oh dear

I posted twice on the same thing!

so... emmmmm...... dya fink my memory is going???

elaine

I went through "the change" a few years ago. Didn't go on HRT. I had hot flushes (not terrible ones, but definitely uncomfortable) for about 6 months, then they stopped.

I guess I was pretty lucky.

My memory is still fine - something I am extremely conscious of because my mum has a form of mind dementia - and I still work full time at nearly 62.

The main issue from my perspective, and something those of you youngies wishing for the change so your periods go away, is that your skin starts to thin out. I hate that!!!

Oh well. We all get older I guess.

When I briefly considered HRT, my doctor said it is just delaying the inevitable - that you couldn't take it for a year, and when you stop the hot flushes would be over. He said it would just delay them and they would come back - so didn't bother. I did use some herbal stuff though I'm not sure it made much of a difference.

grrrr dont even TALK to me about hot flushes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
had em for years...
tried everything .... usually helps for 12 months then stops!
dont want to try HRT
hey ho!

lol

Elaine

Hi Zoe,

I'm a few yrs older than you. I've been having hot flushes for just over 5 yrs. Initially I'd have them for a few months then none. I would then have a period about a month after the last hot flush. Sometimes I'd get a bit of breast tenderness and emotional lability at this time as per usual pre peri-menopause. No fluid retension, no headaches. As soon as period finished the hot flushes would start again. The time between periods gradually increased and the period eventually went from 6 days to 3 days.

I've now officially reached menopause...no period for 14mths. Hot flushes reign supreme.

Over the last few yrs I noticed my memory is not so good...drive my daughters crazy at times...sometimes I'l lose a word just as I'm going to say it and do you think I can think of that word! Or I cant think of a word. So I have to describe it. eg I was talking to a co-worker about mandatory training except I couldn't think of the word mandatory so I was trying to explain...'you know the training you do when you have to do it'. He had no idea what I was on about. Took me 10hrs to get that damn word!
I haven't realy had mood fluctuations. If anything my mood has been more stable..I used to have terrible PMT with hideous mood swings. But every now & then I have maybe a week of feeling blah when I dont want to see anyone, talk to anyone except my daughters, dont want to leave the house, cant be bothered cooking or doing house work. In fact could easily stay in bed for days. I'm not depressed just blah.

The hot flushes get me more than anything. I find them so draining especially when I get them every 20 mins and get woken up about 20 times a night flinging the covers off then pulling them up again.

I tried a lot of natural stuff from the chemist but none of it helped. My Dr prescribed 1/2 an aropax a day, which is an SSRI antidepressant. They have been found to be successful for PMTand hot flushes. These worked absolute wonders for 12 months. Next to be tried was a beta blocker (type of blood pressure medication). All it did was make me dizzy-low BP! They work really well for 2 women I know. The Dr suggested another type of anti depressant but they can have hideous side effects so refused that. I am now on weekly oestridiol patches and daily progesterone cream. It took 3 months for the patches to work and I still get a lot of flushes day & night but at least now I dont feel like stripping my clothes off, shaving my head & crying because of the intensity & frequency of them. I can usually sit through a flush without having to fan myself now tho I still have the fan on all night. I could try a stronger dose but I'm leary enough already of using HRT.
Lainy I've heard that too - it is a concern but I just cant live with myself with such intense hot flushes. I will keep trying without the HRT but will keep going back to it as long as the hot flushes come back so badly or unless I have an untoward side effect. It's not a pleasant thought.

Some people like Janette have no problems whatsoever. Others can have hot flushes & other syptoms for YEARS after reaching menopause. My poor Mother had hot flushes til she was in her 70's.

Anyway I've raved way too much. Everyone experiences it differently

Oh boy!

My life feels like one hot flush (or tropical moment as I like to call em)

Been having them for nearly 10 years!!!

Grrrrrr!

Tried all sorts of herbal medications and they work for a while then just stop.

Too scared to try HRT but also from what Ive heard you still have to go thru it when you eventually stop the HRT

sigh!

It was explained to me like this:
Peri - intermittent periods, flushes & other symptoms. Adult version of puberty.
Menopause - cessation of periods completely, symptoms settle down. Like coming out of puberty, changes now permanent.

Can be years between the two.
Inability to lose weight belongs to both stages, as does losing protection of estrogen which may include increase in blood pressure, heart issues, teeth issues, bones etc.

My question specifically was if there are symptoms moving from perimenopause to menolause other than hot flashes and cessation of periods, and I see that there is good information about how the period may be affected by weight loss. This is all very interesting information, thanks to all who posted.

Zoe

Bloody hell - we women have it tough, don't we?
Joy, I'm sorry, but your doc doesn't sound too good!
Janette, I'm jealous!!!
Oh, and by the way, there was already a menopause discussion going...maybe we should merge them all?

I've just put a new thread on here with a similar question...

I am getting hot flushes daily now and have been for 3 weeks+, also in this time I have been getting nasty headaches. I am really tired too... not sure whether it is hormonal, due to weight loss or what?!

My monthly cycle is a all over the place... I as sorta hoping it would settle down once I had lost a some of my weight!

I had nothing.
Periods stopped at age 54, all over red rover!

No hot flushes, no headaches, no insomnia, no depression, no nothing.
Some of us can be lucky.

LOL my sister had enough hot flushes for both me and her............LOL!!

It took 5 years for me to be diagnosed with menopause (1st gynae said "just take the pill and your periods will settle down).

- confusion and lake of concentration. "senior moments" and inability to finish anything
- mild depression, lack of energy
- inability to lose weight. In fact when I said I wanted to go back to the gym, specialist said "dont bother, too hard after menopause" and gave me referral for sleeve. Which shocked me.
- nervous exhaustion. Recommended to do nothing for 3 months. I think this made depression worse.
- estrogen protects us til menopause - high cholesterol etc kicked in
- flushes. I dont mind them in winter. Summer a bit like "dumping syndrome" - clammy, flushed, Uncomfortatable. Flushes were the first sign but I thought I had a bone out in my neck, causing the heat. For years. - rolls eyes-
- i didnt get on with HRT so switched back to GP recommended herbal medicine Femular. Behind the counter at pharmacy but not prescription.
- started with continual bleeding for 6 months, then no bleeding for 6 months then 1 really bad crampy heavy period every 6 months.

My timelines are out because I wasnt diagnosed and I still dont know what was attributed to other misdiagnosis in the past. Might help a bit tho?

Hey Zoe,
I cant help personally... just wanted to say good luck in your quest for answers.
Cheers
Kellie

Hello, sleevers.

I am 50 and looking for the menopause symptoms beyond the obvious end of having periods. To my surprise I just went through a mini-cycle with the elevated temperature, water retention and slight cramps and then a very brief flow. I know I can't say for sure I am menopause until 12 months after the last period, so I am clearly still in perimenopause.

Recently I have had some weeks where I needed much more rest and sleep than normal. I have also had some headaches in which I wake up with the headache and acetaminophen does not help. Some descriptions of the onset of menopause cite these as symptoms.

Not that I want hot flashes, but if I had one I would know where I am in the process! Any insights you can share?

Many thanks,

Zoe