Menopause webchat with Liz Earle

Grannyknot

anno thanks for that - it made me realise that I do have a question. Am I at risk of osteoporosis more so than someone who took HRT? (I have never smoked and I exercise).

It’s difficult to say as everyone is an individual, but speaking generally studies have shown HRT to significantly lower the risk of both osteoporosis and heart disease.

annodomini

Like grannyknot, I had an easy and early (43) menopause. AsI had no symptoms, my GP said I wouldn't need HRT, but, 30-odd years later I have a lot of joint problems - one hip and half a shoulder replaced so far - and this makes me wonder if thing would have been different if I had been prescribed HRT. What do you think?

I think it is very hard to say. We know that HRT helps osteoporosis and eases joint pain, so there is a possibility certainly that oestrogen would have helped. But bear in mind the latest NICE guidelines say that it is never too late to start taking HRT. Not enough GPs are aware of that.

I seem to be displaying a lot of the typical symptoms of menopause. Weight gain, mood swings, irritability and so on and so forth. My periods stopped about four months ago but for the last couple of weeks I have felt very much like I am 'pre menstrual' and along with this have very tender breasts and the odd cramp. is this normal? Does it mean my period is on its way? I know that you have to have a year without to be truly in the menopause and I know various people who have had stop start periods before this happened.

I am 52 and have not had a period for six months. In the last month or so I have started to notice what might be some sort of stress incontinence - not when coughing/sneezing/laughing etc but when I need to urinate it's as though I can't quite hold it in. It's only sometimes. I have not had children and never had any pelvic floor issues in the past. Is this linked to menopause and what can I do?

How do I actually know when I am in menopause territory?

I suffer from hot flushes (any random time of day) and wake up in the night sweating terribly.
Despite eating the same/less than I ever have the pounds are creeping on, especially over the last year. No matter what I do (diet/exercise), I can't seem to lose them.
My patience levels are also shortening and I find myself upset or angry, or both - sometimes quite irrationally.

Yet at 46 everyone keeps telling me that it is too soon for me to menopausal!

Would I have to have a blood test to be able to determine? I'm not one for going to the doc's and generally soldier on with most things!

One thing I have noticed these last few years is a lack of confidence. I see a job or activity and think "I could do that", then I talk myself out of it. I also have a lot of CRAFT moments...Can't remember a flippin thing!
I attribute the above to the menopause rightly or wrongly.
Will these things improve again or I am going to be Crafty forever ?

I have spent the last 15 years battling with menopause and it has driven me absolutely mad. I had a hysterectomy when I was 36 and started menopause at 49. I am now 64 and still suffering miserable episodes which have severely affected my overall health. As a person who enjoyed extremely low blood pressure even when pregnant with each of my four children I now have worryingly high blood pressure, and that’s despite being a healthy weight following a good diet, lots of exercise and yoga, never a smoker or a drinker. I would love someone to tell me how best I can cope with this, so that life would be more bearable.

I feel like I have lost so much time struggling to cope, and apart from medication to attempt to control my BP (which has been mosty unsuccessful) my GP hasn’t been able to help at all.

I had a hysterectomy aged 40, then almost 20 years on HRT. During this time it was the best I've ever felt. 5 years ago mY GP would no longer prescribe the patches. Since then, I have put on weight, (hard to move) don't sleep well, low mood and anxiety, for which I take fluoxetine, have brain fog, vaginal atrophy and worst of all the flushes and sweats. I've tried soya products, sage tablets, cutting out caffeine but nothing seems to make any difference. I'm sure I could feel better if only the flushing/sweats were less. Any advice would be welcome.

What can I do about brain fog? It's got so bad recently I even worried it might be early onset dementia. I am reassured by conversations with friends who are also going through the menopause but am so frustrated not being able to think of things I could easily have done a year ago. Any tips?

I had a terrible time, pre-menopause, lasting 6 years. It was awful flooding, anaemia, endless examinations, scans, biopsies of the womb (incredibly painful) and feeling so unwell. I was put on hormone pills (Progesterone), but still had problems until October last year. Since then, it's all stopped. I'm 59 now, and off the tablets, but having night sweats, hot flushes and mood swings (but no periods since October, hoorah!)

