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[KaraShannon]

Hi everyone

Something else that's bugging me, in the last 6 months mainly, is, I don't know how to put this but I feel like I don't have as much muscle as I used to have.  I am on beta blockers and they've caused a lot of muscle weakness, but that aside, I feel like this is a hormonal issue. 

Is this something anyone else has noticed?  I climb stairs and feel like my legs are soft and bendy and when I sit on chairs its as though I sink into the chair.  Can't just be lack of tone can it?  I have been more sedentary in the last 4 years whereas I was very active before that.  Perhaps I just need to get fitter?  Or do people relate to this as a peri menopause symptom? 

[jaypo]

Your muscles are definitely affected by meno but keep active,slowly build your muscle mass up again,I'm 56 and I run and have a good cross trainer.It is difficult some days admittedly but a good brisk walk can be as good as anything.Good luck x

[KaraShannon]

Thanks Jaypo, so it could be both then.  I've been in a difficult situation in the last 4 years particularly and so exercise hasn't been priorty apart from any walking I usually do, but whereas when I was young I'd just be a bit unfit, I can't afford to miss exercise now obviously.  Going to have to work for everything now I can see, lol.

[sheila99]

You might find testosterone helps. I was continually getting pulled muscles. I wouldn't say it never happens now but it's so much better. An unexpected bonus is that I no longer have to do pelvic floor exercises presumably because muscle tone has improved. You usually have to be stable on HRT before they prescribe it and then only for low libido (mine was zilch).

[jaypo]

And sheila wrestles with sheep Kara 

[KaraShannon]

She does?    Sheila I have thought this is a low testosterone thing.  Mainly because a number of women on my mum's side get frail after 70 - 75, I know people do, but it seems a bit different.  I'm 49 at the moment.  We've all talked about whether they have enough testosterone.  I'm in the UK so no idea if they'll get that 'specific' with my treatment, but will see after I've started HRT. 

I know pumpkin seed oil is supposed to raise tissue testosterone levels  in the pelvic floor, maybe I'll start taking that while waiting and get those walks back in, as Jaypo suggested.  I was always so active but now feel I've got quite a long road to get back to where I was only 6 years ago and I think a lot of that was not exercising (due to stressful events taking place over that time) and beta blockers.  But peri menopause has come along to complicate it all further.

[sheila99]

You make that sound a bit dodgy jaypo    No bikini or body oil involved, can't say the same for mud or sheep poo.
I do think age is a factor too though, we don't get away with things the way we did when we were younger. You may have to ask to be referred to a mono clinic. Most GPS won't prescribe it because there isn't a product licensed for women in the UK.

[KaraShannon]

A mono clinic?  What is that?    Excuse my ignorance.

I'm going to start upping exercise again, I was always fit and want to be back that way.  I'll see about HRT and start on the pumpkin essence for now and then reassess.  *sigh*   

[Annie0710]

Testosterone has helped my muscle weakness, I swear even helped my double vision! X

[Ladybt28]

Its a "mono" clinic KaraShannon cos when we go there we can only remember to discuss one thing at a time! - yep our brain muscle gets weak and goes as well...the list is endless     Any weird symptom you develop that you never thought applied to memo.....yep, it's hormone related!!!

I had such trouble with joint pain, muscle weakness, lethargy, wobbly legs etc, that a consultant diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia but no... turns out it was good old hormones (or lack of!) x

[CLKD]

Morning.  Make that 'meno clinic' ?

As oestrogen levels drop muscles maybe lax = aches and pains.  Also we don't exercise in the same way as when we were younger.  Life kind of gets in the way?  Quadriceps exercises are good as they can be done almost anywhere. 

The idea is to tense the thigh muscles and hold.  Relax. Repeat as often as you can remember to do so.  They can be done almost anywhere: stranding, sitting, laying in the bath, in bed .........

I don't walk as often as I ought to therefore my stamina is badly lacking    .

Could you borrow a dog?

[kittywells]

Yes, I had this too - as soon as meno hit my muscle tone seemed to disappear and when I did excercise I got really sore, particularly around hips and pelvis. A couple years on what has helped me is weight lifting and pilates, and more time stretching after activity. Also look at diet, as protein or carb requirements my change around menopause and this can effect how the body processes food

[Sammiejane]

annie0710

hi annie are you still on the estrogel and trostan how are you finding that regime ?

i think i have already asked you however cannot locate your response but i just wondered if you had experienced hair loss or shedding taking the gel estrogen without progesterone and did it improve once you added tesosterone ?

thanks huni x

[CLKD]

Betablockas won't alter muscle tone but lack of exercise will.  The 1st muscle to atrophy when someone stops exercising is the thigh, but that can be kept firm by exercise.

I've been on Propranolol since 2002 and have no muscle wasting.  I feel weaker due to not walking as often as I did even 5 years ago  .

The quads exercises R easy-peasy  . Also as oestrogen levels begin to drop off muscles may become lax = aches and pains.

[Hurdity]

There is some ifnormation oin this website about loss of muscle mass, metabolic rate and exercise:

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/weightgain.php


This is the first statement in that section:

"Every year over the age of 40 years - our Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR - the rate at which we burn off calories) slows down. Sadly this means that if we continue to follow our current eating and exercise pattern we will gain a pound a year! How depressing! We need to reduce our intake or increase our exercise to stay the same."

I think if you take testosterone you have to keep up the exercise to encourage the muscles to develop painlessly - otherwise maybe it goes to fat? I sometimes wonder if this is the cause of my gradual weight gain (ie taking a tiny amount of T but not enough exercise?)? I don't do much body-conditioning (strength training) because Pilates was giving me migraines although I do two hour long cardio classes per week, but I do notice the lack of tone....

yes Birdy that as well!

Hurdity x