wondering if that is why the totally plucked and pencilled in eyebrow look for over 50s evolved... I don't want to pluck them, because otherwise they WILL be thin, but attacking them with scissors to trim them just gives me a faux hip-hop bad boy shaved line thing which SO doesn't work on a 40-something woman...