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[Linda52]

Hi I've just joined this forum. Nice to feel I'm not going through this alone. I'm 52, past 2years periods irregular, gone for months without one. Hot flushes been on+ off. I've tried different herbal remedies. Not had a period since Feb 2015. At the moment hot flushes and night sweats unbearable. I've been taking the strongest sage leaf capsules which have had no effect. I would love a good nights sleep. When I get out of bed in a morning to go to work I feel exhausted, it's horrible. been to doctors today, he's prescribed me HRT, recommended taking for a year then come off it and see how I am. Because I've not gone a full year without a period, I will have a bleed once a month. I'm still unsure if to take them or carry on with herbal remedies.
Any ideas anyone,
Linda

[Taz2]

Hi Linda!

The decision whether to take HRT or not has to be a personal one but, for me, it was the only thing that stopped my hot flushes and other symptoms in their tracks and enabled me to get on with life again. Herbal remedies did nothing for me I'm afraid. Which type of HRT have you been prescribed? There is lots of info here on the different types either in our posts (use the search button in the blue bar top left of the screen) or in the drop down menu.

Others will be along soon with more advice re oestrogen and how the lack of it can impact on all areas of the body. I'm a bit rushed at the minute but just wanted to welcome you.

Taz x 

[Linda52]

Hi Taz,
Thanks for welcoming me. Just been for tablets, I'm on Femoston. Last year I mentioned to a different doctor about HRT, put me on the same. Remembered now having a bleed which lasted nearly two weeks at the end of first course so decided not to take anymore.
Does anyone know if this improves?

[dazned]

Hi and 

Femoston is a good one to try first,unfortunately nothing works over night and you really need to give it 2/3months for your body to adjust and settle down. Hopefully you should feel some benefits soon .

[CLKD]

Herbal remedies can help for a while until the bodies hormones begin to wax and wane, when HRT can ease symptoms.  It really depends on how debilitating a lady finds the various problems encountered.  No treatment is instant.  It can take 3-4 months before a real difference is noted which can be a bit of a rough ride until the body adjusts.  Or one can find that HRT eases symptoms and requires the occasional tweak in dosage.  It really can be Trial and Error 

Have a read of the menus etc. on here!

[Linda52]

I know it's strange, I took a herbal remedy last year for a few months, came off them and no hot sweats for months then suddenly hot flushes and night sweats been taking sage for a couple of months then went onto Menosan sage a month ago, still having same symptoms. I know people say to give these at least 6-8 weeks to work, I keep thinking shall I take another month of them or start the HRT, it's just knowing what to do for the best.
Wish I had a crystal ball

[Hurdity]

Hi Linda52

If I haven't said so already    from me too!

I agree with what Taz said. I took various herbal remedies, phytooestrogens in the diet etc when I was peri-menopausal, as you did. I thought they worked because my flushes and sweats came and went but in reality it was my own oestrogen levels which were going up and down - as the levels rose (and I might get a period), the flushes disappeared, and then re-appeared when oestrogen became low again and periods stopped. I started HRT when I had had my last period 5 months preivously and had had quite big gap before that - so I was probably late peri-meno. At this stage, provided your womb is OK (ie no fibroids or polyps or endometriosis etc) - then bleeding should be more predictable on HRT as your own cycle should be very weak.

Once I started HRT the flushes and sweats disappeared and have only ever re-appeared if I stopped HRT ( I did so for 3 months) or reduced the dose. I would definitely start again. Have you been given 1/10? Not sure about only taking HRT for a year. If the flushes and sweats are that bad and you are only 52 I would take for at least 5 years before even thinking about reducing or stopping. As you will see from the info on this site the current recommendations are that if you are under 60 the benefits of taking HRT outweigh the risks, if you are getting symptoms:
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/balance.php

If this HRT still doesn't suit you there are plenty of other types that you can try - eg transdermal HRT ( patches or gel) - and it really will work - the herbal remedies do not if your symptoms are bad because the ones that are recommended have only been shown to have a very weak effect and often the results from trials are not consistent.

I presume you are taking the opportunity to look at your general health and lifestyle as some factors can also sometimes affect the severity of flushes and sweats eg re weight, caffeine, diet, alcohol, smoking etc

Hurdity x 

[Linda52]

Hi Hurdity,
Thanks for the reply, yes it is the 1/10 I've been given. I've finally decided to take them after horrendous hot sweats during the night. Got to the stage now where I feel like a zombie in the morning, can't concentrate at work, even getting ratty with people( not me at all).
Anyway only on day 2 of the tablets so fingers crossed.
Yes I'm keeping fit, walking, yoga. Don't smoke, don't eat spicy food, cut out coffee completely, only have 1 cup of tea in the morning. Trying to eat healthy. Do like white wine at the weekend, certainly not giving that up, got to have some pleasure ha ha. Will keep you posted 😊😊.
Linda x

[CLKD]

What are you drinking in the day instead of tea?

[Linda52]

Hi,
I have one cup of tea with my breakfast then I'm just drinking water during the day at work. I've started drinking sage/lemon tea as well.
Linda

[Linda52]

Hi,
I have one cup of tea with my breakfast then I'm just drinking water during the day at work. I've started drinking sage/lemon tea as well.
Linda

[HelenS]

Hi Linda52
I'm new to the site as well, nice to know we're not alone! Loads of good advice and people to talk to.
I've found that sage tincture works best as it is absorbed into the body quicker, and a friend of mine said that sage tea worked best for her. I think its trial and error with a lot of things out there, what works for one person may not suit another. I'm not too bad during the day, but I do suffer from night sweats which make me feel washed out by the morning.  If I miss a period or two I find that when I do have one its the period from hell! 
Hope this helps.

[Linda52]

Hi Helen,
I kept hold of the HRT for a couple of weeks thinking shall I take it because didn't really want the bleed. Anyway couldn't stand the sweats any longer, I'm now on day 5 of Femoston and believe it or not, I'm not having as many during the day. still getting them at night which is really affecting my sleep so much that I've been to the doctors today, he's prescribed a low dose of sleeping tablets to take when needed( don't want to get addicted).
Lack of sleep has started affecting work now. I've tried Nytol and other herbal remedies but nothing worked. So looking forward to a good nights sleep, fingers crossed it's tonight.
I'm definetly coming back as a man ha ha
Linda x

[Hurdity]

Hi Linda52

Glad you are feeling better already!!!  You should find the HRT soon works to reduce and hopefully eliminate your night sweats as well, so you shouldn't need to take the sleeping tabs! Give it a bit more time and you should notice the difference. If the sweats haven't gone aftre a month then maybe go for the next dose up - 2/10?

Hurdity x

[CLKD]

Water  ………. 

I start the day with bl T with 2 sugars: 1or 2 more during the morning and 3 in the afternoon; I find that the taste alters during the day  .  I love chocolate milk shakes so have one to take my evening meds with.  Very rarely I will reach for ice cold milk when really thirsty or bottled fizzy water from the fridge. 

Home made ice poles from fresh fruits can be nice for a change.  Never remember to make any though, despite a glut of soft fruits this year  [note to self ;-) ]