_edited.jpg)
Itchy and scratchy
- Menolink all things menopause
- May 5
- 2 min read
My Name and Age
Anon 51
My MenoJourney Story
At 47, my cycles began to falter, throwing me into a frustrating new rhythm. I managed, always prepared, never caught off guard. But when I turned 48, after four months without a period, the "withering" set in—a term that captures it perfectly. My hair turned brittle, my nails fragile, my eyes parched, my skin like parchment. Even there felt like a desert. Eye drops became a lifeline, dozens of bottles. I slathered on moisturizer morning and night, drowning my skin in it. Before bed, I’d coat my hands in cream, slip on cotton gloves, and hope for relief. My hair, despite expensive treatments, resembled straw. The doctor prescribed an internal estrogen gel, and I stocked up on heavy-duty lubricant. It was grim, but I soldiered on.
Then came the itching. One night, I woke convinced ants were marching across my legs—a maddening, creeping sensation. Resisting the urge to claw my skin raw was torture. It grew worse, striking day or night, and soon my eyes joined the torment. I must’ve looked unhinged, twitching to avoid scratching in public. On the train, strangers shot me odd glances; at work, colleagues asked if I was okay. I started calling in sick, and it wasn’t well-received. I couldn’t blame them—who takes “too itchy” seriously as an excuse?
The breaking point was when the itching spread to my vulva. That was non-negotiable. I booked an urgent doctor’s appointment and broke down in tears. He switched my internal estrogen gel and prescribed an anti-itch cream but hesitated on full HRT. Some relief followed, but a week later, another frantic visit and my desperation convinced him to try a topical estrogen gel and progesterone pills. Things got better, marginally. Eventually, I switched to an estrogen pill, which made life tolerable.
Now, officially menopausal, I’m on yet another HRT regimen. The symptoms have eased significantly, and I’m grateful. I often wonder how women survived without HRT—untreated, I’d have lost my mind. It’s no shock that some women, overwhelmed, don’t make it through this phase.
I wish I’d talked to my mother about her experience. She passed from a heart attack at 58, so we never had the chance. I wonder if she endured something similar, though I think I’d have noticed signs.
My advice? Advocate fiercely. I wore my doctor down with sobs, but you don’t have to go that route. Arm yourself with research, know your options, and stand firm. Stay courteous, though—alienating your doctor leaves you in a worse spot, and nobody needs that.
My Symptoms
Itchy skin, dry eyes, vaginal dryness
What Worked
Products or Advice That Worked
HRT
Product Name | ? out of 5 | Buy Here |
|---|---|---|
type name | insert star rating? | insert link to shop |
type product name here
What Didn't Work - Beware
Products or Advice that DIDN'T work
Doing nothing!
I wish I'd known....
Talk to your mum - she is the only one you have.
Comentários