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[Ama]

I am finding that I am having to deal with all these debilitating symptoms of being peri-menopausal 24/7 - it has taken over my life. If anyone is feeling the same way, please share some tips on how you are dealing with it. Any advice would be appreciated.

[CLKD]

Morning.

Peri-menopause can become all encompassing.  Some find that keeping a mood/food/symptom diary of use to chart progress and to see if there's a pattern.

How R your periods acting?  Mine waxed and waned for several years B4 finally disappearing.  During that time I had higher levels of anxiety.  Fortunately no hot flushes though my insteps were itchy every night: as oestrogen levels drop, the body may become dry: inside and out, as well as muscles may become lax = aches and pains.

Which symptom would you like to ease first?

[SarahT]

To be blunt yes. I do feel this way as well. Sometimes seems very overwhelming at times.

I do keep a symptom diary, not obsessive but to see if I have patterns in my cycle that are worse at times and yes mine is very cyclical. But as well as seeing the bad times it also shows my the better times too. I can focus on the negative as they are as you say debilitating, so it really helps knowing my " up " patterns too. I also regularly write a list of things that definitely have improved as well, a visual reminder.

When I alter my hrt I have to accept that it takes some time for the benefits to fully show. Patience is hard if you are feeling so bad at times.

If my energy allows, I walk..this is a bit of a pressure relief for me, on my own away from anyone. Try to find a bit of time for yourself.

I get a huge benefit from this forum in knowing I am not alone in this.  Your hrt may need tweaking at times, so be aware you have options there if needed.
If you are comfortable talking about how you feel, speak to those closest to you so they may have some understanding,or point them to the post on here of advice to husband's - invaluable to let others know this is not a life choice for you!

But.... With the right hrt, plenty of support it does get better, it may take time ( I'm still working on it) but there are plenty here who do understand.

Post whenever you need,  he it for advice or a rant x

[Ama]

Thank you so much CLKD and Sarah T for responding to my post.

CKLD: The symptoms I am desperate to see ease are the mental ones: anxiety, low mood, dread.

Sarah T: your tips are great. It is also good to know that I am not alone on this journey, I am encouraged.

I am filled with dread in the mornings, thinking ‘oh another day of struggling with everything menopause’. I also cannot presently see light at the end of the tunnel.

Reading some posts do give me some hope.

Thank you ladies for always posting in the forum: your posts keep the group going and are a great support network.

[SarahT]

Ama,  I also remember that I wanted to give up hrt in the first few months as I felt all over the place. A body losing oestrogen suddenly has it pumped in!  I am glad I persevered and whilst I have had to adjust my dose a fair bit, and am not quite where I need to be, it has helped.
Whilst in peri, our own hormones are already fluctuating and adding in the ( much needed)  extra hormones with hrt it can give bit more up and down in high  physical and emotional symptoms.

Maybe speak to your gp as to how you feel,  as I say your regime may need tweaking, or perhaps even changing the type. Some women do not get on with the progesterone part of their hrt and need a different form. You do have options. I find hrt is not a cure but a support. It has taken time for me to accept his much this has altered me... Work in progress but it 100% has improved.

Take a browse on other threads regarding moods as well, as to what helps them,CBT, or natural remedies, or some need AD's ( may be going that way myself) again to help support during this bit change in our lives x

[Ama]

Sarah T: thank you so much for taking out time to respond: this is most helpful.

My GP advised to give HRT at least 3 months to know how it suits me so I’m not sure if she will be willing to make any changes just yet.

I am on Evorel Sequi. At the moment, I’m experiencing the same symptoms irrespective of whether it is the Evorel 50 (oestrogen) or conti ( progesterone) regime. This makes it all the more confusing.

It is good that your present HRT is helping in some ways and that you persevered with the HRT for the first few months - great courage and I hope that I can do the same.

Just reading the posts makes it less isolating. Thank you Sarah T.

[CLKD]

If your mental health is impacted then mayB appropriate medication along side the HRT might be the way to go?  Once you feel more settled, you can/not stop any ADs or anti-anxiety meds..

Let us know how you get on.  3 months is the recommended time to allow the body to absorb an HRT regime but quite honestly if it ain't working then there are other options.  Try  not to guess what your GP may/not do.

[DottyD68]

Hi Ama,

Sorry to hear you are overwhelmed by your symptoms. I have been peri-menopausal for 9 years approx - since I was in my mid 40's - but it took me a few years to realise that it was the menopause presenting me with so many wierd and not-so-wonderful symptoms. I eventually started HRT nearly 2 years ago after trying every supplement going.

My personal experience is that symptoms come in waves, so I may have digestive issues out of nowhere for a month or two. They suddenly disappear and I have swollen boobs or allergies or muscle pain or palpitations or anxiety and they then disappear may reappear randomly months later for another few weeks. I kept a symptom diary for years but decided to stop as checking out how I felt everyday became a major unhealthy preoccupation.

The way I deal with it now is thinking "It will pass" which it invariably does, until the next thing appears  Unless it is obviously something prolonged that I haven't had before that needs checking out. I found a pattern of symptoms developed linked to my own cycle but every so often my own cycle/fluctuates dramatically which causes new/unscheduled symptoms. I just try to take one day at a time and not think too hard about the future and the person I have ( involuntarily ) become. I have hope that although life will never be the same as pre-menopause it will settle. And hopefully soon  X

[CLKD]

Some where there's a thread about what we diagnose ourselves with  and usually each symptom disappears ....... eventually.

4 me it's the not knowing!

[DottyD68]

I agree with you CLKD in that I just need a logical explanation for why a symptom occurs. Once I know I can deal with it. It's when they occur seemingly randomly with no explanation that the worry escalates. As part if this menopausal process and the frequency of different symptoms, and partly because of lack of GP availability I have developed a "Wait a week or two" approach to new symptoms before I seek medical advice. I find they generslly tend to have gone before I get to the 2 week deadline. Thankfully.

[Ama]

Thank you @ CKLD and DottyD68 for your responses.

Sharing your techniques for dealing with peri/menopause symptoms is most helpful. Will adopt some of them  and hopefully they will work for me, too.

Much appreciated.

[CLKD]

It's hard to work through those days sometimes. 

The early morning hormone, cortisol, would wake me violently anytime after 3.30.  Anxiety is worse 4 me until about mid-aftneroon once I've done all. my commitments.  I had to learn not to agree to do anything if I was asked of an evening because the next morning I would be full of panic 

[DottyD68]

Yes, I have started to manage my social commitments a bit more carefully. I feel if I get a bit overwhelmed if I have too much social activity planned - I need downtime. I also find this difficult and exhausting to explain to people as previously I was very sociable. I've got used to the blank looks now as I try  I'm learning to look after myself a bit more and not worry too much what people think.

[CLKD]

As a teen it mattered so much what others might think!  Even in my 30s there were certain days that I could wear my bright yellow dress .......... other days I wouldn't consider it!  Those 'other' days I would have felt conspicuous in it.

Now I couldn't 'give a damn' ;-).  Not my sheep, not my farm what people might think 

[Ama]

Hello everyone

Someone suggested that I try ‘Black Cohosh’ supplements.


Has anyone tried it? Please can I get some advice on whether I can do this alongside my HRT? Is it effective?

All input would be greatly appreciated


Many thanks.