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[linz57]

Sparkle, my bowels went haywire during peri, but when my estrogen hit rock bottom that's when the constipation really took hold. It only really eased up again when I started on hrt and the hormones were more balanced. 🙂

[Spangles]

Hi Ladies, I've just picked up this thread.
I have been experiencing what I call 'non periods' for a while now, I only use a panty liner but find I don't really need it. Most of the time I feel a lot calmer but my anxiety still rears up badly from time to time. I've been in a state for over a week now, thinking I am going downhill again, (40mg Citalopram for anxiety and depression). Although these episodes are getting wider apart, they floor me when they do come.
Can I ask if any of you are on HRT, I am, evorel50/Utrogestan 200 for 12 days. Without stopping the HRT is there anyway I can find out how far along I am? My bowels also go haywire too!
Thanks
Shellb
xXx

[Machair]

Hi Shellb
 I am not on HRT and I believe the other ladies in this thread are also going along without. How old are you and what were your periods doing before you started HRT?

I don't think anyone can tell you how far along you ar in your journey on HRT or even without, as hormones fluctuate so much even from hour to hour, but certainly a predominance of symptoms such as vaginal dryness, bladder symptoms, problems with intimacy may indicate a low level of oestrogen if they are happening all the time. I have yet to experience these so know that I am still making oestrogen, but in my case too much at times I think! Hot flashes are less reliable as these can happen a lot, even when periods are still occurring, but they do tend to settle down 2 years or so after the last period in many women as oestrogen levels flat line.

[Machair]

Elizabethrose have you ever had a few months with no high oestrogen signs at all?  I did the time when I had a genuine gap of a few months but not recently for more than a couple of weeks.

[Elizabethrose]

Hi Shellb

Welcome to our club! I don't think any of us are on HRT. I was forced to try a number of combinations in an attempt to treat my migraines but all was rather nightmarish as they couldn't contain my own cycles no matter what they tried and I'm just so ridiculously reactive to hormone change. Side effects were hellish! I'm trying to get through without.

What age are you Shellb, and at what stage in peri were you before you started on the HRT? I am absolutely no expert with HRT but as far as I know, the only way to tell where you are in peri/meno is to stop taking it. I'm not sure then whether you'd have to go a year without a period before meno is confirmed or whether bloods would adequately determine it. To be honest I've had loads of bloods done over the years and each result has contradicted the last. My oestrogen levels dip and soar like a roller coaster.

I'm really sorry you are having a hard time with anxiety and depression, these pesky hormones can trigger such chaos at this stage of our lives. If you're still peri could the flares you're having be related to the ups and downs of your own cycle and therefore be boosting your levels in addition to the HRT? Oh I'm sorry I really have no idea about HRT, my experience was closely monitored by specialists who took control, I just had to live with the side effects of every change! There are some women on this site who have a wealth of knowledge about HRT, have you started your own thread about this as then they could jump in and help?

I wonder whether it would help if you started keeping a diary of what's happening to you, just a couple of notes of any changes you notice etc.  but include your HRT and periods. You may then be able to analyse what's happening when. If I know why something is happening to me I find it much easier to cope. Even through my darkest migraine days I find myself reassured knowing that I'm having an oestrogen surge (or whatever) and it'll start to plateau soon. The other thing of course is that a diary may allow you to pinpoint change and maybe a pattern which might allow your medics to tweak your HRT to better suit you. I do think sometimes it can be a one size fits all philosophy when HRT is dispensed but saying that, we are all so different and react differently to every thing. Just reading some of the posts on this site highlights that. Some women are evangelical about some combinations of HRT and some specialists whilst others totally disagree. It appears to be trial and error to find the best fit.

Talking helps: just knowing we are all 'normal' and that other women are experiencing similar things makes a huge difference. It makes us better able to cope.

I wish you well.

[Elizabethrose]

Hi Machair

Yes, I had an anovulatory bleed on the 18th Dec after approx 6 weeks of screamingly high oestrogen. It crashed with a vengeance! I had absolutely no signs of high oestrogen and then the hot flushes started on the 5th March and quickly built in intensity. The flushes suddenly stopped on the 11th April and the cerv mucus started the same day! So nearly 4 months without any signs of oestrogen change. That's why I was so convinced that I was finally getting there, I'd never had that before.

Did you get a bleed of sorts? How do you feel? x

[Machair]

Hello Elizabethrose- so lovely of you to reply and how are your headaches and do you feel well at the moment or hormonal?

