The Mad, Bad Menopause Thread

bunbun2

ahja wrote: »

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:

thank you! I have some amazon vouchers so will probably get both.

MrsE_2

xbrenx wrote: »

I would like to join too please :wave:

I'm 48 now and have been saying for a few years that I'm ready to stop having periods and wouldn't it be nice to go through the menopause while I'm healthy in every other way.

Reading posts so far I now believe I'm going through it! Itchy 'down there' which OTC creams don't touch at all. Irregular periods and every 3 months or so I have a really heavy one.

I'm going to persevere and get an appointment with the Doctor now, if only to get some cream for the itching

Big hugs all round.

I've had long gaps between periods that past year or more, I think the last one was a few months ago.
I've been getting hot periods - I've only just realised what they are.

I've had a very stressful past year - mainly due to work & I guess I wasn't giving my relationship enough work & attention because that has broken up. I guess some of my not coping could also be the menopause:( My BF said I gave the best of me to work - I think the way I've felt the past year, after I had given what I needed to to work, I had nothing left.

I've also been diagnoised with an under active thyroid gland.
I also had 3/4 months of viral arthritis just under a year ago.

I worked very hard to shift a lot of weight & I did.
But I stopped loosing a year ago & I can't seem to loose anymore. My thyroid levels are susposed to be normal.
That could also be the menopause?

HRT might be an issue, my mother had breast cancer.

Been reading up on symptoms, I've also been getting frequent headaches.

Anyway, I've made an appointment to get it checked out with the doctor.

summerof0763

hi everyone, been a few months since I posted, and now my hrt seems to have well and truly kicked in, not nearly so weepy, moody etc.
skin still really dry, and finding my thin hair, very very thin now, kinda panicing I will be bald!! lol.
hot flushes have all but disappeard thankfully.

how is everyone else from thread coping now? x

summerof0763

hi everyone, been a few months since I posted, and now my hrt seems to have well and truly kicked in, not nearly so weepy, moody etc.
skin still really dry, and finding my thin hair, very very thin now, kinda panicing I will be bald!! lol.
hot flushes have all but disappeard thankfully.

how is everyone else from thread coping now? x

summerof0763

hi everyone, been a few months since I posted, and now my hrt seems to have well and truly kicked in, not nearly so weepy, moody etc.
skin still really dry, and finding my thin hair, very very thin now, kinda panicing I will be bald!! lol.
hot flushes have all but disappeard thankfully.

how is everyone else from thread coping now? x

cloudy-day

Hello all.

Well I'm 47, but reckon it might be a bit early for me to 'officially' join. My Mum and I both started our periods at 12, and she didn't have the menopause till she was 55 so probably a way to go there!

However, over the last year I've noticed I can't shift the weight, my (very) irregular periods are now 25 days (on the date), my memory is going and I'm tired ALL the time. Bone crushingly tired, not like me at all. Would have to be honest and say my moods aren't good either. Always too hot but then I've always been like that.

Could this be the start? Or am I just a fat, middle-aged whinger?? :rotfl:

rita-rabbit

apparently I am in perimenopause - gap of 8 months plus in periods
it's been going on since 2011......
breast cysts forming - huge ones that needed investigations & draining at hospital
aching joints & stiffness
I looked into herbal assistance when the GPs offered HRT or nothing but time...
I strongly recommend checking out Susun Weeds website for ideas - I will just simply say my life improved dramatically since making & taking infusions & tinctures she recommends. I only get slight bone aches before a period & the hot flashes disappeared.
Hairiness can continue/get worse with oatstraw - BUT it's very good for libido, also eating seaweed is good (& doesn't add hairs like oatstraw can do!)
red clover blossoms reversed the recurring breast cysts (silly me I was chuffed when my boobies grew until they got painfully lumpy & heavy...)
For me I found the Vittex tinctures sorted the hot flushes &, to an extent the moodiness
Nettles sorted the bone/joint aches - somewhat the tiredness
I have stopped taking multivitamins - didn't need them anymore
one bit of advice the Hospital breast clinic gave me was evening primrose oil which I quickly changed to Starflower oil
memory - maybe that's still coming as my periods have returned - albeit irregularly
Note: this is my own personal experience not medical advice. It works really well for me & I recommend it to premenstrual friends to take before their periods (as had I had this knowledge in my younger years - I am 45 - I would have started the herbal route at about 30 years of age!).
weight gain is something I can't really give advice/comments on - I ate more & did less exercise during recent years - Mum got much bigger over the years so I imagined it was just `one of those things' - however after BF left me I ate less & became more active & lost 1.5 stones! Note the midriff is still wider than before but compared to all the other things I accept it
After my self experimentation of 18 months I gave my 69 year old mum the nettle infusions for her bones/joints - as she recently had double knee replacement.
Susun weed publishes books on female health and you can email her enquiries - as far as I'm concerned she's litterally a godsend.

zaksmum

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 asked my daughter for the chillow for Christmas...too tight to buy it for myself though I spend a fortune on everyone else.

It did cool me down but left horrendous marks on my face next morning despite it being encased in an egyptian cotton pillowcase.

End result was I'd rather be hot than have even more wrinkles on my face!!:eek:

rita-rabbit

Oh for vaginal dryness I take Macca (powder not capsules) 1 teaspoon a day. I get it at a local herbal shop or online from Baldwins. It's an adaptogen. I add it to my breakfast porridge.
Personally I find the raw material/natural way works better as it's assisting/easing rather stopping nature. So far so good.
Periods currently very very light & alternate months, so gradually coming to an end methinks rather than the jagged/bumpy ride I felt I was on!

rita-rabbit

Regarding general skin dryness & hair (on head). Body has has always been dry but is now extra sensitive (as well) so using very gentle shower gels & slapping on coconut oil & unscented creams (I love Superdrugs Vitamin E cream & it's cheap!). I think as we age the dryness is perhaps natures way of telling us that our skins getting thinner & needs more care?!!
On head, well I developed a bald patch above my left ear & it doesn't look like its coming back any time soon! Has anyone tried that 39 caffeine shampoo or products?