The Mad, Bad Menopause Thread

summerof0763

along with others yes dryness and itching was inside as well as outside "ouch" had never heard of it and was very embarrassed to say to my doc, but so glad I did as used lots of different creams to try and alleviate it, x

Artytarty

To those that feel you have lost your identity and don't recognise yourself anymore, can I just say that this too shall pass! You will come back and be the same person as you used to know! I was very touchy, anxious and irritable for a few years. I thought that's just the type of person I was becoming permanently but a few years on and I'm back with my mojo intact!
Ok , I still suffer from crippling hot flushes but I am mentally more stable now and a lot nicer than I ever was.my skin is good, my figure is fine, so don't worry that everything is over for you!

Molly41

I still dream that I am pregnant and having babies

Hezzawithkids

Well hello ladies nice to meet you all! I'd love to join all you lovelies! I'm 52 and have having the symptoms for about 3 or 4 years. Apart from the weight gain that is proving to be very stubborn to shift my biggest problem is the hot flushes (what my OH calls my "Personal Summers"). They are starting to ease off now, I only get them a couple of times during the day then maybe once at night, but at their peak they were happening almost hourly. I was a nightmare and made me miserable. I would be sitting at my desk at work with a shiny face dripping with sweat and nowhere to go to cool off. They would only last a few minutes but I would pray that no-one wanted to speak to me while they were happening. I read somewhere that as soon as you feel the onset of a hot flush you should start taking slow, deep breaths - something to do with expanding the blood vessels to allow the heat to escape quicker, I dunno - and that does seem to work, unless it's my imagination or wishful thinking.

I stopped having periods about 10 years ago when I had an IUD inserted, and what a blessing that turned out to be. Very happy to wave bye bye to that time of my life (I have 2 children so feel very blessed). My current one is due to 'expire' in a couple of years but I don't know if I'm still ovulating. The practice nurse told me that when I eventually have it removed I can have a test to check it out. If the answer is No then no more contraception!

And yes my libido packed its bags a long time ago, never to be seen again I fear. Hasn't even sent a postcard. OH & I still have an active sex life and - ahem - 'enjoy' each other in many ways so no real concerns there.

I only have the occasional bouts of itching 'down there' but an OTC cream takes care of that as & when needed.

Can't say I've noticed any dryness on my face, and I've always had facial hair problems. Over the years I've established a skin care regime that seems to still be working so no worries there.

In all I've just been coping alone and have never felt the need to resort to HRT, so I suppose I'm one of the lucky ones. Glad to hear we're all in the same boat!

ahja

Just found another helpful product, the only downside is the cost of it - £300 ouch! Not exactly moneysaving.com, but on the other hand it is sanitysaving.com:rotfl:

Last night I slept on a Climsom mattress topper and it was fab! For those who have not heard of it, it's like an electric blanket but instead of wires going through it, it has little pipes. These pipes have water in them which you can control the temperature of from cold to hot (hot is never gonna happen!) Have a google for more info/pictures etc

I'm lucky in that my lovely mum bought it for me. I am pasty skin (don't get me started on the dry and the itching!), fair and freckled and she has seen me turn into a tomato head with sweat to match, so although lucky for her she never had one iota of menopausal symptoms, she feels my pain;)

The brain fog and memory loss drives me mad (what was I talking about here:rotfl:), but it really does make you feel like dementia is on the horizon! Random long facial hair appear overnight whilst the bit on my head is getting thinner! So all in all had just about every misery inducing symptom.

That said, for me the worst is the night sweats, bad enough to wake up like that and suffer at the time, but its the day that follows when you feel so drained, specially on the days I work, so for me I would have spent that £300 if I knew how much it would help.

Linda

Artytarty

That's nice Linda that your Mum is so supportive. The mattress topper sounds fab!
My Mum didn't suffer much and is still a very active lady in her mid seventies. I try to hide all my misery from her as I know it would make her feel old to have a daughter going through " the change" ! I also don't think she would really understand how bad it feels at times, especially the emotional aspect as she does not think like I do.sheia a do er and a cope er I am a bit of a wallower but I'm trying hard to be more positive in my outlook now.

lindens

What a lovely supportive thread-can I join please? :wave:

I'm in my mid forties and am probably 1 year in. Am on cerazette mini pill too, and have been irregular or nothing for most of the last year. The night sweats started in the winter, but not too bad (no sheet chaging!) funnily enough since i put the summer duvet on and even in this heatwave i haven't had any for a few months. Maybe I will keep this duvet on in the winter,not sure what OH will say to that!
The worse thing for me is the memory loss and foggy feeling - as my dad has dementia i'm trying hard not to convince myself i have it too:(
Very moody too the last 2 months, flying off the handle for no reason grrrrr.
Am also have pelvic floor issues just to complicate matters down there, but am attending the Women's health centre at the local hospital so it will be good if my new found pelvic floor exercises make that better!

mudgekin

Welcome aboard all you lovely ladies. I have heard it said that we are in our prime pfft. I am finding it really reassuring reading everyone's posts and it is somewhat comforting to see that it isn't just me that has all these symptoms.

One of the interesting things that has been triggered by Linda's comment about her mum not suffering is that my mum sailed through it as well. Her only symptom was hot feet and she used to say that that was the only flushes she had. Her sister on the other hand had a dreadful time. She would sit with a towel round her neck and just sit and mop her face. She also used to joke that she was turning into a werewolf with all the excess facial hair.

I also remember as a child my great aunt was a rather hirsute lady and I also remember my mum being horrified when I asked in a rather loud voice why Aunt Jess had a beard and that I thought it was only men that had beards. Another time I refused to kiss her because she had a prickly face :eek:

I can only hope that the odd stray hair that appears is all I am going to get. As soon as I feel it the tweezers come out pronto.

I was giving a presentation today and in the midst of it all I felt the dreaded sensation of the heat starting at my heels and sweeping over me. I became glossy faced and scarlet and then promptly forgot what I was about to say. I then stammered something about internal reactors running amok and managed to pull it back together

threepenny_bit

Hi all
I had a hysterectomy 6 years ago and then my ovaries removed 4 years ago which put me into surgical menopause. I have been unable to take HRT due to it causing pains in legs, high blood pressure and headaches. For a couple of years I took black cohosh and evening primrose oil twice a day and had no hot flushes - unfortunately my body got used to it and the flushes started to come back. I tried a few different anti-depressants as they have the side effect of stopping flushes. Right now i take paxil and that has stopped the flushes. I also use silk, ky and an oestrogen suppository for dryness which helps.

lady1964

Mine was a natural menopause but the Nurse still asks me if I had a hysterectomy

My mum didn't have an early menopause and my sister at 50 hasn't started hers yet so why I had an early one, I have no idea. I have read a few articles that seem to indicate that an early one can often be genetic, hence the concern for my dd's. However, I did read an article fairly recently (can't remember where lol) that said there are tests to see if an early menopause is likely and if so, eggs can be frozen. I mentioned it to my eldest DD, who's 25 and although she's not planning on having kids any time soon, she said she will look into it as she gets nearer 30 if she hasn't had any kiddies by then and she would seriously consider freezing her eggs.

It's funny though about the loss of ability to conceive. I was sterilised at 33 as I knew my family was complete but when I was told by a very uncaring doctor 'oh it could be the menopause, pick up a leaflet on your way out' I sat in my car & cried at the thought of not being able to have any more kids. Strange feeling to have isn't it? I'd chosen not to have any more kids yet I was upset at the thought that really was it for me.

Now with my youngest being 18, we have our lives back and can do all sorts together as a couple and I wouldn't want to give that up again now.