Questions for those who have been through menopause

[knickerbocker glory]

Just read this, thought it may be of interest here. Sorry I couldn't work out how to do a warning thing, so hope I don't trigger anyone!

Kathy Burke: ‘I’m so glad I didn’t kill myself during menopause’

A long period of ill health badly affected her state of mind

www.theguardian.com

 

[ginger tea]

Just read this, thought it may be of interest here. Sorry I couldn't work out how to do a warning thing, so hope I don't trigger anyone!

Kathy Burke: ‘I’m so glad I didn’t kill myself during menopause’

A long period of ill health badly affected her state of mind

www.theguardian.com

How peri/menopause effects your mental health and mind set is the most shocking for me, I honestly never thought that would be a factor and probably one of the main ones for me personally

 

[Crumpet41]

I’ve had the pain for a few years, usually right before a period and sometimes very couple of months like halfway through my cycle but now it’s almost always there and I need to take pain meds for it or put a heat pad on

Do you have mittelschmerz? I have had the exact same happen to me since my early 30’s - I am now 43. This is basically the pain of the egg pushing through the ovary - there is no cure for it.
The advice on dr google is useless - ( pain will reduce the pain. - wrong. pain don’t do a thing.) I have even taken co-codomol and that didn’t work. The only thing that will stop the pain is the pill - which I don’t get on with.

Ovulation pain

NHS information about ovulation pain, including symptoms, treatments and when to get help.

www.nhs.uk

 

[Notworthy]

I wondered about Stella Tenant. Suicide rates in women of menopausal age rise | ITV News

How peri/menopause effects your mental health and mind set is the most shocking for me, I honestly never thought that would be a factor and probably one of the main ones for me personally

Me too, I have never had any mental health issues but menopause stuffed me right up

 

[Cupcakemum]

How peri/menopause effects your mental health and mind set is the most shocking for me, I honestly never thought that would be a factor and probably one of the main ones for me personally

Same here. It was that which spurred me into speaking to my employers and my GP because I worried myself.
I've been on HRT now for just over a month, and while I still don't feel completely myself I certainly feel a lot less low than I did!
My night sweats, dizziness, palpitations have also practically gone away and I'm finally sleeping without my mind racing and ridiculously vivid dreams disturbing me.
It could be that just the sleep has helped my MH, but considering the GPs first answer was anti depressants I'm so pleased I chose HRT first.
I haven't dismissed AD's and will use them if I feel I need them, but for me I knew they shouldn't be my first option and not to let the GP bluff me off

 

[Notworthy]

Same here. It was that which spurred me into speaking to my employers and my GP because I worried myself.
I've been on HRT now for just over a month, and while I still don't feel completely myself I certainly feel a lot less low than I did!
My night sweats, dizziness, palpitations have also practically gone away and I'm finally sleeping without my mind racing and ridiculously vivid dreams disturbing me.
It could be that just the sleep has helped my MH, but considering the GPs first answer was anti depressants I'm so pleased I chose HRT first.
I haven't dismissed AD's and will use them if I feel I need them, but for me I knew they shouldn't be my first option and not to let the GP bluff me off

Tell your GP to read the bloody NICE guidelines (which they should have done anyway, given 50% of their patients will go through the menopause)

 

[Cupcakemum]

Tell your GP to read the bloody NICE guidelines (which they should have done anyway, given 50% of their patients will go through the menopause)

I nearly did, but as I paused after her saying about anti depressants she started asking me the health risk questions for HRT. She said I am very low risk and then added that AD'S would also help peri symptoms but I could choose what I wanted.
I just held firm and said that I wanted to try the HRT first and she agreed.
If she hadn't then I was ready with my NICE guidelines sentence.
It is worrying that AD'S are a GP's first answer, especially a female Dr who even though sounded young you might have thought she'd be slightly more clued up

 

[Frenchie]

I’m 44 and Im almost certain I’m in peri menopause , has anyone suffered pain on overy, doctor thinks it could be a cyst and I’m booked in for scan soon, she can’t say if it’s ovulation pain (I have had this) because I’m have 2 periods a month so she’s not sure when I’m ovulating

 

[Notworthy]

I nearly did, but as I paused after her saying about anti depressants she started asking me the health risk questions for HRT. She said I am very low risk and then added that AD'S would also help peri symptoms but I could choose what I wanted.
I just held firm and said that I wanted to try the HRT first and she agreed.
If she hadn't then I was ready with my NICE guidelines sentence.
It is worrying that AD'S are a GP's first answer, especially a female Dr who even though sounded young you might have thought she'd be slightly more clued up

Nope, don't assume female GP's are better than Men. I asked the young female GP in my practice what she knew about the menopause and her response was 'only what my patients tell me'

 

[knickerbocker glory]

I'm feeling so low at the moment. My eldest has just gone back after Xmas and I keep bursting into tears, for days now. Anyone else?

 

[Mitzymooface]

I'm feeling so low at the moment. My eldest has just gone back after Xmas and I keep bursting into tears, for days now. Anyone else?

I went through a time of really low, not tearful just very anxious and unsettled. Definitely a meno symptom - I’m 55 and about 18 months into no periods. Finally gave up my reservation s about HRT and started about 6 months ago, definitely feel better and my mental health has improved.

 

[knickerbocker glory]

I’m

I went through a time of really low, not tearful just very anxious and unsettled. Definitely a meno symptom - I’m 55 and about 18 months into no periods. Finally gave up my reservation s about HRT and started about 6 months ago, definitely feel better and my mental health has improved.

I’mon HRT patches, swapped to them about a month ago, from gel. I am having a period atm so am hoping it’s hormones, as I’ve not cried like this for years!

