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[Unicorn]

Hi there

Just a note to say thank you for all your previous replies to my questions 😚 I appreciate it so much.  Still trying to navigate my way around this so I'm sorry if I haven't replied personally.... I forgot my password etc. And had trouble getting back on.

I feel so deflated today.  I spoke to my GP this morning about the Evoral Sequi I was on and reported to her that they haven't made any difference yet (I've had the patches on for 15 days now) and she seems to think because they haven't made any difference, I'm not perimenopausal 🙁 because I should be having more hot flushes ?!  She said it should have made a huge difference within a few days if i was in the grip of perimenopause.

I feel so scared and disheartened now as i do have hot flushes in my face, very bad heart palpitations, anxiety and such a horrible dry mouth and excessive thirst.  These just came out of nowhere about 2 years ago and have waxed and wanted.  My periods have been regular though, maybe 3 days difference in starting, so subtle changes.  I spoke to the Cardiologist weeks back and he seemed to think it could be peri.  So the next step is that my gp wants me to record my heart palps on an app on my phone.  She doesn't seem to think that I am peri now as the HRT should have kicked in by now and she said that if the Evoral Sequi doesn't work, then no HRT will work... I'm scared and so confused and I'm worried what all these other symptoms could be now 🙁 any comments would be really appreciated and I'm sorry to witter on xxxx

[CLKD]

A GP should know that it can take 3-4 months to notice any difference !  She's also talking complete and utter rubbish!

Has your GP done a sugar test if you have thirst? 

Some find that keeping a mood/food/symptom diary useful to chart progress. 

Menopause - literally the last monthly period. But it can take several years to realise that periods have stopped.  Usually it is suggested that 12 months between bleeds means it's over, I didn't stop carrying protection for 5 years  .

Not everyone experiences hot flushes etc..  I had over all glows at night for about 3 months and it was done. Periods had disappeared by then.

Do read the threads on 'bladder issues' and 'vaginal atrophy'.  If your GP doesn't up her game then you can ask to be referred to a menopause clinic for proper advice. 

Keep using the HRT as prescribed ;-)

[sheila99]

Get a new GP, this one so ignorant it's frightening. Sadly not the only one who can't recognise other symptoms. Perhaps ask for a referral to a menopause clinic?
I haven't heard of excessive thirst being a symptom though perhaps others have. Is diabetes a possibility?

[Unicorn]

Thank you so much both! You are diamonds 💎💎.  I had a diabetes test a year ago when all this started happening.  Thank you both so much, have you thought about training as a specialist Docs/Nurses in Menopause both?! You would both do an amazing job 😁

I'm not thirsty all the time, but my mouth is dry and, I know this sounds weird, but feels like I have had soap in my mouth 😁😮.... and some foods don't taste normal.... appetite has suffered a bit with this too.  I have had thyroid tests too.  It's now the racing heart/anxiety/lack of appetite that's  bothering me now.  I said to my GP that I can cope with the hot face and ears, night sweats but she was just banging on about 'because I dont have full body flushing badly' I can't be perimenopausal.  She was asking me if the flushes had reduced since taking the HRT.  I told her it was hard to tell as they are so sporadic.  She was just obsessed with hot flushes and lack of periods 🙁 xxxx

[Unicorn]

Also, my bladder isn't too bad.... sometimes I get a funny feeling in it and I do have a tiny bit of stress incontinence, but had that for years😮 I'm not quite at the Tena Lady stage yet 😜 xxxx

I just feel I'm at the end of the road with my options now, worried that nothing will work 🙁 and I can't afford to go private xxx

I just feel I've lost the old me now and I feel flat in mood too xx

[Annie0710]

I’ve had hormone issues for over 20 years now and not had a day hot flush.  It’s not the symptom that determines menopause x

[CLKD]

Hopefully your GP will realise when her turn arrives   

It's The Change, does what it says on the tin.  It amazes me how many GPs still believe that hot flushes = menopause  .  Obviously word isn't getting through!

There are over 36 symptoms in perimenopause.  As oestrogen levels drop the body may become dry inside and out: scalp, deep in the ears, back of the throat, skin, vagina as well as muscles may become lax = aches and pains!  Hopefully not all at the same time.

I can't drink my cuppa after mid-afternoon as it tastes awful.  Some other food stuffs will taste different too .........  Do you sleep with your mouth open?

