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Real members of MyMSTeam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.

Women around 50 how did you deal with your menopause and where you are aware of it?

A MyMSTeam Member asked a question 💭
Struthers, OH

I was diagnosed in July 2011. I was having my house sided and it was in the 90s. I had no air-conditioning and I was super tired and I had like a knot in my shoulder that was bothering me and I had my husband‘s entire family from out of town in and we were having a pool party and a cookout, I couldn’t even be outside. I felt like I couldn’t breathe of a strange because 90° and humid was my type of weather. I would always say I couldn’t wait to hit menopause to be warm that it really sucks. In… read more

June 2
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A MyMSTeam Member

@A MyMSTeam Member does your family agree with your doctor ,that your personality is starting to change? I believe I am going through perimenopause and a lot of symptoms overlap with MS symptoms. Numbness, tingling, brain fog etc. I hope you feel better soon !

June 2
A MyMSTeam Member

@A MyMSTeam Member your situation is very similar to my sisters situation except she doesn’t have MS .

June 2
A MyMSTeam Member
June 2
A MyMSTeam Member

The struggle is real. I had to have a hysterectomy due to extreme pain, and heavy bloatness, it was endometriosis. I had the surgery before peri and menopause. Since it wasn't full, removal of uterus, I kept my ovaries. I would sometimes get faux menses. A little pain that lasted for days...The HOT FLASHES 🔥, threw me for a loop. Add menopause to MS and it is no joke. I use liquid drops under the tongue by Balance Femme, it has the main ingredient of Black Cohash.

June 2
MyMSTeam

What a journey — and what a plot twist that the warm weather you once loved became your nemesis! That's such a relatable and frustrating shift that many MyMSTeam members have experienced too.

Navigating menopause alongside MS is genuinely tough, and you're not alone in feeling like everything hit at once. A MyMSTeam member Show Full Answer

What a journey — and what a plot twist that the warm weather you once loved became your nemesis! That's such a relatable and frustrating shift that many MyMSTeam members have experienced too.

Navigating menopause alongside MS is genuinely tough, and you're not alone in feeling like everything hit at once. A MyMSTeam member once said, "Menopause is when all the symptoms I'd had for years came on full force. Heat, cold, walking — everything changed with menopause." The tricky part is that so many symptoms overlap between MS and menopause, making it hard to know what's causing what. These shared symptoms include:

- Brain fog and memory issues
- Fatigue and sleep problems
- Bladder problems (like incontinence)
- Mood changes and personality shifts
- Hypersensitivity and muscle discomfort

With Tysabri long-term and steroids off the table, it's especially important that your neurologist and gynecologist are working together on your care plan. Here's some reassuring news: a large study found that menopause itself does not actually cause MS to worsen or speed up disability progression. The three biggest factors in MS progression were found to be:

- Biological aging
- How long you've had MS
- The type of MS treatment being used

So while menopause is making things feel more intense right now, it may not be permanently driving your MS forward. Regarding hormone regulation, estrogen therapy has shown some beneficial effects for postmenopausal women with MS, so it's worth asking your doctor whether hormone management options might help with both your menopause symptoms and how you're feeling overall.

The personality changes your doctor flagged in March are worth monitoring closely — cognitive and mood shifts can come from both MS and hormonal changes, and getting the right support sooner rather than later really matters. A referral to a mental health specialist alongside your neurology team could be a helpful step.

June 2

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