Menopause webchat with Dr Rosemary Leonard - 1pm 10 August

Hi Rosemary
I am 67, have had meno pause symptoms for the last 15 years, since 1999.
My main gripe is the hot flushes whi h seem to occur roughly every 45 mins.
I seem to get a big shot of adrenaline after which the hot flush comes on.
Most are the normal nuisance variety but 2 to 4 times a day they become so bad I have to stop what I am doing as I go dizzy and quite faint feeling, apart from the heat explosion and feeling that my skin is about to explode of my face.
It seems related to stress mostly and to a lesser extend to coffee, spicy food etc.
I tried natural progesterone which worked brilliantly for exactly 6 months after which they just came back as before. I am healthy do a good amount of exercise, def not overweight and eat well and healthy.
I tried all the usual herbal and other supplements but nothing works.
I dont really want to go the HRT route but am becoming quite desperate at the idea of another 10 years of the same.
My doc doesnt prescribe hrt anyway and tells me I'll just have to put up with it, male ��, I know I can change drs but it seems hrt or nothing.....?? Really???
Btw nightsweats occasionally but really only during times of stress.
Any ideas...

Thank you for asking this question. The jury seems to be out on this one and it can be a lifesaver and avoid any other sort of HRT.

I am now in my early 60s and from the age of 58 have had regular and repeated bladder infections- UTIs. After about a year of repeated antibiotics I did have investigations which cleared me of anything serious, thankfully, and was started on a course of oestrogen pessaries and cream. Am still using the cream, twice a week. I have tried, unsuccessfully to reduce or stop using it but still get infections, when I do. Is there any problem using oestrogen cream long term?

I get a real feeling of absolute nausea just before a hot flush. Is there anything that will alleviate this? Would it be connected to my 2 x daily x 40mg of Pantaprozole?

I am 62 and have been on HRT for over 10 years. I tried the Mirena coil recently but suffered from anxiety and depression so had it removed and now use Fem Seven continue patches. Eventually I may wañt to stop. Is it OK to cut the patches in half? Very worried about withdrawal symptoms as I work full time. Thanks Marilyn

My periods stopped five years ago, i'm 49 was told that I was too young for menopause by Doc, but they didn't know what was going on sent for a scan i have a mass that's not attached to anything but looks fine cant take out as the walls are too thin so they thought this was the problem.
Waited two years was sitting in gp waiting room found out from another ladies conversation you can get a test for the menopause so asked GP reluctantly she agreed, it came back borderline, so again told no not the menopause, cut long story short had scan of head found out something wrong pituitary gland ah Doc says that's why they have stopped but consultant at hospital just laughed when I asked him he said its your age dear your going through or have had the menopause. I don't get any other symptoms perhaps joints as knees and hip are bit bad go Physio, don't get hot flushes but I sweat out the blue at times only its not just perspiration, its like someone turning on a tap at top of my head and water flooding down. So please can you tell me is this the menopause or have I had it
I still have no clue
Thank you so much

I am reluctant to admit this, lest things change dramatically, my periods just stopped after some pretty heavy months five years ago (I am now 55) and apart from putting some weight on around my waist that's it, my hair is actually a bit thicker and more manageable and my bust measurement has improved. So have I really finished with the menopause or is it likely to come back and bite me hard? How long does this phase actually last or is it individual and a prediction impossible?

Hi Deny - i found my hair got very thin when I was in my late 50s but a blood test showed my iron reserves were very low. Obviously this won't always be the cause of thinning hair but it might be worth getting checked.

My big problem now is hot flushes - I can control them with a low dose of HRT, but I just cannot wean myself off it. I had to come off cold turkey when I had an op last year and thought that would be the ideal time to give up, but after 6 weeks I was ready to jump off the nearest bridge and went back on in desperation. The relief was indescribable. I'd rather run the small risk of something nasty developing than live my life going from drenching sweats to chilled and nauseous every 15 minutes.

I am experiencing Hair loss and have about 4 bald patches. I didn't know that the Menopause could be a cause of this and I am in the Menopause now................
Can anything be done to sort this out?
It is making me lack confidence and is getting me down a lot..........

Thanks
Denise