Menopause webchat with Dr Rosemary Leonard - 1pm 10 August

Forgot to add the awful stiffness in my joints (especially on a morning) and the weakness in my ankles and wrists although I'm not sure if this is connected. Thanks again.

Hello Dr Rosemary

I am 53. I lead a very busy life which includes the care of my 3 grandchildren, elderly parents and my 99 year old grandma together with running a small engineering business with my husband. Last year I began showing signs of peri-menopause. Missing the odd period, hot sweats etc. it was annoying but I coped okay. Moving on to the beginning of this year I feel just awful. I have had 2 very long periods since December, my hair is falling out in handfuls, the hot sweats are coming every half hour during the day and the night sweats are lasting all night long. I sleep with a fan beside my bed which helps me a little bit but drives my husband mad. I have had 3 water infections in as many months, one of which totally ruined a planned short break that I was desperate for. I am permanently shattered from lack of sleep, irritable and feel bloated too. My GP has refused me HRT. She asked if there was any female cancers in the family and I answered truthfully that my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer at 59. She refused HRT and suggested I try Clonodine (possibly the wrong spelling) to help with the sweats. It didn't help at all but did make me feel as dizzy as a duck. Great help. I am literally at my wits end and don't know what to do.

I do hope you can help. Thank you in advance.

Thank you Granny23
Ì had a very bad time when I took the pill, so I hope that does not become necessary.

Hi Dr Rosemary. I am 67. Had to stop HRT 5 years ago to have surgery. I had hysterectomy some years before so oestrogen only. The full range of symptoms hit 3 months later including flashes, thinning hair and a marked increase in pain and head-fog. I have fibromyalgia. All continue unabated. Unfortunately I have moved area now and find my new surgery unhelpful. My previous GP suggested Clonidine to help manage overwhelming flashes but also was open to re-prescription of HRT if symptoms continued to be overwhelming. . Clonidine does reduce number and ferocity of flashes but I have to fight for the prescription now. I guess I have two basic questions. Is Clonidine deemed to be generally acceptable in my situation or are there risk factors I am unaware of? The other relates to fibromyalgia. Is there evidence that HRT helps with symptoms? My previous GP believed so but I can't find anyone in my current practice who agrees. I would be happy to take what I believe to be a tiny personal risk to reclaim quality of life. Any thoughts are so welcome as life is frankly a struggle.

Pittcity Like you I always believed that the menopause was a natural process and that I, with a history of fairly light, regular, 4 day periods, would sail through with periods gradually tailing off until one day they had stopped. The reality was somewhat different, periods got heavier and irregular, ruining holidays, forcing me to give up swimming and creating difficulties at work. By the time I gave in and sought help from my GP I had just finished one gruelling period with 'flooding' and started another 3 days later which lasted for 6 weeks, leaving me, pale, feeling faint and exhausted. Male GP registrar was very sympathetic but did not offer HRT as I had expected but instead put me on a version of the contraceptive pill, which taken daily, stopped periods entirely. Problem solved. I only had 2 periods thereafter - 1 a year later when I stopped the pill for a month to see what happened and went straight back on it and 1 slight bleed 3 or 4 years later when I came off the pill for good.

Now I sincerely hope that things do not get so extreme for you but it is good to know that there is help available if needed.

I have a very similar story to sued59, over 10 years of hot flushes and night sweats that mean I never have more than 2 hours sleep at a time, and fluctuating energy levels making it difficult to work at the inceased levels expected in the modern workplace. But the symptom that has really got to me is my thinning hair and rapidly receding hairline; I hate how I look in photos, get too hot with flushes to wear a hat or wig so am contemplating trying to be creative with scarves, the hijab looks very tempting!

My question is simply: is it OK for someone like me to go back on HRT, having been off it for several years?

I am 66, hysterectomised, and suffering from appalling giddiness, hot flushes, depression, headache etc. Life is hardly worth living some days, and requires every ounce of my determination just to keep going. When on Evorel 25mcg I was fit as a flea - no problems at all.

I have normal BP and I am normal weight.

My ex-GP husband can see no reason why I should not restart it.

Will anyone let me go back on my Evorel patch, or would I be banging my head against a brick wall?

