for an ad-free Fetcheveryone experience!

Menopause and running

151 watchers

Little Nemo Aug 2024 9:37am, 21 Aug 2024 15,288 posts	0 Little Nemo Interesting read, I suppose that it's good to research this as it gives people alternatives but I have to say it's not for me. The only good thing about the menopause is not having periods!!! Mine came back for a few months when I was trying different forms of HRT and it was awful. I'd forgotten how horrible they made me feel and all the faff of tampons and pads - UGH!
Chell Aug 2024 7:24am, 22 Aug 2024 1,035 posts	0 Chell Hi Cal. Yup, I am in the same situation as you. My hamstrings have been continually sore for well over twelve months now. I've done absolutely everything to fix them, including not running for a couple of months. It was only when I read an article in Runner's World that I realised that it was probably menopause related and that there is bugger all I can do about it. I can still go out and run, but I do need longer recoveries. Whilst I do strength train, it doesn't really make a difference to the hamstring soreness. For me, the most frustrating thing is that I really like long distances. The long slow plod suited me and I really got into ultra distances. These days a 10km is a good run.
Jen HB Aug 2024 7:38am, 22 Aug 2024 2,807 posts	0 Jen HB I think I was assigning some symptoms of menopause to my rheumatoid arthritis (achy joints and tiredness). It was actually the rheumatologist who told me to speak to the GP about my pause in periods (I thought it could be due to the meds) [was 39 at the time] - tiredness and aches then improved
fleecy Aug 2024 10:15am, 22 Aug 2024 55,222 posts	0 fleecy I was so much more creaky before going on HRT, it seems to be one of the more ignored symptoms of perimenopause. Women seem to attribute it to 'just getting old' or something...
tulip Aug 2024 10:43am, 22 Aug 2024 659 posts	0 tulip this forum is actually making me quite scared... I'm 53, had no periods between January and June so thought I'd finally made the menopause but nope, back to regular 28 day cycles since then... no aches or pains, no joint issues, no creaky nothings, no hot flushes, yes tired but that's been the case for years and I think related to general busyness and stress which is now beginning to settle, yes weight gain but that is probably related to lack of exercise and being more sedentary rather than hormones, yes it's hard to get the weight off but it never was easy before and I've been on some sort of diet since I was 17 so also not surprising, and yes I need more recovery time compared to when I was in my 20s but then that was 30 years ago when I was younger and fitter and lighter so also not surprising... Sounds like no-one sails through and perhaps I should hope my periods hang around for longer! Menopause is still very misunderstood and I know many women including a number of my friends and colleagues get told it's just 'one of those things' and 'get on with it' and it's good that forums like these can share information and experiences. I shall keep following with interest!
Velociraptor Aug 2024 11:03am, 22 Aug 2024 70,538 posts	0 Velociraptor @tulip the people who "sailed through" mostly aren't posting on here. If it's any help, I didn't have any of the aches and pains and weight gain in the time between my periods tailing off (that was uneventful too, they just became less frequent) and starting HRT. Still need to talk to my GP to see if I can squeeze a bone density scan out of the NHS to help me decide whether or not to try stopping HRT.
Meglet Aug 2024 11:31am, 22 Aug 2024 24,975 posts	0 Meglet There absolutely are people who sail through, one of my cycling friends said she never had any issues. But the vast majority of my female friends are taking HRT!
Ness Aug 2024 11:43am, 22 Aug 2024 44,046 posts	0 Ness I was taking Cerazette during my early 50s so didn't have periods with that. I stopped taking it to see what would happen and after about 6 months, went to my GP to ask for HRT then went straight on to that. I also ought to get another DEXA scan. It's been years since my last one.
westmoors Aug 2024 11:58am, 22 Aug 2024 9,081 posts	0 westmoors I am probably classed as one of those people that is sailing through. Then again, I suffered with severe acne, night sweats, poor sleep and, if I wasn't taking the OCP, irregular periods, throughout my post-pubescent life. When I reached 50, the GP insisted on changing the OCP I was taking and my periods became irregular again. I took the decision to ditch the OCP and 6 months later had my last period. The acne has gone and so have the night sweats. The only noticeable menopause symptom I have are hot flashes, but these only last 1 - 2 minutes and so are tolerable.
The Pin Lady Aug 2024 1:49pm, 22 Aug 2024 1,597 posts	0 The Pin Lady Have just made an appointment to see about going back onto HRT. Only slight hot flushes but my joints ache - knees and elbows. When I had HRT about 6 years ago, they all cleared up. Also hoping it might help my sleep - getting up too many times in the night for a wee!