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[SarahJayne]

Hi All,
I’m new to this forum. My GP recommended the site to me.
I’m 51, have been perimenopausal for about 5 years now, haven’t had a period for around 12 months-ish.
I woke up today, after yet another hormonal migraine and I feel wretched. I have silent reflux (taking omeprazole- fairly effective), using Vagifem for VA. I’m down, tearful, fed up, tired, scared, anxious- you name it. The joy seems to have gone out of my world. My sons are in the process of buying their first homes, for the first time in nearly 30 years my husband and I will be alone and I should be excited and I want to be, I really want to be, it’s an exciting time in our lives. I feel no sadness over my boys moving out, I’m happy for them. My husband is fantastic, bless him, he doesn’t really understand but tries to everything he can to help.
Because of Covid, GP contact is pretty much by phone, and although she did see me about the VA, a phone call is no substitute. I feel alone and helpless.
I’ve been reading up on Evorel Conti patches and wondered what others experiences of them are? I need to do something, I’m still youngish and can’t keep on like this.
Does anyone out there know or understand how I feel?
Is this normal?

[Taz2]

Hi SarahJayne. Rest assured that you are definitely not alone in the way you are feeling. Many of us on here will identify with your feelings and although they are normal for menopausal/post menopausal women this does not mean you just have to accept it.

I think that you should consider HRT especially as you already have VA. You need to have been at least a year without periods to be prescribed a conti HRT but it may be better, in my opinion, to start with a sequential one. Although this will give you a monthly withdrawal bleed it means that if you do suffer any side effects such as mood swings you will know which part of the HRT is causing it and can then change the progesterone if needed. It can take a few attempts to find the right regime for you and each one needs to be tried for at least three months before you really know if it's working for you.

You will get loads of support, advice and humour on this wonderful forum. No longer alone 

Taz x   

[SarahJayne]

Thank you Taz!

I’m speaking to the Practice Matron this afternoon and having a phone call with my GP next week, straight after my very first mammogram! A day to look forward to!😂
I felt better just typing how I felt tbh. I don’t think I had really addressed how wretched I feel.

Having spent a while reading through here, I am not alone am I? 😊

[sheila99]

 
Sadly we're all here because we've been or are still going through this cr*p  .

[Taz2]

Sadly we're all here because we've been or are still going through this cr*p  .

But....we are all going through it together..

Taz x

[CLKD]

 

Some ladies find that keeping a mood/symptom/food diary is useful.  With plenty of 'me' time and chocolate 

Keep up with the VA treatment, we have threads here as well as 'bladder issues'.  Ask, nothing is taboo or OTT!

[Shell babes]

I can so relate to you feeling down, tired, fed up, tearful, scared, anxious etc, please be reassured that you are not alone. It does help to reach out and realise that there are others who feel just like you. I do hope you are feeling better. I feel the same in that you feel you can’t enjoy normal things. I am being optimistic and thinking that this too shall pass xxx

[jackelburger]

Hi SarahJayne,
I feel very similar to you. I'm 52 about to turn 53.   Think I've been peri-men for around 5 years (maybe longer!).  Had 2 very light periods last year but nothing since September 2020.   I'm also on Vagifem/steroid cream for VA/LS which has helped a lot.  I actually went private as my GP just kept prescribing 1% steroid cream which wasn't enough for the LS although now I'm getting the Vagifem through them.   I've spoken to the GP several times regarding HRT but not yet taken the plunge.   I too feel very down and like the happiness has gone out of life.  I think the last year hasn't helped that.   I've been suffering with the most dreadful panic attacks which I haven't had since I was in my 20s and fretting about my health (constantly think I'm having a heart attack/stroke, etc!!).   It's actually exhausting and I'm now going to start investigating HRT.   Just wanted to you to know that you are not alone having those feelings! 

[CLKD]

Morning Girls!  now that you are here, you are less alone?

Do ask: share : worry when necessary, most have been through most issues and survived!

[SarahJayne]

Thank you for all your replies.
It’s very reassuring to know I’m not alone in these feelings.
I discussed HRT with my GP. She’s running a series of blood tests first to eliminate thyroid problems, diabetes etc so I should get the results next week.
It’s been great reading through all the different posts and seen that many of us have the same problems.
I’ve started a low carb diet which seems to be helping with mood and energy levels so I’ll see how that goes. Just really need to sort out the silent reflux. It’s one thing after another at the moment. Feel like an old wreck😂

[daisie]

hi sarah jayne what are your symptoms of silent reflux im wondering if i have it x

[SarahJayne]

