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[Machair]

Yes ER so lovely of you to ask. Now have high oestrogen for sure as very bloated, copious mucus and really rather moody!How are you doing?

[Elizabethrose]

Well Machair, it's a pain in the neck but at least you know what's happening and it's keeping your 'bits' well oiled!! Keep your pecker up!

Have you any signs that your oestrogen has risen Sparkle or are you seemingly flat lining again? How are you feeling mentally now, still HA?

Well girls I decided that this vaginal dryness needed to be investigated and went to see my GP. I'm very lucky, she is really switched on and her specialism is hormones and women's health. I took my updated charts which she checked over and this will make you laugh, called me special!! Haha, I said "don't you mean a freak?" and she said "no, special, very special!" So that makes you special too!! 

Anyway, I had asked for advice here on MM and did some additional research and went in armed with info and loads of questions. She prescribed Vagifem and to use Sylk or Yes as I preferred, but said that given my ridiculous sensitivity to hormone change, to 'be aware' and go back to her as I need to. She said she wouldn't be at all surprised if I quickly reacted to the Vagifem.

I inserted the first dose that night and was utterly gob smacked to find I had mucus the following day which has continued since. Given I have only had the egg white type mucus in the past year, as you know copious at times, it feels weird to be experiencing what I'd had all of my life. However, so far so good, all feels much more comfortable. I'm hoping I have caught all early and may be able to avoid serious VA. Some of the poor ladies on this site struggle terribly with it, I feel so sorry for them. Gosh, it's a bummer being a woman sometimes!!

Fingers crossed all continues going to plan! Have a lovely day xx

[Elizabethrose]

Forgot to add: oestrogen still on a low and flushes continuing day and night, though not unmanageable. If I forget my just before bed snack, I'm awake half the night: if I remember it, I can go back to sleep after each flush.

[Elizabethrose]

Oh that's a brilliant idea of your daughter's! Good for her, it's not easy being proactive when you're struggling! Good luck to both of you, I wish you every success with it. It has turned my daughter's life around.

I think you're right, you need to get the endoscopy over and done with and hopefully be given advice about how you move forwards. I was talking to a book club friend the other day who struggled terribly with IBS and her GP eventually put her on an AD which has really really calmed it down. She says it's calmed her down too! 

Head is good today, good last few days so that's a blessing. I'm off now to see the Picasso exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. Really excited as it has lots of his early realist work which I love. My God the man was an excellent draftsman!

You're right about the GP, she is an absolute delight, she even hugged me when I left! I arrived at the surgery at 7.45 for an 8.30 opening only to find about 16 people in front of me. I was a lucky girl to get an appointment!

Have a happy day Sparkle x

[Elizabethrose]

Thanks Sparkle, the exhibition was great and spent the evening in town.

Rang my pal this morning and that is the AD she's on. She says she's never coming off of it, takes one tab a day and stops any IBS symptoms.
Amazing! x

[nearly50]

Hi there, had a tiny amount of spotting, 40 days after last period. Should I start counting again, or only if it becomes more substantial?

Have definitely had some sort of hormonal shift as I've been anxious with a rash covering stomach and back. The neck and shoulder pain I've had at various degrees over the past few years has completely gone, which may be a coincidence.

As an aside, does anyone else get fed up with how aware of their body they've become?

[Elizabethrose]

Hi there nearly50,

I was told that you have to be clear of any sort of bleed or spotting for a year before you can be classified as post meno but I think Machair was told differently. I'm sure she'll be along soon to respond to you. It was suggested that for a lot of women their periods become lighter and lighter until they disappear altogether: for some they continue to ovulate till the end with only intermittent anovulatory cycles. However, saying all of this some women can go a full year and then have rogue cycles later. Now that would really naff me off but it wouldn't surprise me with the way my body works!

If I were you I'd start counting again: I've had many cycles where this has happened over the years and I'm still here, late peri!

As far as your last point is concerned, I don't get fed up with being aware of it because my body has always painted a very clear picture of hormone change so I suppose I don't know any different. What has been difficult over the past few years is the intensity with which the hormones have changed which has caused all sorts of problems for me. Therefore it's the symptoms that I get fed up with rather than the awareness of them. If I'm honest I think I may be a bit of a control freak and have a need to understand what's happening and why it's happening, it makes me feel more in control and better able to weather the storm!

My aches and pains have definitely been cyclical: I've become aware that my aches and pains are definitely intensified when I experience a major oestrogen crash. I've been taking a joint and bone supplement that contains a mix of vitamins and minerals and I feel sure that that is helping relieve some of my joint pain. Either way at this age it's not going to do me any harm!

Don't get despondent nearly50, keep your pecker up and start counting again! x 

[nearly50]

Thanks Elizabethrose, that's very helpful.

I used to just trust my body to do what it was supposed to do, and realise I've been very lucky with good health. Now every ache and pain carries more weight than it used to.  Amazed by how much impact hormone imbalance can have.

[Machair]

I think one year is the rule for over fifty to indicate probably menopause has been reached. I have never got there yet though I almost did. I have had this spotting instead of a period a few times now so have counted it. I think keeping records is really important so you can look for patterns and seek help if you are worried.

