Menopause

Hey all, I have updated the menopause wiki! (it's listed in the sidebar) I figured it was time for a refresh. I have expanded a number of different sections, to go into better detail about some of the more common symptoms (frustrations, like weight).

Also the Resource section contains better organized lists so it's easier to find recommended books, essentials, links to research for various topics, etc.

I've kept it "research based", in that I've compiled almost everything from reputable sources.

Please read through and let me know if you want to see anything else specifically, or if there's any issues that need correction.

This year's theme: Menopause Hormone Therapy

I see there are tons of podcasts on the topic out there. Any recommendations?

I wouldn’t mind chatting a bit about peri and symptoms. I seem to have bouts of random symptoms every few months it seems. Took some rhodiola yesterday and today and it seems to help. Also ordered a couple more adaptogens to try out.

Edited to add: major stress at work right now so definitely something that’s not making this easier. Ugh.

I am reading a bit on Reddit but left Reddit last summer for good and would love to have some people chat here. Compare notes so to speak.

Has anybody read it yet? I am about halfway through. And wow. I learned a ton so far.

Original post https://lemmy.world/post/673953

I have been on testosterone 1% for 3 months now. I feel like it took 6 weeks or so for me to feel the effects. I'm happy to say that my libido has increased, not to the same levels that it was before, but I'm hopeful that it may continue to change. My doctor says that it takes about 6 months for things to level out in your system.

I was completely averse to sex for the last 2 years and now I can actually initiate sex which is huge for me.

I haven't noticed any other changes that you get warned about.

If anyone has any questions please feel free to ask. And I would urge anyone who's having libido issues to inquire about going on testosterone because estrogen did nothing for me in that regard.

>An office manager has won a £37,000 payout after her boss told her she used the menopause as an "excuse for everything".

>Karen Farquharson, 49, said she was told to "just get on with it" after being off work ill due to her symptoms.

Good on her! Anyone else experience workplace issues with bosses or coworkers?

>It is important to note, since this is an observational study, that it cannot say that having premenstrual disorders causes early menopause. Instead, the results show that there is a correlation between the two, said senior study author Dr. Donghao Lu, an associate professor in the department of medical epidemiology and biostatistics at Karolinska Institute.

Link to the study: Premenstrual Disorders, Timing of Menopause, and Severity of Vasomotor Symptoms

My hormones are so low my gyn said I shouldn’t have periods. Yet I do. And the past year it’s become more frequent. I just had one two weeks ago and starting again today. The past few years the first day is pure hell and I lie in bed in misery. Hopefully it’s just a few years to go but damn a hysterectomy would give me 16-20 days of my life back a year. Thanks I needed to vent.

It's great that they are getting this out here:

>"There is a menopause management vacuum,” said Dr. Stephanie Faubion, who is medical director for The Menopause Society and director of the Mayo Clinic’s Center for Women’s Health.

>Only 7% of medical residents training in family medicine, internal medicine, and obstetrics and gynecology said they felt adequately prepared to help women patients manage menopause, according to a 2017 Mayo Clinic survey.

>“Just because you’re a physician in obstetrics and gynecology doesn’t mean you learned about menopause and hormones,” Faubion said.

And state that:

>The goal is not to require that employees confide to managers that they are in menopause or for managers to approach employees they just assume are menopausal. Rather, it’s to make everyone at work aware that menopause is a common health issue, and that various medical and mental health benefits exist that may help employees manage their symptoms.

Some folks asked if I would check in when I started my HRT so here I am. I have only noticed two differences thus far:

1. I have little blue adhesive residue circles all over my lower belly where my jeans rub against the patches and leave little fuzzies. I just learned of medical adhesive remover and plan to pick some up after work today.
2. My dreams are so much more vivid.

That's it. The doctor said give it two months. I'm still a bitch on wheels to my husband at work, because being told what to do pisses me off these days. And my hot flashes, which were not bad to begin with, haven't changed at all. I'll keep checking in but it feels like most people are still over on reddit where I don't go any more and I don't want to turn the lemmy menopause forum into the knitapeace show.

It took a little tussle with the insurance company, but today my Rx for the combipatch was FINALLY filled. I put it on in the office bathroom lol. I know I need to give it a couple of months but at least I got the ball rolling. What a relief!

I'm kind of happy to say I don't have much to share. It went well. As I mentioned in one of the comments on my previous thread, I knew the gyno would be willing to prescribe HRT because she told me so at our appointment in September. She just wanted me to try Remifemin first. But she mentioned in our appointment yesterday that Remifemin is really only for hot flashes and that was the mildest of my symptoms. So that was a waste of 10 months.

