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[Mollymoo]

Good Morning Ladies
I just want to share my story in the hope of some advice.
I went through a very early menopause (20) am now 50. Back in the days I was put on the contraceptive pill and throughput the years I have suffered with very bad anxiety/panic attacks which were masked by giving me antidepressants. My moods were very up and down and I was very tearful. I have very bad bone loss in my gums and was so fed up of my dentist saying i needed to look after my gums better. I was convinced my gum problems were due to my early meno.
Anyway I decided about 10 years ago to go private as I was so fed up of spending my days miserable and anxious.
Her first question was why did you go through early menopause? This should have been investigated.  Her second question was why are you on the pill and not HRT?
I had a bone scan done and surprise surprise I had osteopenia. The specialist thinks this was because I was not on HRT and my bones were not being protected.
She gave me a prescription for oral HRT and sent a letter to my GP.
I had a bone scan about 3 years later and my bone health had improved. I was so pleased to hear this.
Also recently my gum health has improved and my bone loss is not as bad as it was which is amazing news.

So I have now turned 50 and due to me being anxious about taking oral HrT and the risk of clots my GP suggested I try the patch. The last year has been a nightmare. I started on evorel conti, then I tried evorel 75 with separate progesterone, now I have nothing.
I was bleeding and had to be referred on a 2 week pathway (was shitting myself) this was all OK. My moods were horrendous, I was grumpy, snappy, tearful, couldn't think straight and to top it off i had very bad palpitations. I took the decision to remove my patch until I could see my GP.

A month later I have been feeling really good.
I am still a bit tearful but overall I feel so much better off the patches than I did on them.

I have done so much research on the menopause and can't seem to find the right advice as I know that everybody's experience is different. I know that whilst I was on oral HRT is was protecting my bones. The evidence is their in the before and after.

I am now at the  natural age of menopause and I wish I knew what to do for the best.

I don't understand it all. I read on the Internet that HRT protects your heart and bones and everything else due to lack of estrogen so if that is the case then why is all women not on it. We all want to live as lonfg as we can so surely we would all take it.

And then why do some people feel so rubbish when they take it.

I really wish I could understand it all and make the right decision and enjoy the rest of my life without stressing over what's best for my health.

Thanks for reading my story.
Hopefully somebody will have the knowledge to advice xxx

[CLKD]

Morning. It's Trial and Error.  'The Change' does what it says on the tin, however.  Symptoms can be soul destroying.

Your dentist was obviously out of date!  I now discuss menopause with mine.  He is aware that loss of oestrogen may well cause dental problems.  As for not getting HRT years ago, it may be that the GP didn't know about the effects that lack of oestrogen can have.

U may have reached your 'natural' menopause, in that hormone levels may levelled out so that you feel better.  If U R worried about protecting your bones, have a review of your daily diet.  Lots of fresh fruit/veg., plenty of dairy products, full fat milk - all full of calcium and proteins which the body requires to keep healthy.  Apparently oily fish 1/2 a week is 'good', however, I'm not a fish person - apart from fish fingers ;-).

Brisk exercise: 20 mins every day if possible, at least 3 times a week.  Chewing helps protect jaw health: as with the long bones the jaw requires activity to maintain a good 'line' of bone.  This is why DH and I opted for implants so that they meet with the other teeth = 'natural' chewing opportunities.  Otherwise the bone can recede which causes teeth to looson and fall out!  'long in the tooth' is common, we now have more knowledge about dental requirements.

How are your anxiety levels? 

[Mollymoo]

Hi CLKD
Thanks for your advice.
So far my anxiety has been OK. I thought when I came of the HRT I would start to have panic attacks again and I would get hot flushes but I haven't had any of those.
I think the antidepressant helped with the anxiety/panic attacks. The only problem I seem to have at the moment is tearful. I am very emotional in the sense that if somebody tells me something it makes me cry whereas before it didn't.

If I don't take estrogen will my body go downhill.

[CLKD]

I haven't taken oestrogen and my jaw bone health is good.  Having had 3 implants thus far, scans have shown that 'for my age' 

Some ladies continue to experience symptoms after their last period (menopause) - others, seem to be OK and don't consider replacement.  MayB ask your GP for a Dexa scan of hips and pelvis.  This is the thickest bone area which receives impact so is a good guide for the bone health.

[Fiona1968]

Hi CLKD
Thanks for your advice.
So far my anxiety has been OK. I thought when I came of the HRT I would start to have panic attacks again and I would get hot flushes but I haven't had any of those.
I think the antidepressant helped with the anxiety/panic attacks. The only problem I seem to have at the moment is tearful. I am very emotional in the sense that if somebody tells me something it makes me cry whereas before it didn't.

If I don't take estrogen will my body go downhill.

Can I ask what anti depressant helped with your anxiety?

It seems to the only symptom I have.

Thanks

[Mollymoo]

Hi FIona
I was taking citalopram but am now on fluoxetine x