[Elizabethrose]

Good luck tomorrow Sparkle, hope all goes really easily for you xx

[Elizabethrose]

Hi Sparkle, could you be mid cycle again, was the 'bleed' about 2 weeks ago?

I've been fine thanks, migs a bit troublesome this week with visual auras which is very very unusual for me. Could well be the Vagifem, it would be a miracle if HRT didn't make me react. I'm not concerned because after the initial 2 wk load it'll just be twice a week maintenance which hopefully won't be enough to cause a problem with the head.

Wildly busy at the moment so juggling madly! Try not to worry too much about tomorrow and demand an elephant size tranquilliser!! xx

[Machair]

Thinking of you Sparkle and wondering how you are? ER are your headaches any better?
I am still having mucus at random Sparkle but no pattern really just every 2 or 3 weeks I suppose.
Guess there is still oestrogen in my system.

[Elizabethrose]

Oh Sparkle, poor you. You said you have it again, how did they treat it before? Are they going to come up with a plan of how you can deal with all your problems now? I read on your post that you are to see the GP about treatment, don't they have a specialist team at the hospital who can provide a treatment plan?

Oh blimey, what a dilemma: the other posters make some interesting points on the other thread. I think I'd be tempted to do extensive research on all of them and go to the GP armed with info, suggestions and lots of questions. It's good news about the Barrett's oesophagus though: that's what they said to my hubby on his last visit.

I think your 'bleed' was about 2-3 wks ago, check it out on this thread, this is as good a record as any!! You may just be ovulating again though of course it could be the oestrogen is surging. Watch this space!

Hi Machair, thanks for asking about the migs. All is very up and down at the moment. Had one Sat which the meds sorted but in bed wiped out today. Pesky things - have a drinks party tonight but it's clear that I won't be able to manage that as still in bed and haven't the energy to even climb into the shower! Such a pain!

Oh well ladies, I'm 83 days today, still having regular flushes day and night, and the Vagifem has done the job of stimulating mucus production so all is more comfortable. It's the last night tonight of the 2 week loading period then it's down to twice a week. I shall see how it goes. As you both know, I've had dreadful experiences with HRT and swore I'd never try it again but needs must! So far so good! I think we were all holding our breath for a negative reaction, GP certainly was, but aside from the visual aura there's been no other really negative side effects.

Things could be a whole lot worse and certainly have been so I really can't complain. I hope you both have a happy day xx

[GypsyRoseLee]

Hello Ladies

I have read the first few pages of this thread with great interest as I think my symptoms could be very similar to yours.

I have had peri symptoms (mainly mood swings and anxiety) for the last 3 years. I am now 46. Over the last couple of years my periods have been much lighter.

Nowadays, I barely need to use a panty liner, and they only last 2 days.

My mood has been quite a lot better these last few months due to 4 pumps of oestrogel + taking an AD.

But, last month my mood plummeted mid cycle and it took me a week to recover.

Then this month I was very bloated during the 2nd week if my cycle, my boobs were tender, and my tummy looked like I was 5 months pregnant. Had a couple of sharp headaches too. Then on Day 12 I had some clear mucus, with a tiny smear of red in it (never had that mid cycle before). On the same day my mood really plummeted again, and I also felt like I was about to burst into a million pieces.

On days 14/15 the bloatedness disappeared, and breast tenderness went, but I seemed to have a lot of mucus. I'm now on Day 18, and my mood is still horrible and agitated/anxious.

Recently my cycle has lengthened from 24/25 days to 29/30 days. Coupled with my periods being barely noticeable, I wondered if this means they might stop very soon?

I am desperate for these hormonal fluctuations to stop causing me such emotional distress.

[Elizabethrose]

Hi GypsyRoseLee


I'm really sorry to read that you're having such a bad time. Oh it's all such a bore isn't it?

I'm no expert on HRT I'm afraid: my own experience with it was a complete disaster. It was used to try to treat my pure menstrual migraine that started with peri but it just exacerbated all of my problems. However, it sounds to me as if your own hormones are still rising and falling aside from the Oestogel, therefore your oestrogen levels are probably exceptionally high in the late follicular phase, thus the symptoms.

When I have an oestrogen surge I too suffer with excessive slippery cervical mucus, extreme bloating, weight gain, breast pain, constant migraine and all the delights that they bring. It is also common for some women to experience high anxiety with very high oestrogen levels. If I ovulate, I get a slight pink loss (always have) and then all the symptoms disappear immediately. If I don't ovulate, there's no pink show, and the slippery egg white type mucus disappears for a day or two then surges back in and the symptoms build further and further. Deep joy!

It sounds to me as if you are still ovulating so it may well be that you've a way to go yet. I'm not ‘normal' but my peri started in my early 40s, when my religious 28-day cycle slipped to 21/22, and my bleed lasted a day. Lots of other symptoms of peri kicked in and bloods etc were tested and peri was diagnosed. I'm now 57 and still late stage peri. In all of these years I've experienced roller coaster changes in hormones and symptoms.

May I ask GRL, are you also taking progesterone? Are you on HRT to try to manage your mood swings and HA? I'm assuming that you've been given 4 pumps of Oestrogel to try to subdue your own cycle? That can be successful but for some women it just doesn't work, I was one of them.