dreaded menopause again

[eleanor2]

well i'v just come back from the doctors.i have described all my symptons and she says it sounds like i'm starting the menopause.so i have a reason to be a bit loopy now and then.i have even got a bit of acne on the chin which i never had as a teenager. so ladies how do i cope with the next few years.any advice much needed.

[keepersdaughter]

I think I'm in the latter stages or just about thru. it. Had to have a hyst. about 15 yrs ago, so I don't experience the most obvious symptom. Blood tests about a year ago confirmed this. I too have been experiencing some acne, actually I've had it on and off since I was a teenager, though so far no wrinkles to speak of - not sure which is better -neither preferably I suppose!. I only experienced a couple of hot flashes and thats just exactly how they were. All of a sudden out of the blue it felt like I'd been blasted. Instead what I've really been struggling with is just general heat intolerance, just being miserably hot all the time. It's more than just the weather, though its been record breakingly hot here, up to 110 deg. and it's still in the in the 90s, about 20 or so deg. hotter than usual. Roll on autumn.

As for loppyness, well what can I say. I've always been a bit loppy, the only thing now is I feel comfortable with it. 'Comfortable in my skin' as they say. I don't worry about the things I used to agonise over, though that may be just a part of getting older.

I do take something called Estrovan, a herbal supplement and for me, Evening Primrose Oil does seem to make a difference.

Oh, and another thing for some weird reason I've suddenly developed malapropism (don't know if that's the proper technical term), for some reason I sometimes get my words all discombobulated, can't pronounce cinnamon, comes out cimmanon, anenome - an enemy, you get the general idea. I never had this problem before, so I'm putting it down to meno. too.

[eleanor2]

its the menopause as made me feel better.every sympton the doctor mentioned i had.not many hot flushes.but i have high plant hormones in my diet.soya,seeds and nuts etc.memory loss.words i'v used hundreds of times.i just can't think of.it is so frustrating. heavy periods coming early each month.mood swings etc.i'v been having recurrent cystitis .i was worried i had kidney trouble .i'v sat and had a good chat to a lady doctor.she was lovely.going send urine off for tests to start.i'm on agnus castus and evening primrose.did any of you have trouble with your hair going greasy and spots appearing.aghhhh

[keepersdaughter]

Haven't experienced greasy hair fortunately. I do drink lots of soy milk. I used to drink ordinary cows skim milk, then changed over to soy and now cows milk tastes really strange to me. I have occassionally been forgetful, but seem to forget silly odd things, yet can always recall with perfect clarity where everything is etc. useful when everyone else in the house forgets where they left their keys, etc. Frustrated with the rubbish on TV, I've been reading lots lately. I read every night before I go to sleep and I think it helps the old brain cells keep ticking over and seems to help me focus. I think stress plays a large part of how our bodies function. So I've been trying to focus on positive thinking etc. One thing that really concerns me is how I've developed a tummy. Used to be a stick and while I've gained all over, never had such a problem with weight going straight there before. I'm going to have to work on that and when the weather, and please let it me soon, turns cooler, I'm going to start walking again. Can you increase your water intake, that may help with the cystitis.

[eleanor2]

i have been drinking more water and cranberry juice.i havn't had cystitis forabout 20 years.so i think it is related to this menopause.doctor did say hormone change can cause slackening of tissues.i already have a dropped bladder.my son weighed 10ib 14oz so he wrecked my insides. she thinks i could have an infection where my bladder sags. i tell you what it is to be a woman.

[SummerSkye]

Hi Eleanor, I have been lucky with menopause. A few hot flushes where my face flamed as if I were embarrassed for no reason but nothing drastic. Keepersdaughter's post re malapropism was interesting as sometimes the wrong word entirely comes out of my mouth. My head knows what I intended to say but it is not what is said. I was worried this might be the start of Alzheimer's disease but will happily give it over to menopause.
I do think mental attitude has a lot to do with how you react to this change. I was determined in advance it was not going to be a problem after dire warnings from my sister and other friends. Maybe it is just pot luck. Keep yourself mentally and physically active and remind yourself that it is a natural process, your body is just winding down.

[eleanor2]

certainly helps. every day i start off with positive words to myself. yesterday just being reassured it was the menopause.normal adaption of the body etc. i felt so happy and relieved i wasn't loosing the plot.i was a bit hyper last night.i was a bit hyper at mums and tots this morning to.i just feel so much better about myself.

