Menapause

[Belleben]

Hi, I was wondering what is good to take for menapause with having liver disease. I don't want HRT but need something to give me a bit of a pick me up. I just am so lethargic & feel like I have something lacking. My Dr wasn't much help. I'm 58, any recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks 🙂

[Sunnyskies33]

Hi. If your doctor finds no reason of concern and assuming you've had a recent blood panel, I would be sure to eat a healthy diet to be sure you are not deficient in any vitamins or minerals. The British Liver Trust has good dietary recommendations for liver health. I find that exercise...even a 30 minute walk each day ..increases my energy. If doing these (or unable to) doesn't help, I'd keep on the doctor about it. Wishing you the best for feeling better!

[QuietButBold]

I am not comfortable with "taking something" for menopause while trying to support improvement of my liver disease.

Many sensible sources of information will mention:

1) the importance, during menopause, of prioritising healthy eating and

2) moving more (via a variety of types of exercise, particularly outdoors - as many women may find this also supports their mental wellbeing).

I have found three further aspects of life / lifestyle / outlook / habit to also be beneficial:

3) however time-poor you may find yourself; try to make what "me time" is actually available - really count = learn a variety of ways to really relax,

4) be patient with yourself - by trying to adopt a more kindly tone of "self-talk" (avoid being your own harshest critic ...who makes "the rules" anyway?), and

5) reduce the automatic habit of being inclined to say "yes" to things and responsibilities when, just at the moment, you might be better served by learning to sometimes be more inclined to say "no" (or at the very least: "let me have a think about that and get back to you").

While menopause is very much each woman's personalised journey, presentation and experience (probably best not to take too seriously "helpful" editorials in magazines on the subject ...perhaps just flick through a few further pages to notice quite who the magazine's paid advertiser's might be!); nowhere is it written that you either need to be isolated along the way, or should struggle unduly.

Menopause is different for each woman and includes a broad spectrum of potential impact - everything from quite mild symptoms, all the way through to the more debilitating experiences in some instances.

Some product vendors, through their adverts / advertorials / lobbying / packaging etc., seem rather prone to try to "normalise" our expectations towards the more extreme end of the spectrum only. (My current facial expression / body language is ...deeply unimpressed!).

I feel it is high time, as a society, (within our families, communities, healthcare settings, within educational environments and at our workplaces), we ought to instead promote the: education, inclusion, de-stigmatisation, reasonable adjustments and more matter of fact support for women (plus the significant people in their lives) as they navigate this natural phase in their life.

As Sunnyskies33 said; do (assertively) reach out to healthcare professionals with the reasonable expectation of receiving help. Your GP is usually the obvious choice with whom to raise support / different strategy needs.

However, as recently the Hepatology world has started to become further aware of the impact of hormonal changes on a woman's liver health - I would also hope your wider GI / Hepatology Team Members would also be both creative problem-solvers and receptive to your issues, concerns / quest for best practice in support of your general health and wellbeing at this time too.

Best wishes to you.

[Readlots]

Hi, I saw a fantastic GP who researched menopause and liver disease and talked to my liver consultant. She explained the options to me and I did go onto HRT, approved by my liver consultant and felt like a new and sane woman. I was cautious at first because of a history of breast cancer in my family but the GP said that the risk was equivalent to 2 glasses of wine a week. Obviously I’m not having the wine so I figured the risks balanced out. The HRT also reduced the risk of bowel cancer, and osteoporosis, also in my family, so again balanced the risk.

I know some people can’t take HRT or don’t want to but it was a lifesaver for me.

I also found M&S cool comfort petticoats and bodysensor tights helped with hot flushes.I think they also do bed sheets. Natural fibre bedding including a wool mattress and duvet also helped with night sweats.

Yoga and meditation also helped with the mental health aspect and mood swings. Good luck with your journey. There is a lot more information and advice out there now.

[Belleben in reply to Readlots]

Hi, thank you very much for your time to explain this, its much appreciated. My GP told me that if I wanted to I could go on hrt but my blood results was showing that the stage my menapause is at she was unsure of the benefits from it, I also have history of cancer in family. I'm 58 & I haven't had a period for 6 years, I sometimes get night sweats but my concern is fatigue, my body feels like it needs something, everything I do is a effort & feels so much more tired these days. My liver blood results are good but my white blood cells are very low, platelets was only on 65 a few weeks ago, I've asked if it could be that and got told yes it's most probably that, every time I say to my consultant about the fatigue he always says liver disease can cause it..But I feel like it is to do with menopause too. All my symptoms & age makes me think it. But the Drs just say oh it's your liver & I'm left feeling no wiser.

[Readlots in reply to Belleben]

So many things can cause fatigue and it’s easy to put it down to the first known cause and look no further. I have an under active thyroid which contributes to mine as well so I get my liver consultant to add that to my blood test and keep an eye on all of it. I think all of us on here wish we had an answer to fatigue, it’s just so frustrating. I hope you find something that helps

[hun64_D0chIk]

Hiya Belleben,

Just quickly I’ll say what I do and you can see what you think.

I’ve just turned 60 and am only 2.5 years since last period and the menopause stage. The fatigue is most likely the liver as I have to have an afternoon nap after walking the dog in the woods. I get tired easily. I upped the sugar intake and that temporarily helps, but still the feeling of tiredness and listlessness overcomes me. Sugar intake has a knock on effect of giving me hot flushes along with things I like - coffee & cheese. Well, any high-fat foods, so I avoid them. I retired two years ago. Are you working? I have low platelets, on one occasion they were 69 on the day of my percutaneous liver biopsy. The hospital nurses were saying that’s really low. I find a healthy diet with a low amount of processed food/meals helps. The liver Consultant referred me to the Liver Dietician and they were helpful. Ask your Consultant to refer you. Also Vitamin B12 injections - ask GP about having one or a series of them.

H xx

[NieceByMarriage]

I am on HRT and have been for about 3 years. I thought it was contributing to my fatigue but that has turned out to be pretty much all liver or lung related in my case. My Hep C is now cured and the fatigue is much better generally unless I eat badly or my asthma/COPD is playing up. The night sweats before HRT were awful and of course disturbed sleep contributed to fatigue. I don't have the sweats now. Emotional swings can also leave you feeling drained. I would say that exercise helps hugely with regulating fatigue. I know this seems counter-intuitive and the last thing you feel like doing if you are tired but it is worth giving it a go as it can sometimes get you going. If I am not feeling like exercise but have no obvious symptoms of illness I start my exercise but promise myself that if I still feel tired after 15 minutes I will stop. Mostly I have got into the session by then and am fine to carry on.