Questions for those who have been through menopause

[Sideboard Bob]

Another thing that made me think I might be going through perimenopause is that I usually feel ovulation cramps, but haven’t felt them for a few months now.
Obviously I won’t know anything for sure until I speak to my GP, but if it is that, its kind of a relief, I’ve been feeling so crap for a while now, and it’s good to know there might be an answer to it.

 

[Suzesnooze]

Another thing that made me think I might be going through perimenopause is that I usually feel ovulation cramps, but haven’t felt them for a few months now.
Obviously I won’t know anything for sure until I speak to my GP, but if it is that, its kind of a relief, I’ve been feeling so crap for a while now, and it’s good to know there might be an answer to it.

Google 34 symptoms of peri menopause. You’ll be amazed how many you can tick off!

 

[Sideboard Bob]

Google 34 symptoms of peri menopause. You’ll be amazed how many you can tick off!

I think I got about 17! I don’t want to jump to any conclusion, it’s just that explains so much. And it’s so nice compared to mental health problems, because you know it will eventually end.

 

[YetAnotherObsessionx]

Google 34 symptoms of peri menopause. You’ll be amazed how many you can tick off!

I just looked and ticked off 10. The sleep disturbances are the most annoying, at the mo - although I'll also be mighty annoyed if my periods have decided that doing their thing every 28-ish days is too much for them! Not had even a little spotting yet this month (1 week late now), now wondering when it'll come, cos I reeeeeally want that totally impractical feature in my life now

 

[Libbylulu]

I was early 40’s and was suffering with major depression. Pretty much my 40’s were miserable and I was treated for depression and anxiety with even hospitalisation. My gran mentioned I could be going ‘through the change’ and I dismissed it saying they’d have thought of that surely.
13 years later I was finally put on HRT and I feel like my old self. It’s extraordinary. I see life as I did pre depression, anxiety, my sleep is better, the aches in my joints, hot sweats and cold sweats, my skin…. So many things.
Don’t let them fob you off. Do your research and request HRT even in small doses
Follow Dr Louise Newson, she’s amazing and gives great advice.

 

[Notworthy]

I was early 40’s and was suffering with major depression. Pretty much my 40’s were miserable and I was treated for depression and anxiety with even hospitalisation. My gran mentioned I could be going ‘through the change’ and I dismissed it saying they’d have thought of that surely.
13 years later I was finally put on HRT and I feel like my old self. It’s extraordinary. I see life as I did pre depression, anxiety, my sleep is better, the aches in my joints, hot sweats and cold sweats, my skin…. So many things.
Don’t let them fob you off. Do your research and request HRT even in small doses
Follow Dr Louise Newson, she’s amazing and gives great advice.

It's rally frustrating when 51 is repeatedly mentioned. 51 is the average age of full menopause ie a year without periods, not the average age women start to be affected by peri symptoms. Even GPs get sucked into thinking anything under 50 is too young! Personally I think peri menopause should be considered at any age but particularly over the age of 35 as that's when research shows a big drop in our reproductive abilities.

 

[knickerbocker glory]

I’ve just been watching a video with Liz Earle who said she had bad sleep disruptions with menopause and takes estrogen at night. She uses up to 5/6 pumps. Am going to try some tonight to see if it helps, and with the weather being hot I can’t cope being so hot! Anyone else take theirs at night?

 

[Libbylulu]

I’ve just been watching a video with Liz Earle who said she had bad sleep disruptions with menopause and takes estrogen at night. She uses up to 5/6 pumps. Am going to try some tonight to see if it helps, and with the weather being hot I can’t cope being so hot! Anyone else take theirs at night?

I take estrogen gel in the morning and progesterone at night as I find P makes me sleepy and helps me sleep right through. I guess we are all different.

 

[Meangirl815]

I split my estrogen. 1mg morning 1mg evening. I try for 12hrs apart but doesn't always work out that way.
I take my testosterone in the morning

 

[knickerbocker glory]

Has anyone had any side effects of testosterone? When I said about it to my Dr she said/muttered about hair growth, does this happen?

 

[Notworthy]

Has anyone had any side effects of testosterone? When I said about it to my Dr she said/muttered about hair growth, does this happen?

FFS Does she not know that women have testosterone too. A tenth of the levels Men have but still necessary otherwise we wouldn't have it.

 

[Meangirl815]

Has anyone had any side effects of testosterone? When I said about it to my Dr she said/muttered about hair growth, does this happen?

Nope. Hair growth would only happen if you have too much. A woman produces 10x more testosterone than estrogen so it really annoys me when GP's downplay it, although a GP can't prescribe it so you would need a gynae/menopause referral first
But it was a game changer for me!! My motivation, my brain fog and my sex life were the biggest winners

 

[knickerbocker glory]

Thanks!!! Why do these G.Ps not know this!!! She’s also a woman near my age, it’s utterly shocking the lack of knowledge these G.Ps know. Back I go…

 

[Notworthy]

Thanks!!! Why do these G.Ps not know this!!! She’s also a woman near my age, it’s utterly shocking the lack of knowledge these G.Ps know. Back I go…

Push for a referral to a menopause specialist, it's clear that your GP doesn't know much and doesn't appear to care about an issue that affects 50% of the population.

 

[Libbylulu]

Has anyone had any side effects of testosterone? When I said about it to my Dr she said/muttered about hair growth, does this happen?

I took testosterone for about 10 months. My skin was dreadful, like very sore acne. I changed Gynae and she immediately took me off testosterone and my skin cleared up. I can’t say I had other side effects good or bad

 

[Woolmercardington]

Question!

What age to you believe your peri symptoms started? I know it can be hard to pinpoint exactly. But if you had to trace back, how old were you are what do you think were your first signs?

 

[YetAnotherObsessionx]

Question!

What age to you believe your peri symptoms started? I know it can be hard to pinpoint exactly. But if you had to trace back, how old were you are what do you think were your first signs?

I'm 40 now and I'm definitely showing some of the signs:
- insomnia
- night sweats
- restless legs at night
- joint pain
- irregular periods
- lack of libido
- random weight gain
- needing the loo at night
The sleep thing has been a problem for a few years already. The period thing has been happening for about a year.

Yay

 

[ginger tea]

Question!

What age to you believe your peri symptoms started? I know it can be hard to pinpoint exactly. But if you had to trace back, how old were you are what do you think were your first signs?

I would say in my mid to late 30s
Itchy ears
Itchy skin
Periods getting heavier
Feelings of not feeling I love or care for anyone
Loss of interest
I could go on and on

 

[Notworthy]

Question!

What age to you believe your peri symptoms started? I know it can be hard to pinpoint exactly. But if you had to trace back, how old were you are what do you think were your first signs?

48 when a friend told me that my forgetfulness could be Peri then I went off and did some research and I'd say 46. Insomnia, panic attacks, anxiety, intermittent loss of interest. Wish someone had told me, I sold my business thinking that was the problem.

I would say in my mid to late 30s
Itchy ears
Itchy skin
Periods getting heavier
Feelings of not feeling I love or care for anyone
Loss of interest
I could go on and on

I had that, makes me realise why so any marriages fail around this time.

 

[House of Tea]

Has anyone taken HRT for the first time post menopause?