[Crocus]

Why do we women have to suffer so much? We have to have periods, bear chilren, and then have to cope, above everthing else, with menopause! What exceptional creatures we are eh?! I also developed a tummy, falls over the littlest of thing, hot flushes, especially during night time. Oh goodness me, the joys of being a woman!!!

[sheddie]

Get making your oH his bedcap now ready for when you throw all the windows open!!! My friend sailed through and had no symptoms at all, yet I had the hot flushes, mood swings etc. In fact EEeeee what are you going on about!!!! Sorry Eeeee just had a mood swing, you are a dear really.With your sense of humour you will sail through too and you have us here to help you through if you have an off day.X

[eleanor2]

what would i do without you.i had my chamomile tea last night.slept well.kicked hubby out sent him off to work this morning.then came straight on here. what more can a woman ask for.i hope you hav'nt got an hangover after all that brandy.never mind blaming it on mood swings.

[sheddie]

It's not me on the brandy it's Ccccccc.

[eleanor2]

well as far as i can see. the menopuse makes us all feel strange in one way or another.i just feel good we have an excuse for all our erratic emotions.after my periods my skin has started to clear up and i feel better in myself.
sheddy its not just ccccc, now behave yourself. those of you who have finished the menopause.how do you feel? i can't imagine never having another monthly show.(isn't that a nice way of putting it).

[sheddie]

But that's the good thing about it Eeee I definately never missed that! But it does make you yo yo a bit, up and down you understand.Look upon it like puberty it's just something you have to go through and the more you look for symptoms and read self help books the more you will think you've got. It's not an easy time but it can take a number of years and you're only young yet.Like it or lump it we have to go through it, but you may be one of the lucky ones and have no symptoms at all.

[SheepyJames]

Well, that's all the bad stuff out of the way! You'll never have to have the heating turned up again, it won't matter how mad you are, everyone will just shake their heads indulgently and say "it's her age, you know", you can start "wearing purple etc", you'll have a real bosom where there may have been nothing before, and best of all NO PERIODS!!!! Good luck! Sheepy

[Redstart]

Hi eleanor

We're all different and it's just another stage of life. I got spots (on my nose) and frequently had burning hot feet but only remember one hot flush in my face. Being hidden inside my shoes no-one noticed my hot flushes but they were most uncomfortable. I put on weight and find it very hard to lose; in the past I could lose it but now it remains stubbornly in place. So I've accepted I'm now a 12 to 14 instead of a 10 to 12. I'm not obese and can accept my new shape, as long as I don't get any bigger.

I've watched my diet and tried to keep fit by doing something active every day - like walking into the village, gardening, polishing furniture and maybe a longer walk at the weekend. I also do yoga exercises. I'm definitely post menopause now (last period 9 years ago) and feel fine. I didn't have such a bad time of it compared with other women I know; we're all different and you may simply sail through it!

[Katelb]

Oh eleanor,please don't despair! you will get through it ---with a little help from your friends!I guess I was lucky,I sailed through with the help of hrt which I took for sevral years,like it of not,it certainly alleviated many of the symptoms.I know that there are very mixed feelings in the medical world as to whether it is safe to take hrt for any length of time but it was around20 years ago that I had it and I have to say it was a great help and I barely noticed any of the symptoms.I do however still get hot and so a jumper and a wooly hat are in order for my OH!!!! Don't worry,you can blame all sorts of memory lapses and erratic behaviour on the menopause and mixing words up too!!!

[eleanor2]

i think that is a big part of positiveness.i have been walking and cycling.going this new exercise class.i feel like if you get out there and keep yourself fit and alert .might be able to hold back time. part of our exercise class for over 50s is about mental alertness and agility. apparently its accidents that happen to old people that bring about the beginings of physical deterioration in a high percentage of the elderly.

[Katelb]

Yes I think you are right there eleanor,and unfortunately osteoporosis plays a part in the ageing process, and that in itself gives rise to accidents etc.I am sure that if you continue as you are you will be fine,physical excersise within your limits is excellent and of course as you say walking and cycling are good too,and lastlybeing on here and conversing with friends is guaranteed to keep you on your toes!!!!