Hi all, I've been reading all the threads (thank you so much for all the info you share) and I'm about to start my HRT journey.
I'm 53 and to be honest, hadn't given the menopause much thought. My periods had become a bit erratic but no hot flushes or other symptoms, knew it must be due because of my age but didn't worry about it.
At the end of last year, I was made redundant from a job I loved and enjoyed but I was confident I could find something else and I did within a few weeks.
That’s when I started noticing the changes. Learning a new job from scratch, struggling to remember details, confusion. I carried on, thinking it was the job, my new colleagues, it just wasn't for me. I was approached by another company and because I wasn't getting on there, I resigned.
The next job, it was worse. Couldn't get to grips with things. Couldn't focus or concentrate. I'd feel anxious when asked simple questions, everything blown out off proportion. Things I had done for years, I had no confidence in doing. All came to a head and after one mistake to many, they let me go.
What it did do, was make me finally stop and actually look what was happening to me. The psychological changes, I suspect had been going on for a while but because I was so comfortable in my old job, I didn't have to think about it .When I had to start learning the new jobs, the capacity to retain the information just wasn't there. I then started to link other symptoms I had. Such as the cyclical IBS type symptoms I was getting before my period. the headaches and body aches.
So I'm now unemployed. I have no confidence in even going to an interview, never mind starting a new job. I have been researching HRT and reading all I can and with the help of the forums such as this one, I have bitten the bullet and spoken to my Gp about HRT.
They have advised that due to my age, they would first try me on a one a day tablet with a gel once a day. It is a continuous dose, which would stop my periods.
I know it's probably going to be a long road and may not be the answer to my prayers instantly but it has given me hope. I need to work and support myself and my family (teenagers at home, that’s a whole other issue!) so maybe the person I was is still there and I can look forward again.
Thanks for all of the posters, I'm sure there are lots of women like me, who feel so lost and don't know how they are going to function again, who have been helped tremendously by the advice and encouragement.
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