Hi I had my last period about 10 years ago, and now at the age of 63 I am still having numerous menopausal symptoms and wonder if I'm going to be one of the unlucky women who just doesn't become free of symptoms!! I still have.... hot flushes day and night brain fog dizziness and balance problems overthinking things feelings of doom and gloom days of feeling tearful for no reason cramp forgetting words and mixing words up There are more symptoms and sometimes I think that it's so easy to blame all aches and pains on the menopause. I used to have monthly hormonal migraines when I had periods, now I get a dulled down version of them. Ten years ago I was typing when I suddenly forgot a word that I was just about to type, it took me ages to bring it to mind, ever since this I occasionally forget words that I am about to type/write, it's so annoying, I also sometimes mix my words up, my head feels full up of things to do and things to say that it feels as if my head in in competition with itself. I do feel as if my menopause is never going to end, nothing really bothers me about it because it has become my life! :( :)
Oh my, I just wrote a post with this issues, but of course mine is being sent for moderation. (story of my life). I was pretty long winded, vented and used a lot of numbers (hormones) that I am sure flagged the moderators. I am without a period about 1.5 years. I still have menopause symptoms. I get night sweats, hot flushes, and then feeling cold. Brain Fog is a way of life for me anymore. Forgetfulness ie, where I put thing, what I was doing, what I was going to say is frustrating. Doom and gloom, constant worry. Definitely over thinking things. I can so relate.
I feel like Eeyore in with menopause. "It's always something". :( :)
Thank you for replying Keljo48
I forgot about the cold haha duvet is on and off like a yoyo!! I also feel the cold more, always wrapped up when I go out.
I felt sure that I should be symptom free by now, but that's sod law for you :)))
I have never been on HRT, but I swear by Evening Primrose Oil, my anxiety symptoms become worse if I stop taking it, I also take VitB Complex and just started one of those Menopause supplement things, thinking about taking VitD as well
I tend to rush about in an attempt I think to prove that I can still do it. I hate the brain fog the most.
Annette, I'm 57 and going on my 10th year of the same symptoms. It's so frustrating! Makes me so sad and mad! I decided to see a counselor in hopes of trying to figure out how to deal with it better. I just started Yoga about 2 months ago and this seems to help take the edge off of it all. Do you get any tremors? The newest thing that cropped up foe me is an Intentional Tremor in my hands.
HI Annette, I can only suggest you go back to your G.P./Doctor. And describe all the symptoms and ask if there may be something else going on aggravating the menopause symptoms like your thyroid. And say how worried you are. And pray they listen! Sorry it's probably something you have done already. Sounds so very rough for you
hi this is me to im 52 and my last period ten yrs ago...symptoms coming and going..can really empathise with the dizziness and balance..i het ectopics and heart palps to..my main symptom is racing thoughts and insomnia which renders me exhausted for the nxt day anyway...post meno is for the rezt of our lifes sadly..all this time scale is a load of rubbish😡 spoke to so many women who still suffer yrs after xxx
ive had this along with jaw tremor last year or so 😢
OMG annette - i could have just written what you wrote...i just turned 62, been post menopausal now for 7 years, but have been dealing with various symptoms for 10 years! i have had every single 66 symptoms & its not funny - i think for me the burning body parts, the brain fog, anxiety, doom & gloom & heart palps & hot flushing have been the worst. i am so nervous all the time as well - i pray every day that i am going to wake up symptom free - oh & now i am dealing with dibilitating aches & pains which have rendered me almost handicapped cuz i cant walk very far - all my friends think i am nuts and roll their eyes when i say its from my lack of hormones because they didnt suffer from menopause like i have - i keep thinking maybe its something else, but i know its hormone related -
All I can say is your post has done more for me than the last 10-years of doctor's visits!! Thank you!! I am 57, had my last period almost three years ago, and still having every single symptom on the Menopause Chart, except hot flashes. Never had hot flashes, mine have always been cold flashes Having one as we speak. Thank you so much for posting this, because I had a feeling, because of the persistence and intensity of my symptoms, that they weren't going away anytime soon. It is near impossible to find any person or article that will confirm that having symptoms long after post-menopause is common, normal, and to be expected for an unfortunate minority of us. I appreciate your post in a "misery-loves-company" sort of way. Thank you for offering the hope that I may continue to suffer, but can do so with the same grace and humor that you display.
