Menopause Matters

NickyBat

Bonbon wrote: »

Hi all, I 've just found this thread and am hoping someone can help me. Sorry if it's been discussed before but it's difficult to read through all 45 pages. My problem seems to be the opposite of most of the posters here who are worried about excess hair. Mine is getting thinner by the day.Now I know I can't have it all ways, and am really pleased to notice that I have very few hairs on my legs and underarms now, but I am reduced to tears when I see that the hair on my head is getting so thin at the front that I am almost changing my hairstyle to a comb over. A couple of my insenstive friends have commented on it, and now I notice that when people talk to me that they are glancing at the top of my head.I am really really embarrassed by this and was wondering if going on HRT might help.( I had a hysterectomy 20 yrs ago and only took it for about a year )
Does anyone else have this problem? what did you do? any advice would be appreciated.

can't really give you any advice but i can sympathise as this is happening to me and has been for quite a while

karmacookie

Bonbon wrote: »

Thanks for the replies so far.Armchair23 thanks for mentioning about the thyroid.I do have nodules on mine and it was questioned whether to have them removed but was then decided that they were ok. I had a very slightly overactive thyroid for a while that settled down over a year ago, so just maybe it might have something to do with that. I presumed it might be a hormone problem, as I had a full hysterectomy at 38 yrs and obviously have now gone through the menopause. ( thankfully no more hot flushes etc.) I have a lovely female GP but have to admit I am still very embarrased and will need to pluck up my confidence to go. I am not a vain person at all, in fact just a 'plain Jane' but this is really upsetting me to the point where I don't social as much as I used to. I have started looking at every woman's hair and I can see that there a lot of elderly ones who have very sparse hair.I just couldn't cope with that.

hi, it may be worth getting your thyroid checked again, perhaps your status has changed. I was overactive in my early 20s, fine for about 15 years then went underactive.

This is a very usful forum

http://thyroid-disease.org.uk/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=93

It is always worth asking for the exact result of thyroid blood tests as some Docs will pass a borderline result as normal even if you are suffering symptoms. there are some very knowledgable people on that forum and if you post your exact results someone will help you work out what they mean.

Also worth getting iron (ferritin) tested as being low can effect your hair. Again being low in range and not necessarily anemic can still cause problems.

Rowan9

Hello to folks.
Expecting a period next week, well as much as I can expect having had them resume monthly since Feb. Funny but since they have resumed I feel so much better 'in my self' (ha ha) but again that might be because of the better weather and the lighter nights. I had a cr*p time with the dark nights (and days!) this winter. My skin is less dry and I have resumed an interest in certain things hehehe(TMI if my DD is reading this!). I'm just going to see what happens I suppose.
Trying to make sure my weight doesn't creep up. Noticed waist band a bit tight and after losing that stone last summer and working hard to do it, I don't want it sneak on as I do feel so much better without it. Anyway, 2 lb on but I am being kind to self and setting target of 1 lb loss over 2 weeks. Planning to up the walking which I've started and also making sure the cake eating is lessened (but not excluded altogether). Chicken, baked pot and loads of veg again tonight, same as last night, and will have a York pud as well.
We were down in Brighton on Sunday as DH's mum is in hospital having had her broken wrist re-set. She is having trouble with low BP and sometimes low body temp so they aren't keen on letting her out until it's sorted. Lovely to be back there for a visit, though not so good that she is in hosp obviously. We did it in a day from Edinburgh, thanks to Easyjet and also to DD and her boyfriend who kept our dogs. Our older dog has arthritis and I'm not happy for her to go into kennels anymore. Anyway, she is on daily tabs for it now and has some really good romping about the park days which is lovely to see.
Me- well, I find my joints are getting stiffer eg getting out of plane after a short flight of just over an hour, I was a bit stiff from sitting!! Time for glucosamine or something for me. Or at least to blimmin' take the cod liver oil which is sitting in the drawer!
Choille- sorry I couldn't meet up last month. I had a great time with my chum and did a LOT of walking up hills! Hope that next time we might manage a meet.
Joyful - how is your mum?
Take care all.

choille

Hi wmf - & all who are in meno land.

