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[LuLu71]

Hi everyone,

I am just wondering if anyone wants to share their turning point in this ever-so-fun journey of menopause? When I say "turning point", I mean when were you able to see the light at the end of the tunnel? Allegedly, our bodies are supposed to adjust to the loss of estrogen and progesterone over time...it would be interesting and inspiring to share any stories anyone may have...

Personally, I am going to officially be post-menopausal on September 15th. Although I feel better than in March of this year, I still have a horrible time sleeping and also have the odd night sweat/hot flash (am on estrogel and progesterone). There are times when I am feeling much better but my goodness, it seems even with exercising, eating well, working on creative outlets, etc. I still have many moments/days where I feel so useless and exhausted. I just got a part-time job after not being able to work very well in March but I am worried that my fatigue and horrible sleeps are going to affect my performance. Sorry to end this paragraph on a depressing note...anyway, I would love to hear some turning point moments from you all!

[Katejo]

Hi everyone,

I am just wondering if anyone wants to share their turning point in this ever-so-fun journey of menopause? When I say "turning point", I mean when were you able to see the light at the end of the tunnel? Allegedly, our bodies are supposed to adjust to the loss of estrogen and progesterone over time...it would be interesting and inspiring to share any stories anyone may have...

Personally, I am going to officially be post-menopausal on September 15th. Although I feel better than in March of this year, I still have a horrible time sleeping and also have the odd night sweat/hot flash (am on estrogel and progesterone). There are times when I am feeling much better but my goodness, it seems even with exercising, eating well, working on creative outlets, etc. I still have many moments/days where I feel so useless and exhausted. I just got a part-time job after not being able to work very well in March but I am worried that my fatigue and horrible sleeps are going to affect my performance. Sorry to end this paragraph on a depressing note...anyway, I would love to hear some turning point moments from you all!

How are you defining post menopausal here? Just wondering why you have given a specific date.

[LuLu71]

Hi Katejo and Jaypo, My last period was September 14th, 2018 so it will be officially 12 months since my last period by September 15th of this year and therefore postmenopause begins.

[LuLu71]

Hi Jaypo, that is very good to hear! Glad your depression has lifted and you are enjoying life again  Where are you in your journey? Postmenopause?

[Jari]

Hi Lulu. It's a very good question.
Bear in mind that there are very many women who are not suffering much at all and therefore you won't hear their stories, because they're not on the forum..
My own experience has been, no significant peri meno symptoms, first hot flushes around time of last period, which was 2 years ago, age 47, so I'm now 1 year post meno. I took hrt very briefly ( 2 months) but quickly realised it wasn't for me and now doing it all the natural route. I do still get flushes/sweats, but they seem to be getting less and less and less intense. I was just thinking today that it's been a few days since I had a hot flush, so I feel like I'm at that stage now, where I can feel I'm over the worst of it.. x

[LuLu71]

Hi Jaypo and Jari,

Jaypo, I forgot about how some people who are dealing with hysterectomies would be experiencing the stages quite differently. Yes, I have noticed since my last period last September that I have not had sore boobs since then (a little when starting HRT but that vanished very quickly). That is about the only positive for me since nearing post menopause. You must be so happy and relieved to have noticed such an adjustment in post menopause! Yay!

Jari, that is wonderful to hear that two years post menopause your body seems to be adjusting. How lovely to realize that you are turning a corner with this crazy phase of life! Interesting that you didn't have many peri symptoms. It truly is different for everyone eh? I had wicked PMS symptoms and trouble sleeping during peri and very rare hot flashes but the flashes got truly horrible about half a year before my last period. I also have a hypothyroid condition and have been reading that there seems to be a link with estrogen, progesterone and the thyroid and menopausal issues.

[Tc]

I feel like I just dont know what's supposed to happen in my situation.

Many women say peri is the worst part  but at 53 and with regular periods I had no significant peri symptoms.. then  Ovary removal.and straight into post meno.  And post meno has been devastating.   So  I dont have any sense of "coming out the other side" of peri, more like being plunged headfirst into menopause  start to finish in 3 hours on the operating table. . I've skipped "the transition". bit.  I feel cheated of it as the sudden shock is brutal.

My body iand mind are still in shock. It's been a year and I'm no better at the end of that year. I  would love to think the further into post I get the easier it gets. But I dont know how that can happen does the body ever adjusts to having no ovaries. 

It is said that menopause is natural process but theres nothing natural about how it has happened to me. I just havent a clue what to expect.

[Tc]

I meant to say. Interesting thread lulu. I'm glad you asked this question. X

[LuLu71]

Hi TC and stellajane,

Uggh TC, you're right about it being impossible to equate having your ovaries removed to the naturalness of menopause. It must be such a shock to your body to just have everything change all at once. I hope things get better for you. One year into it full blown and still no real relief for you...Have you tried HRT or any other alternative therapy?

Well, as they say, grass is greener on the other side...I would have loved to have skipped the years of horrible PMS every darn month so maybe try to feel a little blessed missing that bit. However, I get it that it sucks that you went into menopause full blast.

Re: menopause being natural...yeah, it is but it still sucks  I honestly question how natural it is when it involves so much suffering for so many people. Anyway, thank you for sharing TC and I really have fingers crossed for you that your symptoms dissipate soon.

Stellajane, Oh my, 11 years...well, it's so good that there is HRT eh? It really helps with your quality of life so that's awesome news and I'm hoping for you that you are not actually a a HRT Lifer though. However, if it works then why worry about it at all. Yes, I do wonder if having a hypothyroid condition complicates menopausal symptoms. Apparently there is very little research on the subject which is such a shame but perhaps 20 years from now they may know more...all the best stellajane and it's okay, it's not a downer what you said...truth is important.

[Tc]

Thank you lulu. I've been on a couple of different HRT regimes. But unfortunately nothing seems to work for me so far.

I use the term natural  in relation to surgical only in the sense that it is a slower process.

In my other comment I meant that Menopause is seen as being "a natural process by lots of medics.  Its not a term I like to hear coming out of doctors mouths. You are right. It sucks for many of us and being told it's natural  is so unhelpful and it undermines the seriousness of symptoms  and the life changing impact it can have. 
It's strange isnt it how so many things which are deemed as "natural" for us women seem to involve pain and distress. Periods, childbirth, breastfeeding all come to mind. 

Thanks for your good wishes. I send them back to you and all the other ladies on this thread. Xxx

[LuLu71]

TC, yes! I feel the same way when doctors say menopause is "natural". It feels very unhelpful to me too! I think they keep stressing it's natural now because of how women were treated back in the day with menopause, like we were all a bunch of crazies that should be burned at the stake