Hello. I have been reading and really enjoying this site for a few months. I love checking to see what's new - thank you.
I am 55, stopped periods at 52 and apart from hot flushes, a frozen shoulder and aching hips was fine. Then 18 months later I had a big emotional shock and within weeks my hot flushes got worse, especially at night (waking every 1 1/2 to 2 hours), my libido disappeared but the worst and scariest symptoms were brain fog and anxiety. I was scared I had early onset dementia and the fear probably made everything worse. I felt as if I had a lump of concrete in my belly. Happily the doctor told me it was most probably all menopausal and eventually in March this year I started HRT (one pump of l'estrogel, now increased to two, and 5mg of Duphaston - I'm not in the UK) which has definitely helped. I do lots of walking, breathing and mindfulness, which I see recommended a lot on here, and stopped eating sweet things a year ago on the advice of a wonderful acupuncturist. I still sometimes get brain fog and it still scares me and starts the anxiety, but I am a whole lot better than I was, I think! Fingers crossed... I wonder if anyone else has had a similar experience?