Menopause - what was your experience?

I don't think the menopause can be referred to "as something that just happens" and asking to see a doctor would probably be unnecessary. All women will have a different story to tell and some emerge from this time in their life pretty unscathed by it, but as many have posted here it can be the most debilitating of time in a woman's life. My menopausal symptoms started relatively late, I felt a bit of a freak still having intermittent periods as late as 57. I'd already been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid some years before, a condition that often kicks in for a lot of women around the time of the menopause and the symptoms are pretty similar. Mid 60s now I still get hot flushes and don't sleep well at all. My doctor advised me to try Evorel Conti patches a while back but that produced a heavy period like bleeding so I ditched them. The menopause for many women is a wretched period in their life and I sympathise with anyone who is having a bad time of it and would say to those who have sailed through it, you are the lucky ones!

Bluebelle I tried every natural remedy ,sage leaf tea ,black cohosh,evening primrose oil,magnets inside my knickers etc etc etc .My GP found out about more natural remedies than she knew existed .Hrt has been my saviour.I'm always sad when women who were lucky to sail through menopause make we who had it more difficult feel inferior because we needed help.I include my own mother in that group ,she had her last period at 42 ,thought she was pregnant and panicked as both my older sisters were pregnant .She was so relieved it was menopause not a baby.I'd love to have had her luck !

I had no problems either, they just stopped, no flushes no pains, just no periods, wonderful one day here next day gone
I would have avoided HRT even if I d had any symptoms I d have tried natural products but didn’t need to, lucky lady

I had a test to see if I had had the menopause! I had. No problems at all. I think I may have had one hot flush.

hot flushes during the day night sweats so bad I had to change sheets sometimes 3 times in the night ,,a husband who moved to a spare room because of the sweats.Migraines that lasted days ,joint pain,weeping for nothing ,losing my usually non existent temper over the stupidest of things .In fact if you can find a list of meopause symptoms where theres one I didn't have I'll be shocked.My GP first put me on HRT in my late 40's for the night sweats ..then another GP decided I should be taken off it .Back on in my mid fifties after being sent to the menopause clinic and yearly visits since .I am 65 .I will stay on HRT for life .My gynaecologist is brilliant ,if it wasn't for him I'd be divorced or dead

Same as calendargirl and Sarah65, just stopped, no effects whatever.

My periods had always been erratic (I now think that I had PCOS)
My periods stopped abruptly 15 yrs ago and apart from a few hot flushes, I had no symptoms of menopause.
I never needed to consult my GP

Compared to some women I had it easy. A couple of hot flushes; grumpiness and that was it. I certainly didn't consider visiting a doctor. The worse bit was not knowing when my period would come - or not - having been very regular.

I am so sorry to hear of the appalling experiences some women have with menopause.

At 41 I had continuous heavy bleeding for 6 weeks and eventually went to see the woman doctor who no one got on with - she was extremely annoyed at being kept back late but then became kindness itself when she examined me. She sent me straight to the hospital where they diagnosed fibroids and an ovarian cyst, gave me some tablets to stop the bleeding and sent me home. I never saw anything else after that and had no other symptoms. The next ultrasound showed the fibroids and cyst had disappeared or shrunk. I had had numerous blood tests over the preceding months to try and determine if I was in the change but finally they said it was an under active thyroid so I was put on thyroxine.

I did go on HRT for a couple of months but my feet and ankles swelled so much it scared me so I stopped taking them and never really had any problems after that.

I feel so sorry for all those suffering badly. My DIL who is 48 is having similar issues to those I had and they are still saying she's not going through the menopause yet. They finally fitted her with a coil which has helped with the bleeding but not the profuse sweating and weight gain she's got. For some it's a total nightmare.

