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[CLKD]

Jedigirl - perhaps speak to a pharmacist to see if a hike in dosage might be required?  Sometimes our anxiety can over-rule the medication 

Yep, anxiety certainly made me query everything and everyone 

[Briony]

I too get that reaction from my mum who smugly reminds me she "sailed through it" in her 50s (my memories of her at that time are slightly different lol) and though she hasn't said it, I know she thinks I should "pull myself together".

Though I  feel sad that all this has happened to me before I was able to have children, looking at it the other way, it must be so hard for you guys to have to worry about them as well as everything else.  I'd hoped this year to go for a promotion at work, but I had so many days where I literally 'counted the minutes til home time' last year, that I am now too afraid to take on any additional stress. This wouldn't have crossed my mind in my 20s or 30s. Have any of you found it affects work too? How have you dealt with it?

[Hurdity]

Sorry to hear about the troubles of all of you peri-menopausal women out there!

If you haven't already done so, then do read the back magazine article on this site written by Dr Currie called "The Perils of the Peri-menopause" which explains what is happening to your body at this turbulent time. http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/article-perils-of-the-perimenopause.php

Re saliva testing of hormones - from what I've read in the past I recall that this definitley does not give an accurate reading of hormones levels, and I think is more variable even than blood tests. However I think I am right in remembering that it may well mirror the menstrual cycle in a women who is still fertile, in that there are usually the relevant peaks and troughs in the main sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone. Sorry I can't find the (reliable) reference where I read this!

jedigirl - if you can, try to resist putting off planning things in case you feel unwell - since if your periods are irregular - as in peri-menopause, then you could end up planning nothing or worrying all the time. Do you have something you can take, do, or say to yourself to help you through these days when they occur? As you say your kids did not notice how their mum was feeling and enjoyed themselves anyway! To me that would be worth the trouble I took to plan! Can't remember what HRT you are on?

Hurdity x

[toffeecushion]

I understand that the saliva test isn't 100% reliable but I had to do something positive.  My gp doesn't think I am perimenopausal, I'm 48 so can't be far off.  I have had 2 FSH tests done over the past year, the first one was 2 and the second was 10.  It is rising but not enough to convince them to do something.  I am hoping that the test will show fluctuations or an imbalance so I can show my gp.

[Briony]

Have you ever asked for a Day 5 estrogen blood test? That was what the endocrinologist told my GP to do. Up to then he had refused to do this (as my FSH levels were not high) but once I got the results back, my GP back tracked a bit and admitted they were significantly low (albeit temporarily - I suspect they hit they other end of the scale too, especially when the nausea kicks in!). Really useful article Hurdity, Thank you x 

[Hurdity]

Doctors should really go on symptoms rather than blood tests to diagnose peri-menopause. Pity you have to take it into your own hands.....

There is info here on this site about testing and diagnosis:
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/diagnose.php

Hurdity x

[jedigirl]

Thanks Hurdity, I do try not to put things off unless I know it would be too traumatic! I'm on Femoston 2/10 and Sertreline but really don't like being on hrt, i worry about the health risks but felt so awful last summer I had to do something.As I was 44 was recommended it for protecting my bones and heart. I'm confused now though whether the dose of Femoston is too high or do i just need longer on it to settle down? I started on 1/10 after being on Femseven patches ( which were fine but made me so itchy and fell off alot) but felt like the 1/10 wasn't enough as i had no period and felt awful. I've had slight period on 2/10 but still feel awful after my period. Why then I wonder? Silverlady said she thinks birth control better for perimenopause but that was never offered. Sorry so many questions I can't think straight. Hugs to all xxx

[Briony]

I am really interested in Qlaira which my GP claims will override my own fluctuating hormones and is aimed at ladies in peri menopause. Pixiegirl's positive experience (see New Members) was helpful. This pill has more natural, HRT style estrogen but synthetic progesterone. As it's a four-phase pill, I am still worried it will cause high/low fluctuations - in which case I am better off staying on my current HRT. Does anyone know anything about the progesterone in Qlaira? How does it compare to the ones beginning with an N and L (names of which I can't remember-sorry!) ?

http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,24521.0.html

[Hurdity]

Do you not use birth control at all then or another method? I mentioned about Qlaira on another thread. I hadn't come across it before, and sounds promising to me for those who can tolerate (synthetic) progestogens. I can't 4explain why you feel bad after your perid though! Usually women feel better then because they've got rid of the progesterone, the period and the pain is over and oestrogen is on the rise. Most women then feel at their best until some time after ovulation. When do you feel at your best on this regime and when did you feel at your best before peri started and your periods were regular?

Maybe wait a while and see if it settles - it is tricky during peri because of your own hormones fluctuating and interacting with the HRT.

Hurdity x

[Briony]

Apologies Hurdity - had not seen your points re Qlaira on the other thread!

[jedigirl]

Thanks Hurdity, think I have answers from you on two threads! My hubby has had snip so no contraception needed. I felt good last month from second phase of estradiol right through progesterone part. It was only switching back to phase one that i started to feel yuck again and it happened almost like a wave washing over me. I don't know if I have a fast metabolism ( I have a brill womens health counsellor who thinks i do) but often it happens this way with me, fine one minute then crash. I do wonder if i have too much oestrogen when i go back onto this phase, if my own cycle is still putting some into my body? Thanks again, you're a star

[jedigirl]

Briony, thanks for your posts, I can certainly identify with the turmoil you are going through.
CLKD thanks again, i dont really want to up the Sertreline as most of the time it seems enough. I'm toughing it out till i see my fab counsellor on Friday. She can usually talk me through my worries as she is so knowledgeable about womens health. I'm hoping the physical side will ease as the month goes on though if every month is going to fall into this pattern will have a chat with the gp. x

[CLKD]

However - why tough it out if the option is there: if you ask about upping the dosage when you require it  ……. if you find that a higher dose helps ……. the month probably will fall into that particular pattern if a person is prone to sensitivity!

I have never been able to 'tough it out'  …...

[Hurdity]

Hi jedigirl and Briony - I only just posted about them as had not been on the forum for a couple of days and had a session trying to catch up....

re feeling good or not jedigirl - if you feel bad for a few days after going back onto the oestrogen only part then this is not because of the oestrogen - the oestrogen on HRT stays at the same level throughout the month. The first few days of the oestrogen only bit and usually just before, (or overlapping the start of) the bleed,  is still in the pre-menstrual phase and generally causes some of the symptoms of pms women get just before the period because technically it is still in the progesterone phase. Following cessation of the progestogen, the hormone decreases more or less to just above zero ( as it does in the menstrual cycle) and the withdrawal symptoms cause unpleasant side effects on most women which then subside after a few days. Maybe they last longer sometimes on your case or maybe your own hormones getting in the way?

Your hormonal anxiety should ease with the right level of oestrogen but you may well continue to get some troughs as you continue through peri-menopause. This should ease the nearer to menopause you get and your hormone levels stablise and you can tweak the HRT dose to minimise any anxiety. personally I would not want to take ADs for hormonally induced anxiety if I could cope with life and ride through it....

There is often confusion with HRT with women thinking it's the oestrogen causing the bad side effects when actually this is not the case - if you look at the graph of the menstrual cycle you will see what I mean. I still can't explain why you still feel bad after your period has stopped except through interplay with your own cycle too.

Sorry that's completely garbled!

Hurdity x

[CLKD]

Clear as mud Hurdity …………… <wave> HORMONES