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[pineneedles]

For background, I wrote recently about my general situation and current HRT and lifestyle work in the intro thread: https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,72680.0.html

One psychological symptom that has got worse over the last 12-18 months is just more and more losing the motivation to make an effort at work. The brain fog and lack of concentration are definitely slowing me down, but what seems more to the point is an underlying lack of motivation to work at all.

I've worked in the same company for a good few years, it's a comfortable office job and well-paid so don't want to think I've got to just give up on the idea of working. But I can't wait for retirement, and I'm only in my 40s! I feel like just the action of going to work is so mentally exhausting I don't have the time and energy I need to properly look after myself, particularly now with the menopause symptoms and HRT going on.

Anyone else been through similar? What did you do to help? I am thinking about asking to reduce my hours as a first step, but that's going to have an impact on pension etc so need to think through the long-term plan.

[Suziemc]

Oh yes!

When I was around 48/49 I was doing a stressful job, I struggled with the same "vague symptoms, main ones being vaginal dryness and pain, low libido, night sweats, heart palpitations" except that i didnt get night sweats, I got night terrors and I was also shedding a lot of hair. At the time I put it down to stress.

 I had my last period when I was 49 and had occasional hot flushes but not unmanageable.  At that time I went to my GP who advised me to read up on the risks of HRT and go back if I wanted to try it, this was 14yrs ago and everything I read screamed risky so I elected to just have vagifem to try to address vaginal dryness which I hoped, in turn, would help my libido.

I put all of my symptoms down to stress, at the time the only thing you heard about menopause was the hot flushes and I could cope with those, I thought I was sailing through. I got to breaking point at work and put my name forward for voluntary redundancy 8 years ago, when I was 54, got it and I was in the very fortunate position to able to take the chance to retire.

Two years ago, thanks to the 'Davina McCall effect' I realised it was actually menopause (prob helped a lot by stress) that had caused most of my issues so I went back to the GP and got Oestrogen and Progesterone prescribed. Most of  my symptoms had gone by that point but I wanted the protections offered by HRT as well as to address my flushes. The HRT helped with those but I still had zero libido so I went to Newson Clinic and paid for testosterone. I was amazed to find that not only did it address my libido issues but it also gave me back my motivation that I hadnt realised had disappeared until it returned! My GP has now taken on the testosterone prescription.

Sorry, that ended up being a long story to basically tell you that testosterone seems to have been the missing link for me and I can't help but wonder if I'd still be working today if I'd known about testosterone 8 years ago (but I'm glad I didn't as I'm very happily retired  )

[chopsuey]

I also found adding testosterone was the missing link in giving me back my energy levels and improving general brain functioning. The brain fog and fatigue I had before I went on HRT, made me have to go part time - I just couldn't cope with the stress of feeling I was not managing at work, a job I had done for 20 years. THe HRT dealt with all the physical symptoms and enabled me to sleep well again but I needed the testosterone for my energy and motivation to return and  make me feel more like my old self again.

Of course, it may not be testosterone in your case but I think it would be worth trying, even if you have go to privately, to see if it helps before making any decisions that affect your long term finances.   

[sheila99]

It isn't at all unusual. I was another that had no interest in anything. Previously active and enjoying life I turned into a couch potato who didn't want to do anything at all. I would say don't do anything irreversible until you have your hrt sorted out. With adequate oestrogen and maybe testosterone you may not be 21 again but you'll be much more like your old self. Testosterone was the final link in the chain for motivation as well as zero libido for me but you need your oestrogen levels sorting out first. If you have to go private for it imo it's money well spent, there's nothing more important than your health.

[pineneedles]

Thanks so much for sharing your experiences on this. Taking this on board and will think about putting money aside to go private if and when I reach the limits of what NHS will help with, for example for testosterone.

Would be good to have a clear head and know that it's not hormones making decisions about work life and my long-term financial position. I haven't shared anything with my manager yet but might do (not the lack of interest in work maybe but just about how I might not have my usual concentration and energy levels until I have HRT that works). There's been a lot of menopause support talk etc at my company the last couple of years (maybe also thanks to Davina McCall effect!) but I haven't yet tested what help would be available in practice.

[Fizwhizz]

I lose all motivation and interest in every time my HRT levels drop and I become a lethargic couch potato. I have regular blood tests due to another condition which seems to be responding to treatment so I know it’s my sex hormones. For me it’s definitely getting both the testosterone and oestrogen levels high enough to work sustainably. I seem to absorb oestrogen initially and feel energised but then I can feel my mood dropping off and my enthusiasm disappears as my levels decline. Testosterone has definitely helped but the issue for me is getting sufficient of both hormones into my system to have a sustained effect. I would definitely look into how you can tweak your current HRT regime and try adding in Testosterone first.