 

[Mitzymooface]

I’m

I’mon HRT patches, swapped to them about a month ago, from gel. I am having a period atm so am hoping it’s hormones, as I’ve not cried like this for years!

Sounds like it doesn’t it? I hope things improve soon and you get on a more even keel. If not I’d ask about a change in HRT, we’re you getting on with the gel OK? I have gel and tablets which I have to remember to take each night, not easy!

 

[knickerbocker glory]

Sounds like it doesn’t it? I hope things improve soon and you get on a more even keel. If not I’d ask about a change in HRT, we’re you getting on with the gel OK? I have gel and tablets which I have to remember to take each night, not easy!

Thank you! I think I’ll see how I am in a few days then make an appointment. Thank you for your kindness x

 

[Mitzymooface]

Thank you! I think I’ll see how I am in a few days then make an appointment. Thank you for your kindness x

Ah thanks, be kind to yourself too, hormones are absolute witches!

 

[Rosap]

I'm sitting here in tears and don't know anywhere else to share.

I work in a public sector group and the organisation received some funding to pay for some appointments with a private menopause specialist to help support and retain staff. I applied straight away as ive tried 2 types of hrt that didn't suit me and my gp doesn't have any more suggestions bar anti depressants. I'm so so sad all the time, have no motivation, no libido and am piling on weight. My periods are really heavy and go on for weeks. The specialist can help explore options and make recommendations you can take to your GP.

I just found out that a senior colleague who applied days after me but knows the lead who is running the process got an appt but i didn't. She has no symptoms apart from low mood, has never tried any hrt and is ten years younger than me.

I'm so desperate to feel better and really thought this was going to help but it's a case of who you know obviously. I can't afford a private appointment and I feel like just taking some time off - im struggling to be motivated at work and feel even worse now . I just want to go to bed and shut the door on the world

 

[House of Tea]

I'm sitting here in tears and don't know anywhere else to share.

I work in a public sector group and the organisation received some funding to pay for some appointments with a private menopause specialist to help support and retain staff. I applied straight away as ive tried 2 types of hrt that didn't suit me and my gp doesn't have any more suggestions bar anti depressants. I'm so so sad all the time, have no motivation, no libido and am piling on weight. My periods are really heavy and go on for weeks. The specialist can help explore options and make recommendations you can take to your GP.

I just found out that a senior colleague who applied days after me but knows the lead who is running the process got an appt but i didn't. She has no symptoms apart from low mood, has never tried any hrt and is ten years younger than me.

I'm so desperate to feel better and really thought this was going to help but it's a case of who you know obviously. I can't afford a private appointment and I feel like just taking some time off - im struggling to be motivated at work and feel even worse now . I just want to go to bed and shut the door on the world

You need to go back and kick up a fuss. It’s patently unfair. You need to explain what you have explained here. At the very least you need to ask for an explanation why they got the golden ticket. I know you feel ground down but you need to raise this.

Failing that, can’t the GP refer you to an NHS menopause clinic?

 

[Rosap]

Thank you , you're right. I'm going to calm down a bit first then ill try contacting the organiser.

Its a private service with only a weeks wait on an appointment. A referral to a NHS clinic could take months and months. I just got so excited when i applied, i really thought it could be the opportunity i was waiting for

 

[House of Tea]

Thank you , you're right. I'm going to calm down a bit first then ill try contacting the organiser.

Its a private service with only a weeks wait on an appointment. A referral to a NHS clinic could take months and months. I just got so excited when i applied, i really thought it could be the opportunity i was waiting for

Yes, you should not let this pass.

 

[thinkofacoolname]

Hey guys, my post is long and didn’t want to take up all the page, so put a spoiler on it to save the space. If you read thank you

Spoiler: It’s a long post and don’t want to clog the page

Hey everyone. I haven’t a question as such, it’s more I just need to vent. I’m 41 and in peri. It’s been and year and a half since it started and it all began when I got the first covid vax.

I used to be so regular, used a tracking app so I could work long runs around my period, and used to be 25 days with moderate to light bleeding and little pain. It was always more or less bang on, my body ran like clockwork. I came off the pill around 2011 so my body runs it’s own cycle.

I got the first jag in May 2021, and less than 24 hours after receiving it I had intense menstrual feeling cramps. At the time I wasn’t due a period for 12 days, and the cramping continued for 7 data’s. On the 4th night I had an intense depressive episode (early 2020 I was depression and was at the point of suicide but revived help) where I was nearly at the point again. That lasted until The 6th day but it gave me a fright.

When I tried talking to people about thinking the jag did something I was told I was being silly and shouldn’t listen to conspiracy theories. Even a google search said there was no link (that’s since changed).

My period continued to be erratic (14 days early, 28 days late, clots, incredibly light, couldn’t predict it) then in January 2022 when I had my smear I brought it up to the nurse who was very understanding and took bloods and referred me for an ultrasound. My bloods (I can’t remember now what part exactly) confirmed I’m in peri.

In the past 12 months my period is still erratic, the longest gap was 79 days between, and right now I’m 75 days since my last period. The hot flashes are awful, I’m irritable, libido is long gone, can’t remember what an orgasm is, night sweats, pain in my hip, knee and shoulder joints, tingling in my right arm/hand…

My ultrasound revealed a possible cyst on my left ovary so I have another scan coming up, and the doctor prescribed me paroxetine to deal with the hot flashes which didn’t agree with me. I’m taking vit D and magnesium to help with energy and moods.

Sorry this is so long. Trying to talk to people in real life, they are so dismissive and don’t realise how bad it is, or else tell me I’m too young to be at this point.