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[knorman]

Good morning all, hope you are finding the snow beautiful, rather than an inconvenience. I suspect for most of us though it is going to be a pain!

A lot of posts I have read indicate that peri symptoms are worse than post and that after post, they even out and subside. Mine seem to have gone the other way. Almost as soon as I hit that year into actual menopause (at 56), my symptoms intensified, with a few added.

I am going stir crazy this morning with lack of sleep due to the night heats (unable to take HRT at present) and I know it contributes to feeling panicky over the dry mouth,  burning mouth. What a luxury a good night sleep is.

I'd really appreciate hearing others experience of the transition, I am struggling big time this morning. Thank you x

[Dotty]

Hi I got a lot worse 3 years post meno.  I coped till then and then hit a brick wall and was very ill.

[Daisydot]

Good morning Knorman,still getting the odd flurry but nothing major so far even had some sunshine this morning.
Re peri v post I can only speak from personal experience and say it really does depend on whether or not you have oestrogen only or a combi regime.I think the severity of the menopause is pretty much 50-50 but because of the absence of womb etc in my case it's been much easier to work on solutions as it's oestrogen only for us ladies so we have none of the nasty problems the combi ladies have to contend with.its all about balances isn't it and what works for one won't for another and same with severity you can't really say it's peri v post if you get me.In my case I wasn't so bad at the early stages but after gp removed my hrt the symptoms got progressively worse over the years and the va caused so many other problems that by the time I hit 60 I was in a horrible place with it all.ive tried all the non hrt routes and it made none of the improvements I needed and cost me a fortune so it's still an ongoing battle for me and I mean ongoing to get these gps to prescribe what the private consultants are telling them I need,it's very obviously working yet they still won't comply,I've got another battle ahead today lol.A year ago I couldn't have done this but now I'm stronger and more like my old self,I have good and bad days like everyone hormonal or otherwise.I now rationalise everything and I can cope much better doing this,that sore head doesn't mean I'm going to drop dead at lunchtime it's just a hormone blip and it'll pass get what I'm saying? It's easier to deal with if you rationalise things and accept we are getting old.im presently on one squirt of oesrtrogel and vagifem pessaries and estriol cream for outside,I take vit d3 and k2 in an oral spray for better absorption and a multi b vitamin this regime seems to do it for me I've had no Utis since solving the va issues.good luck Knorman I'm sure someone will be along a give you a bit more info than I can.xx

[knorman]

Morning Dotty

There is no rhythm nor reason is there?  I know we are all so different. I very much hope you have now overcome that horrible time. I keep telling myself just to keep putting one foot in front of the other, but becoming very isolated (had to leave work to try and recover from CFS/ME), as now I am unable to speak to anyone as my mouth is so dry.  A friend was due to visit today, but unable to due to the snow and also, I am not much of a companion at the moment! It is so reassuring to be able to 'chat' on here.  Thank you Dotty.

[knorman]

Hello DaisyDot

Despite everything you still have ongoing, it is extremely heartening to hear that you feel you are able to cope better now than you were a year ago.  I am trying my utmost to rationalise this, as I am on the verge on a panic attack day and night and you are absolutely right that this is the way to go.  I am normally an extremely logical person, but that seems to go out of the window and panic sets in! I have just taken my vits (stopped them to see if they helped resolve dry, burning mouth) and one of them feels 'stuck', so now I am trying to stop myself getting in a tizzy about that! What a to do huh?! I wish I could just take my oestrogel that I have sat waiting for me, as I know this would take the night heats away and I may get some sleep, but I do need to take the progesterone and that is quite possibly what caused the dry mouth in the first place! Good luck with your battle today Daisydot and thank you.

