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[Sarah2]

Motivation has to come from you.
You have to make yourself do something even if you don't want to, because you want the end result.
You have to make yourself do it because the odds are that quite soon the effects will kick in and you will start to feel better.

Exercise has been shown to reduce hot flushes. There is quite a lot about this on the web.

[Dandelion]

Motivation has to come from you.
You have to make yourself do something even if you don't want to, because you want the end result.
You have to make yourself do it because the odds are that quite soon the effects will kick in and you will start to feel better.

Exercise has been shown to reduce hot flushes. There is quite a lot about this on the web.

I'm not saying I don't need excercise but I do need the right hormones, in the same way other women on here get them when their oral hrt is just not enough.
I doubt that femoston will start working now, but I hope that I am proved wrong.
I know that when my mood is better I am more happy to leave the flat but right now, I don't want to leave the flat.
Before I was on hrt it was worse, upping the femoston has helped but only partially.

[Rowan]

Sorry I don't agree that Hormones don't put weight on, for a lot of women they do no matter what the "papers" say.

You only have to look on other forums and read what some women are saying. I certainly found that they do especially on the breasts and tummy.

Even on this forum some ladies have said they do and when they come off HRT they lose weight.

Ten pounds is the average that women can put on.

For every woman who puts no weight on with HRT there is one who does, no matter what the *papers" say HRT consists of female steroids and by their nature increase appetite especially for sweet things. Women are not text book cases.

[Sarah2]

I don't see how you can compare research papers and anecdotal evidence which is influenced by so many other factors.
There is some evidence that weight gain around the menopause ( with or without HRT) drops off once women are through menopause. So women who come off HRT and lose weight may be losing the weight they would have anyway at that stage of their lives.

What would you say about women who had taken or were taking HRT and had not put weight on?

[Dandelion]

Sorry I don't agree that Hormones don't put weight on, for a lot of women they do no matter what the "papers" say.

You only have to look on other forums and read what some women are saying. I certainly found that they do especially on the breasts and tummy.

Even on this forum some ladies have said they do and when they come off HRT they lose weight.

Ten pounds is the average that women can put on.

Hi

I didn't say hormones dont put weight on. They do, women with an excess of oestrogen can put weight on the hips and thighs.
It is known that menopause or peri can make women put weight on their belly and upper body like me.

[Rowan]

Sorry Dandelion I was replying to Sarah2's post. I did not make myself clear.

The more hormones you take the more likely you are to put on more weight,  this my quote.

"This is not correct.

There are papers on the web - proper research- showing that there is no evidence at all that HRT causes weight gain" quote from Sarah2

[moonbeam121167]

Hi all I would like to add my bit please, I saw finally the HRT specialist Friday  and he said that women who are on the pill contraception tend to put weight on around their hips and thighs,  hour glass is it but women who are on HRT or women who are going through the menopause (not sure which one it is) put weight on around the middle, for which I have , sorry to butt in but that is what he said when I asked why is it I have put weight on around my waist and middle 

[Rowan]

Sarah2, women come in all shapes and sizes, different metabolisms, different everything, some women can take HRT and not put on weight, and others do.

An umbrella statement that HRT does not cause weight gain in my opinion in not true. 

[honeybun]

I am definitely carrying more weight around my middle regions when I am on HRT. I don't weigh more than I did but the distribution is different. I would not want to weigh less as I look drawn and older.
The contraceptive pill most definitely makes a difference. My 19 yr old is on the mini pill. She is 5ft 5 and weighs just over 7 stone. She always has been a stick insect but now one with boobs and a bum. The only thing that is different is the pill.

I know you think you can't exercise because your hormones are not right but the point (I think) Sarah is trying to make is....if you make an effort, no matter how much you don't feel like it, it raises the feel good hormones....so you are helping yourself  in a natural way. I often feel terrible with my anxiety and my dear hubby (bless him) insists that I put my coat on and get out and walk. I always feel better afterwards than I did before.
It's very difficult to diet on a limited budget. Even a few very small changes can help. Supermarkets reduce the price on fresh fruit and veg at the end of the day and the bargains are great. Maybe worth a look. That could give you some variety and not cost you a fortune.


Honeyb
x

[Hurdity]

I found some information on this website about the whole issue of diet exercise, lifestyle and weight gain around menopause, Dandelion which might help explain what has been mentioned in a lot of posts.
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/weightgain.php

Also I sympathise with having to cook on a budget. However I do agree that you would benefit from changing your diet which would really help with the weight gain issue (not the distribution though!). For example you can get  other cheap forms of protein which are less fatty (sausages are very high infat) and don't put on weight such as tinned tuna, eggs and other tinned fish like sardines which are also cheap. All of these contain less fat. Beans and pulses of all kinds are good and filling too.

You will probably be getting quite a lot of sugar rushes and dips from snacking on biscuits which can't be good for your insulin levels and can lead to low blood sugar and associated irritability. I appreciate they are cheap. Plain wholewheat digestive biscuits are better than others for blood sugar and contain slower release sugars. A handful of nuts and rasins, although containing sugar and fat - will fill up that whole and provide some protein and other useful nutrients!

I don't know how much time you have and whether you work full time? If so then I can see that cooking would be tiring but otherwise perhaps try experimenting a bit - I'm sure there are lots of ideas and ways to cook on a budget on the web!

I would have thought you could buy some veg as cheaply as tinned beans for example - like carrots and celery. Stir-fries are very nutritious quick to do and based around vegetables - add an egg and some noodles ( or cheap pasta) and you have a balanced healthy meal.

Lidl and Aldi sell fruit and veg much cheaper than the big supermarkets (and some are better quality!) - but the big supers also always have reduced stuff at the end of the day.

