Money saving in perimenopause and menopause

MSE_Jenny_H

Hi Everyone, MSE Jenny H here. Thank you for your tips and sharing your experiences! This is the newly-published blog on my experience with menopause, including products, and some of your quotes, too. How MSE Jenny H saved money during perimenopause and menopause, including how to avoid impulse spending, speaking to your GP and free self care ideas There is also a guide to MoneySaving in menopause now live too: MoneySaving in menopause

MSE_Jenny_H

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.

I've found that a cream from my GP (estrodiol) has really helped. I get this using an HRT pre payment certificate, too. 

redtembo

MSE_Jenny_H said:

Hi Everyone, MSE Jenny H here. Thank you for your tips and sharing your experiences! This is the newly-published blog on my experience with menopause, including products, and some of your quotes, too. How MSE Jenny H saved money during perimenopause and menopause, including how to avoid impulse spending, speaking to your GP and free self care ideas There is also a guide to MoneySaving in menopause now live too: MoneySaving in menopause

I thought the bit about travel insurance was interesting. I get travel insurance through my Monzo account so have no idea if this is something I need to declare to them and it's not covered in their FAQs. Guess I could get in touch with them. Has anyone else encountered this?

tattybogle2

Had my last period just before my 60th birthday. Have seen the doctor since and asked how long the flushes would last."No idea"!, but was recommended to use cotton/linen clothing in layers-the same unhelpful advice given to me when I first started the flushes at age 46.25 years on, nothing appears to have changed for women apart from the introduction of free tampons by some "few" thoughtful community centres, public toilets etc.I am now approaching 72 and still have no idea when they will end.Anyone got any advice ?

kimwp

I think we should petition for every GP to have a menopause trained doctor and if not, be able to refer to another GP/centre. There's too many people affected by this (the men in our lives as well!) for it not to be a basic service, accessible to everyone. Anyone know how to create a petition?

Spoonie_Turtle

Sensible_Jess said:

kimwp said:

I think we should petition for every GP to have a menopause trained doctor and if not, be able to refer to another GP/centre. There's too many people affected by this (the men in our lives as well!) for it not to be a basic service, accessible to everyone. Anyone know how to create a petition?

I'd sign. The heartbreaking thing is I have a dedicated NHS menopause clinic near me, but they *only* accept referrals through a GP. As my GP denies I'm in menopause, I can't access it. 

Is it possible for you to try to see a different GP for a second opinion?  If not, it could be worth finding out whether the clinic accepts referrals from private GPs.

Bahhumbug

kimwp said:

 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

Yeah, no, all of those are totally normal symptoms. I could do without the anxiety!

Also, tinnitus and frozen shoulder. They try to tell you that they're not linked to menopause - oh, but they are!!!
Also, major muscle loss. As much as 70% if you're not super careful (aka if you don't eat enough protein to prevent it)! No one tells you this either. I feel like they should, seems pretty important to me?

Anyway, not exactly money saving, but my best tips are (other than HRT):

Consuming soya. The flavonoids work wonders to lessen menopausal symptoms
Natural clothing/bed linen. Linen, cotton and the like.
Exercise. It really, really helps; I cannot emphasize this enough! The best two by far: walking and lifting weights.

kimwp

Bahhumbug said:

kimwp said:

 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

Yeah, no, all of those are totally normal symptoms. I could do without the anxiety!

Also, tinnitus and frozen shoulder. They try to tell you that they're not linked to menopause - oh, but they are!!!
Also, major muscle loss. As much as 70% if you're not super careful (aka if you don't eat enough protein to prevent it)! No one tells you this either. I feel like they should, seems pretty important to me?

Anyway, not exactly money saving, but my best tips are (other than HRT):

Consuming soya. The flavonoids work wonders to lessen menopausal symptoms
Natural clothing/bed linen. Linen, cotton and the like.
Exercise. It really, really helps; I cannot emphasize this enough! The best two by far: walking and lifting weights.

Happily we had a talk at work a few years ago which said that perimenopause could start from 35, so I've been following a few menopause doctors on YouTube and downloaded the balance app, which pops out little "did you knows?". I also have a younger sister who has been thinking a lot about aging well, so she's been telling me about doing weights and eating more protein. So I'm probably reasonably well informed on general information, but not so good at actually doing all the things needed - I start out with good intentions and then...just...forget??

I have tinnitus, randomly but happily it doesn't last that long. I'm terrified of getting frozen shoulder. I live on my own, so need to be able to get things off high shelves myself.

Murphybear

Bahhumbug said:

kimwp said:

 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

Yeah, no, all of those are totally normal symptoms. I could do without the anxiety!

Also, tinnitus and frozen shoulder. They try to tell you that they're not linked to menopause - oh, but they are!!!
Also, major muscle loss. As much as 70% if you're not super careful (aka if you don't eat enough protein to prevent it)! No one tells you this either. I feel like they should, seems pretty important to me?

Anyway, not exactly money saving, but my best tips are (other than HRT):

Consuming soya. The flavonoids work wonders to lessen menopausal symptoms
Natural clothing/bed linen. Linen, cotton and the like.
Exercise. It really, really helps; I cannot emphasize this enough! The best two by far: walking and lifting weights.

I had a frozen shoulder a few years ago.  My GP sent me to the hospital to have a steroid injection.  The hospital did a scan of my shoulder so they could be sure that the injection hit the right spot so to speak.  It worked very well.   This wasn’t linked to the menopause as I had the frozen shoulder in my mid 50s and my menopause when I was 42.  

Spoonie_Turtle

For anyone with shoulder limitations (or back issues making twisting and bending difficult) I would really recommend getting grabbers to reach things without needing to stretch so far in their direction.  They could even be used in conjunction with a safe pair of steps to reach heavier things on high shelves, to pull them towards you before taking them off the shelf and stepping down.

[This is not an ad in any way and I am not affiliated with them, just a happy repeat customer - Helping Hand Co do sturdy grabbers with a truly lifetime guarantee.  https://www.hhadlessentials.co.uk/ ]