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[Padine]

Karine , I could be 6 years postmeno or 8, I had horrendous (just as bad as everyone else I suppose!) hot flushes, poor sleep, worries but all that coincided with son 2 finishing uni and unable to find a job, plus son 1 moving to London and Mr P being in the firing line all the time (he didn’t deserve that). My GP who had known me for years, suggested HRT when I was 51 and I didn’t come off till I was 57. Had no period again so after 13 months I was safely post menopause. My life has been very fraught in last 5 years hence feeling anxious. Maybe it’s not related to menopause at all? It’s getting the blame  . 
I went back on HRT 3 years ago. Once the GPs can get back to normal, I’m due a review of HRT. Is there a Dummies book or leaflet about female hormones? I’m so confused by what does what and what to.

[pepperminty]

As we age as women , when we enter menopause our risks of having a heart attack becomes the same as men - before menopause it is much lower. We were only designed to live to about 50 ish and did die around that age  less than a hundred years ago. Men have a genetically different makeup. 

I have seen may women in later life riddled with osteoporosis and heart condtions due to lack of estrogen. HRT is just replacing what we have lost, and is preventative for certain deseases , making the likelhood of getting them less, which has been proven.

Pod cast 039 link :https://www.newsonhealth.co.uk/resources/podcasts/039-oestrogen-matters-avrum-bluming-dr-louise-newson

 Oestrogen Matters - Dr Avrum Bluming & Dr Louise Newson Avrum Bluming was a clinical professor of medical oncology at the University of Southern California and spent four years as a senior investigator for the National Cancer Institute. For more than two decades he has been studying the benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy administered to women with a history of breast cancer. He is also the co-author of the book “Oestrogen Matters”. </p> <p>In this podcast, Dr Newson talks to Avrum about the numerous health benefits of oestrogen in women, including reducing future risk of heart disease, osteoporosis and dementia. It is a very sobering thought that as many women die from osteoporosis as breast cancer, yet so many women are denied oestrogen in HRT for the wrong reasons.

PMXX

[KarineT]

Pepperminty, this doesn't apply to every single woman.  My MIL is over 80 and she doesn't have osteoporosis nor does she have heart disease or dementia.  On this basis I still don't think low oestrogen automatically puts us in a category where we might get any or all of these diseases. 

[KarineT]

Pepperminty, are there any statistics showing how many women get these low oestrogen-related diseases?  If not, then how can we prove that low oestrogen is the culprit?  Not every woman get these diseases and I believe it's the luck of draw.

[Taz2]

If you look on the alzheimer's.org.uk website under Hormones and Dementia it gives reasons why they believe low oestrogen can contribute to dementia. I haven't read it all.

Taz x

[pepperminty]

Hi Taz2,

Yes the alzheimer's  society gives some information and there is plenty out there on the internet regarding estrogen deficiency etc. And it is lovely being able to post and share and give and recieve positive support on the forum.

PMxx

[BA Julie]

Hi, I am new to this forum as of yesterday!
I had to come off HRT..Kliofem, after 15 years due to a lesion found in my bowel this year which I've now been told was poor blood supply. Nothing to worry about but after 3 months off of it I am feeling the effects big time. Forgot to say I'm 65.
I can deal with flushes during the day, but night sweats, insomnia, anxiety, very teary and low mood which isn't me, fatigue, terrible joint pain on thumb and wrist, lower back, shoulders....the list goes on. I would go back on hrt right now if I coukd but can't. I know that this is what happens to a lot of women and I'm hoping in the next few months things will get better. Has anyone been taking any of the menapause supplements with effect? I'd love to hear if there is something good out there to take please
Love Julie xx

[Kathleen]

Hello BA Julie and welcome to the forum.

I am almost 65 and  also dealing with  anxiety, tearfulness and low mood. I came off all HRT in 2019/2020 but restarted at the beginning of this year.

You are likely to get more responses if you also post in the The New Members Section  and in the meantime you may want to check out the Alternatives Section for advice on supplements etc.

Wishing you well.

K.

[KarineT]

Once and for all, it would be nice to hear from soneone who's had a  positive experience with postmeno and now feels fine emotionally.  There is far too much negativeness on this forum, especially when it forces me to think that the menopause symptoms are a life sentence.  This cannot possibly be true for every woman on the planet.

I sometimes get the impression that if I don't go the HRT route, I'll get all the horrible diseases that one might get when they are older.  I'm just hoping that this will never be the case.

[Pippa52]

Really feel for you.  I have had really bad anxiety panic attacks and fast racing heart when I started to cut right down (albeit slowly) on my HRT due to the fact that the formulation has been changed and really does not suit me.  I am now due to start on Lenzetto spray next week which I am praying will help as the past 5 months have been just horrendous.  I have also been told it takes time for things to adjust re hormone levels it's not an overnight fix.  My oestradiol level was low at 98 so guess it will take time to build up again.  Hope so much you start to feel better soon.  Sending love and empathy xxx

[Taz2]

Once and for all, it would be nice to hear from soneone who's had a  positive experience with postmeno and now feels fine emotionally.  There is far too much negativeness on this forum, especially when it forces me to think that the menopause symptoms are a life sentence.  This cannot possibly be true for every woman on the planet.

