Menopause - what was your experience?

I was having suicidal thoughts, planning my demise to make it look like an accident so that my family could claim the insurance! It was scary when I looked back on it, but seemed to me to be quite a reasonable and sensible thing to do at the time.
Then came the confusion. I was finding driving difficult. I was the one at the junction waiting for the little spec on the horizon to become a car and go past before moving out. I'd sit at traffic lights apparently waiting for them to change to a colour that I liked.
Finally my family persuaded me to visit our practice nurse and I sat and wept all over her desk.
She waved her magic want and got me started on HRT, first the patches, and then, as they were getting bigger and bigger and my DH was worried that they'd come unstuck during the night and stick to him and turn him into a woman, she got me on tablets. The HRT was almost an instant 'cure', it certainly gave me my life back along with my ability to do my job, drive my car and be less of a liability to other road users.
After 6 years of HRT my doctor said I couldn't have it any more, but, despite me panicking that I'd be back at square one, it wasn't too bad at all. I got the old 'turkey' skin on my neck and was far too hot at night - well, most of the time, actually - but then discovered Sage capsules which helped immensely, even if I did get a taste of it every time I burped.

I think there should be more info for women about peri-menopause. I knew about hot flushes and irratic periods but had no idea about changes to sleep patterns, anxiety and other changes.
I was struggling at work but thought it was just as I was busy with young child and elderly parent, then a Dr gave me some info. She was a gynae specialist, and told me the facts about HRT.
If I wasn’t doing a high stress job with the family issues I probably wouldn’t have really noticed the symptoms or bothered with HRT.

Apart from a two week long period I had no symptoms, no flushes, no mood swings, but if I had I would most definitely have seen a GP

Oh forgot to say once things began to change I started to take cod liver oil with Evening Primrose- 1 capsule per day- as I'd read this might help with menopause symptoms. This could have been psychological of course but it did seem to have helped with the way my menopause went. Still taking it now as Dr said it was ok to continue with it.

‘Wouldn’t prescribe’

Mine started textbook style at 50 and finials finished with symptoms at 60 years old.... although occasionally still get ‘night sweats’ . Never saw doctor about symptoms as it’s a natural process and knew they would prescribe HRT to a woman who ‘s had two strokes in her thirties and forties.

During the Perimenopause my periods remained regular but became heavier for a couple of days each cycle. I went to drs regarding this who asked if it was affecting my work and quality of life- it wasn't, it was just an inconvenience but because it had a regular pattern I was always prepared- (it did make a few holidays tricky I seem to remember) but nothing that needed any medication.
I was lucky to be able to speak to my mum about it who said she had been the same so it became my new normal. After a couple of years of this my periods reduced to around 1 every 3 months, ( at which point I started noting the event in a diary) then every 6 months, then once a year, which became my last one around my 50th birthday. No real hot flushes but now I cant stand hot weather and sweat much more which I never used to do.
Regarding mood swings I never really had PMT- we used to joke that I was always a grumpy beggar so no change at all!

I was prescribed HRT at 41 following a hysterectomy and total mastectomy (family history of breast and ovarian caners). There is a strong family history of osteoporosis so my GP and Breast consultant were in full agreement that should use it. I have continued to use it (50mg patches) with a few short breaks until a few months ago - I was 60 in June. The symptoms I am experiencing now are horrendous, night sweats, hot flushes, headaches, insomnia, depression, mood swings etc etc. If its a known symptom I've got it!!
It was my choice to stop using it because I desperately wanted to lose some weight (which I have). I'm going back to my GP this week to go straight back on it for as long as I possibly can! I just don't see the point of suffering like this when there's no need.

i had a total hysterectomy at 47 owing to ovarian cancer. i went into instant menopause but was prescribed hrt to counteract the horrendous hot flushes.
i'm almost 72 now and still on hrt. my gp is willing for me to stay on it for as long as i want.
i am aware of the pros and cons and don't want to develop osteoporosis like my mum and a few friends have.
so either i've been delaying a menopause or i've gone through it with the help of hrt.
i feel better taking it and it's helped in so many ways so i'll continue for as long as it's still helping.