I am almost 53 and believe that I am perimenopausal. My periods are still regular but they are heavier than ever and the PMT has worsened considerably. I keep a diary and the symptoms are the same every 4 weeks. At present I can cope with extra rest, ibuprofen and super plus tampons. Do I need to consult my GP? I am not good at taking medication, even vitamins make me ill so I would prefer to go it alone.
Surely this is just a natural part of life and not an illness.

Now aged 57 and have been having some symptoms for a couple of years - mainly hot flushes. Although they are a nuisance I sort of cope with them but I find it more worrying that I have poor concentration and my memory is awful!! I have always prided myself on being a very organised and efficient person so this is a nightmare for me. Does anyone else suffer with is or should I be more concerned? I feel as though I am living in a fog and am constantly fighting my way out. I just want to get on with life - is this asking too much?

Oh, I forgot to say that I was advised not to take HRT as I have had breast cancer, so hence I can't comment on that. Also, in the winter I take vitamin D but do not find a difference at all. So it sounds very individual.

I only stopped my periods and went into the menopause at the age of nearly 60. My GP was so amazed I was so late that he wanted to post it online! Anyway, what I wanted to say to all of you with hot flushes is that I seem to have cracked it! My hot flushes were so bad and frequent at night that I hardly slept at all, or so it seemed. Then I went on holiday to Japan and my hot flushes just went - it took 3 weeks though. When I came back home they restarted, as bad as ever. So I thought about my diet. In Japan there is no wheat or dairy in their diet. I thought it more likely to be the dairy so stopped all dairy. Bingo! 3 weeks later my hot flushes had virtually stopped. They are still there sometimes, but much milder and perfectly manageable now. It's just tricky when eating out. Friends are pretty good when we go round there, and restaurants seem to, in the main, take it in their stride. Of course I do think I have some dairy when I'm out, but still it seems there is a threshold, and mostly I manage it quite well.
It's worth a try - some of my friends have tried it and seen a difference too. Not everyone wants to do it though - says it's too difficult to do. So I think their hot flushes can't be too bad then! Bizarrely, for me anyway, I can eat goats produce (cheese, butter), and other dairy produce that's not cows. I'm now, 6 years later, still doing it, as if I go back to cow's milk produce the hot flushes come straight back. I keep trying though! Some day I hope this will be behind me, but meanwhile I just keep on watching out that I don't eat cow's produce.
Good luck to anyone who gives it a try. I don't know if there is any known medical reason for it though? I certainly have lots of energy and don't feel too old - yet!

I have had 10 years of hot flushes, night sweats and fluctuating energy levels, but the problem that upsets me the most is my hair loss. I would put up with another 10 years if I could have my hair back. I see people staring at my front hair line regularly, I'm uncomfortable sitting near or under lights because I am aware my scalp is visible and I know I look much older than I am, all of which has affected my confidence. I have taken bucket loads of vitamins and used various hair products but nothing helps. The NHS has nothing to offer as I don't have a medical problem other than the menopause that can cause hair loss. So I am stuck with bear it or get a wig. As I exercise regularly wearing a wig whilst also still having hot flushes is just not viable. Is there anything on the horizon for hair loss?

I asked for HRT and was refused I'm 62. Being so so tired all the time I gave up work and am living off savings. Still get the odd hot flush, still tired. My question is as follows; most of my pubic hair has disappeared as has underarm hair, head hair is thin and sparse, is this normal?
I take 50mg thyroxine daily 25mg alternate days, and 10mg of citalopram daily, like the lady ready to jump off a bridge I too feel there is nothing in life but eat, sleep and drag this body around.

Hi Sweetsusie and Nondeplume, welcome to the club of the never-ending menopause! I'm 65 and after 12 years of every menopausal symptom under the sun and hot flushes and night sweats every hour day and night I was ready to end it all. My last chance try was to go see a private gynae who has put me on an HRT patch. It's a tiny dose of HRT but has reduced the flushes considerably and I feel I can live my life again. Had tried every alternative remedy going. I'm willing to take the risks for a bit more quality of life.

As we are living longer nowadays I am hoping that GPs will become more clued up about the menopause and its disastrous effects on SOME women.

