Menopause support: Introduce yourself and connect

Welcome to the new support group dedicated to menopause! I’d love to hear from some of you who have shared your experiences before: @gravity3, @naturegirl5, @blueskies1530, @marjou, @orion7962, @laura1970, @meingan, @bjklemme, @sbrown293, @missbeverly, @grannyl, @joydeb35, @cbp123, @slarson14, @seapen, @jkmjkm, @bethieb, @vivi75, @ramsgirl, @kisu, @gigglemama

Check it out. There's new group on Mayo Clinic Connect dedicated to the menopause transition, including perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/menopause/). Your discussions have been moved to this new group. Be sure to follow the group to get notified of new posts.

So let’s get connected. Take a moment and introduce yourself. If you’re post-menopause, what’s one tip or coping strategy that has helped you most? And if you’re newer to this journey, what’s a question you’d like to ask the group?

Hi I'm Pauline, aged 63 and lives in the UK. I'm glad to come across this group as I recently went to my GP to ask about HRT. He told me I was too old to go on HRT because of the risks. I was very disappointed as although I'd been coping well, I'm finding it harder to cope with the symptoms which seems to be getting worse and impacting my mental health and self esteem especially the hair loss and vaginal irritation. Being part of this community will help lift my spirits as I can see that I'm not alone in this journey, hear others experience and how they deal with these issues, how they're coping and what support is available.

@paulineguk
The new guidelines For NAMS for HRT/BHRT are no longer age driven. I am not sure about the guidelines in the UK.
"NAMS' (The Menopause Society) 2022 guidelines emphasize shared decision-making for Hormone Therapy (HT), confirming it's the most effective for hot flashes, bone loss prevention, and GSM, with benefits generally outweighing risks for healthy women under 60 or within 10 years of menopause onset, but continuing HT past 60 or 65 requires careful individual risk/benefit assessment, considering symptoms like persistent hot flashes, and using lowest effective doses/routes (like transdermal) to manage risks. The key message is personalized care, re-evaluating treatment, and no mandatory cutoff age for safe continuation. "
The risks tied to HRT/BHRT after 10 years into menopause with not hormones is that of concerns about cardio problems caused in those 10 years of lacking hormones. This concern can be off set by a doctor that is able to do all the appropriate tests beginning and as follow up to your hormone use. Also using only BHRT, topical and non oral BHRT can almost virtually eliminate any side effects, at least according to the research and population studies.
So finding a knowledgeable doctor who will use the correct protocole is key to using Hormones beginning and into menopause.

@paulineguk Have you looked into HealthUnlocked UK support group? They have a Menopause and perimenopause support group and a Women's health group. It might be more helpful to you. UK uses a different estrogen then US and different products relating to menopause.
https://healthunlocked.com/menopause-perimenopause-support/about
https://healthunlocked.com/womenshealth/about

@paulineguk
The new guidelines For NAMS for HRT/BHRT are no longer age driven. I am not sure about the guidelines in the UK.
"NAMS' (The Menopause Society) 2022 guidelines emphasize shared decision-making for Hormone Therapy (HT), confirming it's the most effective for hot flashes, bone loss prevention, and GSM, with benefits generally outweighing risks for healthy women under 60 or within 10 years of menopause onset, but continuing HT past 60 or 65 requires careful individual risk/benefit assessment, considering symptoms like persistent hot flashes, and using lowest effective doses/routes (like transdermal) to manage risks. The key message is personalized care, re-evaluating treatment, and no mandatory cutoff age for safe continuation. "
The risks tied to HRT/BHRT after 10 years into menopause with not hormones is that of concerns about cardio problems caused in those 10 years of lacking hormones. This concern can be off set by a doctor that is able to do all the appropriate tests beginning and as follow up to your hormone use. Also using only BHRT, topical and non oral BHRT can almost virtually eliminate any side effects, at least according to the research and population studies.
So finding a knowledgeable doctor who will use the correct protocole is key to using Hormones beginning and into menopause.

Hello everyone my story begins within the last year, feeling hot flashes, at times seemingly like experiencing 1 to3 every hour or so, for a week or so & then not experiencing a flash but every few days. Any weight gain has accumulated around my mid section & I can't seem to shed any of the weight, only add to it. My hair is coming out & my anxiousness/mental health is up & Down without any new reasons for this reason. My self confidence has plummeted. I feel very unattractive due to my weight gain & all these other reasons as well.

I had a hysterectomy in 2016 due to massive fibroids & large thankfully benign tumor of my right ovary. Thankfully leaving me 1 working ovary without needing any HRT these last 10 years. But now I just want to recapture, if only some small part of my self. Thanks for reading & I encourage any positive suggestions/comments.