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[Mickyaela]

Hi everyone,

I've been browsing the site and forum for several weeks now and  have found the information here very impressive and helpful. So thanks for that...

I'm 49 with 2 boys aged 13 and 15.  I have had 2 mirena coils (contraception/heavy periods purposes) from 2001 with the second one being removed  10 days ago after having it for 7 years.

About a year ago I started having night sweats and hot flushes which weren't severe but then the mood swings and terrible irritability started and along with anxiety, these symptoms were much more troublesome. I also had a month or so of waking very early around 04:30 and being wide awake and having to get up.


 I have a chronic disorder called Migraine Associated Vertigo (MAV) which  with this latest flare up has been  treated daily with medication since October 2009.  Apart from intermittent vertigo attacks I suffer with dizziness to some degree every waking minute of every day.  Triggers that make the dizziness more severe are (amongst others things) baromic pressure changes and i believe hormonal chnges.  (Pregnancy was the last major flare up.) So, for the past 5 years my  life has been relatively quiet as the dizziness can be quite debilitating and my energy levels are depleted. I used to be very active and this has been life changing for me. Prior to June this year the MAV symptoms had been (on reflection) quite well controlled by the medication for about 18 months and I was able to walk my dog to get some exercise for instance.

But then in June after a reduction in my meds the MAV came back with avengence with multpile daily vertigo attacks and severe debilitating dizziness. By middle of September it was getting back under control  and I was able to start getting out abit and taking the dog for short walks. The mood swings etc continued throughout this time. Also in June I developed an itchy neck and scalp like a crawling sensation......and yes hubby checked for fleas!!

About 5 weeks ago I was hit very suddenly with extreme exhaustion and achy muscles which completely floored me and for a week or so I was house bound feeling awful.  Since then the exhaustion and achiness comes and goes with some days better than others, add the MAV  into this and some days I am a wreck.   Since the isolated bout of early waking I generally sleep well at night for about 8 hours and get up daily at 7am, although sometimes on very bad days at the moment I go back to bed once the kids are off to school and the house is quiet and sleep for a few more hours.

I saw my GP a few weeks ago after the first bout of exhaustion. He wanted a hormone blood test done as suspected peri menopause and or thyroid problems. We both agreed the mirena was overdue to come out ( 7 years old) and he wanted to rule that out as any cause of my problems so appointment was set for that too. By the way, I havent had a period for 12  years due to the mirena apart from a minute amount of spotting about 3 times in the past year or so.

Blood test results showed iron levels ok, thyroid ok.  He also checked blood pressure and did an ECG on this visit and all okay. He reckons peri menopausal although blood test not definative.  He said if symptoms continued to return a while after mirena removal to discuss treatment options.

So, mirena came out 10 days ago done by a gynacologist who said the hormone only lasted for 5 years and therefore not the cause of my problems and as i had had no periods i would certainly be menopausal...
I started bleeding 3 days after  (i've read that this can be normal after removal) this light bleeding lasted about 4 days but it restarted again on Sunday and continues.......Im guessing that this is still a withdrawl bleed (having read abouts others experiences) And I will just have to wait and see if my monthly cycle returns or not.

So I think thats me upto date, sorry this is very long but because of my history i'm just unsure as to how all the symptoms may be inter linked. I'm beginning to  wonder if I have been peri menopausal for a good few years now........

Anyway, I would be very interested to hear your thoughts and particularly if you have any good remedies for the extreme tiredness and achy muscles that work long term.

Also, I should say that my mum had breast cancer at age 45ish and died of bowel cancer at 72, so im not sure if HRT is right for me....

Best wishes....

