Menopause symptoms

Ah, the menopause. I drifted onto HRT some years ago. The GP was very relaxed about it and I had only made a vague query about whether I would be suitable when the time came. I was having the beginnings of symptoms, which were uncomfortable. So I started on HRT. Oh the relief. I felt so much better, I hadn't realised just how bad things were.

Fast forward 5 years and the same GP told me it was dangerous to be on HRT for longer than 5 years. He reluctantly gave me a final 6 months, then it was cold turkey

Instantly I plunged into the most dreadful hot flushes/night sweats/anxiety/insomnia etc. My work life suffered as I sweated and fretted. I dreaded hot weather which increased the dratted hot flushes. Many times in winter I would stand outside on the drive in all weathers just to cool down. Sleep was a thing of the past. My weight shot up. I had what I now believe were panic attacks. I begged to go back on HRT. He said that the surgery's policy was 5 years and refused. He suggested exercise and diet. I contemplated a swift blow to his jaw (just kidding).

That was some time ago now and I still have some issues. I no longer have that GP but I'm not sure my new GP would prescribe again after such a break and being mid 60's but my advice to anyone who is suffering is to try HRT. Its bloody amazing

paddyanne - if it was just one Dr I’d be asking for another opinion, but the breast and uterine conditions I have are being ‘fed’ by the hormones and both (female) consultants I’ve seen have suggested it would be better for me to come off the HRT to cut off the food supply. Both conditions are potentially serious and as I’m still ‘only’ 50 with a 12 year old I’m scared of pushing my luck with HRT. I’m going to try alternative remedies but if things get horrendous again I’ll have a rethink

Hi In on hrt and find it highly beneficial. If your docter not helpful worse case useless try another. Going on hrt does not delay symptoms u still go through menopause just a little bit easier. Tried evening primrose oil in conjunction with hrt on advise of breast clinic for tender breasts but had a huge negative effect in that I started bleeding every second week so stopped that and now back on an even keel again. Don't suffer in silence we all deserve to be our best selves and our mental health is hughly important. Seek another docter or well woman clinic. Good luck

I'm now 80 with thinning skin.. Could I recommend vagisil.. Reduces sore and itchy areas..

Did have the usual menopausal problems but lived through them. Started HRT but was a disaster, actually made them worse then realised I was living through a normal part of nature and it would pass, eventually. There seems to be a wave of thinking we shouldn't accept a natural part of life and drugs have to fix it. Of course many years ago females would be dead before reaching menopause age. I am in now way advocating when the body hoes wrong that modern methods aren't applied. The menopause is not the body going wrong, it is working properly!

Sorry you’re feeling so bad. The symptoms are so wide and varied. I get low mood and anxiety mostly but it’s hard to say whether this is just down to the menopause or not. I tried HRT but came off it as it didn’t help much, I had irregular bleeding and then I couldn’t get hold of the patches so I thought sod it im coming off. Just to let you know that you’re not alone there’s loads of us going through it. I joined a site specifically related to the menopause which is good. Good
Luck xx

First time posting. I am 67 started the menopause at 47. Still having night sweats tried everything. Now on HRT gel which you rub on the inside of your thighs, see if that works. They don’t tell you all this. If it’s not periods, then childbirth then menopause now the dry itchy vagina, lack of estrogen. It never ends.

I started my menopause around when parents passed away and I feel that was some sort of trigger maybe. So 8 years on I continue to suffer day long intermittent hot flushes, mood swings, tearful episodes without any real reasons and general tiredness. I assumed when referred to as ‘going through the change’ (menopause) there was an end in sight, but I’ve now been told it can be forever! I feel so cheated ?

If you have an under active thyroid gland you get given replacement thyroxine. Life altering!
Diabetes is treated by replacing the insulin your body is no longer producing. Again life altering.
When your body ceases to produce oestrogen the logical and natural treatment is to replace the oestrogen and the results are wonderful. You get your life back.

Can you imagine what would happen if everyone currently on thyroxine or insulin was told it’s natural for you and we are no longer going to prescribe your medication. It would be inhumane.

MENOPAUSE IS NOT NATURAL. IT IS A DEFICIENCY.
We just don’t have the ability to produce enough oestrogen as we are living so much longer. Oestrogen replacement protects a woman from the physical deterioration that sets in once natural supplies have dried up. Those fortunate enough not to suffer the talked about symptoms such as hot flushes, sleep problems, mood swings etc. probably had a very gradual reduction but “sailing through” the menopause as many people state does not protect you from the horrific and not talked about long term effects of lack of oestrogen such as osteoporosis, vaginal atrophy, reduction in libido, depression, rapid ageing, prolapse, Alzheimer’s, urinary tract issues etc.