When I was in my forties my female GP told me to come back for HRT when I was 50. I did this and the male GP was rather taken aback. He gave it to me anyway and I took it for 3 months. Unfortunately it caused my fibroids to grow and I had to stop. I suffered from terrible hot flushes but didn't have mood swings so I consider myself lucky.

Oh my Lord! You lucky lucky ladies who sailed through the menopause with hardly a symptom. Yet there are just as many who suffer greatly and without the help of modern medicine would end end up either committed or dead.
There is a fabulous Facebook page called, Uk menopause support group, and I would recommend it to anyone who is struggling. There is absolutely no need to suffer.
HRT is a lifesaver and the new products ( gels and patches) can be used by most women - even those with a history of DVT’s, high blood pressure, migraines etc.
You are at far greater risk of developing breast cancer from being overweight, smoking or drinking alcohol, than you are from taking HRT.
Thank goodness that women no longer have to suffer like those in the past.
If you want the most recent and up to date information that is given to all GP’s in the UK, then take a look at this website.
www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/

I went to the doctor when I was experiencing 10-12 hot flushes every day and some at night. The night ones weren’t full night sweats. He was very sympathetic & listened to me. I probably said that I didn’t want HRT as, dice an early experience with the contraceptive pill in the 70s, I haven’t liked flooding my system with hormones. He recommended 2 or 3 homeopathic treatments and I found that Red Clover worked a treat for me and had no contra indications with any other tablets I was taking. From memory, I think Black Cohosh & St John’s Wort (which I was taking for mild depression) didn’t work well together. I bought Red Clover from Holland & Barrett’s & took it for about a year. Since stopping, 6 years ago, I have the odd hot flush, but nothing I can’t cope with. I haven’t noticed any other menopausal symptoms either.

I have been taking 1mg of HRT for at least twenty years. When I first went to see my GP he prescribed HRT and I was reluctant to take it due to my mother having breast cancer. I then tried various herbal remedies, spending a fortune on creams, pills and patches. None of them worked for me so I went back to my GP. He listened to me telling him what herbal remedies I’d been taking/using and then was very helpful in explaining the pros and cons of me taking HRT. This time, I listened to him and took his advice and I started taking the HRT he prescribed. I’ve never looked back really. Now and again when I thought the 1mg wasn’t working he advised me to take 2 tablets for a week to see if my symptoms improved. I did, they didn’t, so I reverted to taking 1mg. I believe my GP listened to me, gave me good advice and was clued up about the menopause. He also gave me lifestyle talks advising me to exercise and keep my weight down. Now and again I still get night sweats and hot flushes but as they are far and few between I don’t bother seeking help. I believe in HRT though I know many people are against it but I feel if they work for you why put yourself through the misery of the symptoms of the menopause. I also believe the benefits of taking HRT outweigh the risks of not taking it, but that’s just my opinion and I think that way because my GP took the time to explain the positives and negatives.

I had mild symptoms mainly - a few hot flushes and heavy periods for a while, but with the menopause came palpitations which in one form or another have never left me and I'm now in my 70s. I have medication which helps a lot . Now the palpitations have morphed into atrial fibrillation, but I've got used to it and have methods of calming it.
My GPs over the years have certainly not ignored it. I've recently seen a cardiologist. I did feel a bit dismissed at the time over the heavy periods and wasn't offered any help, but I do tend to endure and cope when I really should not.

Wow so many of you lucky enough to sail through it. I had hot flushes, night sweats, joint pain, vaginal dryness, mood swings, insomnia. I went to the Drs and was given HRT after testing out a few to see which one suited me. I was on it for 10 years and it was great I was my old self again.
I’d say yes it is another part of the process that women go through as they age but many do not sail through it. Out of all my friends going/ been through it only one of them sailed through it the others suffered immensely. Carol Votderman and Ulrika Johnson have recently been on the TV talking about how awful there experience has been and how they’ve suffered.

