Hi Jeanie, I have have just turned 54, and still have regular periods. In fact I have always had heavy irregular periods but the last couple of years they have become more regular, and slightly lighter but still with a heavy day. It drives me nuts that I still have them at my age. I started having a hot flush around bedtime about three years ago, and have night sweats but not every night. The bedtime hot flushes are no longer every night. The anxiety and nervousness started gradually around 18 months ago, but has got worse, and now I have it for ten days or so before periods and a few days after. Where I could once cope with absolutely anything the world threw at me I now can't. I mostly want to lock myself away at home. I do get the odd signs of the old me now and again though.
I have gone through some horrid things in my life, my baby was born prematurely and died at nine hours old, his father was violent towards me, my mum had dementia , and I have always coped with everything. Although it took its toll of course, but I did get through these things. But as I said, these days I can't handle anything. Thankfully I have a very supportive and understanding husband.
I agree Miabella, it is harder to cope. I just don't knew w about HRT. It looks as though so many women have so much trouble trying to get the right one and then all symptoms don't go. Plus there is the health side of things. My dad had a DVT when he was my age, and so I am very wary of HRT. And don't the symptoms come back when you have to stop taking it when you are older?
Anyhow, I took some Kalm tablets and have managed to sleep a little so that is good news, plus they calmed my stomach down. X