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[krow134]

Hello, new here!

Its very hard to find a site that can help me. I am 38 years old and 2 weeks ago diagnoses with premature menopause. It was shocking to say the least. I went to the gynie for a breast lump I found, (ended up all ok), but while talking to her we decided to have my thyroid tested due to symptoms I was having. Blood work came back fine for thyroid but my FSH was 47 and my Estrogen was 15, which is why she said premature menopause. Searching websites, its hard to find much about it. Most things go for normal menopause. I am just so confused as to what it really is. She threw so much info at me, but I wasnt really listening, my mind was focused on the OMG of it. I have to go back in 6 months for more blood work and then we can talk more after I have a little time to think she said.

I also had to go to my GP for my lipids panel which the gynie had run too, and all those levels were way up there. So not only in 2 weeks did I find out my ovaries failed, I am now on blood pressure pills and cholesterol meds. How does this happen!?!?!

I told my GP I was so very confused over the lipid thing. I do alternative day eating and run a mile or more a day. But he said its something that happens with menopause and estrogen levels. (So another confirmation....  ) I told him too, I was at 207 begining of last year decided it was time to lose weight, got down to 155 through diet and exercise and then all of a sudden begining of this year weight just started coming back on even with everything I was doing......he said another unfortunate effect of menopause  .

I dont understand how I can go from healthy to all this almost overnight! I know january I noticed I had this peach fuzz growing on my face, then this whole winter I was fighting with blankets at night because it was either to hot or to cold. Then last year or two I cant fall asleep (have gotten alot of really good books read because of this though)....I never noticed it was related to premature menopause.....I didnt even know it exsisted!!!

My gynie thinks it wasnt as sudden as I was thinking it was when she told me, she said by the estrogen level alone, she believes its been about 2-3 years (so that made me around 35-36ish years old). I just never noticed because I was still having "periods". She said I will still have them occassionally, but they arent real ones due to ovary failure. I never have been normal with them, so I am used to them coming when they want. Longest streak recently was 2 years ago when I went almost 10 months before it finally reared its head. Normally it can be around 6 months between them.

I dont know just so confusing and wish I knew more than I do right now. I no family history of this, so no one to ask. Then I fear for my 16 year old daughter, because gynie said she needs to know this so make choices in her life.

I did order a book that pertains to this, but it hasnt come in yet. Waiting as calmly as I can for it lol!!

Anyways, anyone else like me here? I have soooooo many questions and just frustrated with the "you should be happy with no more periods!"...dont get me wrong would be great, however I thought I had another 15 years before this!

[honeybun]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Have you looked at the daisy network site. It is for woman who are going through premature menopause.

You will still get lots of meno advice and support here too.

Has your GP discussed HRT with you.

Look around and join in.

Honeyb
X

[Taz2]

Welcome from me too - you will get lots of help and advice on here not to mention friendship and some giggles!

There are other members who are also in premature menopause and no doubt they will be along soon to welcome you. There is also info in the menu on the left of the screen.

Taz x 

[krow134]

Thank you both of you!!!! *Hugs*

I did try daisy network but I believe its a membership site, and I will have to wait for that. We have not talked HRT yet. She is going to re-run all blood work in Oct. to see where the numbers stand. She said she doesnt beleive it will change and go "normal" but she has to make sure. She said that both the FSH and Estrogen is in the post-menopausal range and usually once they both are there, they dont get better. She also told me to in the meantime "grieve, come to grips with this, educate myself on HRT and premature menopause". She said that way in 6 months when I go back to her I can go in with questions and know where I think/want to be, not just where she thinks/wants me to be. I really like my gynie, she is really about involving the patient, not a "I'm the doctor, hear me roar" kinda doctor!

Oh and she was the one who made me go to my GP over the lipids. She wants to see better numbers there when I go back for blood work in oct. She said with premature menopause, those numbers will get worse without intervention.

[honeybun]

You really should be on HRT as it will help with osteoporosis and heart disease. You are replacing the hormones that your body should have naturally.

To be honest I don't know why they are making you wait until October. Many doctors will go on symptoms alone as blood tests are very up and down.


Honeyb
X

[Hurdity]

Hi krow134

I agree with honeybun

The sooner you get onto HRT and replace your oestrogen the better - but I would agree read up as much as you can about meno and HRT - the information on the left menus is fantastic and will help you make an informed choice.

I can't see any problem with starting on a low dose HRT - but of course you will have to choose between whether to have a cycle or not, or a no-bleed type which is tricky in your situation. But then I am not a medic so maybe there are other things going on that means they want to wait.

Rather than wait until Oct, why don't you e-mail (or have a telephone consultation with) Dr Currie as it's not v expensive and ask her opinion on starting HRT immediately and whether she would recommend a cycle or not - giving her the information you have already posted? Then you would be able to go to your doc and ask for it if necessary.

I realise this could be tricky with your gynae but the only other alternative is to ask for another appt very soon and say you do  want to discuss HRT now, from what you've read?

Good luck

Hurdity x

[krow134]

My gynie said they have to blood test a second time, I believe she said it was office policy type thing. Like I said most of that visit was a blur to me.

I think the whole educate myself on HRT was because of the breast lump I found that began all this. I did ask my GP what he thought and he said that he would wait til Oct and do the bloodwork again since that is what the gynie recommended, in the meantime he told me to start taking a calcuim supplement and gave me a list of recommended calcuim rich foods. I dont think he wants to step on the gynies toes to be honest. I have to have blood work for my GP in July because of the blood pressure and cholesterol meds he put me on, so I think I will ask my gynie if its possible to just re-do her blood work then instead of waiting a few more months. I dont think it will make much of a difference if she thinks the levels wont change.

I am still reading about HRT at the moment. And I know I dont want birth control! I tried that ages ago and it doesnt agree with me, which is why I got my tubes tied after my last child.....which I am finding out that having my tubes tied could of started this all!

Like I said so confusing!! But I have found alot of interesting links so far to compare and make notes on!

[Evenstar]

Hi. Just wanted to say welcome and give you a virtual hug. xx

[Suzi Q]

Hi no I went over at 36/7 just overnight almost
Normal periods every month then 2 months thought Id had a misscarriage
Not it was early meno which they now cal Ovarian failure (sometimes)
Will reply properly later got a sore hand but no your not alone and Welcome theres so many peole to help you OK xxx

[Hurdity]

Hi krow

Yes good idea - you could ask your GP to organise the bloods for you in July. I mean once they are doing one tube (or however many they do for the blood pressure etc) they might just as well do another one for the hormones. All the GP has to do is tick a box to get these tested too (well this is what happens at my surgery - the nurse just sends off whatever the doc has ticked and they get done at different places. (When I had a general full blood done last autumn they took 3 little tubes of blood.)

At least you won't then have to wait too long.

Hurdity x

[krow134]

Thank you everyone!! I feel so much better having someone to talk to about this!!

I did get my book in the mail today and have a chapter down in it. Hopefully will have time later to read more. I was running my kids to doctors all morning. That and my blood pressure pills seem to be finally kicking in because I have been walking around dizzy and feeling like I am in water most of the day. GP said this will happen once enough of it was in my system....eekk!! I know last week in his office my BP was 161/98 and today when I stopped at the pharmacy I checked and it was 144/83....so happy to see that bottom number falling! So sad because this all was normal BP's at the beginning of the year!!!

I am sure as I start reading the book I will have more questions!! I just wanted to make sure I said thank you for the hugs and welcomes!!!