I had hot flushes that were so bad I had the bedroom windows open at night all year (North of Scotland, very cold in winter). I tried all of the 'natural' remedies - black cohosh, soy etc, whatever I could find that was recommended and nothing worked for me.
Having struggled on I eventually went to my GP who gave me HRT. Wonderful!!!
I tried coming off of it 3 times and each time the symptoms returned.
I am now 68 and still taking it (a non-bleed one), I researched the pros and cons and decided that the pros far outweighed the cons. My GP is happy for me to keep on taking it; we had the conversation and I explained that I would rather have a shorter 'normal' life than a longer one being miserable.

I was well prepared for it to be troublesome. My mother had always suffered from very bad hormonal mood swings, which just got worse - she was on HRT for a long time.

However, apart from night sweats, I suffered very little and felt no need to see the GP. I did put weight on, but that was probably at least partly down to an old dog no longer able to manage 2 good walks a day, followed by no dog at all. ?

I was lucky too. No hot flushes or any of those other symptoms being described here. Except I was probably more short tempered than usual. So those around me suffered.....

Never had any real problems with the menopause. My periods had been pretty regular all my life and then suddenly, in my early 50s, they stopped for 3 months. Then I had one - a very normal one, neither more nor less blood loss than usual - and nothing more. No need to visit the doctor, no need for any HRT.

Reading the awful experiences of some of you on here, I know I was very lucky.

The first time my periods stopped I was in my 30s. I was referred to gynae and they said I could be menopausal because of my lack of estrogen. They prescribed a contraceptive pill and everything started again. Then at 42 it stopped again. Since then I've had maybe 5 bleeds. I have had two ultrasounds just to check everything is ok and one camera (not a pleasant experience) but no, I'm fine. My gp cannot prescribe HRT (breast cancer in the immediate family)and I don't want or need contraceptive pills. They did suggest(expensive) herbal remedies (black cohosh etc) that made no difference to the hot flushes tbh so I don't take anything.
I started my periods at 10, so I think that's the reason for such an early menopause. My sister is the same.
Apart from the hot flushes, which are pretty awful sometimes, I don't seem to have any other issues at the moment. I'm 47 now.

My period just stopped abruptly, I had then regular and then one didn't come and never did they again. I was 56. I'd always had very heavy periods and hormonal migraines and still was having period pain. I was so glad to no longer have that. I did start having hot flushes afterwards but they are getting less now (I'm 58). So it was pretty ok for me. I did go through a sad period though because I could no longer have children (even though I've had 3 and would've been horrified to have a baby after around 45!). I've accepted it now though and feel a freedom by not having periods.

My periods stopped abruptly after first session of chemo. If I had menopause symptoms I never noticed them. A couple of hot flushes when I started Tamoxifen and that was it - done.

Unlike a lot of post here, my menopause lasted 6 months with 3 'flushes' and 3 mild periods. I went to my doctor, of 30 years, and was told that not everyone suffered. My mother and all 3 sisters suffered badly so I thought something was wrong.
My doctor was very understanding and reassuring, took some blood, which all came back clear, and I was relieved and very happy.

Why do you assume we would visit the Doctor about the menopause ?? I had no idea when I went through the menopause as I was plumbed in with an IUD which took away my periods. Few hot flushes... I've always been a hot bod... so no drama... and moved on.

Many of the women who breeze through the menopause cannot understand what it is like for the ones who suffer. I had to change my clothes up to ten times a day because of hot flushes. I couldn't sleep at night. I had all the symptoms plus a few extra, it seemed. The worst for me was losing my words. I couldn't name people or things. As I was 38 at the time it took a long time to be diagnosed. I was put on tablets but they stopped working so I had patches. Eventually, the only thing that worked was an implant. Forty years on I still need HRT impants but now they are not available on the NHS so it costs me £400+ each time. Sometimes I only need one every eighteen months, other times I need one every six months, depending on hormone levels. If I drop below 400 then I get all the symptoms back. I asked a specialist if he thought some women were diagnosed as having dementia when all they needed was HRT. His answer was yes.