The menopause can be extremely debilitating, I think like most conditions it has a spectrum, from the mildest hardly noticeable symptoms to those that are extremely severe, and if you are a woman that has got off light then you cannot assume that others are that lucky. I certainly haven't enjoyed what I've experienced, sleepless nights, albeit not drenched in sweat but pretty hot, tiredness, brain fog, occasional palpitations. The practice nurse at my previous GP told me there are so many symptoms relating to the menopause not all of them are classified. I was chatting to my dental hygienist, not easy when you have your mouth wide open, when we were both going through the throes of the early menopause, she was having a really bad time and told me she felt very ill and at times she wanted to kill her husband. When I saw her again she had started on HRT which she said had been a complete life saver she was 100% better in every respect. I did start on it but had problems with intermittent bleeding and raised blood pressure. Sometimes I wish I had persevered with it, now contrary to what I was told then, it seems as if it gives all sorts of protection as far as the heart is concerned anyway.
Slightly off topic I do remember having quite excruciating period pains from time to time back in my younger days when I was at work and had to excuse myself when I occasionally went home with a "I'm feeling sick" I think my male boss knew what the problem may have been but accepted my vague explanations.