Sailed through menopause

We had our cats from the cats protection...they were neutered / spayed ( a strangely ordinary word for a horrid operation ?)
When at the age 42, after years of juggling a world of contraceptives, I decided I too would be spayed, sterilised....even
The hospital was 5 mins from the Cats Protection and I wondered if the Vet might do my Op....
I had Keyhole ( laparoscopic) Surgery and was happy, that for the first time in my life, I didn't need to worry about the my ` inner child`.
That is when my Menopause Began...I never had a period again.
The doctor assured me it was a coincidence...if you read enough murder thrillers you will know the Detectives in them say there is no such thing - I agree with them here.
It lasted approx. 2 years. When I began the sweating and the extra madness ( I had never been straightforward sane, who is ?) I went to the doctor. He said go outside, find the nurse, ask for HRT Leaflets....Goodbye ( approx. 1997) I went outside, I cried, I went to the Library and I found a book written by Doctor Miriam Stoppard `Menopause` and I began my future.
Maybe because my mum never even noticed she was going through the menopause, I made myself believe it wouldn't be that bad for me, I did suffer depression and cried over becoming an old woman ( silly but they were my tears to do with as I wished ) I came out the other side and by 45ish I felt I had got through.

sharon103 Does your GP state a very good reason why you can't have HRT? Breast cancer in the family or something? If not, it might be worth seeing someone else or contacting the Amaranthus Trust.

Those of you who 'sailed through' the menopause are very lucky and I noticed that quite a lot of you were comparatively young. I seemed to have normal periods till well into my early 50s when I started to become very depressed. Blood tests told me it was pre-menopause. I've been on HRT of various sorts ever since and I really think it was a life-saver. I'll be 70 next week and hope to take it for many a long year yet. I am lucky (it seems) in that I have a lovely GP who tells me there is no real reason to give it up if all is otherwise well.

I too have "sailed" through the menopause. Mine started mid forties and I have had no real issues or problems with it [ now in my 60's ]. No HRT as can't take it. I was just pleased no more periods.

Yup - I'm another one - a few hot turns but comparing that to vile period pains, and horrible hormonal mood surfing... The difference between facing life against the wind to calm sunny seas.

I did get occasional hot flushes but they were not bad enough to disrupt my life. And in the lead-up my periods went first a bit heavy and close together and then lighter and further apart, so there was a year or so inconvenience with the bad periods, when I might have had to have time off work had I been working at the time. But not the huge monster that seems to prey on some women around that time.

My mother was going through menopause at 36 ...and I was born 3 months later...an unexpected symptom I suppose. I went through menopause from 50 to 60.... the only symptom in that time was horrible night sweats, but that was all, suppose I’m luckier than most.

I remember asking my mum what was menopause symptoms like for women in the old days, her reply was, some had bad symptoms,some suffered depression, but most just got on with it,a natural part of ageing............

I think the opposite - hearing the ‘horror stories’ helps to reassure me that I’m not alone and that it’s not just me being hysterical/going mad/being weak/simply not coping with a natural process.

I had a few minor symptoms but nothing like the stuff we read about. I think its unfortunate that we hear more about the "horror stories" than the positive ones.

I had an easy time also. remember a few hot flushes, not a lot, periods just sort of slowed and dried and stopped.. Yes, I count myself very fortunate.... my period times were bad for me though,, each month, I would scream, not literally, nerves really ragged.. poor kids.

Mum and maternal grandmother had horrendous menopause time
I was so fearful of the time .
I had extremely heavy periods in the last year or so . Some hot flushes. A couple of work associates going through it at the same time also had a horrendous time
I am truly grateful that mine was nowhere near them
Odd thing both nan and mum had varicose veins . Another thing I missed
Hoping I also miss mum's and Nan's dementia brain.

I see it as a natural process, not a medical illness

I think that’s part of the problem. For those of us who are not having a great time at all the idea that it’s ‘just’ a process can put many women off seeking help or talking about it - when actually there’s a huge amount now that can be done to treat the symptoms.

