My last period - I am convinced it was God’s f-you to women… I thought I was hemorrhaging … no lie. Two super-plus pads an hour, and still not enough.
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Ugh. They don’t make tampons big enough for me. One power clean and it was like OMG!!! What just happened? The floor was a mess. GROSS!!! So thankful I was by myself. But I was also wondering if the covid vaccines didn’t mess with it some. It started at that level about that time and lasted about a year. Not looking forward if I have another whopper at the end!
The early menopause was absolutely a factor! But even menopause at the average age results in bone loss in most women very quickly. Eating well, calcium, vitamin D and weight bearing exercise do very little to prevent this bone loss. Actually, the “eating well” and “weight bearing exercise” can be a risk factor for worse osteoporosis if they result in a thin body habitus. Being thin is a huge risk factor for bone loss, while being in the overweight and obese range is protective.
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The mirena was an absolute disaster for me in my early 40s, I couldn’t tolerate the mood swings and extreme anxiety. I’m now fully in menopause at 54 and started HRT patch about 6 weeks ago after terrible menopause symptoms for the past 6 months. I take progesterone in addition to the patch and to say that HRT has been a miracle for restoring my quality of life is an understatement, physical and mental health included. I never realized how awful I’ve felt for the past 7-10 years of perimenopause and then full menopause until I finally started to feel normal again.
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So sorry to hear about those of you with bad Mirena experiences - mine has been great. Had both doctor and nurse friends asking me “why the heck are you getting periods when you could just…not…” so I got one and have been happy with it. Before it my cycle was getting shorter and shorter (and heavy of course). Another hassle out of my life. Sounds like I was lucky and fortunate.
I swear, the universe is out to get us! I am thin and went through menopause early. That makes me more prone to bone loss. If I eat too much salt or refined sugar, my blood pressure increases. So I eat a very healthy diet, focusing on bone health. But then I find out that my kidney stone was due to calcium, so I am supposed to avoid most of the things that are good for bone health. Luckily, I have a urologist who encourages me to eat for bone health and focus on limiting salt & drinking lots of water. But it just feels like a constant conundrum. I have come to the conclusion that evolution hasn’t caught up to us living so long after menopause. I just plug along, doing the best I can for me. I’m hoping that my next 30 years are healthy, despite the challenges I may face.
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The Mirena worked great for me, too.
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Me too. Huge difference, like being a completely different person. But by itself, not enough reason for me to go on HRT.
Amen!!! Since it is something every woman faces, one would think there would have been LOADS of research on this, by now… but there is so little focus on women’s health, especially women who are no longer of reproductive age.
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I had some hot flashes at night and would toss the covers off, but it was pretty much only at night. I still get mildly hot, but not really flashes. I usually run cold during the day and daytime hot flashes were rare for me. That was pretty much my only symptom. My brain might’ve been foggy, but I am also hypothyroid so that can lead to slightly foggy brain too and I avoid caffeine because it makes my heart race so I have to wait for any brain fog to dissipate on its own. I have not had a bone density scan and don’t plan on having one unless my doctor suggests it. My mom was on HRT and Fosamax and I don’t want to go on either one.
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Has anyone tried any natural remedies/diets/supplements/activity? Pre-pandemic when I was perimenopausal I was very into hot yoga and I read somewhere that it might have minimized my hot flashes. My body was already used to getting hot so it wasn’t a “reaction” for me. Same article recommended regular visits to the sauna, which is also recommended for heart health. I felt like dealing with my stress, finally, also made a huge difference. I take CBD oil caplets and, though it’s debatable, I feel they really help with stress, anxiety, and sleep. I’ve pretty much given up alcohol. Not 100% but significant decrease in my wine consumption! Because drinking messes with my sleep. And uninterrupted sleep is like GOLD to me now.
I was very lucky and had no real issues with hot flashes, but the “flooding”! As others have mentioned, no tampon or pad could contain it. I ended up choosing to have an endometrial ablation to solve that issue.
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I can’t believe in this day (when there is such a higher percentage of women in the medical field) this area is still so criminally understood, underfunded, and undervalued!