But basically I walked in with a list of all my symptoms and then started making apologies about how I didn't know if they were really all that bad after all and maybe I'm making something out of nothing and maybe I just need to see a shrink instead, but she calmed me down and let me know everything on my list was pretty common. And she praised the results she's gotten with HRT for her patients, and she told me to give it a month, maybe 2, and see if I don't feel a whole lot better after that. In short, she validated me and supported me and made me laugh, and most of all she gave me hope that I can feel better. I did tell her I made the mistake of googling the side effects of HRT and found that list kind of matched up with the symptoms I was already having! And she assured me that in most cases the side effects, if you get them at all, tend to fade after the first couple of months. Like, I'm going on this shit to help me stop flying off the handle at little things and crying that the world is ending, not to make it worse.

She prescribed me the dual estrogen/progesterone patch which we aren't sure if my insurance will cover. I called CVS this morning and the robot told me that it would be ready by midday Friday. I don't know if that's because they have to order it in, or because they're arguing with my insurance. I may end up with some other delivery system. I just hope they sort it out quickly so I can get this show on the road. Having a light at the end of the tunnel has already improved my outlook dramatically.

Anyway that's the story, thanks for listening!

Well, it finally happened and I got COVID. (So angry... ) Luckily, my symptoms have been relatively mild -- but, that being said, I still feel like total shit. But at least I'm not in the hospital or anything like that.

I've been on HRT (estradiol patch and periodic progesterone) for about a year and they've been doing a pretty good job at helping with peri symptoms, but I feel like I've started having hot flashes since getting COVID. Has that happened to anyone else? They feel like hot flashes and not "fever heat". I was feverish a couple days ago, but I don't think I am now.

I definitely have more brain fog and fatigue, too, but those I'm less surprised about.

Today is the day I ask my GYN to get me started on HRT. These are the symptoms I'm going to tell her about:

Anxiety, irritability, hot flashes, joint and tendon aches, tinnitus, brain fog, exhaustion, migraines, increased belly fat

As I've said in other posts, I don't expect HRT to make all those things disappear. I'm hoping that it will give me the increased energy and mood to be able to handle them better. I'm also hoping it will have some protective effect against Alzheimers which my father has (I know this effect is still being studied) and bone loss which my mother has.

Please wish me luck and no side effects.

"Menopause is having a moment," according to The Daily. Pretty great episode! Check it out: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-daily/id1200361736?i=1000622626489

Good morning friends. I'm not under the care of any kind of mental health practitioner but I recognize I probably should be. My ability to cope is a roller coaster even though the situational stressors in my life have been pretty much all the same for many years now (money issues, relationship issues). From time to time I'll go to my insurance website and look for a therapist then chicken out. Yesterday was a VERY low point and I almost made a therapist appointment but remembered that I have an appointment to get HRT on August 1.

So I'd really appreciate if anyone could speak to how HRT helped your ability to be resilient with life's challenges, and how long you were on HRT before the benefits (if any) started to be evident. I truly believe my hormones have been whackadoodle since my mid twenties when I started taking Depo Provera and have never stabilized since. I don't want to get my hopes up for a miracle but I sure would love an improvement. I'm not ruling out therapy but I'd like to see what HRT does first.

Thank you!

Hello!

I save my PCP today. After years of peri symptoms that everyone ignored, I was told my FSH is 55, solidly in the post-menopausal zone.

I am not sure how I feel. On one hand, relieved that I knew that I was having hormonal changes and am not crazy. I am frustrated that 4, yes, 4 other PCPs blew it off over the last few years. 45 seems young, which makes me afraid of possible long-term consequences.

And, now I don't know what to do or what to expect. My now PCP says I don't need to do anything. Yet, am I through the worst, or am I only just begun the "fun"? And, I thought FSH was a terrible measure? Or is that just during Peri?

Any thoughts on this would be welcome!

I just spent a little over 24hrs with 3 really good friends for my bestie's 50th birthday. We had a lovely time, but I spent a lot of it wanting them to all to shut up / fuck off. I feel horrible. I have to go to work today and the thought of having to be around people again makes me want to cry. I just want to lie on the sofa and be angry on my own.

Hey y'all, I've been boycotting reddit and don't have access to the Menopause wiki, so I'm hoping one of you lovely people can help me. I am perimenopausal (VERY), and I've been using the estradiol patch for a while along with the Mirena to manage my symptoms. I'm currently using the .075 patch. My doctor also prescribed Progesterone to take as needed for sleep (100 mg). My question is this; do I need to take the Progesterone pill daily, or is it fine to use it as needed for sleep, considering I am already getting Progestin in the Mirena? Thanks for your help!

