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Menopause Matters magazine ISSUE 81 out now. (Autumn issue, September 2025)

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Author Topic: How I personally coped with the menopause  (Read 8866 times)

CLKD

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Re: How I personally coped with the menopause
« Reply #15 on: July 14, 2016, 12:17:45 PM »

A drop in blood sugar can trigger anxiety surges.  I was advised to eat every 3 hours, 24/7 etc. etc. etc.
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dulciana

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Re: How I personally coped with the menopause
« Reply #16 on: July 14, 2016, 02:35:48 PM »

And was that always carbohydrate, CLKD, or just anything, as long as you ate something?
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CLKD

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Re: How I personally coped with the menopause
« Reply #17 on: July 14, 2016, 03:07:51 PM »

Small sandwich.  Fruit.  Nuts.  Bananas.  Dry biscuits.  Dextrose tablets in the night or ginger biscuits.  My puppy soon realised that there were biscuits to be had after her 3.00 a.m. garden visit  ;D
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babyjane

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Re: How I personally coped with the menopause
« Reply #18 on: July 14, 2016, 03:11:08 PM »

Hello Dulciana, I have been helped by a low dose antidepressant - Escitalopram at the lowest dose, 5mg to stabilise my negativity and low dose Propranolol (5mg twice a day) for the anxiety.  For me these two work hand in hand and in 6 months I have gone from being a 'glass three quarters empty' person to seeing the glass as a quarter full now. I have also been having psychodynamic therapy as my anxiety issues go back decades, right to when I was three years old, but the menopause seemed to drag them out of the depths and play games with them. I feel as though my brain and my emotions are gradually being rebooted  :)
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dulciana

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Re: How I personally coped with the menopause
« Reply #19 on: July 14, 2016, 06:25:53 PM »

Interesting, interesting.  Thanks CLKD and babyjane. I think I should be able to do something about this, from your helpful suggestions. 
 :thankyou:
Dulciana
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Justjules

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Re: How I personally coped with the menopause
« Reply #20 on: July 14, 2016, 07:31:41 PM »

Thanks BJ. Great post and really nice of you to think of sharing your experience of this rotten time of life.

I honestly don't know where I am in the meno journey.....I am the same age as you, last period about 7 years ago, never taken HRT and think I rode through most of it because of ADs.  Have struggled with anxiety and depression most of my adult life so don't know now much of that is down to meno either. Have mostly got anxiety under control thankfully but can't shake this awful fatigue. Can't even go on a decent walk because I get worn out quick and feel spaced out when walking after a while which frustrates me! Had bloods checked, ECG, just taken a mega dose of Vit D but have had to resort, like you did, to a cleaner and ironing lady which has taken a huge burden off me as I just couldn't tackle housework with no energy. I've never been a full of energy person but it's awful now. Trying to hold down my job....trying to cut it from 4 days to 3 at the moment. Did anything help with your fatigue particularly?? I see old people doing stuff I can't do! Hoping that my sixties are going to be much better than my fifties!!
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CLKD

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Re: How I personally coped with the menopause
« Reply #21 on: July 14, 2016, 08:49:52 PM »

If your thyroid function test is borderline 'normal' ask for specifics to check again.  Also being low in Iron I believe can cause weariness, like having a cold all the while ?
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babyjane

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Re: How I personally coped with the menopause
« Reply #22 on: July 15, 2016, 08:50:10 AM »

Hoping that my sixties are going to be much better than my fifties!!

Word for word what I have said on several occasions JJ.

What helped my fatigue may not work for everyone but I was in the fortunate position of being able to stop working in 2006.  I realise not everyone can do this but it made a lot of difference to my fatigue as it took a lot of stress away and I didn't have to push myself beyond what I could manage.  I still have days when I can do a lot more than others but on the whole life is better.  I am also hoping for better times in my 60s.
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Justjules

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Re: How I personally coped with the menopause
« Reply #23 on: July 15, 2016, 07:31:56 PM »

Thanks BJ. Sorry for hijacking your thread. I can't finish work altogether unfortunately, but I can understand how it would help. Here's to better days to come  :thankyou:
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babyjane

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Re: How I personally coped with the menopause
« Reply #24 on: July 16, 2016, 08:25:36 AM »

you didn't hijack anyting JJ.  All contributions are relevant and everyone has something to say x
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walking the dog

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Re: How I personally coped with the menopause
« Reply #25 on: July 16, 2016, 09:38:10 AM »

Sadly I had to leave my job in November due to overwhelming anxiety id struggled on for quite a,few years but lack of understanding and zero support from my 30yearvold manager who didn't give a hoot about what I was going through meant I had to leave before she pushed me out ! Things have been easier since I left in one way as I dont have to get up at half six etc but having no structure to my day plus the financial pressures have made me a lot worse psychologically!
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Janice68

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Re: How I personally coped with the menopause
« Reply #26 on: July 16, 2016, 11:58:46 AM »

I feel like you wtd, I gave up work cause of all  my symptoms. It has taken that pressure from me. But I have no structure to my day and I prefer to have that in my life. As for finances we just get by there. I'm only 47 well 48 tomorrow that is and I hoping I will go back to work only part-time.  That is when the time is right and find something that will give me some extra cash. I'm getting fed up now and bored I prefer structure to my day but health plays its part I'm afraid. I get so fed up as so many people out there don't understand it's good this forum cause people can relate etc. Jan x
« Last Edit: July 16, 2016, 01:03:46 PM by Janice68 »
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walking the dog

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Re: How I personally coped with the menopause
« Reply #27 on: July 16, 2016, 12:17:00 PM »

Janice68'lovely to hear its not just me who couldn't manage work and menopausal symptoms sometimes I do wonder is it just me is there something wrong with me as,a person that I cant cope with stuff others seem to cope with ! Were the same we just get by my holiday this year is to be 4 nights in our tent that's all we can manage as my husbands self employed and cant take time off as looses money ! However I do count myself lucky as I know people who never get away anywhere.
Structure is important otherwise it feels like I'm measuring out my life in teaspoons day to day ! I now have a cpn to help with all this but he is so young I feel sorry for him listening to me so i tend not to burden him ! I'm also currently under going assessment for psychotherapy on the NHS I did ask her last time I saw her if she thought my problems were hormones or psychological she said both !
I'm fifty janice68 and I'm registered with a,supply agency but I haven't had much from them, I keep thinking I must find a permanent part time job but realistically I know I'm not well enough anxiety wise .oh well were still here though plodding on and getting by the best we can . Good luck xx😊
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Janice68

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Re: How I personally coped with the menopause
« Reply #28 on: July 16, 2016, 12:34:42 PM »

No wtd it's not just you it's me and others out  there too!! I have spoken to a few people I've met along the way who have  given up work cause they can't function properly it's very alarming isn't it?
I too feel like I'm plodding along too. Some days I fight better than others you just keep going
No holiday this year. But I'm grateful
for what we have!!! Take care xx
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CLKD

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Re: How I personally coped with the menopause
« Reply #29 on: July 16, 2016, 02:32:18 PM »

Volunteer? 
Borrow a dog and go for walks?
Join the local School and help children read?


I found that making a list of things to do each evening gave me a focus, I could tick off during the day and see what I had achieved  ;)
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