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I liked the story/video linked at the bottom too. Opinion | Menopause: Why Are We So Unprepared? - The New York Times
I had three breast cancer tumors - 1 was a very nasty grade 3 type called triple negative- no estrogen involved. But I had 2 grade 1 estrogen positive tumors. Chemo put me in menopause within weeks at age 45. The hot flashes were embarrassing. It was like I jumped in a pool. I’d be up every 2 hours at night and during the day they’d make me nauseous. My thyroid went crazy and I was a bloated mess and my mind was mush. This lasted 3 years. Sure, I’m alive, I get it, but doctors shouldn’t act like this means I can’t want more.
Now at 50 my biggest issue is dryness - it’s horrible and I’ve tried everything. There is debate about topical estrogen and whether or not it gets in the bloodstream. At this point, I’d take the risk. My Dr disagrees, but it should be my informed decision.
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I had a total hysterectomy in my mid-30s due to endometriosis, and it was the best decision I ever made for myself. My menopause was uneventful, probably because it was a walk in the park compared to endo.
I did not choose HRT. The last thing I wanted for this to come back. Like I said, it was really uneventful. I’m now in my mid-50s and have been “free” for years.
I respect that others choose it, and that’s fine for them.
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Just a word of caution on osteoporosis meds. I have had osteoporosis for 15 years, and 5 of those was on cancer meds that further reduced bone density. Through all those years I have tried various meds and could not tolerate them. I even went to an immunologist to try to get on Forteo.
Throughout those years I felt strong. I did martial arts, sword tai chi, and could walk 20 miles. This is the problem with osteoporosis: you feel fine until you fracture.
I had 3 thoracic fractures from a traumatic fall in 2006. Not from osteoporosis. But in early 2021 I made one movement - sort of the way you might pull a bathing suit on in the car- and whammo I fractured 3 lumbar vertebrae. We only have 5!
Believe me, you do not want to fracture. The pain and disability really impact life.
The problem is, insurance companies cover the anti-resorptives bisphosphonates and Prolia first, so docs prescribe them first. But sequence matters and the bone builders- Tymlos, Forteo and Evenity- are more effective if used first.
Anti-resorptive affect turnover so the long term effect is on bone quality. Anabolics build new quality bone. Evenity does both.
I was finally able to get on Tymlos, because the pen comes with 8 clicks to control dose. I landed in the ICU with a full dose but was determined. I started with two clicks and moved up slowly over time. Side effects were minimal and they eased quickly.
If any of you have significant osteoporosis, i strongly hope you will consider meds. Bone density just doesn’t get better and we have no warning before a fracture.
Tai chi helps with balance and PT has helped me learn what movements to avoid. Stay safe!
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It should be your choice. I even offered to sign a statement absolving my PCP of responsibility if I developed any health problems due to continuing the patch and he laughed as he refused.
My new GYN is a proponent of Vagifem (tablet inserts) and Estrace cream. I’d use either as a supplement when needed (prefer Vagifem for less messiness) but I do not want to give up the patch. Topical estrogen could be absorbed by your partner.
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So glad I read this thread. I’m turning 45 next week and have had so many of these symptoms over the past 6 months (shorter cycles, super heavy periods, terrible brain fog, short temper, insomnia, panic attacks & anxiety out of nowhere, decreased sex drive) but I thought I must be subliminally stressed about something. I haven’t been to the OB/GYN since before Covid (because I’m not great at taking care of myself) but I think I need to prioritize an appointment now.
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I know several women, including myself, who visited doctors to discuss symptoms like these, and were referred for mental illness treatment. Menopause was not even mentioned to me as a possible reason for these symptoms in my 40s and it did not occur to me to connect these issues with menopause, as it was early in the process when I was still having semi regular periods. It took years to figure out what was going on.
Later on I was able to help friends who went through the same things and became concerned about their mental health as well. It makes a huge difference to know that this is normal and others experience it! People have a tendency to be ashamed and hide what they are going through.
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I’m seeing how long I can keep having my Mirena.
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