[https://vajenda.substack.com/p/contraception-empowerment-otc-access](Check out Dr. Jen Gunter's article about the new OTC pill)

I got a new GYN in September and told her some of the symptoms I was having. She suggested I try Remifemin (black cohosh mainly) for a little while then see if I wanted to get on HRT after giving that a shot. The hot flashes are ramping up and my bra is getting too small and my belly is starting to flop over, and those are just the new symptoms. I'm 54 and officially in menopause for just under a year and have been having mainly mood symptoms with mild hot flashes. What is the typical "starter" HRT and what kind of side effects should I look out for?

Recent Globe & Mail article.

>It’s Gen X and the women behind us demanding more. They’re not going to accept putting up with and pushing through symptoms that could last a decade or more

>Despite the current knowledge gaps about menopause, there is some optimism among specialists about the next crop of doctors. More physicians are using a simple, six-point questionnaire to help train medical students and residents on screening for perimenopause symptoms

I've started to get these really deep pimples on my chin. They don't have a head and they seem to just stay there forever. I've always had pretty clear skin minus the occasional regular pimple so I don't know what to do about these. I'm assuming this is part of peri? Have any of you successfully gotten rid of these?

Is this another example of the peri gift that keeps giving?

Not sure if I’m after advice or support or just having a rant or all of the above!

I live in a freestanding house that is driveway width from my neighbour’s house. I can smell cigarette smoke wafting into my house frequently (at least 10x a day) throughout the day and night even when all my doors and windows are closed.

I’ve had smoking neighbours before but have never noticed the smoke. Could it just be that this neighbour smokes a particularly pungent brand or am I now super sensitive to it?

I know I’m going to have to find a way to deal with this, like sealing windows and doors, maybe getting some fans. But I’m still trying to get on top of the mess from a couple of years of debilitating symptoms and this is just one more farking thing.

Great info in this article...

• 516,000 workforce departures due to menopause symptoms.
• 1.7 million additional people at risk of leaving the workforce due to menopause symptoms.

I went to my GP last week and she prescribed me a testosterone cream that has only been available here in Australia for a few months (according to her). I had a blood test and it showed that my levels were very low.

I haven't been to pick it up yet, but I'm looking forward to seeing what it can do for me. I have had zero libido for a long time now, but that's not what I got it for BUT it is one of the main reasons they prescribe it. I wanted to see if it helped my muscle weakness and overall mehness. I have CFS/ME and hormones play a huge role in how well I feel.

Has anyone else used testosterone and how did you find it?

PS - HRT is so freaking expensive, it makes me really angry that our pharmaceutical benefits scheme doesn't cover it and I am out of pocket hundreds of dollars a month.

I understand that certain medical procedures can kick-start perimenopause. But I've read people who post things like "I've been in [peri/]menopause for xx years..." and without something significant to indicate the starting point, how do you know? My symptoms started I have no idea when. For several years I've had issues that at first I attributed to other things. I've finally come to the conclusion that it's perimenopause but how does anyone really know? Furthermore, to what extent does it matter?

Hey all, I'm in the process of updating our Wiki (I know it's not yet posted here), but I can hopefully provide a link when it is.

There's some information that needs an update, new links to add, and some better information about treating certain symptoms (the new hot flash drug) and non-hormonal options as put out by the North American Society.

If there is anything specific you'd like to have included, let me know!

While this is a People 'news' article, I have heard about these Menopause Cafe's starting up in the UK before. Anyone ever been to one? Or thought about starting one up? To see what the Menopause Cafe is all about (and the upcoming #FlushFest23, Sept 8th & 9th in Edinburgh Scotland) definitely check their webpage!

>“The top two things women say when they leave are, ‘Now I know I’m not alone,’ ” says the mom-of-three. And, I know I’m not going mad.

Let us know how you are accessing lemmy (or reddit). Both are going to see some big updates shortly, reddit in a negative way, while lemmy is only improving services.

I am putting together some information to help new users get the most out of lemmy, so that it feels user-friendly and easily accessible. Stay tuned

This MHT Guide was just posted to Dr. Jen's blog, The Vajenda. It looks like she will be adding more chapters to help explain the pros/cons of MHT.

I am almost 3 months out from a hysterectomy and it’s been great not dealing with the monthly pain I had been used to for 30+ years!

I am 5-ish years into Peri, by my & my Gyn’s best guess, and last year she Rx’ed me MHT— including Yuvafem (vaginal estrogen suppository) to help with the constant UTI’s I was getting.

I got the Ok to start using it again about 5 weeks ago following the surgery. After the first time I tried going back to it I ended up with the nastiest yeast infection I’ve ever had— it took two weeks and THREE fluconazole pills along with a Rx cream, to go away. Usually a yeast infection takes me 1-2 pills and I feel relief right away. Not then!

