I started the menapause 2 years ago.  Like you I on levothyroxine (I have no thyroid gland) and I have kidney issues.  I was offered HRT but declined it due to the risks that brings.  I was offered Gabbapentin, it's an alternative to HRT but Drs don't like you being on it too long as it's addictive.  I declined that too on the basis that it's addictive.

I have zero sex drive, but can manage bookings.  But I do massage HR a lot as well as escort.

What I have found helps is wearing clothes in light layers, so when I feel the flush start, I literally strip layers off, especially upper body.  I basically have nothing on my shoulders or top back area.  Sipping water when the hot flush starts helps too.  Flushes come hard and fast for me a few weeks at a time, then go away then come back.

Exercising helped with my mindset.  As I get moody, depressed, angry.  It really does help.  It also keeps the weight down.  I found I gained a stone with menapause, but I am have got that off now and my figure is very very good now, all down to weights and exercise.

The broken sleep, I have been using meditation apps with headphones to help me get back off to sleep.  I still wake up at stupid o'clock and fall asleep early in the evening.  I not found anything helpful for this, but if anyone else has please say, as I really struggle with this.  And if I honest I have been smoking a joint every night to knock me to sleep but I don't want to keep doing that.

When I am on a "angry" day, I can't work.  When I am on a "fatigue" day I don't even get dressed.  These days there is no point even trying as I would put myself in a very bad mood and even the slightest misdemeanours from clients I want to physically hurt them lol.  So listen to your body.

I also take Well Woman Menapause Vitiams daily, which I buy from the local supermarket, probably just an angle at selling us higher priced Vitiams but as my appetite has gone it helps put back in my body what my body needs.  I haven't noticed any difference to be honest but I still take them.

I found Drs attitudes crap, it's either take HRT or get on with it.

Sex work whilst going through the change can be difficult, as some days I feel as sexy as a bag of spuds. 

Vitamin B is one of the few vitamins you can take that don't get stored in the body , you just pass it out , it makes your urine bright yellow almost luminous , then you know you've had enough 

NB ,
I've been checking this out myself and prenatal vits are supposed to be really good 

I've been going through this for the last two years I've had to cancel loads of tours including the one I'm supposed to be on now !

It's a complete nightmare , I've lost more money than I've made it's crazy and I'm starting to feel I am now too !

I'm happy to pm if you want

I've also had the mirena in to stop bleeding and had pretty much 4 months of bleeding prior , they convinced me it would stop it but nope , the Mirena made me ill and continued to bleed or a further eight months on and off .

I took that out myself in the hope it would stop , it did after the initial bleed then stopped , I booked and paid , again upfront as convinced it was definately ok , only to end up in hospital on the day I should of left .

I have posted in a menopause thread but can't use the search facility at the moment due to the server issues, I've also posted in the mirena one .

Best wishes

Yep exactly the same , never have I been in bed with cramps like it , then knackered in the day and really tired .
Also I've never ever had a migraine ( not even from a hangover just a Muzzy head) but these are untrue .

Yep exactly the same , never have I been in bed with cramps like it , then knackered in the day and really tired .
Also I've never ever had a migraine ( not even from a hangover just a Muzzy head) but these are untrue .

Strangely enough I?ve had virtually zero migraines this year.  I could not cope with an increase in them as well!

I am praying this one was a once off so it won?t affect work too much...