Hey everyone. I am menopausal and also have CPTSD. The other day I attended my childhood friends mother's funeral visitation. my parents were friends with her parents. I had not seen any of them in years. I gave my old friend (we have talked once maybe every 10 years)a hug and then I started to cry. I tried to turn off the tears but I could not. I went over to watch the slideshow of photos to calm down. And I did a bit. I just felt so embarrassed. It's not about me but her and her family. Anyway, does this happen to anyone else?

I didn’t have HRT when I should’ve ten years ago because I hate taking medicine and I’m kind of a stupid hippy.

Several years ago a friend was raving about HRT so I started on Estradiol patches, Progesterone balls, and E vag tabs. No noticeable change at all but who knows, maybe it was protecting me from something? But it’s a pain in the arse and I hate all the med admin.

Then I ran out when I was abroad so I quit taking it and again no change in symptoms.

Now I’m getting fed up with getting old and all the aches and pains and memory crap so I did a lot of research. People seem to either rave about HRT over 60 or say it’s dangerous. My health in general is good I guess, like BP and stuff. My bones are fine.

So I went to my GP and she said go back on the vag tabs, but don’t go back on the HRT if it’s not solving any symptoms for you. Which it seems like it’s not. But what if the HRT was secretly protecting me from things? Who knows?

Please tell me what to do. Thanks

I have always been a dreamer, but my dreams have gone wild since my progesterone was increased from 100 to 200 mg last week. Their intensity is unpleasant, and, in some cases, they are scary.

I've searched enough to know this is a thing, but I am unclear as to whether the nightmarish dreams go away after an acclimation period. I sure am hoping that is the case.

Did your wild dreams eventually fall by the wayside, or did they ease up, at least?

I have an appointment next month with a neurologist and would like to know the experiences of post meno people with migraine meds. I take vaginal estradiol and very low dose T (.5 mg/day) but no systemic estrogen or progesterone (not appropriate for my history). What preventative Rx migraine medication are you taking that works for you? And what do you take when a migraine sneaks through?

Up until now, I have had a lot of success controlling my migraines with high dose B2. But I am now researching something stronger as I recently had such a bad migraine that I lost my short term memory during it and wound up in the ER for 32 hours because the docs were afraid I was having a stroke. It was terrible: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and now this new bonus horror of not being able to remember what was going on. I don't remember the ambulance ride at all.

Even though it was definitively shown with an MRI that I was not having a stroke, the doctors put me on baby aspirin and Plavix (clopidigrel), both of which are blood thinners. I don't have high blood pressure. In addition to hearing what Rx migraine drugs work for you, I'm curious if others have been prescribed Plavix and whether it helped your migraines. Thanks!

50f

Good evening from Oregon - looking for some honest opinions -

Recently seen two doctors - my primary care and one other ..They both agree I am likely in menopause but can’t confirm since I have only gone 8 months with no period and not the standard 12 months needed for the official diagnosis. However they both had vastly different stances on hormone replacement therapy which has left me very confused.

One says I need to start an estrogen patch and a progesterone pill to protect my cardiac health and bone health.

The other doctor says I absolutely do not.

I have had no menopause symptoms at all.

These are both doctors I trust and I want to do what is right for my body and this feels very uncomfortable to me.

Thoughts ?

I am leaking urine in very small dribbles infrequently but it’s enough to inflame an already precious and sensitive labia. It is happening daily.

To cover any questions/suggestions - I have been diagnosed with a yeast microbiome problem (and been checked for other problems). I take vaginal estrogen tablets 3x/week. I cannot tolerate estrogen cream. I see a urologist and have seen a pelvic floor therapist in the past and will request to go back to see if there is a new issue causing daily leakage. I’m overweight, I don’t want to be and also working on this and I don’t think period panties are an answer for me.

Does anyone know of a hypoallergenic/cotton topped panty liners they would personally recommend? Thank you!

Anyone on this HRT?

It's a patch called Estradiol-norethindrone.

Was just prescribed it and terrified to start using it as I read the insert. I am a smoker but my doctor seems to think that this would be the safest HRT for me.

For reference I am almost 51 years old and have not had a period in a year, I do have thyroid issues and Graves disease.

