I am 50 years old and over the last year the menopause has hit me hard. The worst part is the spacey feelings I get. I also get the odd ache. Over the past year I have had EKG, an abdominal ultrasound, and blood work. All have returned normal. Recently I went to the GYN and she put me on a low dosage of HRT. I'm 4 weeks in and I'm still having that spacey feeling. Can this really all be related to the menopause?

Yes, these can all be related to the menopause!

Falling oestrogen levels can trigger a whole raft of symptoms, some more common than others.

For some women, the falling oestrogen can interfere with thought processes and cause a feeling of spaceness or even detachment which can feel very disconcerting and upsetting.

The main issue would be to raise and balance oestrogen thus reducing symptoms. Abdominal pain is a common one and can be caused by several factors. Although your hormone levels are falling there is still a monthly cycle, not high enough to trigger a bleed but still high enough to cause uterine spasming which can be painful.

Falling oestrogen also affects the mucus lining of the digestive system slowing down digestion and elimination and this can cause cramping and other digestive complaints.

For your symptoms, I would suggest a phyto-oestrogen supplement such as Menopause Support to help balance the oestrogen itself.

A magnesium citrate supplement 200mg twice a day with food would be good for many things in the menopause such as mood, relaxation, and sleep but it can also help with uterine cramping.

I would also suggest a probiotic supplement and something like a daily portion of flaxseeds to help balance and improve gut function. Taking a liver remedy for a couple of months would be a good idea too.

Acupuncture can be really effective for balancing the hormones at this time so it would be worth looking into.

Eileen Durward