I have been feeling like a period is about to start since Saturday when I had the tiny brown staining. This staining has carried on but is very light and is accompanied by what feels like PMT. I have a headache, hot at night and feel very restless- some mucus but very much less copious than a surge- still stretchy but thin and less of it. This follows an oestrogen surge that has lasted for a few weeks - I feel like a period wants to start.

I read on the internet the other day about 2 ladies who were 58 and 60 when they had their last periods - maybe we will be 80 as you suggested and look like we are in our prime!!

[Elizabethrose]

Hi Machair,

Do you count this loss as a period? Sparkle, did you count your show in July as a period? Should we if it's so slight? This stumps me as I know any bleeds I've had since Oct have been anovulatory no matter how slight or regular they've been. If our bodies keep having these massive oestrogen hikes and our bodies are adept at clearing the endometrial lining with an anovulatory bleed, we have a chicken and egg situation here. When can it end? I suppose eventually something has got to give and we'll not produce these oestrogen highs. I wish someone would have a word with my ovaries though!!!

I honestly don't know where I am at the moment. Cerv muc stopped overnight Sunday and has just started again but more copious. Am assuming there wasn't a viable follicle and the FSH is pummelling again! Who knows what tomorrow will bring!

I felt off yesterday and guessed something had happened to the oestrogen level but today I feel fine, apart from a rumbling migraine which will not shift. It just keeps rebounding, I can't get two good days together at the moment, it's like going back in time. This is weird because it usually settles after about a week after a climb or fall. I can't read this. Trouble is it's a case of just trying to manage a rumbling one as I don't know whether it will built into a nasty and I have to save my meds for the big ones. However, it just makes me feel uncomfortable, constantly. I can't sleep on either side because it makes it worse so during the night every position change wakes me. Oh blah, blah, blah, how boring am I?

Haha, on a happier note, the sun is shining, the sky is blue, it's not 180 degrees out there so I shall sit in the shade with some jasmine tea and read my book club book. Oh happy days!

[Elizabethrose]

Thanks Sparkle,

I think I'm going to give my brain a rest and not even bother to try to work it out today. I have absolutely no doubt my body will paint a very clear picture very soon!

Like you I dislike hot weather. I am a winter person; love wrapping up in big sweaters, the cold biting my nose on long walks, hot steaming casseroles. I'm not designed for the Summer and positively loathe slapping factor 50 all over! However, I wished my garden looked as lovely in the winter and that evenings were brighter a little longer. I shall make the most of it now!

Enjoy your day too! x

[Elizabethrose]

Oh my husband and daughter are exactly like you, you can see the decline. I'm very happy with rainy, grey skies and they want to thump me!
You can't please all of the people all of the time! x

[Machair]

I'm like you Sparkle. The sun is out and I am in heaven - cloudy days and I feel low- and that even happens within moments when the sun goes in! When my son was living in Arizona, before he moved to Hawaii, it was clear to me that I could live there (except for the snakes). The sun shines almost all year round and it is hot- that suits me fine, although he moved to Hawaii partly as no one went outside in Arizona as it was too hot and his wife found it very difficult. They had to take electrolyte solutions in July and August it was that hot to keep hydrated.

[Elizabethrose]

Oh my goodness Machair, that sounds like my kind of hell! I really HATE hot weather. I fully realise everyone thinks I'm a complete freak but very very occasionally I come across a kindred spirit, usually cowering under a parasol, fully covered, wearing a massive hat and smothered in factor 50. We exchange a look (similar to the Masonic handshake!!) which says it all!

There's another heatwave coming girls (kill me!), get ready! x

PS How nice to discuss something other than frigging hormones and bodily secretions!

[Machair]

Haha yes I know - a different subject! I think going back to what we were saying before, I don't reckon things will calm down until the oestrogen levels finally flat line. However these feeble attempts at periods/slight spotting, but no real bleeds, despite symptoms where you would expect to start as usual, may be a sign things are changing. Have you periods dwindled to less days now Elizabethrose?

[Elizabethrose]

They lasted a day 16 years ago, then crept up to 2 days light to medium bleed, 1 day very very light. Now 1 day light to medium, 1 day slightest loss. And yet they keep coming.................

[linz57]

Thanks Linz57, maybe that's where mine is then.  Was that when your periods stopped?

S x

Sorry I'm a bit late replying sparkle but yes, it happened at that time. My doc was treating me for all sorts except menopause but then I went to a more knowledgeable chap and he realised straightaway that I needed hormone therapy.

Oh I hear you ladies, I used to love sunbathing but nowàdays I'm to be found grumbling in the shade.......although how much of that is down to me not tolerating heat anymore or because I don't like showing my flab I'm not sure hahaha!