Who else can't sleep?

@Finch. No talking about meat eating for me

Hi @Finch. I too shared your fears about Hormone Therapy having already had menopause twice. I had diabolical menopause the first time at 40 and could barely function very similar to what you describe.

This has not been the case this time . I have been on an Aromatase Inhibitor called Letrozole since last August. Yes I have had an occasional hot flush , noticed a bit more facial hair and a tendency to the blues  but all been manageable thus far. I do get joint stiffness if I sit around too much and also when I wake up in the morning..

As you are post menopausal Hormone Therapy will probably mean an Aromatase Inhibitor like  Letrozole. Walking an hour a day has been a major help for me- it helps me walk thru joint pain/ stiffness , releases endorphins to lift my mood and gives “ me” time - I notice a big difference if something prevents me from that daily walk.

One non menopausal side effect of Letrozole  I am concerned about is the spiking of my formerly good cholesterol so diet is critical.I did take statins but after 6 months felt like I had dementia which reversed rapidly when I stopped taking them - rolled oats for breakfast and low dose aspirin plus I try to avoid foods which boost bad cholesterol.On recommendation of my medical oncologist I take Krill Oil tablet daily for joint pain  - it may also help with cholesterol being Omega 3. 

I think one thing that helps is having had menopause before somehow it’s less frightening.I also think ladies who have had chemotherapy seem to have more troublesome side effects.I think also many of the hot flushes and insomnia you are reading about are from people going thru chemo who have yet to start hormone therapy .Iam not saying hormone therapy will be easy but it may not be as difficult as you think.My strongest advice is however to keep physically active - I also do a gentle twice weekly Stretch and Balance class which helps.

From my point of view Hormone Therapy gives me a better chance of not having a recurrence and has not been as bad as I had feared.

PS Nearly forgot . I am also on 6 monthly Prolia injections .I am osteoporotic and had had a cracked rib. Aromatase Inhibitor thin bones and Prolia counters this effect. kTo help bone density I also take 2 Caltrate Bone and Muscle Health as per recommendations from Osteoporosis Australia for my age and situation.

@Finch My oncologist wants me on Anastrozole for 7 years. I know some people have very little trouble with it, but others have a lot, so I am full of dread. But trying not to cross the bridges until I come to them. This BC shiz is hard.

Roast is coming up on four hours and the house smells amazing! K xox

@kmakm, enjoy your family feast. Slow roast is just the thing xx

I so far haven't been very teary through my diagnosis , but when my surgeon told me I would be on hormone inhibitor drugs for at least 5 years and it may cause menopausal symptoms I broke down. Yes I've got bc, yes was about to have an operation on a beloved breast. Yes to radiation. But another menopause ! All that again! All who've posted here, I feel your flushes, I feel your night sweats . I feel your hours awake, your lack of sleep.  What I hadn't realised was a symptom of menopause was the anxiety. Something I suffered from terribly.  The thought of going through all that again terrifies me, my way of dealing with it is to park it and think about it when the time comes in August.  I do know that next time I will get help AND not keep it to myself (my husband only a year back said he hadn't seen me with menopause symptoms so I must have sailed through!!!!!!!! ) Those nights I lay there. Those nights he would be rugged up under the bedcovers on a cold night and I (the cold one) would be lying there stark naked in a star position with covers thrown aside. Wide awake.  Mostly though it was the awful anxiety that took over my life. It was terrifying.  I gave up coffee and alcohol and it helped a lot.  I've just recently got back to drinking coffee and enjoying alcohol and enjoying being anxiety free and through menopause and it was wonderful .  Bloody bc!!!!!! 

@"Kiwi Angel" I've had a giggle , knowing you're a vegan and the website would only let you type 'when I ate meat' . Funny! Hope you're ok. My mornings are the worst but all in all not too bad so far. I have come down with shocking thrush which is awful.

Good news: Lindt bunnies taste yum! Haven't lost my sweet taste buds. Coles mini eggs have a weird taste . Doesn't stop me from eating them though . 
Happy Easter all! 

@kmakm
yes the freezer was just after a hot flush and would then be freezing cold mind you this was a winter in Bathurst that I had my hot flushes.... we lived in an old house fully double brick to all walls inside and out and I used to sit bare against the cold wall to help me through the flush 

@"Kiwi Angel" Easter glitch!

@kmakm - I give up - just won’t let me post what I want

@kmakm. When I ate meat

@kmakm. When I ate meat