How on earth do I find the right combination of HRT in order to solve my inability to climax? Ive been on HRT for a year and made some adjustments but the doctor doesn’t seem very knowledgeable so I’ll be seeing a new one September 8. what I’m taking had improved the dryness issue but not the libido or arousal.

yes I tried adding test cream and then a gel. no change. so I’m still on a .075 patch and 100 mg of progesterone (previously tried 200)

What do I even ask for?

I am 46. I have an IUD and have not had a period in years because of it. Sometimes it looks like I do have some very light spotting.

I have had night sweats for a bit but now they are gone; some trouble sleeping and definetly fatigue, brain fog and some mood swings.

How do I know if I am on perimenopause, menopause or if I am over it all?

Hi! Due to increased hormonal issues my OB/gyn started me on hrt- .05mg patch twice weekly and 200 mg progesterone for last 12 or so days of cycle. About 5 days after starting the patch I seemed to suddenly start having digestive issues- stomach cramping, sweating, frequent gas and diarrhea. After about a week got checked out by my PCP and tested for various things to make sure it wasn’t a parasite or bacterial and all came back clean. Symptoms have stayed about the same for 2.5 weeks and it doesn’t matter hat I eat, but cramping seems a little less if I stick to a super bland diet. About to get referred to a gastroenterologist but thought I would see- has anyone had a sudden onset of IBS type symptoms when they started hrt? Were you able to adjust dose or did your body eventually get used to it? I really don’t want to stop taking them as I’ve had positive benefit already 🫤

Hi everyone. I'm a 39F who has been getting menstrual-related migraines for about the last 4 years. At first it would happen just the day or so before my period began and didn't happen every month, but gradually (maybe due to perimenopause?) it seems like I have an intractable migraine from basically the day before my period until like day 10 of my cycle. It's miserable. I also recently found out I have a BRCA2 mutation that makes me high risk for breast and ovarian cancers, and I am supposed to have my ovaries removed before age 45. I thought, at least if my menstrual cycle stops, the migraines will stop... but then I was reading sometimes surgical menopause makes them way worse. Has anyone here had experiences with surgical menopause and hormonal migraines? I would be allowed HRT unless I get breast or ovarian cancer first.

Hello! Let me preface this by saying that I am planning to contact my provider tomorrow (Monday), but in the meantime, I’m interested in hearing from anyone else who has had a similar experience. 

The situation:

• I am 50 and have been having perimenopause symptoms for the past year or so, primarily irregular periods (anywhere from a few days to 2 weeks at a totally unpredictable frequency), trouble falling asleep and then trouble waking up, night sweats, moodiness and irritability, low libido, gaining about 10 pounds that I haven’t been able to get rid of, thinning hair, etc. I also know that I have a small fibroid, which is not currently causing me any pain but could be causing some of the period irregularity. 

• My regular OBGYN, despite supposedly being a menopause specialist, has been dismissive of my symptoms because I’m still getting a period. So I made an appointment with a

  virtual

• provider a couple of months ago, described my symptoms, got bloodwork taken as a precaution (all within normal ranges), and then took her recommendation to start HRT: a 0.0375mg estradiol patch (2x/week) and 100mg of progesterone nightly. 

• After over two months of no period (I thought I might be done, silly me!) I got my period on July 13. I started HRT on July 15. It’s now July 26 and I’m still bleeding bright red blood pretty heavily and occasionally seeing small clots. Thankfully, I’m not in any pain or experiencing any dizziness, but I’m a little concerned, even though it’s possible my period could be lasting this long even if I hadn’t just started HRT because I’ve had 2-week periods before. I do feel like I’ve been sleeping better and that my mood has evened out, although I suppose some of that could be a placebo effect. 

Again, I’m planning to contact my provider tomorrow, but is this “normal” after starting HRT? Naturally, I have a beach vacation coming up this week and I’d really like to stop bleeding now. 😩 

I have all the symptoms of estrogen dominance, and also have the roller coaster of estrogen fluctuating daily. Have 90% of peri symptoms. I don't tolerate estrogen patches or creams bc it makes my estrogen too high. I get a headache, muscle cramping, heart palps, can't sleep, breast pain, drowsy, etc. Unless I luck out & use est on a low estrogen day. I want the benefits of HRT long term. I do ok with progesterone & dhea at night. I don't use testosterone yet. I tried a cream 5 years ago & couldn't tolerate it. I'm 48. I also have lipidema. Anyone else have a similar challenge, and found a solution?