Good you had a nice time wmf & good for you with the weight. I am more active bt the weight seems stuck but am eating cake & chocolate. All my life I never watched my weight but seems I'd better start to. Happened this past year since stopping smoking. My joints are bad especially my ole knees & nowt seems to help that.
Really lovely weather we're having & spend yeaterday in Inverness with an overnight stay which was a treat for me - cheap travel lodge deal - so I've walked the pavements fopr a change.
All the best all.

joyfull

Hiya wmf and choille and all menos,

LOVING this weather,. The body tends to feel better in warm dry conditions, but sleep is still difficult particularly with the shorter nights. HRT (taking one third of the prescribed dose only!) has pretty much eliminated flushes which is a massive relief.

Looked outside at 5am and we had a big frost, so shot outside armed with sheets, bubble wrap etc to cover up the many pots containing my tender plants I've just potted up.

My Mum, has against all the odds completely rallied. She's even wearing makeup again. We all had prepared ourselves for the 'end'. From a personal perspective I have the usual mixed feelings. Lovely to see her not suffering etc, but...... she's back to being quite controlling and questioning what I do. Which I find difficult!

Nice to get all your news. I stopped my glucosamine about 5 weeks ago, and can honestly say have noticed no worsening of aches & pains. But, of course, the warmer weather is here. Who knows.

Mrs_Arcanum

Good luck with stopping the glucosamine as it takes about 6 weeks to clear/start working. I know even if I miss a few days the pain is excruciating. It is also a mild blood thinner so worth getting your blood pressure checked.

Rowan9

Joyfull - I am so pleased about your mum. I do understand that the controlling is hard though. Glad the flushes have gone. Lack of sleep is tricky isn't it? I think it's Paul McKenna who suggests making your 'internal' voice v e r y sleepy for 10 mins before going to bed, even if it's just going over a shopping list in your head. Then you go to bed to sleep and don't read, just try to sleep and your mind gets used to the sleepy pre bedtime voice signalling that sleep is coming. My sister says it works for her.
Choille - Glad you enjoyed your trip to Inverness. I'd like to spend longer looking round it but apart from negotiating the awful (to me) one way system, I've only had a quick look at the shops. I like Travel lodges as I like the anonymity of them. I used to like B&Bs but I'm getting more private as I get older. Or just don't always want to chat maybe. Need more space - I think that's it. Sorry about the knees/ joints. At least the drier weather 'should' help.
W

shykins

hi everyone

nice to see/hear we are all doing reasonably well despite aches and pains etc

i cant use glucosamaine it upsets my stomach shame as its supposed to be very good

my flushes seem to have abated slightly - am almost too scared to even type it in case it tempts fate

i hate not sleeping well, i actually find if i DO read before bed it makes me more sleepy

take care all

nappentass

Hi everyone,

Just checked in to see how everyone is doing?

Feeling a bit 'off' today as I turned into a raging madwoman last night (over nothing :eek:) which was not like me at all... then it just disappeared - hoping this too is just another meno symptom

I also keep finding bruises that I don't know how I've done.. now is that just my (meno) memory or am I bruising easier - I dunno - :rotfl:

Hope all are managing OK

Take care

Bronnie

nappentass wrote: »

Hi everyone,

Just checked in to see how everyone is doing?

Feeling a bit 'off' today as I turned into a raging madwoman last night (over nothing :eek:) which was not like me at all... then it just disappeared - hoping this too is just another meno symptom

I also keep finding bruises that I don't know how I've done.. now is that just my (meno) memory or am I bruising easier - I dunno - :rotfl:

Hope all are managing OK



Take care

Hi nappentass.

Am having an off week too! Sore eyes (as per another thread) haven't helped along with sniffly sinuses and twingy head. Keep getting warm glows.......can't tell whether these are menopausal or maybe there's a bit of an infection brewing somewhere?

I have got myself back to the gym, albeit very gently in the last fortnight and that is good for lifting the mood and feeling pleased with myself when I've been.

Feeling very much like I don't know what's what at the moment. I'm tired and can't really blame work for that, but it is making me a bit fed-up as it does intermittently. Am fairly sloth-like at home atm...........hard to work out sometimes what's the best approach.

Today is a day off. Plan of action (yes I know it's 1.30pm!!) is to head off to the gym, then nip over to Liverpool and have a browse. Expensive to park there but cheaper after 4pm and shops are open til late. Ususally treat myself to a nice pot of tea in John Lewis...nice views from the cafe windows and a sample spray of some expensive perfume! Got some ebay stuff to list, so hopefully do a few this evening.

Hope all are well.