Hi Ladies,
Its been a while since I have been back in here. Just wanted to give an update as I have the time and also I noted that I was last here around January 2014! Where does the time go?
I started my own business, being outside all day (professional gardening) really helped with the hot flushes. I also had/have other health issues and I am convinced they are all linked to the menopause.
I took myself off all the HRT I was given, I just had too many skin allergies and just could not cope with that. I looked awful and the skin fell to bits.
We went on a holiday and I seemed to have done in my neck. It turned out to be the beginnings of arthritis. Also in my hands. So the holiday was terrible. Not sure if I posted on that.
Once my business really started to take off I was so busy and working hard that I lost 2 dress sizes. Over the summer I had the odd flush but nothing too terrible. When the first winter came I put on weight and the flushes came back but not too bad. I got a fan.
Then we went on another holiday in the tropics and I suffered with flushes, but as it was hot and I could run around in skimpy clothes it was not too bad. No one knew my sweats were due to a flush. I mean how ridiculous, wearing a swimsuit and wanting to strip it off the body because I was too hot.
This summer it was great until around August September time. I started to get more and more flushes. I started to put on weight again mostly around the middle. Some flushes scare the hell out of me because I fell dizzy, nearly ready to faint! My knees are really hurting me and the doc I say said I have a loose knee cap and a bit of therapy will make that go away. Yeah right, I walk miles every day, bend etc. I am mobile and so whatever therapy they can do will most likely not help. I think she just wanted to get rid of me. I will have to go back but ask for a different GP. I need to have an x-ray or Scan on the knees to really see what the issue is.
About two weeks ago I had my first Carpal Tunnel operation. It went OK. Still have the other hand to do. But I find that the worse the flushes the worse my hands are.
I sleep poorly at night, cannot enjoy going anywhere or even just sit at home watching TV. One minute I am so cold that I freeze and need my hot water bottle to stop me from Chattering my teeth, I put on my fleece cardy and body warmer and a blanket to cover my feet. A couple of minutes later I get a hot flush where I start stripping all the clothes off again. I just wear a very thin Tshirt so that it soaks up the dampness during the flush, then I get really cold again and shiver. It just drives me nuts. I constantly have to flip my mattress and change the bedding because I sweat so much. I wake up and wake up hubby as well. He touched me when I had a really bad flush and he was shocked at the amount of heat my body was letting go. I tried a thin blanket to sleep in and a cold room, but it was too cold and I was shivering too much (until the next hot flush kicked in).
Also each time I eat something the flush is extremely bad, as if I am feeding it. But flushing burn energy and the body wants feeding. I crave for coffee and chocolate! Last week I ordered a tiny pizza with four (!!!) tubs of chocolate ice cream for home delivery near midnight. The delivery guy looked at me funny. I just wanted the ice cream. They are all gone now, but it helped heating something cold when burning up. It's just not helping my waistline. Even now I had dinner but I am craving sweeties. I dug out a couple of fitness DVD's and hope to do some exercises soon just to keep active. They are looking at me but just haven't got the will.
So as I have not had a period for a good year, I went back to the GP who specialises in women's issues at my surgery.
She put me on HTR again, but this time other tablets. They are called Kliofem 2mg/1mg (2mg Estradiol and 1mg norethisterone acetate). They come in these cute little pink round dispensers. One white tablet every day. (glad they are white as I have an allergy to artificial colours, especially red, browns, blues and greens). No periods to worry about. I am now on my 3rd day but have not yet seen any improvement. She said it may take upto a week for me to see any changes. Cannot wait!!!!!
I am also taking Multibionta 50+ multi vitamin tablets. Supposedly no artificial anything and so far so good.
I don't think I could work in an office whilst going through this. I am too emotional as well. Everything gets to me. I also seem to have a slower brain, short memory is crap. Probably doe to the missing sleep.
Hey ho, Christmas is coming. Have to decorate, write Christmas cards and do my accounts.
As I typed this I had two freezing sessions and one hot flush.
I will pop in again and let you ladies know how these tablets worked out for me. I hope I don't get rashes again like last time.
