Hi kinglake
I really understand your wish to stay off HRT - many women are not happy with taking any form of medication. You don't tell us your age or where in your menopause journey are?
There are some great books with advice about how to cope with the menopause without HRT. During my time off HRT my ways of coping were:
Diet high in isoflavines/phtyoestrogens e.g. soya, pulses etc.- a good amount of calcium each day for the bones is vital.
Menopace + Omega 3 daily
Long brisk walks every day.
2.5 tog duvet - cotton sheets and nightclothes.
Cotton/linen clothes in layers that can be stripped off & on as necessary.
Pace yourself - you need to rest a lot more generally. I managed to go part time with my work or I couldn't have coped at all.
Regular Mindful Meditation - really helps to get through the terrible fatigue and cope with anxiety.
I took Nytol 2-3 times a week to give myself some decent nights ( the one with anithistermine in it you buy from the counter at the chemist not the herbal one).
If your meno symptoms are bad then in my experience you need time and money to be able to cope as holding down full time job can be difficult.
Sadly nobody can tell you how long the symptoms will last but many women find things settle within a couple of years.
If you do find that your quality of life is being seriously impeded then please don't think that HRT is somehow a sign of weakness - it isn't a drug, it's about replacing the hormones your body craves.
Keep posting.DG x
