my Lichen sclerosis has gone from having episodes every other day to once a month or two...so happy about this.
my hot flushes have gone from just my body heating up 2-4 times a night and a few times during the day - to my body being on fire, covered in sweat and waking me every 20-30 minutes at night and a few more times a day. So I am not sleeping well.
I am more emotional, I cried the other day for no reason. I get upset easily now.
my last period was 2 months ago.
I have been peri menopausal for about 8 years or so. I went to the GP today and explained what's happening. He said with the change in symptoms he can confidently say Menopause has started for me. I said I thought you had to be period free for a year. He said normally yes, but all these symptoms are suggesting Menopause is happening...
As I can't take HRT, the dr has put me on a tablet to help ease the hot flushes. I hope it works.
So my question is, when Menopause started for you did your symptoms get worse?
Promensil made no difference for me, neither did any of the other "natural: pills, and I'm envious of those for who it did work. I regret wasting so much money on them, but worth a try I guess.
What is the anti-hot-flush tablet Grams? Some of the things that help is to avoid coffee, tea and other hot drinks, alcohol also. Wear only cotton clothes, get rid of your polyester doona and get a cotton one or a feather one that you can shake down.
You have my sympathy, it goes on for ages/years, then later you'll suddenly realise its all over. Time heals, but if only it was quicker!
The tablets the dr suggested are for depression! but it has been proven to help with the symptoms of menopause. I tried one but it did nothing for me. These ones are called Altven Venlafaxine, it's just one tablet in the morning. I started them today, so I will let you know if it works.
The Dr said there was also a blood pressure tablet I can try too, but it's 4 tablets a day.
I have tried. Remifemin but it didn't help at all. I even tried this companies tablets to help me sleep, but that didn't work either.
The dr wants me to use these tablet for a month, so we will see what happens. My fingers are crossed.
Every woman is different and experience lots of symptoms or for some lucky ones no symptoms except the ending of periods.
MY experience was not too bad but lasted for about 7 yrs. Warm flushes (what I called them as they were ok), mood changes and crying for no reason, my migraines became more severe than usual, putting on weight and anxious. I hated every moment.
Now I am relaxed, happy and back to my old self.
Natural therapies were a waste of money. The Dr gave me a low dose HRT which worked for a while and then decided to just go without.
The tablets might be the same as my Dad was put on - don't laugh. He suffered menopause-type hot flushes when he had hormone treatment for prostate cancer. The tablets helped a bit but I wouldn't know what they were called. Always wondered why they didn't offer them to women as well.
No I would never laugh, I know some men suffer from male Menopause.
I have had to stop taking the tablets, they were making me feel nauseous and making me feel weird. I didn't like it, so I will go it alone now. I think having no periods far outweighs the troublesome hot flushes.
Another thing I found good was mega vitamin B. Tablets , put my hubby on them too and they calmed him down a treat, he still takes them. I only have Multi vitamins and calcium tablets now and I am feeling the best I have in years.
Menopause is the pits but we are tough ladies and it will pass. I'd say the worst was the sleepless nights and migraines. Sleep very well now only having the rare night that I can't sleep ( usually summer) and the bad headaches have gone. I do get an occasional one but it's bearable so glad it's over and I really feel for ladies who have trouble.
I suffered with depression ( not through menopause but other reasons ) and found the anti depressants worked for a while but then I decided to wing it and have been good for a few years now. I never ever want to go through that again.
I have just come back from my Endocrinologist. He says my menopause symptoms are going to get worse, especially with the hotter weather coming in. He is trying to contact my Gynaecologist, with no luck, to find out what they can give me to help. He's worried I won't be able to tell the the difference between these hot flushes and hypo's ( low blood sugars) until it's too late. I can understand that. He also said the antidepressants would not have helped me anyway, even before I told him they didn't. I like this guy he is good.
Don't know why but the problems with menopause seem to be less in countries where the elderly are more respected and the media is not so biased against ageing. If we look at it as something similar to the ups and downs of puberty instead of some kind of illness we might have less problems with it. Instead of "hot flushes", real women have "power surges"! I was living without mains electricity in the tropics when I went through this, and found the best way was to have a soak in a cold bath. For me it was all worth it because I will never again have to wash blood out of clothes and even sheets! Not to mention the fact that my life has been enormously simplified and improved by being happy to stay solo. With 3 marriages in my past I'd have to say that all my worst decisions were hormone driven
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Cheers, Marianna.
The more I learn about people, the more I like my dogs (Mark Twain)
I agree with you. And I like the idea of Power Surges... :)
I am so enjoying these period free days, especially during the hot weather. It's been 3 months of heaven. If my periods stay away the "power surges" are so worth it.
My endocrinologist wants me to have HRT but using patches or injections I think, it doesn't want me the have the tablets. He still can't get hold of my gynaecologist, so he sent me a letter for me to give to her. So after the New Year I'll make an appointment and drive the 300km to go see her and hand her the letter then find out what she wants to do to help me.
I just wish I knew for sure that my periods had stopped. It's horrible dreading going to the toilet to check every time. Then being elated nothings happened. I feel different too, I feel brighter, I have more energy, I am finding it hard to concentrate on any one thing. But I feel wonderful in myself. Not like me at all...is this what happens?
My gyn at the time suggested HRT for me too. I just reminded him that I smoke, am prone to high blood pressure and have a family history of cancer, then asked if he still thought HRT was a good idea, to which the answer was of course a resounding NO.
Just remember that it's a natural phase of life and will pass quite soon. I have actually interrupted business meetings with the statement "I need a break because I'm having a power surge". No-one seemed to mind, especially if you cultivate the ability to laugh at yourself.
May not be so easy for everyone, but after 20 years as a tax agent followed by 12 as a tax auditor, I don't get embarrassed easy
-- Edited by The dog lady on Sunday 29th of December 2013 12:14:59 AM
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Cheers, Marianna.
The more I learn about people, the more I like my dogs (Mark Twain)
This is the best community of women on the internet ~ saved my sanity 10 years ago and am still in daily contact with many of the women now on fb ~ Powersurge the menopause site. It's huge and addresses everything you never wanted to know about peri, meno and more. Great support system. http://www.power-surge.com/
-- Edited by Sunshine on Tuesday 7th of January 2014 11:13:32 PM
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~ life is what happens while you're busy making other plans ~ Peace ~ Sunshine