Money saving in perimenopause and menopause

catz4m8z

Ive not tested it but Primark do a range of menopause underwear and nightwear which is obviously pretty cheap!

misspretenderboat

Brambling said:

I was warned against buying a memory foam mattress by the middle aged woman assistant in the bed shop as they can make you hot, which isn't what you need when you are menopausal.  As I left the shop she was explaining why to her young male colleague who was puzzled how she knew to warn me that!

Sorry only tips I have are drinking loads of water during the night which counteracts my headaches from sweating so much.
which may be linked to me having a memory foam mattress but off course then I luckily have an en-suite loo.

An early night to counteract the sleepless nights. Lavender scents.

I have been buying loads of neck fans on ebay around £6 bit noisy for nights though.

Best thing I have is my satin pillow which cools me down. Would love to at some point invest in a satin sheet.

My mum is still menopausal in her mid 80's she tried HRT but just rides it out now. 

My mum and I never had 'that' conversation so think it is good to warn young women beforehand as I really thought I was having a nervous breakdown with my 30+ symptoms, so was a 'relief' to know that it was menopause.

Brambling

Some one recommended a cooling mat for the bed I don't know which one she had but it was something like this big enough to sleep on rather than just the pillow size one.  I still run hot at night well at least my legs do!

Cooling Mat Gel Cool Pad for Pillow Bed Sofa - Natural Cooling Body Mattress Topper - Cool Jelly Pad Cushion Mat for Humans Summer Hot Weather, Improving Sleep, Absorbs and Dissipates Heat - 50x90CM : Amazon.co.uk: Home & Kitchen

I have 5 older sisters and still managed to find out more online than I did from them periods and menopause, hot flushes was the only thing ever mentioned, being forewarned about some of the other joys like brain fog would have helped and as you say not panic you into thinking anything a lot worst like early onset dementia when your mind goes completely blank in the middle of a sentence in a work meeting.  My mum was of the generation who spoke of 'the change' in whispers think a west country version of Les Dawsons characters Cissie and Ada when my mum and aunts got around the table.  She dealt with it by having 3 children in her 40s, as the youngest and born when my parents were 45 and 51 this is not something i would recommend I don't think the menopause and young children benefit anyone.

I'm not sure what they teach about it in schools now days, i remember my nephew doing 'the talk' at school and being told woman were 40 when they went through the menopause which is way out for the average woman these days, he's 30 so it wasn't that long ago.  I don't remember being told anything about it at school in the 70s other than it would happen and the basic biology of periods stopping.

HighlandSaver

I have an Elegear ‘cooling blanket’ which I got on Amazon for when it’s hot weather- it has a kind of t-shirt fabric on one side and a shiny ‘cool’ fabric on the other which I find helpful. I’ve also learned a lot and got good advice/ tips from the Dr Louise Newson podcast and Liz Earle Well-being podcast, which are obviously free 🙂

Floss

Need2save said:

I’m not there yet…but because I spend a huge amount on around the clock painkillers every month and four packs of sanitary pads monthly, at the cost of near £15 for my ten day monthly supply, ran out of clothes and underwear, so more washing needed, plus the 3/4 days off work. Also not forgetting the unlimited amount of hot water bottles and unable to cook for a few days….Well I say I’ll be saving by not having a period after all. 

I would be going to my GPs and asking for an appointment with their gynae lead, or a referral to the nearest women's health specialist.

Rosa_Damascena

Beware of the hot flushes but don't be tempted to waste money on a fan for this purpose, it won't work on your body's internal thermostat.

shandyclover

There's so much on the market for vaginal dryness and atrophy, bladder sensitivity etc., it's all a bit of a minefield. Looking for personal recommendations before I waste too much money.

Spoonie_Turtle

shandyclover said:

There's so much on the market for vaginal dryness and atrophy, bladder sensitivity etc., it's all a bit of a minefield. Looking for personal recommendations before I waste too much money.

Not medical advice but I'd suggest looking into - and asking your GP about - vaginal oestrogen.  But read up about it first in case you get a GP that isn't up-to-date about menopausal healthcare and dismisses you; if it isn't right for you, you'll want to have someone who'll know about any potential alternatives.

kimwp

Sensible_Jess said:

I've come to the end of trying to convince my GP that I'm in menopause. ( 5 years of visiting my GP with symptoms and 2 years post menopausal now).
I'm saving up to go private to get the support I need.

Does anyone have any tips on what to expect? I'm wary of going private as every appointment and prescription costs £££. I don't have money to burn and know there are snake-oil salesmen out there (just look at what 'treatments' private fertility clinics sell to desperate couples).

Hi Jess, what do you mean by what to expect?

I've booked in with a private menopause GP as I'm pretty sure I'm in perimenopause, but my GP says that the only true symptoms are hot flushes and night sweats (and my brain fog, random anxious pits in my stomach, pins and needles, heart palpitations etc etc)  aren't a sign of anything. 🙃 So I want to go to a specialist as hopefully they will be able to tell me more convincingly why it's not perimenopause if it's not (and obviously, help if it is). I can let you know how it went, though obviously I don't know for sure they aren't a "snake oil" salesperson. I'll want to focus on me, but if there's any time, do you have any specific questions?

Woodland_Fairy

shandyclover said:

There's so much on the market for vaginal dryness and atrophy, bladder sensitivity etc., it's all a bit of a minefield. Looking for personal recommendations before I waste too much money.

The YesYesYes company do a lovely vaginal moisturiser that's really helped me. I was given a sample from a medical practitioner (NHS) who I was seeing, so I fortunately got to try it before I spent my money.

I've bought a couple of tubes now, but I don't use it all the time, so a single tube has lasted me ages!

This is the specific product (I'm not sure why it's gone bold with an underline - its not a link, and I can't change it 😂):

YES® VM - pH Matched Natural Vaginal Moisturiser

It's £12.99 or £11.04 on subscription, but do remember to cancel if it's not for you, of course ;-)