Hi devonhil
I remember the feeling tearful times well - it's hard to know where it comes from sometimes isn't it?
Apart from a brief start with patches containing a synthetic progestogen, I have used bio-identical HRT for 6 1/2 years - I use Estradot patches and Utrogestan and I find this works fine for me (I am now 60).
I started off in peri-menopause taking Black Cohosh but as most women find - eventually it doesn't work and anyway is not recommended for long term use. I also started to include lots more phyto-oestrogen containing foods in my diet - especially various kinds of seeds etc but I'm not so good at this now although do still have the seeds on my muesli when I remember.
I make sure I eat a very healthy diet - which is low fat, with very few processed foods - ie cook from fresh ingredients, lots of fruit and vegetables every day and at almost every meal, and quite a lot of fish, yogurt and pulses. I take pure cod liver oil (the original one, without anything added) when I remember, and now and again a herbal iron tonic, a calcium with vit D tablet and occasionally Vit C if I feel I'm going down with something - but mostly I make sure I get what I need from my diet, as you are wanting to do.
Following a recommendation I bought the book ( on offer!) "The Medicinal Chef" - Eat your way to better health by Dale Pinnock - but haven't started using it yet (going to get my husband to wrap it up for me for Christmas!
).
I've increased the amount of exercise I take, reduced the amount of alcohol I drink, and make sure I keep my weight within healthy BMI range, and I don't smoke. I don't think I can do any more - and most of the time I feel well (although more tired than I used to) and rarely get bugs etc - fingers crossed re good health continuing but sometimes these things are unpredictable.
At your age you should take HRT anyway to protect your bones and other health benefits - at least until the natural average age of menopause, which is now 51.
I hope this helps and that you decide and are able to take some of these vital steps to maintain good health during the years to come!
Hurdity x