Sorry to hear you're suffering Welshgirl21 its bloody miserable isn't it? Are you not able to take HRT? Ive found it makes all the difference, just to slap on an Evorel patch x 2 weekly.
Can tell immediately when the hormones are running out after third day, so slap on another. Kept me relatively sane most of the time, tho lately with them being in short supply, Ive been cutting them in half and do notice a difference in mood and my ibs.
Don't let a GP fob you off if you're feeling low and want to try HRT. An option is to take yourself off to a specialist consultant privately to get advice. For a one off payment it might be worth it. I only mention this for the benefit of others as a way to get round the system if your GP is obstructive.
Perseverance is key.
Also HIT exercise does help me even when I'm feeling tired. Getting the heart rate going raises endorphins. Keep your chin up.

I never wanted to go the hrt route and of course the GP doesn't have anything else. So I went to see a homeopath. We had a long consultation and she then gave me a remedy. It worked by re balancing the bodies whole system. Well worth the cost and visit.

Oh and also use Estriol cream daily. Cherish yourself or no one else will. Do it for yourselves girls!

Very well said Espee.

LadyAnn & blueflinders pleeeease don't suffer like this....go and see someone.
Why be so self sacrificing? It need not be like this at all.
Try just a little of the rub on oestrogen gel to see if it helps. Often we also require some testosterone aswell to give us our oomph back but a specialist will be best to advise on that as its unlikely a GP will step up.

The difference between transdermal oestrogen and pills is that pills (no matter how tiny) have to have much more active ingredient, so to speak, because once swallowed they pass through the liver which removes much of it.

On the other hand if you take your oestrogen in a patch, gel or implant your liver does not have to work overtime and a much smaller dose gets to where it is needed without you peeing huge amounts into our environment.
Pills are cheaper to produce so some doctors prescribe them even although they know the drawbacks.

I had a hysterectomy and my ovaries removed at 46. I then took HRT for 10 years when my (female) GP suggested that was long enough. I started to have all the usual ghastly symptoms until I found a natural drug called Isoflavones. I bought them from Healthspan. I also changed to soya milk. What a difference! After a few years I weaned myself off them but my symptoms returned. I just went back to my regime of increasing my soya intake until I felt ready to come off them. Since then I’ve had no menopausal symptoms. You don’t need to suffer.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

@SirChenjin. ? for you.
I know I would be distraught in your situation but remember that you have had the protective benefits of HRT for however long you have been on it. Surely better than never having tried it.
I hope you are advised to wean yourself off gradually and it all goes smoothly for you.

P.S. I thought you were a man. Don’t they have life easy! Next time I intend to come back as one (or perhaps as a tree?).

An under active thyroid gland and diabetes are disabilities and need fixing. The menopause is completely natural, as was going in to puberty.

Welshgirl, sorry to hear you’re struggling and feel alone. I felt similarly 21 years ago when my symptoms started. I thought I was going mad because at 40, it hadn’t occurred to me that I was menopausal

However, after many years, much trial and error and a fortune spent (wasn’t keen on the idea of HRT as I wanted to keep it as natural as possible), I’ve settled on Progon and Phyto B, both by Bezwecken. For me they were lifesavers and I’m now largely symptom free. Hot flushes sometimes break through and I’m about 10lbs heavier than I’d like to be but other than that I’m mostly fine

@endlessstrife. I assure you that the menopause is a huge disability for many of us who have survived to middle age. In days gone by we would be dead before our ovaries gave up the ghost.
My consultant told me that the NHS would save money if everyone for whom it was suitable went on HRT. Just think of the cost of all those falls and hip replacements due to crumbling bones for example.

An under active thyroid gland and diabetes are disabilities and need fixing. The menopause is completely natural, as was going in to puberty.

Bleeding to death is natural. Cancer is natural. Broken bones are natural.

Doesnt mean we have to tolerate them..

Esspee, I don’t disagree about the menopause being a disability. I haven’t exactly sailed through it myself. It’s just not in the same vein as conditions such as diabetes and hypo/ hyperthyroidism, which is the body going wrong. HRT doesn’t work for everyone, but insulin and thyroxine, or surgery if it’s hyper, do. Menopause is supposed to happen, it is not the body failing.

Bleeding to death, cancer, broken bones are not natural! I don’t understand this statement at all.

I am 56 started the menopause beginning of last year you name it I had it. Was referred to the menopause clinic up the hospital. Been on hrt jel for nearly 4 months. Now I feel great like a new women.