The Mad, Bad Menopause Thread

kingfisherblue

bunbun2 wrote: »

do you still get the hot flushes, etc six years on? mine have only just started:eek:

Oh yes, I still get them! mind you, I'm probably susceptible to them, as they originally started 22 years ago when my daughter was born. I had them on and off for years, often going outside the shop where I worked, in the middle of winter, wearing nothing more than a skirt and a thin short sleeved blouse :cool:. Everyone thought I was crazy - and they were probably right :rotfl:. The flushes worsened when I had my third child at the age of thirty.

It was only when they increased in severity and frequency at the age of 38 that they became a problem, but I don't take any HRT as I have several severe allergies that came on suddenly from the age of 35, and also because I had a suspected DVT when I was 34.

I don't have periods though, as I take the mini-pill, Cerezette, and it has stopped them completely :j

ciderwithrosie_2

I'm 49 and been having irregular periods for a good while. Sometimes I can go 2 or 3 months and only see a bit of spotting, then my last period was the one from hell and I was having to change tampons every hour nearly!

The other symptom is I get very down and weepy some days (for no particular reason) and anyone that knows me would say I'm generally very upbeat and laugh a lot.

Memory loss, libido taking a nose dive and hot flushes can stay away for the moment thanks!!

kingfisherblue

lady1964 wrote: »

My concern now is that my dd's will also have an early menopause. At least I had completed my family, it must be the worst feeling to have the menopause and not have had your family...

I am also concerned that my daughter could have an early menopause. My mum had a complete hysterectomy in 1976, as she had not stopped bleeding after my sister was born in 1970 :eek:. She doesn't know when her own mum went thrrough the menopause as her mum died when my mum was 18. My MIL's periods stopped very suddenly when she was 37, and my sister has now started the menopause at the age of 42.

I have discussed this with my daughter though, and she is hoping to start a family in the next few years - certainly before she is 30. I'd love to be a granny

alwaysskint96

kingfisherblue wrote: »

Hi Mudgekin, it's been a bumpy ride for a while! I was perimenopausal at 38 and am six years in . The hot flushes, memory lapses, tiredness, dry skin - all part of everyday life. And the night sweats are all part of everynight life :rotfl:.

I used to work with a lady who was going through the menopause, and she used to say that it was down to her horror-mones

Snap. Exactly what ive been getting along with facial hair and irregular periods but my doc says Im too young at 41

kingfisherblue

alwaysskint96 wrote: »

Snap. Exactly what ive been getting along with facial hair and irregular periods but my doc says Im too young at 41

The doctor is fine - the practice nurse is another matter though! I go to her for my pill, and she always comments on my weight (which has increased in the last few years, but I'm working on it! Slowly!)

It's odd that you should mention facial hair. I've never had a problem with any, but earlier today I had an irritation under my chin. When I checked the mirror, there was a small, dark brown hair sticking out :eek:. Needless to say, it isn't there now! I plucked it out immediately. I just hope I don't get any more. If I do, they're bound to be noticeable - I have thick, dark curly hair. Well, a few grey ones are in there as well . And it comes out in clumps at times, but the doctor said that is a side effect of the menopause too . Luckily it is thick enough not to be noticeable - there aren't many women in their mid forties whose hair curls naturally into ringlets (and i always hated that, but now it disguises the hair loss ).

geminilady

summerof0763 wrote: »

oh the intense dryness and itchiness drove me insane, was so painful too, I was wakening up in agony!! my doc said was one if worse cases he had seen! but 4days if using cream cleared it up x

Just wondered if the dryness was on the outside as well as inside?I have been itching like crazy in the same spot outside its driving me mad.

mudgekin

Welcome aboard all. Nice to have you here.

geminilady wrote: »

Just wondered if the dryness was on the outside as well as inside?I have been itching like crazy in the same spot outside its driving me mad.

I have had the dryness both inside and out. For the inside I use lubticating cream sich as KY or another product called liquid silk The doc gave me steroid cream for the outside as I was scratched and bleeding in parts.

Another of my main issues is weight gain. I was one of those skilly minnies that was desperate to put weight on and I couldn't get my weight above 8st 7lbs despite trying everything. My late mum used to tell me to "just wait till you get past 50 then it will be a different story" boy was she right. My diet hasn't changed and I am not any less active but my weight is now 11st which horrifies me. I can't get it shifted and I have really swollen ankles and fingers. I know some of the weight gain is down to being on gabapentin as I piled on weight when I started taking it before but I just can't shift it. I have been on the 5:2 diet now for 4 weeks and I haven't shifted a pound.

marmitepotato

geminilady wrote: »

Just wondered if the dryness was on the outside as well as inside?I have been itching like crazy in the same spot outside its driving me mad.

These are the creams that have helped me. Vagisil, Canestan, Nappy Cream! When I have a bit of a flare up I chose one of these and they all help. Before I went to the doc for my applicator tablets, I'm sure I could hear myself squeaking when I walked! :rotfl:

seven-day-weekend

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

For anyone reading this who hasn't started the process yet: it doesn't have to be doom and gloom.

I sailed through mine with nary a symptom bar a bit of short temper from time to time. That's gone for good now and so has my libido. The great thing about that is I just don't care if I never see a naked man ever again. I'm kind of glad that part of my life is over and I'm so relieved to have waved tatty-bye to periods. Eight years later I've got a some grey hairs, have put on a few pounds, am growing a mustache and beard but my skin and hair-texture are no worse than they ever were.


All things considered life's just grand

I'm 63 and my last period was nine years ago.

I too have had a relatively uneventful menopause. I have had bouts of depression (but I had those anyway, so may be nothing to do with the menopause) and have lost my libido (but can fake a bit if necessary ). My skin has gone even drier than it was already, I buy industrial quantities of moisturiser. I have one or two hairs on my upper lip which i shave off.

But I've never had a hot flush and it is wonderfully liberating to no longer have the ten-day periods I used to have

I have never taken HRT, but would have done if I had been in my forties or younger when I started, to protect my bones.

madwomanintraining

Brilliant thread!
I am 48 and feel like I hardly know myself any more. I don't have the energy that I used to have, my skin is dry, I have days when I am very snappy, and I don't enjoy the simple pleasures in life like I did before.
I can't wait to come out the other side of this!