I agree that not everything is perimenopause (I'm actually menopausal now and everything is menopause!) but creaky knees and insane tiredness were two of my main reasons for going on hrt at 47. I love spin classes and was starting to have difficulty standing up. They are absolutely fine now.
Great on the iron, I think sooo many women are affected by this.
Do yourself a favour and look into non-synthetic options though!! In Oz we have this amazing mum-focused brand (they ship internationally) https://foragedforyou.com/ I take the Mother's blend (lots of easily absorbed iron from liver) and zinc and magnesium all natural!!
I ignore almost ALL “bothersome” symptoms as a sign of “being alive” but my husband nags at me until I go to the doctor. Often, I feel like a child being forced to do my homework, but if you don’t have someone who will make you take care of yourself, the alternative is actually being a grown up and doing it on your own - who wants that? In summary.. being an adult is terrible 🤣
I know everyone writes off everything as perimenopause these days, but I started HRT at 41 and all my sparse patches that I thought were gone forever are growing back! It's created a whole new problem of tufty regrowth but hopefully it will calm down soon.
Did your HRT include testosterone? I started estrogen/progesterone/testosterone about 10 months ago. But I got off the testosterone at the end of July because the acne it was causing was getting worse rather than better with time (doctor did say it would initially cause acne but very confidentially said that would go away). And it caused hair growth on my upper thighs and lower stomach and mustache. But not on my head. Not worth whatever supposed benefits (libido and energy initially improved, but as soon as I had my first blood test after starting, doctor immediately lowered testosterone dose and the libido and extra energy went away, while leaving all the negative side effects). But I think the estrogen and progesterone have helped somewhat with hair volume (and other issues). At my next physical, I’m going to ask for my ferritin levels to be tested. I tried iron supplements a few years ago, but they made me so nauseous, even though I took with a full meal.
Nodding along to so much, Ruth - do u still do the peloton spinning with the strength and barre stuff on the app? Thinking of investing in the bike with increasingly iffy knees! So intrigued by being able to hit all goals with the 🚲? Thank you so much for sharing what’s helped/is working XX
The part about the knees made me laugh at myself really because I am the same. I just peg it up as getting older but when like you say it effects your daily routine then its a problem. Problem with me is that I've lost faith in my GP because every time I bring up a problem (not often hardly visit them) then apparently I'm just stressed. Or grab a paracetamol if in pain. I've hadn't thought of a physiotherapist. I'm going to look into that.
Thanks for the iron supplement reco. My daughter has been suffering from tiredness for months, to the point she fell asleep sitting up at work!!! I had long suspected iron deficiency but the gp kept batting away her symptoms. Anyway he finally sent her for a blood test to find her ferritin levels at 10!!! He still doesn't seem overly fussed about getting it sorted since she told me she couldn't get a follow up appointment for a month 🙄. In the interim I will tell her about these!
My theory is that once you visit a doctor ONCE, they become like an acquaintance overstaying their welcome at your house. You just can't get rid of them.
I was mid forties when I was diagnosed with coeliac disease, having been told by doctors all my adult life that my low iron was because ‘you’re vegetarian & have periods.’ It was only when my hair started really thinning & my IBS symptoms got really bad that they tested me.
If I had money to splash out, I’d def consider one of those scans. x
I had no idea. An unusually alert GP decided to do a blood test. No family history. I’d also dropped to 50 kg. However, not all coeliacs have the stomach issues and weight loss.
Thanks for sharing, you’ve prompted me to sort my creaky, weak knee problem out. It’s reassuring to hear I might actually be able to do something about it x
I have always been intrigued by the hair hat, which by the way you look amazing in! I would not, but moving on. Look forward to seeing what you think about it.
I know everyone always jumps on with a supplement ‘cure’ you absolutely can not do without….but I’ve been quietly using this for the last 3 mths and this month I’ve had to bring my gel pedi forward by a whole month because my nails have grown so much and I’ve had to start cutting my fingers nails. Which has never happened before, and my hairdresser demanded to know what I was taking for my hair that has gone crazy. I’ve been making my husband take it too and he’s stopped falling asleep on the sofa in the evenings and is no longer waking at around 3am and annoying me by tossing and turning in bed for the rest of the night, and he has had to have his hair cut every 2 weeks?!? Could it be coincidence? Weather? Endless salads? A combination of all? Of course. But worth mentioning because it’s only £12 for 3mths. It is Bio-Selenium +Zinc (also have vit C,E,B6). The one I have been using are from Pharma Nord.
I was/have been anaemic as I’d had a serious loss of blood during an operation in 2023 and subsequent blood transfusions. I had been taking prescribed iron supps but the side effects I didn’t enjoy so was rubbish at taking them consistently. I suffered hair loss/thinning, variable skin, fatigue, disturbed sleep radaradarada but couldn’t stabilise it. My bloods have been all ‘ok’ since they were last taken earlier this year but I felt I needed a boost to sort of get in credit again if that makes sense. I have always had low blood pressure and had noticed the dizzy spell from sitting to standing was getting worse too. But that seems to have settled down. I am on transdermal HRT (have been for yonks though) so maybe it’s just the combination of everything.
Thanks Ruth - what I would say about self monitoring and private testing is to have a look at Dr Lynette Ewart (instagram @prescription_health_uk) she’s a GP and gives really sensible advice on this sort of thing as well as supplements etc.
I agree that not everything is perimenopause (I'm actually menopausal now and everything is menopause!) but creaky knees and insane tiredness were two of my main reasons for going on hrt at 47. I love spin classes and was starting to have difficulty standing up. They are absolutely fine now.