I hope you don't mind my adding these suggestions but when you say "I might not eat or do excercise very well, but even if I had the best excercise and diet, I would still feel crap if I was not on enough of the hormones I need." it really is the other way round at menopause! No amount of hormones will make you feel better if your diet is poor and you have insuficcient exercise., but I can say you are in a bit of a vicious circle at the moment.

Why not try just one little step at a time - maybe write a list of things you need or want to change, or how you want to feel, and set yourself goals - like tomorrow I will make a healthy cheap evening meal, or walk for 10 minutes. If you need some support with this why not share with us and we can encourage you along the way?!

Hope you don;t think this is a lecture but I could sense from your posts that you are at a bit of a loss and finding it all a bit overwhelming at the moment.

It will get better and as others have said try to banish negative thoughts whenever they pop into your head - starting tomorrow!!


Hurdity 

Edit - honeybun I've just seen you have said the same as me re the fruit and veg - didn't see your post when I pressed the button as I was typing this for ages!

[Sarah2]

Yes HB that is what I was saying- that sometimes we don't feel like doing something but afterwards we are pleased that we made the effort.

I often would rather stay indoors in the warm rather than put on 4 layers of clothes to have a walk- but once I'm out I feel better for having done it.

If we wait to feel 'in the mood' then that moment often never comes!

One thought about food - maybe buy a student cookbook- or pick one up from a 2nd hand book shop or ebay? Student cook books are all about eating well and cheaply- something like jacket potatoes with a can of tuna, sardines on toast, wholewheat pasta with a tin of tomatoes/onion/ few herbs made into a sauce- are all cheap meals.

[honeybun]

That sounds like my daughter's meals for a week. She shops at Aldis and has impressed me with her inventiveness with pasta, rice, tuna and bits,and bobs of veg. She eats really cheaply but quite well.  She also eats a lot of baked potatoes with beans or tuna. Stir fries are also a favourite. She goes to a Chinese supermarket and gets very cheap noodles etc.

She is almost a vegetarian when she is away from home as she can't buy meat in small enough quantities and is not confident enough to cook it anyway.
I did get her a student cook book from Amazon for about three pounds and that's where a lot of her ideas have come from.
It takes a bit more thought to eat cheaply and well but is possible especially if you shop at the end of the day. She is always phoning me to tell me about the bargains she has picked up from Tescos for pennies.


Honeyb
x

[Dandelion]

Yes HB that is what I was saying- that sometimes we don't feel like doing something but afterwards we are pleased that we made the effort.

I often would rather stay indoors in the warm rather than put on 4 layers of clothes to have a walk- but once I'm out I feel better for having done it.

If we wait to feel 'in the mood' then that moment often never comes!

One thought about food - maybe buy a student cookbook- or pick one up from a 2nd hand book shop or ebay? Student cook books are all about eating well and cheaply- something like jacket potatoes with a can of tuna, sardines on toast, wholewheat pasta with a tin of tomatoes/onion/ few herbs made into a sauce- are all cheap meals.

I feel like you are doubting my meno symptoms are still with me, despite hrt.

I forgot to mention above,
Why am I still getting night sweats every night?
If I don't put the fan on I wake up wet.
I shouldnt need a fan on in march.

That, and the other symptoms I am getting point toward the fact that my femoston is NOT working.

Sorry, but I am beginning to feel a bit frustrated.

I am saying over and over again, my hrt is not covering my symptoms and I feel that no one listening to me when I say I need stronger hrt.

Even if I do excercies I should not be getting night sweats.

What reason am I getting them still - perimenopause symptoms.

Also, my question on osteporosis was not answered.

Will I be more at risk of this cos I started meno at 43yrs.

Thanks

[Suzyq]

Dandelion as I understand it, a relatively low dose of estrogen is required to prevent osteoporosis so I should think you would have enough during peri and on femiston. During peri it is progesterone that tends to fall first. If you don't feel your hrt is working then ask for a referral to a specialist if your dr won't give you an alternative. I know you think he gel may be better but I started hrt with the gel and had absorption problems and could not get stable or high estrogen levels so this may not be the answer you think/hope it may be. I know you are feeling frustrated but try to ask yourself if your symptoms are improved? I don't think hrt is a guarantee to relieve every symptom.  I hope u feel better soon

[Sarah2]

Dandelion

I'm sorry you are frustrated. Everyone is trying hard to help you.

You have had some very good advice here from Hurdity and others- what do you think of the suggestions?

Hurdity linked to some information on this site which says that HRT alone may not control symptoms.

 It's not being realistic to expect HRT to be a cure for every symptom of meno- lifestyle changes are usually needed. This is what my consultant would recommend to all women- either before agreeing to give them HRT, or alongside.

There is some good information here on the MM site about how lifestyle changes can help- and which foods to eat if you are worried about osteoporosis

http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/diet.php

There is a study here about the effect of exercise on hot flushes ( and presumably that includes night sweats too.)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2165864/Exercise-keeps-hot-flushes-bay-menopausal-women.html

You say 'even if I do exercise I should not be getting night sweats'. How do you know this? Unless you try then you don't know whether it will help or not.


You are currently on 2mgs oestrodiol- this is is the same as the normal dose for Oestrogel- so I'm not sure why you think changing to gel will make a difference? In peri you should not need 3mgs oestrogen.



It is highly unlikely that you are at risk for osteoporosis unless it runs in your family putting you at a genetic risk.
The biggest loss of bone density is within the first 2-5 years post menopause.
You are not there yet- and you have been on HRT.
You only need 0.5mgs oestrogen to make bones denser.