I am almost 52- in a few weeks. So far, I have had no menopausal symptoms (fingers crossed!). I have had irregular periods for about 6-9 months, but never missed one, although I am now 6 weeks past my last period. I am beginning to feel a bit hot late in the evening, and when I get into bed, but that's about it.

My Mum (I'm in the UK) said that her hot flushes started after her periods stopped at 52- and then she suffered for years and years with them- she even asked for HRT in her 60s, but the drs wouldn't let her have it. She swears she still gets them now in her 80s.

What I wondered is, does anyone have the experience of hot flushes etc beginning only after their periods have stopped- rather than in the lead up to that?

I also have interstitial cyctitis, which is permanent bladder inflammation- which is like a ball and chain around my neck- I would give anything for a cure, but there isn't one. except drugs which dampen it down a bit. However, because of that I don't drink anything except water and don't eat any hot or spicy food- I wonder if this is possibly why I have escaped the hot flushes so far- or am I tempting fate saying this?!

Dear qiq, I too am in the U.K. where, incidentally, I have found menopausal advice pretty woefully inadequate so far. With regard to the hot flushes I had none to speak of until my periods finished at fifty. I am now fifty two and suffered badly with day and night sweats over the last two years. The thing is it seems no one can say how long they will go on for and obviously, for some reason which should be researched , a proportion of women are not troubled by them at all. I thought maybe I would be lucky as my mum never had sweating but I was so wrong. Sadly mum passed away seventeen years ago and I have no way of knowing what she went through at menopause, though I suspect she had her share of symptoms which she did not speak about. I could not face going on with the sweating when Christmas was looming and after much turmoil decided to try out a continuous combined patch, as I did not want any bleeding back after going for more than two years without anything. I am not at all happy with the side effects from this product as in many ways I feel no better. I am tapering it down myself as I felt so tired and ratty on it, (just to name a few side-effects). The one thing is it has helped with the sweating considerably at present and I am desperate not to have to deal with that. What a dilemma we find ourselves confronted with. I have found myself that my own G.P. practice is not very helpful - maybe they are as confused as, which does not fill you with confidence. Do you have any specialist clinics in your area? Sorry I cannot be more positive but I, like so many have found this website a Godsend. Simba 2.

Hi Simba
Sorry to hear you are suffering still.

Have you heard of the Amarant Trust? They are a UK menopause clinic. Their main centre is London, but if you find them on the web, you will find lists of other menopause clincs across the UK. They themselves are quite pro HRT, but they do give impartial advice from what I gather.
There is also another menopause "guru" a Dr Michael Tooley- his book is called Your change, You choice. He looks at all the ways of coping, including the drugs route and the herbal route. He has clinics in Dorset- in Poundsbury, and in London.
I hope you feel some improvement soon.

Dear qiq Thanks for your post. I will order the book from my local library. I think I must be known as the Menopause Lady in there as I have ordered so many books on the subject from them. Anyway, I believe it is better to be open about things and not feel it is taboo. I noticed that the Amarant Trust helpline has closed down and so has another U.K. helpline called Womens' Health. Must be lack of funds. What a downer when we women need all the help we can get. Thanks for your advise. There are a couple of specialist clinics near me in Manchester so I may get in touch with them as they obviously only deal with menopause so in theory they should be more expert than the local G.P.

hi
how do you know that the Amarant's line has closed down? according to their website it is still running.

Dear qiq, I dont think they have updated the website. I seem to remember trying to telephone them and the telephone number was not connected. About November I rang Womens' Health hotline for some advice and they told me that Amarant were no longer operating a telephone advice line. Shortly after that Womens' Health advice line also stopped for financial reasons I think. Maybe they will restart if they can get some funding. It is all very frustrating. Simba 2.

I'm using the climara patch .05 mg (estradoil) and it works great for hot flashes. If you have an uterus, use the progesterone cream with it. Only problem with the patch is water tends to affect the stickiness, so I take the patch off when I take a bath or shower and stick it back on. At 51 I had terrible night sweats and hot flashes, EVERY 30 MINUTES.

Irene