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[Bradenton69]

Hi there,

Sorry If this sounds dumb but after peri and you enter into menopause would changes apart from the periods being stopped.

At this point I am peri with my last period being August last year. 

When I enter into menopause

will my sores bones start to not be so sore,
will my anxiety stop keeping me awake at night,
will the night sweats get better and let me sleep and have my husband cuddle me without being soaked
will the panic attacks ease off,
will the bursts of rage and despair start to go
will the worst low moods I have ever experienced start to go

To say I am at my lowest point would be an understatement.  My marriage is under so much strain and I just don't know how much more I can take.

I have dipped in and out this forum on a few occasions seeking advice but every day that my period docent appear I think I may be a closer to feeling like me again.

I write this with so many tears running down my face feeling in so much desperation that I could run away.

I have tired Prozac and it didn't really work and I gave it up after a year.  I eat well and exercise when my bones don't hurt so much I can find it in myself to walk.

Please tell me that the light won't be too far away

[CLKD]

Do you keep a mood/symptom/food diary, it can be useful to chart progress

I had rages B4 each period and awful PMT  .  Bloating prior to a bleed which went once the period began.

HRT can certainly ease some of the symptoms you mention, so can appropriate anti-depressant and anti-anxiety medication.  Some ladies require both for a few years. 

As oestrogen levels drop so muscles may become lax = aches and pains so do take nurofen or similar as necessary.  Also the body may become dry, inside and out  ; skin, deep in the ears, nostrils, scalp, between the toes: so do read the threads on vaginal atrophy which mimics repeated urine type-infections really really well!

What would you like to ease first?

[Bradenton69]

Thanks. The low mood and poor sleep due to sweats. Just so fed up and can't see a way out this now

[CLKD]

Good quality sleep makes a huge difference!!

Have you tried a fan by the bed, a chillow pillow and several pillows by the bed to change them over in the night? 

[Taz2]

Thanks. The low mood and poor sleep due to sweats. Just so fed up and can't see a way out this now

Are you on HRT? I was as low as you sound now when I started it (despite never thinking I would) and it gave me my life back.

Taz x 

[Bradenton69]

Thanks

I will look at fan option.

I have been considering HRT for a while just wish Doc could take some bloods and say here is exact dose.

I keep thinking to myself get to menopause state and your on the back burner of this.  I know more people get it so much worse but when I hit those black days it is horrendous.

Another thing that has started, which I do need to deal with asap, is I am getting quite a few episodes of low blood sugar to the point I think I am going to faint.  I have had problem with this in the past but it just went. 

Appreciate all your comments and advice

[CLKD]

Morning!  Bananas.  Slow release foods such as porridge    or good quality cereal bars - look at professional cycling web-sites to see how they deal with it.  I was advised by NAPS to eat every 3 hours to stop that sudden dip which made me feel really sick.  That's every 3 hours, 24/7 even in the night ;-).  It took a while to get into the habit but I learned the hard way several times.

I stick to that regime as much as possible and always have dried fruits and nuts and bananas to hand.  If I don't eat properly within 3 days those awful feelings come back  so I know that I have missed a meal somewhere 

Little steps.  Don't plan more than half a day at a time other than shopping ahead.  ;-).

Because hormones rise and fall 24/7 not many blood tests show exact measures, my Gynae treats on symptoms. 

[Bradenton69]

Thank you. Just made a batch of homemade granola and smoothies which can be my go to snacks.

[CLKD]

   we have a recipe thread if you would like to share?

[corianne]

I just wanted to say you are not alone, even though it can feel like it sometimes, Menopause has a lot to answer for.
Does your partner know how bad things are for you? I found that once my husband understood it wasn't him personally  and what I was going through he was a lot more supportive, I doubt your OH wants you to suffer any more and it helps to share/vent/cry with someone there to support you.
Follow the advice given, and hopefully the black days will soon start feeling a little brighter 
Take care of yourself,
xx

[CLKD]

Good idea - do print off 'hints for husbands' from the Forum ;-) and hand over.

[Sparkler]

Hi there

There isn't a blood test to tell us what dose of hrt to use, but The general advice is to use the lowest dose That controls symptoms. I started on evorel 25 and am now happily on evorel 50, but some Ladies need a higher dose.

I feel your pain. It is so hard trying to live anything like a normal life with these symptoms. For me it was sweats, palpitations and crying. So much crying.

Hrt has helped me hugely, but it is an individual decision. You do sound as though you are struggling though, so I hope you start to feel better soon.

Sparkler
X

[Hurdity]

Hi Bradenton

Re the blood sugar. I get this and have done so all my life but worse once i reached menopause. The key thing is to keep blood sugar levels stable and to do this you need as CLKD to eat slow release foods. So  CUT OUT added sugar  and refined carbs from your diet as much as you can. This includes too much fruit so smoothies are not a good idea, but eating whole fruits like apples etc are fine as long as not too much. This should help enormously, but if after a few weeks you notice no change then also decrease the amounts of carbs in your diet and repalce with low fat protein. If you have no undelrying problems then this should sort it out.

Get to know your body. When do you get these symptoms? I get mine if I don't eat a big enough breakfast and especially if I take vigorous exercise. Like CLKD says, porridge, bananas, fruit and nuts. I wouldn't be running to the granola bars too often but keep one in your bag for emergencies as I do. If it comes on at night, eat something before you go to bed. I always have a spoonful or two of natural yogurt or Skyla ( high protein) just before I go to bed! Have something by your bed for when you wake in the morning if it hits you then?

The other symptoms I'm not sure whether HRT deals with them all. Have you had blood tests etc to rule out other causes. Bone pain in particular I'm not sure would be helped by HRT although muscle aches and pains yes and joint pain yes so I would possibly ask your doc further about this?

The other thing is you ask if symptoms will stop when you reach menopause. The answer is post-menopause is for ever so this means you will be in an oestrogen deficient state for ever and there may be greater health risks from not taking HRT than taking it for some women. This affects some women more than others depending on lifestyle, genetics and longevity.

Yes I am an HRT fan like some of the others. Started in late peri-menopause and still taking it 13 years later. Also have had hugely improved quality of life and would not have had it any other way. it is better to take HRT if you are abkle to than Prozac and also HRT is the first line of treatment for menopausal symptoms, not anti-depressants, which don't of course replace oestrogen.


All the best
Hurdity x

[CLKD]

Do look at the Pro-cycling web-sites to see what the cyclists eat as they race: Mars bars, home made energy bars/drinks, small cans of full fat Coke - they discard to the spectators what they don't require at that particular time: you may have a cycle shop near by where cyclists meet, they are usually happy to chat about energy levels.  Watching them un-peeling a banana at 28k is quite something!

[Hurdity]

CLKD what pro-athletes take/eat/drink to give them quick energy for their strenuous exertions bear no relation to the rest of us in our normal activites.We should most definitely not eat Mars bars nor drink energy drinks nor look to what athletes do, if we want to keep our blood sugar levels stable, however interesting this may be!

Hurdity x