Menopause symptoms

[Chickadee]

When I had my thyroid and lymph nodes removed I was warned that my menopause may start early - I am 43 (soon to be 44).

Over the last six months or so I have been waking at night feeling very very hot (sometimes during day but rarely). The main thing is my periods which have gone haywire.
I used to be very regular but now blimey it's a pain in the you know what!!

This month in particular I started and finished in one day, a gap of a day, then started and finished and again and so on.

I know Dr can do blood test to give an idea if you have started but what do you think please?

[jenty]

all menopausal symptoms vary from one person to the next...i think it best if you had a chat to your doctor as he may be able to prescribe something to make your periods more regular and you may also benefit from HRT

[tillyh345]

It certainly sounds like it, I am 47 and been feeling v odd for the last four years iregular periods, cystitis problems, feeling tired, and also v forgetful. Its all a bit crazy. But been to the doctors this morning, and they are v loathed to give HRT because of all the medical scares, so came away with leaflets and a print off of the internet which I have prob read 10 times already. It seems that if you are one of the unlucky ones you just have to get on with it....like me I expect you have the usual women bragging that they never had any symptoms at all!! this is my mother in laws comment!

[Chickadee]

Thanks Tilly. My Mum really suffered with her menopause and tbh I hope mine isn't that bad. I feel mean saying that but she felt really dreadful all of the time and tbh I have enough problems with ill health as it is!!!

One of the problems I already have is feeling exhausted and I have noticed it's been a bit worse lately. I didn't realise that could be a symptom.

I don't think Dr will give me HRT anyway because of the other drugs I take but I might go and get it checked out.

[ethandron]

chickadee, google 'menopause symptoms' and you'll be very surprised at how many recognised symptoms there are (35), and also what they are, some of which you would never associate with menopause at all but once you know about them, a light bulb comes on in your head and you think 'ah ha, so that's what it is!!!'.
the test you're referring to is called an fsh test (follicle-stimulating hormone) but is very unreliable for telling you whether or not you've started menopause or peri-menopause as it tests the level of hormones in your body at the time the blood is taken. during menopause hormones vary hour to hour, even minute to minute, so you could very easily have a false positive or false negative result and the doctor could say the test shows you're not in menopause when you actually are and vice versa.
unfortunately, unless you go down the hrt route, there really isn't much you can do except live through it and wait for it all to settle down, which it will eventually. even hrt isn't a 'cure' as you still have to go through a menopause when you stop taking it, it just delays the inevitable. better to tough it out and come out the otherside in my book. i was about 52 when the hot flushes started and they lasted about 3 years, still get an occasional warm feeling but nothing like it used to be. and you do get used to them.
our hormones all interact with each other so as you were warned it's all no doubt due to having your thyroid removed.
great being a woman isn't it?

[ethandron]

actually you need to google '35 menopause symptoms', gives more information.