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[kimberlee]

Hi all another new girl, been to docs today to discuss what help I can get with night sweats, now turning into day sweats to, blood tests being done Thursday, she has suggested some antidepressant type medication in the mean time that helps with night sweats, but symptoms of taking them are horrendous.

We have cancer throughout our family mum having had a stoke and breast cancer, I had a cervical scare a few yrs ago and need yearly smears, she's given me info on hrt but it all sounds terrifying.

Are any of you guys able to help ease my fears with your experience, I feel damned if I don't and damned if I do, I'm shattered as trying to cope without medication oror some herbal help has come to a head, I've aged 10 yrs in a few months, I've got an 11yr old so need to keep upbeat but am losing the will to love, any advice on your experiences would be lovely thanks in advance. Kim.

[BeckyBoo]

Hi Kim

I'm new on here to. What age are you? (i'm 42)
As for antidepressants its very hard going for about 3 weeks but it does get better, hang in there.
I have been on them for over 10 year due to a chemical imbalance (made me the women i always wanted to be)

I've been struggling with perimenopause symptoms for more than a year now but only just realized it. Have had to really push for tests and help. Had my progesterone coil fitted today (mild period pain now) and start hrt tomorrow. praying it will help.

BB

[coldethyl]

Sorry you are feeling so rubbish. It does sometimes feel like a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. I've started Mindfulness meditation which seems to be helping and also CBT for the anxiety side of the peri. I am finding that not adding my own panic to the hot flushes makes them pass more easily. GP has offered to look at HRT but I've a history of endometriosis so not keen. Keep asking questions and welcome in xx

[kimberlee]

Hi BeckyBoo, and coldethyl,

I'm 50 this yr, excuse my lack of knowledge sweats started in November 2014, but then went away back with more heat this November just gone no period since then either, no other real symptoms except these sweats which in day are manageable but at night  !!!!!

It's killing me, I'm so tired, are antidepressants a normal thing to give for symptom relief ? The symptons they describe scare me, as i luckily have never needed any medication throughout my life, I feel like a child in a foreign school  !!! I have no idea what to do, feel like an alien has taken over my body, how are you guys feeling ? Do you feel afraid ? I feel terrified that I may have to take a drug that's got the ability to cause or increase my risks of cancer  !!! Thanks for being around to listen xxxx

[coldethyl]

I think feeling afraid can be par for the course in this period of our lives. I don't much like taking medication myself so can understand how you feel. I've given up reading the inserts and just ask hubby to yay or nay any weird symptoms I get as a possible side effect.  There is some evidence that certain antidepressants and blood pressure medications can help with the flushes and sweats if HRT isn't an option. There's also evidence that cognitive behavioural therapy is useful in deakin  with them - I downloaded a book off Amazon by Myra Hunter who conducted clinical trials in this and a lot of it makes sense. It is a hormonal problem but not everyone wants or can take HRT so it is worth  exploring alternatives if they appeal more and I do think that dealing with stress by other means helps us cope better with the rubbish that being in the menopausal transition throws at us xx

[Hurdity]

Hi kimberlee

 

Sorry to hear about your menopausal symptoms and also about the cancer/stroke in your family. In terms of the cervix - this is not affected by HRT. Re the breast cancer - it is important to find out as much as you can if you are  considering this in your position. Is it possible that you can have the test for the BRAC gene to assess your risk of developing breast cancer?

According to the British Menopause Society ( Fact sheet on HRT and breast cancer from 2008 - so a while ago) "Having a mother or sister who has suffered breast cancer under the age of 50 can also increase your risk." http://www.thebms.org.uk/factdetail.php?id=6

There are other more serious risk factors for breast cancer too - being overweight or obese, drinking more than the recommended amount of alcohol etc, so you would need to weigh up all of this too.

You ask if anti-depressants are normal to be given for symptom relief - well the answer is that the recommended first-line treatment for menopausal symptoms is HRT - provided you are not contra-indicated. The contra-indications are listed here: http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/contraindications.php

    Pregnancy
    Undiagnosed abnormal vaginal bleeding
    Active or recent blood clot or myocardial infarction (heart attack)
    Suspected or active breast or endometrial (womb) cancer
    Active liver disease with abnormal liver function tests
    Porphyria cutanea tarda


However in your position you would need to discuss carefully your own risk with a specialist because it's not cut and dried so you have to weigh up risks and benefits more carefully - can you ask for a referral to a menopause clinic?

For women who really cannot take HRT (or in your case because the risk may be very high) - yes the other alternatives are anit-depressants and other drugs listed here:

http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/prescribed.php

These are the ones (above) that are licensed and shown by medical trials to be effective.

The herbal treatments are mostly ineffective and lack clinical data on long term safety and effectiveness. The ones that are most promising (some of the phyto-oestrogen preparations) are also not recommneded for those who suffer from breast cancer. These are listed here: http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/phytoestrogens.php

The various relaxation therapies are probably similar - ie lack conclusive data specifically on menopause symptoms - but are of benefit (mainly through placebo and general non-specific feelings of well-being!) for relaxation etc.

There is a section on alternative treatments on the menus above starting here:
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/remedies.php

I hope this helps

Please do keep posting and you will be assured of an answer and support

Hurdity x

[dazned]

a friend of mine has citlopram for her sweats she swears by them 

[kimberlee]

Ladies, thank you for your advice and taking the time to share it.

I've got blood tests tomorrow morning so will discuss this antidepressants stuff then before taking it, my partner works abroad so I'm alone with my son age 11, so taking anything that effects the way I function while my partner is away is extra scary, but after yet another wild sleepless night I'm getting desperate, dazned, sparkle, hurditiy, coldethyl,  thanks you all will read through all you new info, feeling more empowered with your help, thanks you xxxx

[Hurdity]

Good luck with the doc kimberlee and let us know how you get on!

Hurdity x