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[Armadillo]

Hello

I've been having a good read round the forums and see that a few members have current CFS/ME diagnosis.   The threads I've found haven't been commented on in a while so I hoped it would be ok to start again.

I've had severe CFS/ME for over 10 years.  Mostly home-bound with a couple of supported trips out a week max, carers wheelchair user etc.  I'm not happy about it (who would be) but very used to what my NORMAL is like.
Specialists suggested and agreed that I've actually had mild CFS/ME since teenage years but a virus pushed me over into severe.

Now I am Peri-menopause and some of the symptoms seem to drop into both camps so it took me a while to realise what was going on. 

But for me the peri tiredness is very different to my cfs/ME poisoned fatigue.  However it's the peri tiredness that is squashing me now, it's a whole new beast and i'm a bit shocked by it.

I'm used to problems regulating my temperature but a hot flush (or is that flash) is excruciatingly painful, i feel like i will dissolve.. so we have wet flannels in the fridge, i have had help to get in shower clothed as quicker and then sat there with it running cool as my husband or PA helps me undress.

My emotions are trashed, a lot of tears for no reason.  Anxiety and now depression is causing issues.  (I have anxiety and depression anyway as a result of being poorly so long and isolated from life)

Some new things have joined in.. burning mouth? as in i'll sit and suck ice cubes and cry.  I seem to be even more sensitive to soya than previously and the itching.. we now use a dog grooming brush to rub my skin.. it's got rubber bristles so doesnt damage but oh I'd use a cheese grater if my husband would just assist.

So I think I know where my M.E ends and the peri starts, i can see areas of overlap.

But woah I am scared at just how disabling and debilitating peri can be on an already pretty broken body. 

Due to med sensitivities anti-depressants are out.. i've been through many, along with the allergic reactions, weird reactions, hallucinations and extra symptoms they give me.. I've now been told to stop trying.

Progesterone is causing issues.  The POP pill was an issue before my ME, the implant made me suicidal to the point of being restrained and norethisterone did the same thing along with a few extra's.  I'm trying utrogestan next.  Choices limited due to severe lactose allergy.

So I was just wondering if there are any other M.E patients who would care to 'join the club' and we could hold each others hands as we go through this?

[CLKD]

Hi!

Menopause is natural. Yeah!  Right ........ but it throws up symptoms that can aggravate already chronic conditions or cause some all on it's own 

   thanks for sharing.  As oestrogen levels drop so the body may become dry: inside and out; skin, scalp, vagina, mouth, nostrils, deep in the ears.  Also, which toothpaste are you using?  SLS is included in many preparations so it might be worth trying to cut it out of shampoos, toothpaste etc..  If it's in paste I get burning mouth as soon as I eat bananas, toast, chocolate ....... which makes breakfast choices really limiting!

Rest as much as you can.  Have you tried 'rescue remedy' mouth spray or pastilles for anxiety?  I don't think that the contain lactose but check in case.  That must cause limitations throughout your food choices?

Many ladies find that they cannot tolerate soya anyway, despite us reading that the Japanese probably have less meno symptoms as their diet is high in it.  So perhaps cut it?  Many ladies cannot tolerate progesterone either.

Read our threads about bladder issues and vaginal atrophy B4 they become a problem.  Not everyone suffers, however  .

[Armadillo]

Hello CLKD

Thank you for replying.. I am pleased to have found this site and working my way through a list of things to read up on.

You say Rest.. that made me smile you are right but my 2 hour nap each afternoon with early bedtime is now a 2-4 hr nap twice a day plus early bedtime.  I'm actually going to look at new duvet covers as i'm so fed up of being in same bed. ;-)

I knew about skin drying but hadn't thought about other membranes so much but that makes sense.  I've had a rotten time with hayfever this year compared to 'Normal' and my ears seem to have got eczema inside them too..which is an interesting (OK i mean rotten) development. So I'll go have a read about that next.

I am hoping to swap to shampoo bars /conditioners for a plastic thing if my carers are happy with using them but will look at ingredients of what I have currently.

Rescue remedy.. i used to use this. The spray is alcohol based so no longer 'safe' for my wonky system even in small doses, and well it's a bit to subtle for my body.. a sledge hammer is needed more.  I'm fairly practiced at breathing, meditating, distracting, etc etc etc for coping skills. 

I do think peri is 'egging' my ME symptoms on and vice versa. I wish they'd play nicely

[CLKD]

It's The Change - does what it says on the tin   

Maybe keep a mood/food/symptom diary?  This may help your carers too. 

Do make sure you read the threads on atrophy! Whoops, getting repetitive    This can be sorted quite easily if caught early, maybe check the ingredients that are offered - Vagifem or Ovestin - to see if there is anything that would aggravate?