I, too, have "flashes," and have had them for 20 years! You'll not be able to find a doctor to prescribe you HRT at your age. Next to impossible. I was taking Vitamin D because my levels drop to less than 4 when I don't. My doctor told me I would have to take it for the rest of my life. Well..I forgot to take the Vitamin D for a couple of days...guess what...NO FLASHES. They just stopped! I have now started the Vitamin D again, and the flashes have returned big time. So..is there a correlation?? Doctors don't know..but I'm saying yes. I can take 1,000 IU a day and have small "flashes" that I seem to be able to handle.

Gardenoma, above, is the first person I have come across who has had menopausal symptoms for nearly as long as I have. Mine has been going for 20 yrs and I feel as it will never ever stop. On HRT for 8 yrs at one time, and now still get hot flushes throughout the day and wake up every night too. Get very nauseous sometimes before a hot flush. Have tried most remedies and acupuncture helped. Do not have caffeine. Am at my wits end really with it all. Would welcome some advice. Thanks.

I know the feeling about the "flashes." I'm 67 years old and STILL having them. They are torturous and my quality of life is zero. No doctor will give me HRT because of the "risk" of cardiac arrest, which I think in the future, they'll find out that's totally bogus...and that women have suffered needlessly all these years because of this stupid belief. I hate my life and am ready to jump off a bridge.

I would love to know what defines when the perimenopause stops and the actual menopause begins. I am 47

Is increased discharge normal with menopause? Sometimes it’s really bad.

Since I became menopausal I have a new and embarrassing problem which is making me unhappy. I get hot, not flushes exactly but when I am warm I am very warm indeed. The problem is sweat. So, for example,the other morning I got up and had my usual shower and applied my usual spray on deodorant. I then walked 20 minutes to meet a friend for coffee. It was a warm day, not boiling and I walked at a moderate but not fast pace. By the time I arrived I was conscious that my arm pits were so sweaty and that the sweat really smelled bad. I thought it was only stale sweat that smelled but I had showered and used a strong deodorant. I shave my under arm hair. Please help this is making life a misery for me as I can’t bear for people to think I have poor personal hygiene. I am 52.

I am 51 and have recently started to feel as though I have permanent PMT. Tired. Irritable. Quite bad breast tenderness and/or pain. Bloated/weight gain. Plus permanently hungry and particularly craving carbs all the time. Before I put on stones I would love to know whether this is a sign of the change and if it is or even if not what I can do about it. I hate feeling this way and am already starting to gain weight. Like several other posters on here I have a mirena coil and so can’t use my periods as a gauge.

Like the above poster I do not have periods due to my contraception. I have noticed recently however changes that may or may not be indicative of the menopause. Or they could be post viral. They include tiredness, poor sleeping (nothing on my mind, just wake up a lot and take time to get back to sleep) and restless arms. Thank you

Hi Dr Rosemary, I am 52 and I have a mirena coil which means I have no periods - so I can’t use their absence/lightening to ascertain whether or not I am menopausal. In the absence of any bleeding what signs should I looks for?

I have very thin fine hair. Now that I am post menopausal (for 15 years following total hysterectomy)
My hair parting shows a bald scalp and I hate it. Any help would make such a difference.
Also my scalp burns very easily and so I have to wear a hat when out in the sun. I don't suit hats so this makes me feel very old and frumpy.

At 52 I was having very heavy periods to the point that I was given a blood transfusion! Subsequently told I was too fat to have a hysterectomy(?) - I was 5'7" and 13.5 stone. Switched consultants and was told after ultra sound that I had multiple tiny fibroids all over lining of uterus but that they would respond well to intensive HRT high dose injections, given monthly.
After 6 injections I saw the consultant himself (I had been seen by his team prior to that) and he was furious! On reading my notes he realised that I had been given 6 instead of 3 months treatment (3 months should be the max).
I don't want to put anyone off HRT but 4 months later I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a lumpectomy and radiotherapy. I have just finished chemo for a recurrance of breast cancer, following a single mastectomy (same breast). These things may not be related but all things considered I would advise anyone thinking of HRT to insist on seeing the consultant first and to make sure you understand exactly what the treatment is, how it works and how long it should last. This happened in a reputable teaching hospital.