The Mad, Bad Menopause Thread

ahja

mudgekin wrote: »

I have to disagree on this one also. My late mum had very little in the way of menopause symptoms as I said before therefore I wasn't swayed by her ideas. I had a hysterectomy and partial oopherectomy at 28 and 7 years later my remaining ovary packed in. That was in the days of before t'internet so I wasn't inundated with information.

I knew about hot flushes as my aunt had dreadful flushes but I wasn't expecting the myriad of other symptoms like the memory issues, behavioural changes and becoming a monster. I certainly wasn't expecting my libido to get up and go never to return as I had always been highly sexed before.

I genuinely expected to sail through it and for women who are having a dreadful time it is reassuring to find not that you are not alone and that the raging hormones of adolescence can seem mild in comparison for some people. I think the reason that it was never spoken about was because it was one of those hush hush things that fell under the category of "womens' troubles" never to be mentioned in polite company.

Ditto from me, in fact I could have written that!

My mum had no symptoms and I expected none. I only knew about the hot flushes, but the brain fog is something else! It's like you have to really focus on what you are doing - something that went away when I went on HRT.

Hormones regulate the body, so I guess for some of us, its just another general failure of the body to work properly as we age.

mummalove

summerof0763 wrote: »

sorry I apologize, I agree to certain extent about hrt but honest I was having horrendous nightmares, hot flushes constantly, really painful bones etc, don't get me wrong I have a debilitating illness anyway, but I really can't cope with all the symptoms x

Very interested to hear about your painful bones...as this is something I am suffering with - I didn't connect it to the menopause...I have discussed this with my doctor thinking it was perhaps arthritus but have had negative blood results for this. In particular it is my finger joints that hurt, plus my wrists and one ankle.


One year ago, at the age of 42 I find out I was going through the menopause. I only found out because I decided to come off the pill for a break...but never had a period since!!

I then realised I had been having all the sypmtoms of menopause and after blood tests, my doctor confirmed it.

OMG..horrendous hot flushes, mood swings (sorry DH and DS), very foggy minded and so forgetful. Yes I am a slave to lists now

I am pleased to find this thread as being 43, I do not have any close friends my age going through the same...as I am earlier than the average it seems.

I never knew until I spoke with my mum and auntie, that we have a family history of early menopause. I wish I had known, then I could have been more aware of my symptoms and that I wasn't going mad!

I do not want to have HRT, so am using menopace supplements which seems to have alleviated the huge mood swings...but I still have the odd one...or two

bunbun2

I went to see the GP today and her first comment was "you are only 46" reading between the lines you are too young for it to be the menopause. When I said I hadn't had a period for 6 months she said oh that happens then you suddenly get a period. So encouraging! I asked about sage and she suggested red clover. She has sent me for a blood test which is on Monday. I won't take anything before then in case it alters the results as I think the red clover increases the oestrogen levels.

whatever the results I will try either sage or red clover and see if it makes a difference.

my joints are also painful especially my fingers and sometimes my toes. I have had painful ankles too.

Artytarty

When I was in my mid forties I too had the aching joints, particularly my wrists. I was really worries about arthritis. I went when I was on HRT and has not returned even though the hot flushes have.

zaksmum

I did ask my GP about the possibility of staying on HRT but got chapter and verse about the dangers of it.

I finally agreed to come off it but wish I hadn't.

I seem to have fallen apart without it!

mudgekin

zaksmum wrote: »

I did ask my GP about the possibility of staying on HRT but got chapter and verse about the dangers of it.

I finally agreed to come off it but wish I hadn't.

I seem to have fallen apart without it!

I did come off for a couple of years but I ended back on it as I felt so ghastly and was completely exhausted with constant interrupted flushes and sweats at night. My bed would be soaked to the extent that the sheets would be wet.

I am due back at the docs for my annual prescription in 2 weeks and I know that she is going to suggest that I come off HRT and the thought terrifies me as even with the low dose that I take I am still symptomatic but nowhere near as bad as if I have none. Taking the lower dose of Zumenon was the compromise to being on it for so long

ahja

Same here mudgekin. I came off HRT when it was found I had high blood pressure - it was awful. I sweated so much in the groin area that I was leaving sweat marks on the plastic seats at work so that people thought I had wet myself - not that it was any better when it was sweat as I wouldn't want to sit on it let alone anyone else! And I am not overweight - the thought of going back to that is horrendous - I took to wearing night time protection to save my sanity and embarrassment!

Once my blood pressure was dealt with, to my relief, I went back on HRT - was told it would be looked at within a year. Went back for my annual with a heavy heart, but when I asked the practice nurse whether I had to see the gp, she said no - so I ran out of that surgery as fast as I could lol

When I got my next repeat prescription, it said I had to go back in six months instead of a year which is in September, so I expect the worst!

I am still have symptoms as I am on the lowest dose and the blood pressure meds I take are the ones that keep the veins open (so any hot flush is like a lightening strike!) so I know I am still dealing with the menopause.

My own view is, is that I think for a lot of women the menopause is a heck of a lot longer than what they think it is, so when they come off HRT and it hits them, they think they have postponed the menopause when I think they are still in the middle of it! I work with the elderly and some of them in their 80's are still dealing with this blasted thing! They get less and also less intense, but decades later, some of it is still going on.

bunbun2

has anyone used the pillow (either the cheaper one or the chillow) and scarf from Amazon? I am thinking of getting them but wanted to see what others thought of them before I ordered

bunbun2

also has anyone tried the cool comfort nightwear from M&S?

ahja

bunbun2 wrote: »

has anyone used the pillow (either the cheaper one or the chillow) and scarf from Amazon? I am thinking of getting them but wanted to see what others thought of them before I ordered

I've got the chillow pillow - love it! Got one for my mum who suffers from swollen ankles due to fluid retention and it even manages to ease the amount of buildup to her ankles.

Got the scarves, they are a real boon as the hottest part seems to be the back of the neck - I used to have 2 cans of coke to slap at the back of my neck, but that would look a bit funny at work:rotfl: