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[LillyP]

I'm coming up to 61. Crumbs that sounds as though I'm getting on a bit! But I'm not.
I'd like to give hopefully a brief history:-
Menopause symptoms were so bad. 3/4 hot flushes an hour plus night sweats/flushes equally as bad at night, memory loss aching joints etc that I went on HRT after trying for 2 years to cope with the symptoms using alternative/complementary therapies.
I got my life back! Hurrah!
Was on HRT for 5 years quite happily and enjoying my life once again when I had a routine mammogram and an invasive stage 3 ductal carcinoma was detected.
I had treatment but obviously had to come off the HRT. Since then the symptoms returned with a vengeance and I'm now at the end of my tether. The oncologist tried venlafaxine which worked for a while but being an antidepressant was awful coming off them. Then an incontinence pill but when I lost the urge to'pee' I knocked that on the head. Then a very strong pain killer Gabapentin which after 2 days I felt so ill. I still have to work and they made me spaced out.
What I'm really asking is 'can anyone help me' I'm not sure if I can keep this up much longer. I'm so weary! It doesn't help when I'm told this could go on for years.
 Should I opt to go back on HRT and take the risk as my quality of life is suffering.
Your thoughts please

[Taz2]

Hi LillyP - welcome to the forum.

You wont feel so alone now that you have found us.

Are you on any medication following your breast cancer treatment? I'm not sure how long ago it was but wondered if you are on the Tamoxifem type of drug. The hot sweats are so distressing and the fact that they interrupt sleep doesn't help of course. I'm sure someone else will be along with some ideas of what you can take instead of HRT to maybe ease them.

I'm 61 and like you I don't feel old but I do wonder where the 61 years have gone though!!

Taz x 

[Dancinggirl]

Hi and welcome to MM
What a tough time you've had.
I'm 59 and have been on and off HRT since I was 37 due to premature meno.  Last autumn I went to see a gynae for advice because my GP had taken me off HRT and after a year without hormones I was really struggling. I am back on HRT for now but struggling to truly find the right regime that I can use for the next few years until I can retire.  I saw this gynae privately and I feel he gave me sound advice - he told me his wife had had breast cancer and was finding that Citalpram was really helping her with the meno symptoms. Citalopam is an SRRI so is different from the old fashioned types of ADs and he suggested I consider it should I find HRT isn't working for me.
I don't know if that helps but the ADS you have tried so far are known to give some nasty side effects and I have a colleague at work who uses Citalopram for meno symptoms and is doing really well. 
Hopefully others will be along with support soon.   Dg xxx

[bramble]

There is also Clonidine which my friend is taking and that helps some women with flushes.

Bramble

[CLKD]

 

Quality of Life is essential.  Why did you stop the Venlafaxin?

[Tigs]

Hi Dg ,  yes ive just started citalopram, i was on it last year but wanted to come off.  Big Big mistake, but its my third day and i feel a bit better together with cycleling every day which my physio said i should, that has really raised my good endorphines.  Its lovely to know that the above ADs you mentioned is good for meno as this what my doctor said.  Just getting my faith back about doctors!.   But do you know what the best tonic of all girls is chatting and passing messages to each other which has really helped me. thank you so much, keep typing away.   One thing i have got to get better for is the for first time with our 2 teenages, we going to malta - first time they have been on a plane and they are 15 and 16.  When im sane, lol - i know that i have a lovely husband but hes away alot and comes back at weekends, but its hard but i have to keep telling myself he has a job.   Its funny just when you think, great my meno is better, you get awful stomach aches.   I went to a natural healer and i know that he got meno things through me quickly as i had all the bl symptoms over a 3 month period but still suffer with anxiety, insomnia, memory lapses and the worst of all is the concentration, bookwork etc, house chores, organising my self for the day.  But since biking this week my concentration is better  and anxiety but will keep posting.  Hugs from Tigs

[CLKD]

How are you!

[Lisette]

I just turned 60 and my periods ended 4 years ago....and wham !!!! It's like the lack of hormone hit my body with a ton of bricks. Symptoms are endless and sometimes I feel like I must have some serious illness, so bad do I feel. But then I am symptom free for a while so I know what is causing it all. Then back it all comes again for another shot at me. I am new here and this forum has helped tremendously ....just reading the posts of others and knowing you are not alone is a tonic in itself !! Suffering extreme IBS just now, which comes and goes like all the rest of the joys of this meno thing, and every week there seems to be some new problem to add to the long, growing list. I'd like to think it's going away soon, but deep inside I think this is a long haul, no wonder depression and anxiety rear their heads. The added worry of the cancer for you LillyP is so much more to bear...let us know how you are doing....sending a hug x

[Kathleen]

Hello ladies.

I will soon be 59 and my periods came to a sudden halt five years ago. It seems the menopause hit me like a train and after putting up with it for three years I decided I needed help so began experimenting with HRT. I have been using Evorel 50 mcg patches for six months and although much better I still have problems.

Lisette - Like you I have times when I feel closer to normal and hope it's all behind me and then it comes back and I feel despondent again. As you have just joined the forum can I suggest you introduce yourself in the New Members section so that other ladies can welcome you and read your story.

Take care ladies and hugs to all.

K.

[Hurdity]

Hi Lisette

 

Sorry to hear you are suffering with menopausal symptoms. It is still not too late to think of trying HRT because you are only 4 years since menopause and only just 60. There are other women on here who have started at similar age - transdermal (patch or gel) is usually advised. Maybe something worth thinking about if there is no medical reason why you cannot? The problem is you don't know how long your symptoms will go on - some women only suffer during the peri-menopausal years but it sounds like you - as many of us on here - have symptoms that may go on for longer.

I presume you are in control of other lifestyle factors - eg re diet, weight, alcohol, stress, exercise, sleep etc? Well maybe not sleep if you are suffering night sweats.

I am 62 and I've been on HRT for more than 8 years and hoping to continue into the indefinite future if no adverse health reasons.  For me it's quality of life and also still working - which means with HRT I can function normally without as many health problems and complaints that other women seem to suffer. There are several of us in the over 60's HRT club 

Have a look at the information on this site - it's excelllent - especially here where the benefits and risks of HRT are weighed up: http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/balance.php

Hope this helps!

Hurdity x

[Lisette]

Thanks so much for your greetings, it's so kind.
No, I can't take it unfortunately. I had Endometrial Hyperplasia a few years ago and was told I couldn't take HRT. I do have Vagifem for Atrophy though and that's helped that problem a lot...but, of course, does nothing to aid the other problems of which there is an endless list. No one tells you about all this do they...hot flushes were all I was expecting from Meno....boy, was I mistaken !! Lisette x

[Dancinggirl]

Lisette
If you suffered with hyperplasia you could possibly have a Mirena fitted that would prevent your lining from building up and then use oestrogen as gel or patch to reduce the meno symptoms. It might be worth going to a meno clinic or asking for a referral to a gynae to discuss this option. DG x

[Hurdity]

Hi Lisette - I agree with Dancginggirl but also want to ask about the hyperplasia - was this on HRT or perhaps before your periods stopped when your periods were getting infrequent? Many women experience heavy bleeding due to build up of the lining at this point because of the cycles where you don't ovulate so no progesterone is produced to prepare and then shed the lining. I presume the hyperplasia was treated with norethisterone or something similar and then all has been OK since? Do you have regular scans to check? You shouldn't have to suffer with your symptoms and I would ask for a referral to a menopause specialist (if there is one locally) if you get no joy from your GP Practice -  as Dancinggirl says!

Hurdity x

[Lisette]

Hi.
The Hyperplasia build up was during my final periods. I had a D&C performed and then a Merina coil in for about 3 years to stop the build up again. I never thought that perhaps I could have HRT now I'm not ovulating....thank you ladies !!

Lisette x