See if there is a Nurse in your practice with menopause knowledge.  In the mean time look for a menopause clinic in your area, you may be able to self refer.  Do not ask for a Gyanecological appt. as they don't know much more than GPs in many cases!

[Unicorn]

Thank you so much 🙏 I'll carry on with the patches for a bit and see if anything changes 😊 in the meantime, she has said to carry on with the propranalol and download an app to trace my heart rate.  I had an ecg last year, and all was ok.  I'm currently between 2 female GPs who have the same views.... I have got the impression that they think I suffering with stress 😮 it has been a very stressful year in regards to Covid (I'm a nurse), relationship breakup (me and my ex are still living in the same house) and my teenage children off the rails a bit, but kind of took this in my stride over the last view months.  It could be a mixture of both to be fair.  But was coping ok through it all a few months' back.  I do feel that these symptoms are physiological as well as psychological xxx just feel flat in mood too now, which I haven't been x my Mum put two and two together, but she kind of sailed through it xx

[CLKD]

You have had a lot going on.  Your Surgery obviously don't have female matters at heart. 

I think we often deal at the time but issues have the nasty habit of catching up!  Give yourself a break ?  Lots of 'me' time.  Who helps with the teens?  R they in school regularly, there may be a dedicated person that you could get advice from.  R they OK in the school and let go at home?

Carry on with the patches.  Do you need to down load an app.?  palpitations can be 'common' during perimenopause 

Little steps ;-)

[Unicorn]

It's a complicated situation with my teenage girls 🙁 my 14 year old has a school phobia.  She is under the CAMHs team and the school have been brilliant 😊 but not getting very far yet with her attendending school again.  My 17 year old is suffering with anxiety (especially around being sick 🙁) so she is under the CAMHs team too.  I haven't had much support with my choice to leave my partner from my Mum and Dad as they think I won't cope financially by myself and my 14 year old doesn't want to leave (he is not the girl's dad).  I was coping fine with all this really, but now it's difficult having personal problems AND peri problems 🙄 xxx

[CLKD]

Does your 14 year old have a school phobia due to emitophobia too, that was my problem  .  My heart goes out to them both.  No one asked why I hated school ......... or why I didn't eat properly.  My Mum told me that 'the Dr will laugh if I call him' when I was very ill one night, even at an early age I knew my fear was 'abnormal'.  I was told that I would 'grow out of it' but fear is all encompassing.

Gut Reaction helped a lot, I don't know if the group still exist.  Sharing how we felt was supportive. 

If your 14 year old does well with subjects, there really isn't a necessity to go into school if it raises anxiety?  Does she have friends even on ZOOM etc.?  Betablockas helped enormously by stopping any queasy feelings.  Eating little and often stops that sudden nausea which causes anxiety to leap!

[Unicorn]

Thanks for the message again 😚 not sure where her school phobia came from, but it did coincide with her very best friend moving to the north of England all of a sudden and she did have very bad acne.  We took her to see a Dermatologist and that has settled really well now 😊 I know, bless her, she doesn't seem to know exactly what triggered it... no bullying, she was coping well with the schoolwork (we always were very open and chatted) .... it's a bit of a mystery... she is quite a loner but likes her own company and is happy at home xxx

The thing is, I feel like the worst Mum as I feel I'm not firing on all cylinders at the moment.  It's so hard because im finding it hard to leave the house now apart from work.  Thank goodness she likes to stay at home at the moment 🙁 xxx

[CLKD]

I think that 'worse Mum' scenario comes at different levels  .  Firstly, who are you judging yourself against exactly!

If your girls are aware that you are struggling and they are struggling, you are all able to say 'no' or 'later' .  Nowt to do with bad parenting.

[Unicorn]

Thank you so much again CLKD 😊 not feeling too bad today since taking 2 propranalol at 8.00 this morning but feeling low, which is making me anxious 🙄  Do you think it could be the Evorel Conti patch (had it on for 4 days now) or am I over analysing things yet again? 😁😮.  I'm so sorry to witter on xxx

[CLKD]

U witter.  I think when we are prescribed new medication we look for results far too soon.  Side effects can happen almost at once but HRT takes a while for the body to take it up.  The body doesn't often get where it is suddenly so needs to absorb the hormones.

I feel low at this time of year. Do you get into the sunshine which can lift mood?