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?

My weird periods have been the last sign tbh ruby

the sun spots on my cheeks, the dried up feeling, the MASSIVE mood swings, libido up and down like a fiddlers elbow...ah its a smashing time of life

I almost went through an elasticated waist phase last summer. It's quite hard to resist isn't it? Good on you for getting compliments, though! Have you considered getting yourself botoxed?? Or some facial toning? I have done all of these, and I have just bought myself a Slendertone face (still in box). I am going through the menopause too, and my doctor refuses me treatment, so I've started taking Menopace from the chemist, which seems to be working. Sometimes I feel like crap for no reason, though - really tired and dragged down. Getting tarted up is such an effort when everything is heading downwards, isn't it?

I am not menopausal yet still all regular in that dept just hating how I am disintegrating physically! What is peri is that the run up before the main feature

I've just turned 49 and I'm not knowingly menopausal. Though having read this thread I'm wondering if I'm in denial

I'm still having regular periods and the only thing I've noticed is my hair is a bit drier. I can't see any grey as I get my highlights done every 6 weeks.

I have struggled to lose the flab around my middle since stopped bf 18 months ago, but I have been blaming the last baby and my under active thyroid.

How do you know if you are menopusal?should I be takig creams or pills?

I can't do the garden test as I've loved gardening since I was 30

As for gardening every garden I get I deck or pave over it rather than maintain it a bit like my face! hate hate hate gardening but love a nice one. Agree totally about the libido either can't be arsed or gagging for it My dp doesn't know what is going on

And I have a question about the fewer better quality clothes thing

If I'm only to buy one pair of trousers, it will need to be black or some boring colour and a v conservative style. Because they will need to last more than one season if they are £££££. So I will look middle aged and boring in my black wool posh slacks that cost , say £120

How will that make me look younger than 4 pairs of chinos /coloured /jeans from gap /uniqlo/zara that cost £25-30 each

And what's the point of paying £££££ for things that will be one season wonders, like palazzo pants or platform wedges?

Don't you just edn up wearing them next summer even though they are so last year because they cost a packet?

Or am I missing something......

Hmmm - I have just sent off for the Serenity cream - thanks for the tip, Pag

What symptoms does it help you with?

I slept "funny" last night. Woke up this morning and saw that I had a crease running from the top of my left eyebrow, down the side of my face and around my jaw line. It's now nearly 3pm and I can still see it, albeit faintly. I looked like Lindow Man......

It is hard. Then again, I look after my skin, do a little exercise, and try (life permittng) to keep a happy disposition. That's the key, I think. Some days I feel (and look) great, others I look......well, just tired and need a good deal of help from my trusty makeup bag. And the days are gone where I could get away with moisturiser, blush and a lick of mascara. I don't trowel it on but, I do NEED it now!!

Oh and KristinaM, can I move into your kitchen? Beautiful!

KristinaM Its all relative - but probably my fault for not putting what my starting point was. Better quality to me meant Zara/Gap rather than market stall. I've never been one for paying hundreds of pounds for clothes.

I used to buy lots and lots of v.cheap tat in not very nice material which would fall apart after one wash or not fit properly. I now buy a few classics and pad out with more reasonably priced throwaway fashion.

I have also discovered Style & Beauty which has helped enormously

Bin end-y'see it's the word " classic" that makes my heart sink. It just says frumpy to me. I don't want to dress my age. I know I'm not 25 but looking like a 35-40 year old would be just fine. Unless that means the boden look [shudder]

Thanks wendi [bugrin]

I shudder at classic too. It makes me think of old aunties. I do think decent jeans and basics which fit well are a godsend though and then add cheap frivolous stuff.

IMO you can either give in or fight it.

I am 56 and am told Il ook much younger. Might be down to HRT ( 2 years ago due to poor sleep)but make a big effort to e at really healthily, take lots of exercise and adapt fashion to my age.recently lost 5lbs that had crept on round my middle- doesn't sound a lot but am a tiny 5'3".

You can still do fashion but keep it subtle- currently today I am wearing dark rinse skinny jeans from Uniqlo, long sleeved T white Stuff and Coverse plimsols.

Step away from the 'classic' clothes. I'm happy to spend £40, £50 max on some trousers for example, just not £20. I agree it's just too depressing for words having to wear expensive clothes from a couple of years earlier because they were too expensive to get rid of. Yes, S&B thread helps so much more than buying fashion mags.

fedupandfifty why is your dr refusing you treatment- that's unacceptable.

okay, okay, maybe classics is the wrong word. I know what I mean but I'm just not getting it across very well. For what its worth I don't look like an old auntie. I am also wearing jeans today with a nice cotton top. However, for work I have to wear quite formal stuff so I do buy decent quality jackets/suits that last more than one year whatever the word might be (definitely not classics though!)

My period is either non existent (hence me peeing on a pregnancy test last month) , or I bleed like a stuck pig EVERYWHERE, or its the last scrapings form the Bovril jar

I never know if I'm coming or going

I'd like to get the whole lot whipped out, tummy tuck and eye lift in one

cabbage - my doctor refuses to treat me because of links to breast cancer. I'm not sure if this is true or not. He tried to warn me off the over-the-counter treatments as well, for the same reason. He refuses to treat his own wife as well, on the same grounds!! Charming!

I have been unable to sleep properly ever since the menopause started (I am 52). I went to the drs practically crying from lack of sleep. She refused to give me HRT (too dangerous apparently), suggested I sleep in the day (I work full time!), and then begrudgingly gave me sleeping tablets.

Oh thankfully I don't suffer with poor sleep. It's the getting up I have an issue with. And yes I have that long-lasting face crease thing too. Shocking.

It's quite heartening to meet folk who are refusing to go down with the ship!

I was getting to the 'crying through lack of sleep' stage a few months ago. Pinging wide awake and not able to drop off again for hours.
I found (brace yourself) giving up wine in the week made a difference - made me less wired somehow. Just a suggestion .

Night sweats ahoy. And yes the word "classics" brings to mind . . . the early nineties, pleated chinos and chambray shirts (shudder).

But . . . WTF am I going to do about my sausage thighs? Eight months ago I was rocking skinny jeans (deluded emoticon). Now they still fit everywhere but on the thighs. If I put them on I have to walk like a paper doll. Has anyone else gained weight on her thighs NOT her tum -- or am I the only one on here with this issue?

I've gained aroond the middle and am working harder than ever to shift it.

I tried a whistles dress on today. Omg omg omg, i couldnt beleive it was me staring back in the mirror. It was the most horrific sight.[shocked]. I am much much much fatter then i ever thought i was. I looked totally dreadful. My legs are shocking and i had a bruise on the back of my thigh that i dont know how i got. I am going to have to starve myself.