Hello, desperate newbie here!
After two years of hell, I am so relieved to find this site (recommended by a friend). I'd really appreciate your advice with the following dilemma I have regarding which HRT route to follow.
I'm 42 and following years of irregular periods, at 40 I suddenly developed terrible pains in my arm, mid back and ankle along with tingling in my fingers and some numbness. MRIs and visit to spine and neurological specialists found nothing. My GP was convinced it was anxiety and put me on Cymbalta (which was hell in itself).
Over the next 12 months, the pain eased and my periods came back more regularly (probably because I didn't feel well enough to exercise as much as I used to). At the same time, I noticed I was becoming more withdrawn and kind of lost confidence in myself - very out of character. Worse, my every 35-49 day periods seemed to coincide with days (weeks even) of horrible nausea, burping, sore boobs (sorry tmi!) and debilitating fatigue. I also get weird 'cold moments' and a crawling feeling across my shoulder, like it has ants on it at random moments! It always gets noticeably better a few days after my period ends.
More recently, my hair has started to fall out in handfuls and I just feel 'weird' most of the time - sort of spaced out, dizzy and tired. I don't recognise the person I have become and it's really begun to get me down, especially as I'm sure people think I am imaging things - only my partner sees what I am going through.
I was convinced I had an under active thyroid but blood tests have only revealed nothing but lowish estrogen (41), so my GP has said I need to try HRT (even though he seems sure hormonal issues could not cause my symptoms!) My worries are this:
- aren't my symptoms caused by excess of hormones/fluctuations rather than peri meno? (The blood tests suggested I wasn't peri yet). In which case, could more hormones make things worse? Or will they smooth it out? (I so wish I had listened more to my biology teacher!)
- he wants me to have the Mirena with Evorel 50 patches. I was already concerned with Mirena as I have not had children (met Mr Right a bit late) and although we're really happy to adopt, this makes it all very final. Moreover, surely the nausea, fatigue, spots and bloating are caused by progesterone, so having more of this 24/7 will make it worse? I stupidly googled the side effects of Mirena and have really frightened myself! Weight gain is another thing I am worried about as I have already gone up a dress size since all this happened
- reading through this forum, it seems that patches would suit me better than tablets (for some reason I seem to get side effects with most things I take). Would people recommend Evorel Sequi or Femseven? Again, Femseven seems to be the preferred one but I am scared my GP will refuse as it's more expensive?
I am so sorry to waffle on - I've asked far too many questions in one go. He's booked in the Mirena fitting for later this week (went to see him today to say I had changed my mind, but he talked me into going through with it); the more I think about it, the more I feel the Mirena could make things a lot worse, not better.
Any advice from you lovely ladies much appreciated!