It was something that really wasn't discussed much in my parents' days. I just got the impression it was something to dread.

I was even more worried at work (teaching) with a lot of women going through it. Yes, I had all the usual problems, night sweats, insomnia, brain fog, flooding and feeling really weird.

Being stubborn, (and highly suspicious of medical intervention) I refused HRT and battled on, often flinging the windows open (saying that my 'thermostat' was playing up, while my students put their coats on) and waited it out.

Lovely to come out the other side, though, and feel better than ever, like a great weight has lifted. I see it as a natural process, not a medical illness. My colleague had no symptoms at all. I was so jealous of her!

When I realised my concentration was waning a bit in my mid forties and feeling quite weepy occasionally Inhad a good idea what was going on and a visit to my GP who arranged a blood test confirmed I was peri-menopausal.

I was, in one hand, delighted at the thought of no more painful periods but hoping I would have the easy time my Mother had. Fortunately my symptoms were only a continuation of a bit weepy and a short experience with night sweats.

Whether coincidence or not, when the night sweats started I began drinking a glass of soya milk every day and the sweats stopped. On discussing this with friends at the same stage, soya milk worked for some but not for others. This was roughly 20 yrs ago.

notanan2- you must go for that promotion. I did my doctorate while I should have been going through 'menopause hell'. It was fine. Don't be held back by fear of it.

I also had a relatively "easy" menopause with the exception of one exceedingly long bleed which had to be stopped with Tranexamic Acid and a couple of occasions after that with "shorter" long bleeds.
Always had long and heavy periods though - but it seemed like my body had simply forgotten to stop.

For those of you struggling, I did find myself "craving" soya milk and tofu!!
We already had these in our diets so it wasn't a totally random craving...
Discovered later that soy contains phytoestrogens, these can function as an oestrogen replacement but do take longer to build up in the system than HRT. Apparently there's a body of evidence now that points to the low number of menopausal symptoms in Asia (as compared to the West) being due to steady intake of soya.

Last time I read about this I think it took 10 weeks to build up in the body if you don't usually consume soya.

No symptoms at all, my periods just stopped in my mid-fifties. I think those who of us who didn’t suffer keep quiet for fear of being called smug, but I hope it’s helpful to those who've mentioned how much they’re dreading it to hear that the menopause isn’t always bad.

My periods just stopped too, sometime in my mid fifties. I didn't notice till I had a brief 'show' a few months later. When I hear about the suffering of some poor people I feel quite guilty so rarely mention it. I guess it's just a matter of luck or bad luck.

I had no symptoms or signs before although I was expecting an early menopause as it seemed to be a trait on the maternal side of my family. Both my mum and gran were under 44..

No symptoms except heavier periods in the last year.

You name it, I think I had it except for hot flushes. I had night sweats though.
I haven't been 'me' ever since . I've asked my doctor who owns the practice, if I could have a low dose of HRT but she wont let me and yet I read of women in their 70's who's GP are happy to prescribe it.

I’m in the early stages of it but it’s already pretty unpleasant. I just take each symptom as it comes and then turn to the great sources of help as I need it and weigh up my options from there.

I've actually considered not going for an upcoming promotion because Im worried about my mental performance over the next few years, so wonder if Im better off staying in a role I can more easily cruise through for the next few years!

This is why its good to hear that its not a foregone conclusion that it'll be awful and my mind and body will be at war with me!

I get what youre saying SirChenjin but it is good to hear a range of experiences.

My HR provides menopause group therapy. Which I agree for some must be great. But for those of us on the cusp it does make me feel like Im about to be shipped off to war!

This is good to hear. Did those of you who "sailed through" have pre/perimenopause symptoms before hand?
I've had a lot of hormonal changes the last few years but still have periods

Agree that there is a "menopause" industry and it has me convinced that Im hurtling towards years of doom! The ads that I get as pop-ups for menopause vests literally say "menopause is hell" - direct quote!