The Social Menopause

05/04/2025

with .repost
・・・
If you feel like your HRT has suddenly just stopped working and you are getting a return of the symptoms you had - here are some questions to ask yourself.

🤨Have I been ill?
🤨Have I been very stressed ( out of the normal range)
🤨Whats the expiry date?
🤨Am I using it correctly?
🤨Have I missed a dose?
🤨Are these new OR returning symptoms?
🤨When was my last HRT review?

📝With HRT its not as straight forward as starting it and thats it, you will have times when it just doesn’t feel like its doing it’s job as well as it did - be patient don’t rush in and change things, note it in your symptoms tracker ( app or journal ) and go through the list above.

😷When you are ill it can upset your HRT, given time it will return to it’s normal.

🥼If you go through the list above and still draw a blank then it’s time for a HRT review, NHS say that after the first 3 monthly one it’s yearly, that’s not always enough, so don’t rely on that. If you feel a change or it’s just not doing it’s job, book in an appointment with your (fingers crossed) HRT knowledgeable HCP (health care practitioner).

You may need to look at your dose and go for an increase of oestrogen or if at max licensed dose (UK) you may need a change of delivery ie from patch to gel/spray or go to a private meno Dr who will prescribe over the licensed dose if appropriate. Or you may want to look at adding in testosterone.

So track your symptoms and HRT and never suffer in silence, chat to your friends, ask questions here, just don’t accept feeling rubbish. ❤️

05/04/2025

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/health/the-menopause-left-feeling-like-31312023

Ex-rugby star Non Evans, who played 87 times for Wales, said she thought she was 'too young, fit and healthy to be going through menopause'

12/03/2025

18/02/2025

Yesterday was the dreaded Mirena coil replacement day 😱😱 This is my 3rd Mirena and initially I had it for endometriosis and it worked amazing for keeping my pain and symptoms under control. It stopped my relentless heavy bleeding which transformed my life. Then later on it has formed the progestogen element of my HRT.

However the last coil I had fitted at UHW 4 years ago was quite possibly the most traumatic gynae experience I’ve ever had so I was really scared about this replacement. My GP referred to UHW which has a 12 month waiting list…which is a bit crap really. However I’ve been under the care of sexual health team at Cardiff Royal Infirmary for ongoing genitourinary syndrome of menopause and recently have also been under the care of their new menopause service which is fantastic. Well they are hands down, the nicest, most caring hospital service there is, even down to the admin/booking staff. The lead menopause doctor changed my coil yesterday and whilst it was painful (I won’t lie) it was done quickly, calmly and she gave me as much pain relief as I wanted. I was able to have a local anaesthetic into the cervix which meant the pain was dramatically reduced. I wanted to give her a massive hug.

My top tip alongside this would be asking your GP for Diazepam. This also helped enormously, I dosed up with Diazepam and Co-codamol. My husband took me and I came home & slept for a couple of hours. I’m in a bit of pain now so I’m resting for a couple of days.

Whilst this may all seem quite dramatic for some, due to the endometriosis, I am overly sensitised to any kind of pelvic pain, it is what it is, I can’t change that but having some tools to help including talking to my GP, discussing it all with the menopause doctor and remembering to breathe, I got through it ok.

It is a necessary evil but the mirena can revolutionise the progestogen element of HRT. It’s not for everyone though and I feel lucky that it helps both my endo & works for HRT.

I just wanted to bring awareness to asking for pain relief, the amazing service at CRI and don’t let anyone fob you off about pain whatever the circumstances. I get my pain dismissed all the time.

12/11/2024

Hello all, I know things have been quiet here for quite some time. I’ve been dealing with my own menopause challenges for the last few months and not had a huge amount of spare brain space. However I’ve recently had a flurry of enquiries about the group support sessions, I’ve been thinking about arranging a couple of sessions at the library but in the original format of group peer support rather than guest speakers. I will of course bring lots of supporting information & we can all bring topics that we’d like some support with. Not sure if it’s the time of year or if sometimes menopause land is ok then other times, a mysterious symptom comes from nowhere & knocks you sideways. It’s always hard to tell if the stress of life is causing these issues & you end up doubting yourself. At the moment I feel quite low with general fatigue & my continuing aches & pains are debilitating. There’s been a lot of controversy in the press as well recently over HRT dosing & it all adds to a general sense of anxiety. I’d be interested to know if anyone has had problems with the prescribing of HRT due to this because I have.

If you feel like you’d like to get together & have a chat, help support each other then please let me know. Not sure if I can manage this before Christmas or if it will be Jan time. I have missed sharing a space with you all, I got so much support myself from our sessions together.
💙💛💙💛