[Briony]

 

Hi and welcome. Sorry to hear you're feeling like this. I'm afraid I am not experienced enough to be of much use, but what I can do is reassure you that the crawling sensation and excessive 'stops everything' fatigue are both linked to the peri menopause. I'd love to give you a remedy, but all I have found is that you have to be kind to yourself, accept a new kind of normal and enjoy the good days. I tried both Amitriptyline and Cymbalta for the back ache and crawling sensations, but neither was worth the side effects (especially the increased tiredness). All my blood tests were normal, apart from low estrogen, but my GP was still happy to let me have HRT on the basis of my age (42) and symptoms. I can understand your worries about cancer, but do read up on the risks and benefits of HRT before ruling it out altogether.

[Dancinggirl]

Hi and welcome to MM Amapolas
What a tough time you are having. It does sound as though you are in peri menopause and the symptoms you are describing are pretty typical.  I wouldn't be at all surprised if the hormone fluctuations were making your existing MAV worse.
I hope your GP is someone you can talk to - do go back sooner rather than later.
You don't say what medication you take for the MAV? Perhaps these are causing the fatigue?  Have you had a virus recently - sometimes viruses trigger some chronic fatigue. Reading your post you do sound in a really low mood, which is not surprising considering all you've been through and one symptom of depression can be excessive fatigue. 

If your mother had breast cancer young then HRT may not be an option for you but you need to seek professional advice about this - it may depend on the type of breast cancer your mother had.
Do read up all the info to the left of this screen and especially the section on 'Prescribable Non-HRT'. 
I recently went to see a good gynaecologist who specialises in treating the menopause and, though I am giving HRT another go, he did urge me to keep an open mind about SSRIs that can relieve flushes and mood issues - his wife has had breast cancer and suffered terribly with meno symptoms - he found that Citalopram has worked wonders for her.  I have a work colleague who was also suffering with anxiety, poor mood and sweats even though she was using HRT and now she is taking Citalopram she is so much happier!!!
Yes SSRIs can bring side effects but they obviously can work really well for those who cannot take HRT or HRT doesn't suit them.  I think SSRIs are used for migraines as well?
I'm sure others will be along soon with their thoughts.
DG x
P.S. Some women find herbs and remedies help but i tried nearly everything and have spent a fortune with no success.

[Hurdity]

Hi Amapolas

There isn't anything I can add but just    and sorry to hear about your medical issues - hope you manage to find something to sort out your menopausal symptoms - hopefully HRT but if not, something that enables you to have more energy and less fatigue.

Hurdity x

[CLKD]

   you have a chronic condition and two teens! no wonder you get tired.  Crashing fatigue - I remember my Mum suddenly sitting down and dropping off to sleep, no warning - she would sleep for a couple of hours before waking and 'getting on'.  I too remember getting suddenly tired, which was related to hormones.

What type of breast disease did your Mum suffer from?  Not all breast cancers are affected by hormone treatment  …….. did she undergo treatment, the same with her bowel cancer: is there a familial link for either?  Talking to a Consultant about the various cancers will give you informed choices.

IF the treatment for vertigo helps are you able to continue with a 'maintenance level'?  Also, I have a nerve in the back of my neck which if I turn my head suddenly or bend the neck, I get a sort of woozy dizzy feeling …….. so your symptoms may be aggravated by general wear and tear 

Have a browse of the menus, left of screen.  Let us know how you get on with your GP.  Ask away!

[Mickyaela]

Thanks for your replies.

Its not thought that the MAV meds is causing any side affects and ive been on it for a few years with no previous issues. But i will keep an eye on it. Once this latest flare up is properly under control i expect the dose will be reduced to a maintenance level but the last time this was done (in June) it was a complete nightmare. I really do now believe  that the hormone changes i am probably having will be the cause of the latest flare up.

The SSRI route could be an idea and i have been on these previously for headaches if i remember rightly.

I was a young teenager when my mum had breast cancer, i dont know what type it was, all i remember is that she had a mastectomy and lymph tissue??? removed from her arm pit. I think she also had a hysterectomy. The bowel cancer (2006) was a complete shock, just 3 days from diagnosis to when she died. I dont know any details about the cancer type except it was in many organs but they believe originated in the bowel. I guess this information could be found out. Any  thoughts would be appreciated.