What time of day have you found best for taking the iron?
I'm curious. Couldn't you just use your face mask on your head?
Great on the iron, I think sooo many women are affected by this.
Do yourself a favour and look into non-synthetic options though!! In Oz we have this amazing mum-focused brand (they ship internationally) https://foragedforyou.com/ I take the Mother's blend (lots of easily absorbed iron from liver) and zinc and magnesium all natural!!
One your hairline looks totally normal. Two 31 people is not a proper medical trial!
I ignore almost ALL “bothersome” symptoms as a sign of “being alive” but my husband nags at me until I go to the doctor. Often, I feel like a child being forced to do my homework, but if you don’t have someone who will make you take care of yourself, the alternative is actually being a grown up and doing it on your own - who wants that? In summary.. being an adult is terrible 🤣
I know everyone writes off everything as perimenopause these days, but I started HRT at 41 and all my sparse patches that I thought were gone forever are growing back! It's created a whole new problem of tufty regrowth but hopefully it will calm down soon.
Did your HRT include testosterone? I started estrogen/progesterone/testosterone about 10 months ago. But I got off the testosterone at the end of July because the acne it was causing was getting worse rather than better with time (doctor did say it would initially cause acne but very confidentially said that would go away). And it caused hair growth on my upper thighs and lower stomach and mustache. But not on my head. Not worth whatever supposed benefits (libido and energy initially improved, but as soon as I had my first blood test after starting, doctor immediately lowered testosterone dose and the libido and extra energy went away, while leaving all the negative side effects). But I think the estrogen and progesterone have helped somewhat with hair volume (and other issues). At my next physical, I’m going to ask for my ferritin levels to be tested. I tried iron supplements a few years ago, but they made me so nauseous, even though I took with a full meal.
Nodding along to so much, Ruth - do u still do the peloton spinning with the strength and barre stuff on the app? Thinking of investing in the bike with increasingly iffy knees! So intrigued by being able to hit all goals with the 🚲? Thank you so much for sharing what’s helped/is working XX
The part about the knees made me laugh at myself really because I am the same. I just peg it up as getting older but when like you say it effects your daily routine then its a problem. Problem with me is that I've lost faith in my GP because every time I bring up a problem (not often hardly visit them) then apparently I'm just stressed. Or grab a paracetamol if in pain. I've hadn't thought of a physiotherapist. I'm going to look into that.
Thanks for the iron supplement reco. My daughter has been suffering from tiredness for months, to the point she fell asleep sitting up at work!!! I had long suspected iron deficiency but the gp kept batting away her symptoms. Anyway he finally sent her for a blood test to find her ferritin levels at 10!!! He still doesn't seem overly fussed about getting it sorted since she told me she couldn't get a follow up appointment for a month 🙄. In the interim I will tell her about these!
My theory is that once you visit a doctor ONCE, they become like an acquaintance overstaying their welcome at your house. You just can't get rid of them.
I was mid forties when I was diagnosed with coeliac disease, having been told by doctors all my adult life that my low iron was because ‘you’re vegetarian & have periods.’ It was only when my hair started really thinning & my IBS symptoms got really bad that they tested me.
If I had money to splash out, I’d def consider one of those scans. x
Oh my god. How did you find out eventually, did you work it out and ask for the specific test?
I had no idea. An unusually alert GP decided to do a blood test. No family history. I’d also dropped to 50 kg. However, not all coeliacs have the stomach issues and weight loss.
Thanks for sharing, you’ve prompted me to sort my creaky, weak knee problem out. It’s reassuring to hear I might actually be able to do something about it x
I have always been intrigued by the hair hat, which by the way you look amazing in! I would not, but moving on. Look forward to seeing what you think about it.
Hahah, it definitely appeals to the part of me that loves costumes! Very Tron.
I know everyone always jumps on with a supplement ‘cure’ you absolutely can not do without….but I’ve been quietly using this for the last 3 mths and this month I’ve had to bring my gel pedi forward by a whole month because my nails have grown so much and I’ve had to start cutting my fingers nails. Which has never happened before, and my hairdresser demanded to know what I was taking for my hair that has gone crazy. I’ve been making my husband take it too and he’s stopped falling asleep on the sofa in the evenings and is no longer waking at around 3am and annoying me by tossing and turning in bed for the rest of the night, and he has had to have his hair cut every 2 weeks?!? Could it be coincidence? Weather? Endless salads? A combination of all? Of course. But worth mentioning because it’s only £12 for 3mths. It is Bio-Selenium +Zinc (also have vit C,E,B6). The one I have been using are from Pharma Nord.
Thank you, did you know what your levels of these were prior to taking? X
I was/have been anaemic as I’d had a serious loss of blood during an operation in 2023 and subsequent blood transfusions. I had been taking prescribed iron supps but the side effects I didn’t enjoy so was rubbish at taking them consistently. I suffered hair loss/thinning, variable skin, fatigue, disturbed sleep radaradarada but couldn’t stabilise it. My bloods have been all ‘ok’ since they were last taken earlier this year but I felt I needed a boost to sort of get in credit again if that makes sense. I have always had low blood pressure and had noticed the dizzy spell from sitting to standing was getting worse too. But that seems to have settled down. I am on transdermal HRT (have been for yonks though) so maybe it’s just the combination of everything.
Thanks Ruth - what I would say about self monitoring and private testing is to have a look at Dr Lynette Ewart (instagram @prescription_health_uk) she’s a GP and gives really sensible advice on this sort of thing as well as supplements etc.
I’ve already seen someone, post upcoming x