Hi Daisie,
It started last April with throat clearing, wheezing, sore throat, bit of a cough, hoarse voice, post nasal drip, sore ears (inside, behind eardrums) and pressure on my chest- felt like an elephant was sitting on it. But I have never had heartburn or acid in my mouth.
I actually thought it was early seasonal asthma so was using my inhaler. Didn’t help, stuck it out for a few months, then in October I had had enough and phoned the GP. She gave me a peak flow meter, peak flow of 550 (I run) so not asthma. She diagnosed silent reflux and prescribed omeprazole, I didn’t take it for a few months, used Gaviscon advance as a few studies of links between Covid and poor outcomes with omeprazole usage. Finally went onto omeprazole in February. Symptoms much improved but still pressure on chest, albeit reduced, bit mucousy, little bit wheezy, take 20mg in the morning and a swig of gaviscon before bed. I follow all the advice, tilted bed, nothing after 6pm, nothing spicy, no alcohol etc etc.
I’d probably be ok if it wasn’t for this silent reflux. And I admit I’m a little concerned about long term effects of both omeprazole and reflux. I’m speaking to my GP next week and I’m going to ask for an endoscopy, just to see what’s going on.
Sorry, that reads like a novel!😂

[Susan Jayne]

Hi SarahJayne, I am also new to the forum and you describe some of how I feel at the moment. One son already flown the nest the other not going to be far behind. This is great of course, but I find it difficult to feel any sort of positivity at all at the moment. I am 48 and have been perimenopause for 3 years, I have gained weight, have aching joints and my anxiety entered a new level recently. I worry all the time and find little enjoyment in anything. I had an appointment with the GP yesterday and have commenced venlafaxine which will hopefully help with how I feel and for the awful hormone migraines. I have a mirena coil for managing bleeding etc which has been useful, however I felt awful yesterday and now how a period (oh hello... where have u been for the last year!) with the full suite of accompanying cramps, totally washed out feeling and the tops of my legs ache like nothing else! I have felt so alone with this and this is my first post. My husband does his best to understand and support and I feel sad because I have no libido at all, and I really wish I did.I have found menopause to be a very isolating experience.

[Mogster71]

Hi Sarah Jayne and Susan Jayne

You are 100% in the right place! This forum has been an absolute Godsend, the knowledge, understanding and support has been fantastic for me. No question or topic is off limits, and whatever you've experienced is likely to have been experienced (and solved) by many others!

Very much in the pro-HRT camp here - in my early 40s I swore blind I would never use it after my mum had a not so good experience (outdated advice) but all of those things you describe happened to me. My reason for the change of heart was firstly education and secondly the horrific daily headaches that just overtook my life for about 18 months. I have seen a 90% improvement in this as well as just feeling so much better in myself overall.

Omeprazole was prescribed to me in my mid 40s but it did no good at all, in fact I was also having to swig away at Gaviscon before bed so I just stopped it. I started to recognise the triggers and I ended up giving up certain foods and drinks. Wine was one of them sadly. Even my treasured one glass a day with my main meal would play havoc later. Sometimes I can get away with it but at others I have to have a Rennie or something before bed.

Susan I know exactly what you mean, I hope now you've found us that you won't feel quite so alone. Your husband sounds lovely and I'm sure he just wants you to feel like "you" again. As a new visitor did you know there are some "stickies" at the top of the forum threads headed Advice for Husbands? If he's prepared to have a read then it may help to explain where you are with everything

Take care both x






 

[daisie]

Hi Daisie,
It started last April with throat clearing, wheezing, sore throat, bit of a cough, hoarse voice, post nasal drip, sore ears (inside, behind eardrums) and pressure on my chest- felt like an elephant was sitting on it. But I have never had heartburn or acid in my mouth.
I actually thought it was early seasonal asthma so was using my inhaler. Didn’t help, stuck it out for a few months, then in October I had had enough and phoned the GP. She gave me a peak flow meter, peak flow of 550 (I run) so not asthma. She diagnosed silent reflux and prescribed omeprazole, I didn’t take it for a few months, used Gaviscon advance as a few studies of links between Covid and poor outcomes with omeprazole usage. Finally went onto omeprazole in February. Symptoms much improved but still pressure on chest, albeit reduced, bit mucousy, little bit wheezy, take 20mg in the morning and a swig of gaviscon before bed. I follow all the advice, tilted bed, nothing after 6pm, nothing spicy, no alcohol etc etc.
I’d probably be ok if it wasn’t for this silent reflux. And I admit I’m a little concerned about long term effects of both omeprazole and reflux. I’m speaking to my GP next week and I’m going to ask for an endoscopy, just to see what’s going on.
Sorry, that reads like a novel!😂

just seen your reply thanks for the information your symptoms do sound a lot like mine it iv noticed when i have dairy products it seems to cause me more mucus in back of my throat ill have to give the omeprazole a try thanks x