Netti Yoga sounds like a good idea, we have so many symptoms to contend with!! I don't have a tremor, but I do have tingling in my arms, legs and face, I initially went to my dr's with it, he did all the usual checks and tests and it's mainly down to an auto immune disease that I was diagnosed with many years ago, and there lies my problem! the symptoms of the auto immune and menopause are very similar so not sure which is which, but I definitely put the anxiety, brain fog, flushes, inner trembling, not sleeping as well, feelings of doom and gloom etc.... down to the menopause!! The menopause has definitely given me the feeling of what's my purpose in life more so because I spent so many years staying at home bringing my children up and then childminding grandchildren, I do realise that I need to direct myself into other interests, I have rekindled my love of reading and now have shelves full of books haha I think with positive thinking we will be ok :) my worst symptom by far is the health anxiety that took hold when I hit 60!! hate it!!!!
Hi Lizzie Thank you for your concern! It does sound like a rough time but to be honest the symptoms listed seem bad and hard to live with but they really aren't that bad and some of the symptoms can be put down to the menopause and an auto immune disease that I was diagnosed with many years ago, the dizziness and balance are more than likely down to problems with my neck and spine that have been damaged by the disease, the brain fog is probably down to anxiety, as it is worse when I feel under pressure or rushing about trying to get things done, I've always started to stutter when under pressure, it goes away completely when I'm within my own family or feeling confident, I am very adept and confident when doing tasks on my own but give me an audience and I just can't function, it's so irrational!! and leaves me feeling silly. I have always suffered with anxiety but it definitely accelerated when I reached 60, that was a time when two children left home within weeks of each other, I also started worrying about my health because apparently most ailments are nothing serious unless you are over 60, so now I worry about all aches and pains, something I never did before this! All the invites for health screening stress me out, because I do attend them but then stress about the results, I have been invited to a routine mammogram next week, so stressing about that and thinking they're going to find something, had to go for a scan last year for a breast lump, it was a milk duct that was enlarged and completely common as we age and nothing what so ever to worry about, but to my mind it has now turned to cancer just because of this forthcoming mammogram, again so irrational!! just wish I could change my way of thinking. When anyone confides in me about a health worry I am able to see it rationally and manage to reassure them. So sorry for this long winded reply, think I have just rambled on and on haha :)
Hi Christine, I too get palpitations but don't worry about them because I don't get them when I'm distracted, I can relate to insomnia and racing thoughts, I have the tv on all night because I sleep better with it on, as soon as I turn it off I can't sleep! I agree when you say that the menopause never seems to end! sometimes I think the hot flushes have gone then they come back full force, also I still get tearful days for no reason, and times when I really take things to heart, I have to tell myself that it's hormones still lurking about! I often feel tired due to broken sleep and I get migraine type headaches but to a lesser degree to how I used to get them when I used to get a full blown hormonal monthly migraine, yes I think we are doomed to our fate hahe :)
Hi Debra We do sound so alike with our symptoms!!! yes I get the burning but have always put it down to nerve damage, but it has a habit of moving around my body so who knows, I was once told that it was down to acid reflux and treated for it, I was on medication for a few years even though I couldn't relate to heartburn etc... I finally stopped the medication. I put the palpitations down to stress but again who knows, so many symptoms and unanswered questions, all I can say is that we have had them for so long and are still here to tell the tale. People who haven't suffered menopausal symptoms shouldn't sit in judgement because my symptoms have left me feeling like an hypochondriac!! So sorry to read about your new aches and pains, I also suffer aches and pain due to my auto immune disease, they can be pretty dibilitating at times, but at least I have it diagnosed and can blame it for some symptoms, but I don't doubt that your symptoms are menopausal. Feelings of doom and gloom and brain fog are my most stressful symptoms, the brain fog makes me think of things like dementia or tumours etc....but deep down I know it's anxiety causing me to feel muddled up and tongue tied, I think I can't find words because I'm thinking too hard and trying get words out too fast because of feeling under stress, I'm fine when at ease. I remember similar brain fog when busy with babies and young children haha :)
