I am 55 years old, the menopause started about a year ago. I have several symptoms, the worst being swollen breasts, weight gain, itchy skin and getting up tight. Can you please tell me how long the menopause can last or does it depend on the individual?

It very much depends on the individual. How well you treat yourself and how much rest and relaxation you can get will affect it, although some of it is the luck of the draw - you can sometimes get a clue by seeing how quickly your mother and other female relatives got through it.
 
Ensure that you are drinking plenty of plain water and try to avoid caffeine, to reduce irritability and itchy skin. You may find a herbal stress remedy helpful too. It's important to feed yourself well at this point, eating plenty of vegetables and avoiding refined sugar. Try swapping to dried fruit for snacks instead of sugary foods like biscuits and chocolate.
 
Eileen Durward