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[jgr]

Fed up again, Thought i was needing my HRT changed or increased as my little blips seemed to be coming more frequently. Referred to the menopause clinic again to get some advice. Told the Dr that my symptoms were tiredness, nausea, aches and pains, nightmares, dizzyness, anxiety and headaches. She did not think it was menopause related as i am now 57 and have been on Evoril Conti patch for more than three years and my hormones should have lessened and become more settled. If it is not meno related, then WHAT. I thought i may need to adjust my thyroxine medication and that is what was causing the problems, but no, blood test done and normal. I am now worried that i have been blaming the menopause on my symptoms when there is something underlying going on. I welcome any advice. Have an appointment with GP on Monday but i don't think i will get anywhere there.

[Briony]

Hi, afraid I can't offer any suggestions, other than to say I am in a similar boat - though aged 43. Keep having blips with identical symptoms to you, and get myself really wound up. It's horrid, isn't it? Common sense says hormones, yet that silly voice in my head says something more sinister. I hate it. Big hugs - hopefully someone else will have some better suggestions for you xxx

[jgr]

Thanks Briony. Big hugs back x

[jax]

I went through several months of blips about a year ago...some may recall at the time I kind of topped myself up.
I normally take my hrt at bed time but when I was feeling off I would take (with gp conset)that days dose up to 6 hours earlier which definitely helped.
keep plodding! :-) x

[Briony]

I agree. I take a very  low dose BCP and  I think it's so low, my own hormonal fluctuations are still able to play around in the background. In general, moving to this pill has been really beneficial so I think I will see if I can take a stronger one. (Interestingly, for the first time ever today I woke very conscious that I was a bit dry down below - which again points at low estrogen).

[CLKD]

Another GP who doesn't want to spend money? 

On what research does your GP believe that because you are 57 that your hormones should have lessened.  You've been on HRT so it may be now that they are having a 'party' which will cause symptoms. 

[GypsyRoseLee]

It certainly sounds like you need something with more of a kick to it Briony. It could be that the Qlaira has managed to lift you only so far and now you're stuck on a plateau. Especially now with the sudden dryness. As you know, I'm on the standard BCP and if anything I have too much moisture going on 'downstairs' 

[jgr]

It was the Dr at the menopause clinic that did not think this was due to my hormones CLKD.

[Kathleen]

Hello jgr.

I am feeling the same way as you at the moment and I have recently started to experience the aches and pains and spells of dizziness which I've never had before. I am 59 and have been on Evorel Conti 50 mcg patches for six months. I am sure it is all hormone related but at my age I am reluctant to increase my oestrogen dose.

I read recently that the menopause takes 7 years and my trusty meno book talks about everything settling by the time we are in our early 60s, even puberty takes about 5 years and of course these are all averages. Nevertheless doctors still imply that there is a magic cut off time.When I first went to my GP to ask for HRT I was 57 and hadn't had a period in 3  years and was feeling terrible, I have been trying various types of HRT since then and I have certainly noticed a difference so it was definitely hormones causing the trouble.

Sending hugs as I know how horrible this whole business can be.
Take care and let us know if you have any luck with your GP on Monday.

K.

[CLKD]

'early 60s'  - what's that based on exactly?  Some ladies are still taking HRT in their late 60s into their 70s/80s ……. I hate generalisation (can you tell  )

Puberty ……….. how long's a piece of string 

So what did this particular Doctor suggest it might be if not hormonal?

[Briony]

It was the Dr at the menopause clinic that did not think this was due to my hormones CLKD.

Obviously you do have to check for the nasties, but it's interesting that every one of the symptoms you mention is on this list:

http://www.34-menopause-symptoms.com/

[Hurdity]

Hi jgr

Sorry to hear your symptoms are coming back.

From the date of the last period oestrogen levels continue to fall until about 2 years past menopause when they stabilise at a low level. Apparently though, FSH is still variable during this time and the other hormones (Anti-Mullerian hormone, Inhibin B - not sure what these do!) don't stabilise at their lowest level until 3 -6 years following the last period http://www.imsociety.org/downloads/email_downloads/2012_02_16_1773491/straw10.pdf (Table on page 5).  Kathleen - it is all set out in the paper at this link! In fact the paper says that the early post-menopause lasts 5-8 years!!!!!

Given the complex hormonal changes that are taking place it is not surprising that some women experience a worsening of symptoms as they progress into post-menopause. Added to this you are taking Evorel conti which gives you a continuous dose of a powerful synthetic progestogen which can give rise to negative side effects in some women - continuously. I have also read that progestogens especially synthetic ones can inhibit the positive effects of oestrogen so maybe this effect becomes more pronouced with time as your own oestrogen levels fall further?

Your doc is quite right - your hormones have lessened! Just because they are now probably stable does not mean that you won't experience symptoms because women are sensitive either or both to fluctuations and/or overall decrease.

My suggestions would be to try for a different type of HRT - ideally I would choose separate oestrogen and progestogen and even more ideally I would return to a cycle (again ideally a slightly longer than 4 week cycle if possible)  for a short while to see if you can identify whether the progestogen is the cause of your problems.  The downside is that you would have a bleed but better this maybe than the symptoms you are experiencing?

Yes it may well be that you need to increase your thyroid medication - especially if you have other symptoms eg feeling cold, putting on weight etc? In addition low testosterone can also cause some of these effects. Not sure about the dizziness and nausea and headaches though - I would want to have these investigated just to rule out anything else - as well as look at your HRT regime.

Did you say that the menopause clinic said that the symptoms were not meno related or your own GP? I am surprised that a gyane consultant would not consider that the HRT you are using might benefit from being reviewed. Perhaps you can be referred to an endocrinologist?

Hurdity x

[CLKD]

Especially a Consultant supposedly knowledgeable about menopause 

Good idea Hurdity - an endocrinologist would have a different slant on symptoms maybe.

[jgr]

It was the menopause clinic that did not think my symptoms were due to my hormones and did not want to change my HRT as it had worked well with the odd blips for the last three years. She was writing to my GP so i won't get any help there now as this consultant is well known in her field and any advice from her would be taken as fact. I  feel like coming off it altogether now and trying the natural way.

[CLKD]

"She was writing to my GP so i won't get any help there now as this consultant is well known in her field and any advice from her would be taken as fact. …… "  I'm a bit slow 2-day, 'won't get any help ?  ' means ..

"I  feel like coming off it  …… "  why?