Hello everyone, I am 57 and I had what is called "the surgical menopause" at age 47 due to issues which had been ongoing for 10 years: and after which ignorantly, I thought that was it and I had sailed through the menopause. I did not realise that the brain doesn't know this and at around 50 I started to feel incredibly unwell - falling to sleep in my office, finding it difficult to cope with my job, which was managerial, having hot sweats and not sleeping, but mainly incredible feelings of anxiety without knowing why, and getting panic attacks. I knew that something was not right - not being a frequent visitor to the surgery I eventually went as I felt unable to cope with my job. My GP prescribed anti-depressants to help me sleep, and said to increase from low dose once they weren't having the same effect. They made me feel less able to cope and I stopped whilst on the low dose as I knew this was not the answer. I asked him about the menopause and expressed my ignorant idea that I had already had this due to the surgery, and he did not disabuse me at this stage. Bear in mind that at this time, NICE did not allow HRT on the NHS unless the menopause was considered by your GP to be "life affecting"! After a year of feeling desperate, I handed in my notice. I was working via a private hospital and spoke to one of the physicians, who carried out blood tests (for which I paid £800) which showed that I had renal fatigue amongst other things. I went back to the GP who then carried out tests on the NHS which showed I had negligible oestrogen levels, even for post menopausal women, and was vitamin D deficient. He put my on 40mg ostrogen only HRT for which I requested gel as I have digestive tract problems, but I got patches. I felt better for a while but eventually paid to see a private gynae. He explained that any risks from HRT, negligible in my case especially as I have no ovaries or womb, are not from the dose and doubled it (I am 6 foot tall and above average weight/height which I think makes a difference in hormonal dosages?) I said that I felt my GP would not agree to this but after receiving a strident letter from my Consultant, he did in fact double the dose and I feel so much better - I believe I could have remained in my job if this had been done earlier. I still have issues sleeping and I have lapses of concentration, however I decided to finish my humanities degree and with the effort I put in, can actually read a book again and take in information. I would therefore strongly suggest that you do "aerobics for the brain" by reading, doing crosswords or maybe doing an OU course, if you can afford it(!) Incidentally, my dentist asked me how long I was intending to remain on HRT - as if this was relevant to him (dentists call themselves Dr. but are not qualified as physicians). This shows the general attitude towards women on HRT that we are all doing it to stay young and lovely.