I sometimes get the impression that if I don't go the HRT route, I'll get all the horrible diseases that one might get when they are older.  I'm just hoping that this will never be the case.

Sorry you feel like this Karine but the members on here are only expressing how they feel and the things they have had to do to feel better and still manage to cope with jobs, family and to still enjoy life. Of course you may well be fine but if you do begin to experience menopause symptoms then you will know that you have a great resource here in which to get support or advice on the best way forward for you. The forum can give a biased view of menopause because most members are in need of help and they are not the ones who are "sailing through" with no problems. Women with no problems rarely even search for such a forum - why would they when they are feeling fine. Fingers crossed for you that you will be one of those. I think you did get some positive responses to your thread about being post meno?

Taz x

[Wrensong]

Hi Karine,

Once and for all, it would be nice to hear from soneone who's had a  positive experience with postmeno and now feels fine emotionally.  There is far too much negativeness on this forum, especially when it forces me to think that the menopause symptoms are a life sentence.  This cannot possibly be true for every woman on the planet.

I sometimes get the impression that if I don't go the HRT route, I'll get all the horrible diseases that one might get when they are older.  I'm just hoping that this will never be the case.

Like Taz, I'm sorry to know you find the forum overly negative, but it's sadly a fact that menopause can bring very difficult symptoms for some women & this arena, judging by the relief & appreciation expressed by many members, provides an outlet for us all to speak honestly about our experiences, for support when we feel alone, need advice & don't know where to turn & to try to give help & support if we feel our knowledge or experience enables us to do this.  I think it's a very valuable resource that lets us tell it like it is in a world where sadly menopause is still somewhat taboo, which can result in isolation & for some, considerable suffering.  Surely it can only be a good & ultimately empowering thing that here there is a great deal of collective experience, knowledge, wisdom & kindness to help us all at this stage of our lives?

Lots of members come back only briefly with a query saying they have not felt the need to visit the forum for some time because they've been doing very well, so this is one example that illustrates the truth in what Taz says about the forum mostly being used by those who are experiencing problems.  We don't know what proportion of women are lucky enough to find menopause so trouble-free that they have no need to come here, nor how many put up with various symptoms, whether mild or life-changing, but choose to live with those without ever joining.

You've told us you don't feel your symptoms are currently troublesome enough to want to try HRT & that you know several women who are well postmenopause without it, giving your MIL as a recent example.  Could you maybe spend more time with these fortunate women to give you confidence that your future will not be as you fear?  Or concentrate on pastimes that give you pleasure & distract you from your worries?  If you find the forum distressing & feel you are managing OK then perhaps the answer for now is to take time away from it so you are not exposed to material that feeds your anxieties?

Whatever you decide, I still hope, as I've said before, that you will find you are among those who live contentedly long lives postmenopause without HRT, if this is your choice.  Meanwhile there will be women whose circumstances & needs are different & who I hope will feel this is a safe place for them to speak openly about their experiences, negative, positive & all shades in between.

I wish you good health, contentment & peace of mind & hope you will find some comfort in the knowledge there will be support here should you need it.
Wx

[Gynaikeíos]

Once and for all, it would be nice to hear from soneone who's had a  positive experience with postmeno and now feels fine emotionally.  There is far too much negativeness on this forum, especially when it forces me to think that the menopause symptoms are a life sentence.  This cannot possibly be true for every woman on the planet.

I sometimes get the impression that if I don't go the HRT route, I'll get all the horrible diseases that one might get when they are older.  I'm just hoping that this will never be the case.

Hello Karine. If this is of any help to you, I am new to this forum, but find there is a lot of positivity within it - it is kind and helpful like an oasis for women who are struggling, or need more information in order to help with their path through regardless. I don't personally feel that symptoms must be a life sentence, but they can be made to go on longer where suitable help is not provided when it is needed. Finding the information I needed confirmed on this forum that I was recommended to visit, along with the information in the other website helped me to ask positive questions of my GP.
I might not have plain sailing, but I am better informed now.  It makes me feel confident.

If any help for you, I have a friend who is almost 80 who said hand on heart that she sailed through peri and menopause with nothing more than few hot shivers when she was about 50. I know! But that is how it was for her.

I don't think she sings and dances about it, but she felt it hard to understand what her daughter was (was?) IS going through. I wonder if her daughter visits this forum?

With best wishes. I hope you find yourself on an easy path   

[KarineT]

Taz2, Pippa52 & Wrensong,

Thanks for your support. 

This meno thing can seem so troublesome at times and what worries me most it's the mental/psychological aspect of it.  If there never was going to be an improvement, I would have to consider HRT.  But for the moment, I'm hanging on to thought that things will get better, despite the fact that sometimes I feel discouraged.

[KarineT]

Thanks Gynaikeios for your support too.  This goes to show that some women have no symptoms while others are riddled with them.  It looks like it's not even to do with genetics, as my sister could have nothing but I could be affected.  It's very strange that it affects some women but not others.