Hi all,
I'm 48 and I've probably been perimenopausal for about 4 years. Since early 2009 I've had months on end with no periods, then they've come back, been normal again for a time, then disappeared again. I've not had one since October 2012, but had some spotting a few weeks ago, so it's still presumably not quite all done with! In the last 4 years I've also divorced my husband of 21 years, moved into my own flat, had a relationship with one much younger man and then met another (half my age) who I've settled down with, and in 2011 I became a grandmother. It's been an eventful few years!
I've been having perimenopause symptoms, some hot flushes always preceeded by a mild panic, again these came and went and seem to have abated for now, my skin is dry and gets quite itchy if I'm not careful, my libido is definitely subdued (not helpful with a 24 year old partner!!), more forgetful than I'm used to being, and I gain weight round my middle FAR too easily these days! I also feel really tired at the moment, and achy, I don't know if that's a typical symptom or not. I occasionally get what feels like PMS too, sore nipples and breasts, irritability, clumsiness. It's very hard to know what's what really isn't it? I wish there was a menopause clinic where I live, but I've searched online and there doesn't seem to be!
I've talked to my GP about HRT (she's pretty good, a 'middle aged' woman herself and women's health and fertility are her areas of interest), but as my partner and I would welcome the tiny, tiny chance of a late pregnancy (I have 2 adult children, he, obviously, doesn't have any kids) my GP said HRT would be contra-indicated - and anyway, my sister has had breast cancer 3 times (once at age 39, once at age 52, and currently at 67) so it probably wouldn't be a good idea. My GP gave me the recipe for HRT cake (has anyone tried it?)!
Anyway, in the absence of a menopause clinic, here I am to try to pick my way through it. Hi!
