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[Focus]

I've noticed in the past week or so I've been having weird dreams, insomnia, sleep paralysis, night sweats, palpitations and I feel really depressed too, lacking in motivation and energy, down in my confidence by quite a lot (which is all  totally unlike me).

Are these things all connected?

[Focus]

Sorry, I think what I mean is why are all these things happening at the same time? I know it's 'hormones', but more specifically?

[jillydoll]

Hi Focus.
Someone will explain the science bit soon I'm sure, but when you find out, let me know will ya? 😂.    🤷‍♀️ It's a nightmare isn't it!  Hope you feel better soon. xx

[bear]

Hi Focus,

Hormones are the top regulators of our bodies and as such they exert multiple functions, sometimes paradoxical depending on the specific receptors and co-factors (other molecules) present in different tissues (steroid receptors are present in many tissues), hence the large amount and variety of symptoms when they fluctuate or plunge. It's a similar reaction to a heavy drug withdrawal syndrome. Your symptoms are typical of perimenopause. There are a number of studies showing the correlation of symptoms with hormone fluctuations, but very few studies showing causation. Most of the ones showing causation use rats as subjects, and the results are not always easily correlated to how they work in  humans. I have a subscription of a journal called Hormones and Behaviour and there are very interesting articles on the subject. I can post some of them if you're interested.

BeaR

[Focus]

Thanks Bea

Heavy drug withdrawal, eh? I don't know how long that might last but it's a flipping nightmare that this is going on for so long...I'm so done with it all.

[Kathleen]

Hello ladies.

My fluctuations were not fully resolved by HRT and since coming off it they have continued but appear to be less intense. I am beyond fed up with it as are we all I suspect.  In February a book will be published by Neal Barnard and American MD called How to Balance Your Hormones. He is an advocate of whole food plant based eating and I expect it will detail the latest research on the subject. Worth looking out for I think.

Take care everyone.

K.

[bear]

Hi girls,

My experience taking HRT was too short so can't comment on it, but I can assure you that my hormonal roller coaster was monumental. I feel it's all in the past now, thank goodness. I wonder if HRT just postpones the inevitable and maybe that's why many women say they will be taking HRT forever, for fear of having the nightmare return with a vengeance?

BeaR.

[Focus]

Thanks ladies!

Yup, I agree with you as well Bea. I'm on the combined pill now as it was the only thing that could stop the constant gush of blood and enormous clots I was getting every hour, for weeks and weeks on end towards the end of last year

It's really taken the edge off the other symptoms/feelings too. Although I can still feel them going on 'behind the scenes' as it were.

Now, if I was just dealing with this, I think it would be fine. But I was so traumatised by what was going on to my body last year, and it was exacerbated by pretty much all the medical professionals I spoke to (4 or 5 in the course of 4 months) that I feel like I'm super sensitive to it all now. Any sort of fluctuation in symptoms or mood and it feels like it's totally exaggerated. There is no way in hell I am going back to what I went through last year.

[bear]

Hi Focus,

Absolutely, my periods in mid perimenopause lasted 8-15 days every month. I was surprised when docs didn't find any signs of anaemia. They have stopped suddenly and I had 1 every 8-10 months until the final one. I love being period free for 3 years 

BeaR.

[bear]

Hi Lola50,

I suppose you had a hysterectomy as well? I think you're still young to stop HRT, wait until you're 53-54. I agree that a healthy lifestyle is what really matters, but considering you had surgical menopause the replacement therapy is very important.

I still have hot flushes, but they don't bother me any more. Now I'm aware they are a sort of warning that something is not right in my body, brain included, particularly emotions. It's not just about oestrogen levels. As soon as I feel one hot flush is coming I breathe... I know we don't need to be aware of our breathing, but I'm aware that I'm not breathing properly and that is so important when it comes to anxiety and panic attacks, which by the way were extreme during perimenopause but have greatly improved around one year postmenopause.

I hope the patches do the job for you. Maybe without the stress of flushes you will have the necessary peace of mind to make the right decision regarding HRT.

 

BeaR.

[Hurdity]

Hi Focus - which combined pill are you on? I know we have discussed before. Some of the lower dose ones there is still some follicular activity and I gather you might be a ble to feel the mood swings etc but otherwise the combi pill should pretty much stop them. That being said as you take it by mouth then digestive issues could play a part in how much is absorbed. Also it doesn't replace testosterone so this might be partly to blame if it has decreased?

Thing is the oestrogen dose in the pill should be sufficient to prevent the night sweats as most preparations are the synthetic ethinyl estradiol which is muc stronger than estradiol ( bio-identical). That being the case I wonder if you have had blood tests ( not hormone ones but others eg thyroid, blood sugar etc) to check your general health? Sweats in particular can be caused by thyroid malfunction - although at menopause usually due to low (or decline in ) oestrogen. Perhpas try a different type - maybe you're not absorbing this one well?

As for the symptoms - suffice to say that if you look at many websites 34 menopausal symptoms are listed and some of them have multiple knock-on effects. Both fluctuations in and subsequent decline in oestrogen plays havoc with all sorts of our bodily functions.

Unfortunately it is not really like a drug withdrawal because in that case once you're over the withdrawal effect, as the drug (or whatever it is) leaves your system, you return to normal. In many cases with oestrogen - either the symptoms can continue for many years - even 14 years or more, and/or there can be long term effects of deficiency ie it is an essential hormone and the longer we live post-menopause, the longer these long term effects can become apparent.

Once you are well post-menopause your hormones as in oestrogen and to a certain extent testosterone will not fluctuate to any appreicable extent - as ovulation has ceased and oestrogen continue to be produced mainly in peri-pheral tissues eg fat calls - at a low level. Not sure quite what governs this - did look into it a while back but have forgotten!

Do you take any other meds at all?

Hurdity x

[Focus]

Sorry, really struggling with work situation at the moment. Very draining, feeling stressed, overwhelmed, very low.

Thyroid, checked last year with ferritin. Thyroid normal.

If my peri symptoms are at 10 without taking anything, being on the combined pill knocks them down to a 5 or 6.

Still had one awful period with flooding and large clots (a few months ago), weird dreams, night sweats, palpitations, insomnia, brittle nails, hair coming out, feeling dehydrated all the time, low mood, feeling of doom.

On Loestrin 30. L 20...was getting breakthrough bleeding.

[Penelope]

Hi focus you're thyroid tests can come back normal but you can still be having symptoms of thyroid.
Do you read your own  blood  or is it your doctor saying the tests are normal? Xx

[Focus]

It's my GP. I wouldn't know where to start...

[Penelope]

It's my GP. I wouldn't know where to start...

I had to learn to read my own.Thank goodness because the doctor said they were normal and they were not.Get the thyroid antibodies blood test that's the one that will show if your thyroid is attacking your good cells.Thyroid is all about hormones slightly up or down can cause people a lot of the same symptoms as Menopause and double the effect of Menopause.xxxx