[Daisydot]

Hi Knorman sorry I couldn't be more help but I know how bad these attacks are for you and it's not easy trying to rationalise things when your feeling like that,all I can suggest is try and remember your hormones are playing mind games with you and our minds are very powerful weapons in the right hands so you can overcome this if you know it's not life threatening and keep telling yourself it's a blip I can beat it,I don't think there's one of us who's not been there and we all have different coping mechanisms it maybe meds or something else but it's a temporary blip till your hormones sort themselves out so take any help you can get.meditation really does help but it also takes ages to get the hang of it so don't give up even just 5 mins a day will slow your heart down and get that pure oxygen into your body to purify it and help you cope better so it's all small steps in a huge battle isn't it.good luck xx

[knorman]

I keep telling myself that nothing lasts forever, good or bad, so yes, a little blip.  Annoyingly not able to get out for a little walk, as that helps. However, on and up and thank you for being at the other end today. xx

[Daisydot]

Good Knorman you can feel the positive vibes coming from you so keep that mindset as best you can and just keep reminder no yourself it's a blip,you'll overcome it and tomorrow's another day.im seriously toying with renting a treadmill for a month lol.xx

[Dancinggirl]

Norman - apparently it takes up to 2 years for the oestrogen levels to bottom out after your last period.  So if you are suffering a bit more after one year, that would make sense. Once the levels have reached rock bottom, then it will take time for things to settle and no one can tell you how long that will be but you may find your body adjust quickly and staying positive can really help. It's often those small adjustments that can make a big difference.
I am now 20 months without HRT and being very post meno (62) my oestrogen levels would have bottomed out quite quickly - I'm still getting flushes and sleep is erratic.  I do take Red Clover and try to eat as much phytoestrogenic food as possible.  I also take Vitamin D and Omega oils and I still lather myself in moisturiser, especially in this weather.
I have calmed my life down as much as possible - I simply can't cope with unnecessary stress anymore. DG x

[knorman]

Thank you DG, this is the first I have been aware of this and it fits in with how I am feeling at the moment. Good to have some rationale behind the whole thing! I am so weary (also trying to recover from CFS/ME) that I have stopped with the moisturiser and boy, do I look cracked and dried up!  For the past 3 years I have completely overhauled my diet, supplements etc and because of CFS have been living exactly as a menopausal women should live.  However, with the burning, dry mouth I am struggling to eat as I do normally and as my dentist has advised that drinking water dilutes the 'slimy' saliva that I have missing, I am now anxious about drinking water of all things and I have always been a water lover. I know water is the one thing we need so badly and yet it stings my mouth at the moment, as does my Vit c supplement. Really do not know what to do for the best!

[Dancinggirl]

knorman - from what you have been telling us, so much is wrapped up in you current mental state and this may well be effecting everything in your body.  Don't worry about what the dentist said - it's terribly important you drink enough water. Do remember that many drugs give dry mouth etc. so nothing will be without it's side effects. There is a gel that is good for dry and burning mouth so ask the pharmasist about this. Simply eat what you feel like eating - "a little of what you fancy does you good” - guilty over what we eat can be very destructive. Concentrate on getting more stable mentally and I expect the rest will fall into place.  It's going to take time.  Try to be patient.  DG x

[knorman]

 I think you are right DG and I am trying to go with the flow, but when something stings or burns my mouth and the sting starts to travel down my throat, I am back to square one mentally.  However, I know how important water is and I decided today that even though I can feel it drying out my mouth, it is needed to help keep me well.  I have been using something called Xylimelts and these are helping to keep my mouth lubricated, but not today for some reason . I wonder why?!!!!

[Daisydot]

You could try some omega 7 capsules from amazon or h and b they're not cheap but very good for lubricating all the body membranes which dry out terribly during menopause,dry mouth, dry eyes,nose ,sinus cavities,itchy ears,all your joints are all effected which can give the impression it's arthritis or m.e or cfs not to take that diagnosis away from anyone,I had m.e caused by coxsackie b virus for 6 years when I was in early 30s,but I also found the omega 7 very good,google it and get some info.good luck xx