HOW do we get doctors to pay attention and do something about this? Menopause is a running joke that is just swept under the rug, and yes there are some lucky women that have no symptoms but there are many others like us. Is there a way we can give a MAN menopause? Because I'm pretty sure if we could there would be a cure. And by cure I don't mean like certain 70 year old celebs we'd be able to have children at 70s, but we'd retain the healthy, youthful hormone balance we need to feel calm and well mentally, stay fit and slim, prevent bone loss, and look and feel as vibrant as a man the same age who we all no can still have children. How the hell did evolution screw us like this? And HOW do we make doctors DO something about this and not sweep it under the rug as no big deal or a joke? More women need to talk about it in public. You'd think doctors would love to find new treatments as they'd get rich with all the women that need help. Currently the only thing I've heard of is Ovarian Rejuvenation, but it's mainly geared towards women wanting babies though it could help others just regain health. And currently it's very expensive and not tested enough for long term. There's also supposedly the melatonin miracle but that's in Italy. And melatonin makes me crazy anxious so I can't even take it. Peace out ladies :)
Ahh thank you SSekouB Sharing our experiences is good and reassures others, yes I seem to have been menopausal forever and am still trying to change my way of thinking and trying to find a new direction in life, trouble is my life has always revolved around my family and still does, l'm always going out and about with my children and their families but I worry about being left behind if you get my drift? But all in all I do cope and my release is to always being able to laugh at myself and with others, I like to think that I have a cheerful approachable nature, my daughter in law who is a mental health nurse says I suffer from a kind of depression that's not a true depression in that I can get all doom and gloom when on my own but completely come out of it when out and about or have family around me. You are going in the right direction in that you are living with your symptoms and trying to not let them rule your life !!!!
HI Sakura I completely agree with all you say!!! I also think that if it was a male problem it would have attention and treatments, as it is we are left feeling neurotic!! I also reckon that if men had babies they would only have one haha I am freely open with my daughters about the menopause so that if they do get symptoms they will be in for no surprises, they also know that my last ever period went on for six weeks with me going from light periods to six weeks of flooding, I was virtually housebound with it, I had to protect the bed mattress and didn't dare turn over in bed because it was instant flooding, I eventually went to the dr who took one look at my pale breathless face and sent me for a blood test saying that I might have to go into hospital that day for a blood transfusion!! I avoided the transfusion but was given iron tablets and tablets to stop the bleeding, after a scan which was clear it was said that my womb was having a massive last clearout!! the things that us women have to put up with!!
hi annette - my last reply got moderated, but i was curious what auto immune you are suffering from...also, is your doom & gloom always focused on "death" & the worst case scenario? i swear to god, i was never this person before, but i just go to the darkest place in like a nanosecond - i am hoping this is just menopause related & will go away soon, because this is no way to live -
OMG Annette - i think we were separated at birth! Thats exactly my same story...only i had about 6 months of flooding off & on - once that was over & my period stopped i didnt really start getting the crazy symptoms until about 3 years after that. i did suffer from insomnia & hot flashes/flushes thru it all, but the crazy symptoms happened much later. i just want to wake up normal again.
haha Debra I noticed that your comment was being moderated :) My auto immune disease is Ankylosing Spondylitis.
Yes my doom and gloom when there just seems to hang over me, it makes me wonder what my purpose in life is and I worry about the future and what's the point in making plans because I'll probably get an horrible illness that will kill me off before the year is out, really negative thinking!! and like you it is not the person that I was. Part of my answer to it is to talk to my family about it and it nearly always ends up in us having a laugh about it and I manage to put it into perspective until the next time, just hoping that it eventually leaves me!! I have found that taking Evening Primrose Oil eases this doom and gloom feeling quite a bit, it might be placibo but it works for me. Yes my doom and gloom thinking can appear in a nanno from nowhere!! I feel as if I need to be on the go all the time to keep it at bay. A single negative random thought can set it off.
Haha Debra it's good to know we're not on our own :)
My symptoms started before my periods finished, I woke up one night feeling really hot and thought that I was coming down with a virus, but when I got up I felt fine so didn't think any more of it, then it happened again about two weeks later, at that point I wondered if I was starting the menopause, I can't really remember if at that time I was getting symptoms but not really recognising them, after my last period I naively thought that I would just have hot flushes for up to about five years, how wrong was I!!
I've never really discussed or revealed my symptoms to anyone in full because it seems not right that I can have so many symptoms when it seems most women sail through the menopause, or is it just that we tend to keep quiet about it for fear of being seen as neurotic haha :) oh and what is normal, but would like to feel it again!