I had a terrible time going through the menopause. Anyone who sailed through it without even a trip to the drs is lucky. I didnt have the hot flushes or night sweats. I did have the massive blood loss and had to go into hospital to have a "flush out" which made things worse. I picked up a major infection in the hospital and was rushed straight back in. The blood loss was worse until they put me on some medication to slow it down. I passed out several times from low blood pressure only to discover that I was on the wrong medication. Back to hospital as I became so anaemic. Life was hell and I had a 9 year old to look after on my own as a single parent. My other son and daughter stepped in and looked after my youngest son. I am sure that the mood swings sent his dad packing and I can honestly say - good riddance to him. I eventually came out of it aftr 5 years of hell. Also I had spent most of my life at 8st and once through the change I am battled with my weight. My boobs are massive and I cannot take HRT as it makes me so ill. I am pleased for anyone who sails through the change - not so for me. We are all different. Seek advice if you need to but please do not suffer it on your own. Take care and remember there is a light at the end of the tunnel - a bloody great train!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was a lucky one who had very little disruption except for a bit of absent mindedness and general foggy brain.
I thought it was just because of getting old.
I only realised later on, after it had cleared up, that the menopause must have caused it.

I had what Gp thought were menopausal symptoms. Cold sweats in the night. Very high white blood count. Gp put me on hrt. Led to heavy bleeding. Luckily a better Gp went meh to her colleague Turned out I had I appendicitis. Could have killed me!

Grannyqueenie of course you are not a wimp or a moaning Minnie just like those of us who were lucky are not show offs! It's the same with periods and labour not two women are the same!

The menopause itself gave me no problems, but I admit I’ve struggled with weight since

sleepmess sleepless

Aged 51 my periods just ceased. No tailing off, no flushes, no dancing hormones, weight gain, excessive hair growth in unwanted areas or thinning head hair. No osteoporosis or sleepmess nights.
Not everyone needs a discussion with their doctor at menopause.

I’m another who had no trouble at all. My periods just stopped (thank God) at 52, no hot flushes or depression or other symptoms.
I hoped I’d passed this down to my daughters but the eldest is already having problems at 47.

The peri menopause and menopause released a surge of energy for me so that I had more stamina at work, and could work longer and effectively than staff half my age.

I did go to the GP when night sweats affected my sleep. She referred me to a consultant but I resented paying 2 prescription charges monthly for HRT.

That was the last time I sought medical for my menopause. I am now 11 years post menopause, no more symptoms and I am glad life is quiet and less swingy without the cycle of monthly hormones affecting my life.

All in all, I am glad the menopause gave me more energy at work, it enabled me to forge ahead career wise, before retirement.

I have had hot flushes and night sweats for ten years now. At least four during the day and about the same each night, especially after about 4 am. I can't take HRT as I have had a blood clot many years ago. It does get me down at times but there's not a lot I can do. I know that alcohol, coffee,tea and various foods make them happen and I do avoid them most of the time.

I also became much lazier and tired ( I was no human dynamo before).

I went to the Doc about hot flushes and he wouldn't give me any treatment.

I gave in and just got on with it, ate better and got more exercise.

I feel better now, thankfully.

I became lazy after menopause. Never have got out of it completely. I think the nesting instinct (which I may have had too much of anyway) went completely out of the window.

Anyone else?

Reading some posts I was beginning to think I was a total wimp for going to my GP, but now having read some others I’m reminded that not everyone just “sails through”. Phew, not just me then!

Of course I enjoyed no longer having periods, especially the heavy & extremely painful ones I’d had latterly, and horrid migraines fading away was a bonus too. However the extreme tiredness, extreme mood swings, night sweats and awful sleep deprivation in my early/mid forties were certainly not life enhancing. Nor was all this conducive to a happy family life, never mind managing a busy full time job too.

Yes it’s a natural part of life but more problematic for some than others. There’s no shame in seeking help for any health issue that impacts on everyday quality of life.

The lead up to it was worse for me.
Terrible headaches, feeling faint enough to have to sit on the floor (in Sainsburys!)

The menopause itself was ok, just the hot flushes were difficult to manage, but I didn't go to the doctors.

barleymac such a good post and so true,it would be a good world if everyone was the same and had no problems wouldn't it but sadly all symtoms are not the same with everyone and some ladies need that extra help.