I waited a couple weeks to try the estrogen again, and then jumped to it when the UTI-like sensations started to come back.

By the end of week one back on the Yuvafem again, now I have another nasty yeast infection.

Does anyone have any insight? Or has anyone been through this, and if so how long until your body evened out and could take the vaginal estrogen again?

Prior to my surgery, by body handled the Yuvafem without issue… now, it seems like it’s rejecting it. I already also use hyaluronic acid, which can help with moisture as well— but I know that estrogen is what will ACTUALLY address the underlying cause with atrophy- lack of estrogen.

Hello, I've been in menopause for approx 10+ years since I had a partial hysterectomy when I was in my mid-40s. Just recently I've been experiencing problems with concentrating and following along with other people speaking. I find myself thinking of things I need to do (grocery shopping, errands, chores, etc.) and then realize I haven't been paying attention to them. I'll ask my neurologist if I can be tested for Alzheimers and Dementia, but is anyone else experiencing this? A co-worker blamed the same type of problem on her just entering menopause. I don't think it's brain fog from Covid because I had Covid ~10 months ago and didn't have this problem then. Could it possibly be menopause? If so, why now and not years ago? Any thoughts or suggestions?

Just a quick heads up, that r/menopause (on Reddit) has been re-opened for the time being. In the coming days, it will be 'restricted' instead of being private.

As an internet user of more than 25 years, and a redditor of more than 12 years, I think it is important to continue fostering this community on Lemmy. It is currently the only publicly-owned and operated social media platform and has exploded in growth in just the last few weeks. For those of you missing the wiki here, we are just waiting for a software update that will allow for larger posts (the wiki is huge!)

Personally, I believe strongly in having a healthcare-focused community that is free from advertising and corporate and pharmaceutical interests. I sincerely hope I am not alone in this belief.

I know some of you may want to return to reddit now that r/menopause is re-opened, but I implore you to consider the road ahead.

More updates to come.

I’ve been on 1 pump Estrogel and 100mg progesterone since April and will be seeing my doc again soon. For the last six weeks I’ve been having more mood swings and just started a full on period after six months. What adjustments should I make for the mood swings, periods, pms symptoms, sore boobs, evening out my moods, swinging energy levels? My hot flashes have all but disappeared and I’m still sleeping through the night, for the most part. But I just don’t feel as good as the first couple of months.

My experience on Intrarosa

My dr started me on Intrarosa 6 weeks ago and it has done nothing .Perhaps I need to give it more time, but at this point I'm ready to go back to Vagifem.

In 6 weeks ,my clitoris has shrunk even more than before and with Vagifem I started to notice:

Increase in clitorial size

Increase in clitorial sensitivity

Increase in vaginal moisture

Increase in vaginal sensitivity

I'm al out of Vagifem but I do have premarin and will continue to use that vaginally until I get my prescription for Vagifem renewed on the 26th

To say I'm dissatisfied and disappointed is an understatement

Okay this is different. Vascular fat has always been considered bad for us, but apparently not all fat cells are the same (white, beige and brown).

>White fat is denser than brown fat. But how brown and white fat distribution affects health postmenopause has previously proved difficult to study as imaging is difficult.

>Scientists took images using electron beam CT scanning of the heart and aorta and carried out tests to determine fat density at three different sites: inside the sac surrounding the heart, fat located outside that sac, and on the fat that surrounds the aorta, the body’s largest artery leading away from the heart.

>They discovered that the greater the amount of brown fat discovered around the aorta during midlife and menopause in the women, the higher the cognition of these women later in life.

At long last I finally got some help with getting my hormone levels back up. I've been taking estradiol and progesterone for a couple of weeks and feel better than I have in over a decade. I just got my testosterone cream scrip today, the concentration is 2 mg/ml, and the daily dose is 0.5 ml/daily (1 mg testosterone). I can't find much online about doses, does that seem low to y'all?

My testosterone measured <3, free testosterone 0.3 pg/mL. I have a very physical job and used to love lifting weights, I'm very anxious to get some strength and energy back!

I used to be able to sleep like it was my job. Those days are long gone. Nothing helps me sleep anymore. My THC gummies used to work wonders but the insomnia got worse and now nothing short of xanax helps. I have done all the obvious things...exercise, no caffeine or sugar, winding down earlier at night etc to no avail. Fortunately I work from home so I can catch a brief nap during the day. And yes, I have forgone naps in order to sleep hard the following night--that doesn't work either. Is there some secret technique, pill, whathaveyou that my menopausal friends know about and can share? Do you have something other than what was mentioned above that works for you. I'd love to know. I'm willing to try.