Good to see there are some more ladies in their 70s still coping with hot flushes! I saw a doctor in a menopause clinic who could only prescribe clonedine, which reduces the number of really intense flushes but I still get them regularly as clockwork every 45-50 mins. I was told by my gp, when I decided enough is enough I now want quality of life.. that I'd missed my slot for HRT as it would now be too risky to start. Does this mean I'll go on till I die?? I have tried virtually all the alternative solutions on the market these 20 years without any improvement whatsoever. Have you any advise??

I am someone else who had an almost symptomless menopause. I did develop fibroids in the run up, but the menopause puts paid to them.

The one thing I did do is start gaining weight. It became impossible to lose weight my usual way of reducing food intake and upping exercise. Over about 5 years, despite every attempt to stop the weight gain and get back to my accustomed weight I put on about 21 lbs and was lumbered with it until I was about 70, when my metabolism returned to normal and I succeeded in losing all the extra weight I had gained in a couple of months and I have been back at my pre-menopausal weight, now, for nearly five years. Is this a menopausal problem, and how common is it?

My daughter is now approaching the menopause and is wondering whether she might have the same problem and is there anyway she can avoid it..

My question is this, my Dr put me on HRT but many people have told me that it only delays things and that as soon as you come off it you get menopause symptoms back, I asked the Dr and she said there was no evidence of this but everyone is different ! What are your thoughts on this ?

My doctor won’t let me have HRT. I feel so much better on it. More energy. Is there an alternative? X

One of my oldest (long-standing) friends and I are still suffering from hot flushes in our seventies. She gets night sweats, too. No one seems to mention that some aspects menopause never go away!

I am noticing changing preferences for food and drink.
May not be connected to the menopause and nor of great concern. Coffee seems preferable to tea which was my favourite and salty snacks are irresistible.

I'm another who sailed through it - a couple of days in hospital due to heavy bleeding when I was about 43 or 44 where they gave me medication and never had anything after that. No hot sweats or mood swings (as far as I know). My DIL on the other hand is 47 and suffers with many symptoms of the menopause but her GP still tells her it's not. She sweats profusely which is extremely embarrassing at work, finds it impossible to lose weight, and has very heavy bleeds. She's now had a coil fitted to try and control the bleeding. Is it possible to have all the menopause symptoms but still be undiagnosed? Are there any herbal remedies I could suggest to her to help?

I wanted to ask, if our bodies start to drop in oestrogen levels and this can cause so many different problems, are there any foods or natural products that we could have to boost our levels?

My question is about mood swings although they are not so much swings as a permanent mood. I can see I am being grumpy but feel powerless to stop it. I am also low a lot of the time. It's like PMT but worse and it's non stop. What can be done?

Most noticeable for me is chocolate cravings ... as bad a cigarette ( I used to smoke many years ago ... been a non smoker for 37 years but I remember it well ) ... don’t get me wrong I’ve always loved it but now it’s a compulsion and I worry if I have none in my possession and it has to be a certain brand ... I’m on HRT gel ... small dose and trying supplements like chromium complex etc ... and grumpy and very emotional ... not sure if anymore periods as I have Mirena coil anyway and no periods with that which has been amazing ... 55 this year ... I guess I could be post meno

I’m 51 and haven’t had a period for 9 months. I have very few symptoms which I would say are menopause, but I am generally achy and stiff jointed. In the mornings my hands are stiff and I can’t touch my toes at all as my back and legs are stiff. It does ease during the day, but is there anything for this or is it just age? I kind of feel like I’ve aged over these last few months!

Not so much hot flushes here,I just seem to be constantly boiling hot,this weather has not helped with it either,some times I can feel the sweat rolling down my face,the funny thing is I do not seem to sweat excessively anywhere other than my face and hairline .My joints are,also starting to give me cause for concern if I sit for too long and hands and knees jobs are tackled in a different way! I hope they do not get bad quickly as I love a soak in the bath and know that many people resort to showers due to mobility issues.Has anyone any natural remedies that have helped problems such as these?I am reluctant to take medication for the rest of my life!

I had a full hysterectomy at age 25 yrs, put on HRT couple of yrs after that. At 50 my Dr constantly hinted to stop taking HRT (as I had been taking it for 20 yrs) I now take those menopace herbal supplements (but use tesco own make as much cheaper) what are your thoughts on herbal rememdies?