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[FLM]

Hi all,

I'm brand new to this forum today (actually new to forums completely), I'm struggling at the minute, so much so that it's affecting my work, I think I have a mixture of perimenopause and trauma after an event that occured a few weeks ago (which is being dealt with separately)

Last night I had none stop tinnitus start which is something that has tipped me to looking for help and advice sooner then later, typically I don't go to the doctors, don't take medication and don't ask for help, so it's a big thing for me to reach out to people on a forum.

- 48 years old
- Periods stopped approximately 5 to 6 months ago, used to be as regular as clockwork
- multiple hot flushes per day started fully around 2 months ago
- brain fog
- heart palpitations
- nausea
- pins and needles in hands
- emotional all the time even at work, for any reason
- feel like people don't believe my symptoms
- not sleeping well
- headache
- excessive urinating to normal
- lost confidence in ability to do anything personal and work related
- lack of appetite
- tinnitus

I know this is early days and have read that people have and are dealing with symptoms for years but as I'm at the start of my journey I'm looking at options and advice to help on this new journey, and hopefully to start to feel that I'm not losing my mind

Look forward to your advice.

[discogirl]

Hi FLM

 

Im so sorry you're having such awful symptoms.

Firstly, tinnitus is quite common in menopause, I developed tinnitus in one ear last year quite out of the blue, along with insomnia and chronic anxiety. I'm on hrt and it's taken a while but my tinnitus either isn't there or I don't hear it anymore,
if I do hear it, its not for long and doesn't bother me, so take heart.

I'm not experienced of things relating to menopause at all, but I really do think you should definately speak to your doctor as soon as possible about starting hrt.

If you still have a womb you will need estrogen and progesterone. A lot of women take their estrogen either with patches which are changed twice a week and are placed on the buttocks or thighs, or gel, I use oestrogel and is applied onto outer arms or inner thighs. For your progesterone part most women use utrogestan capsules.

If you repost this on all things menopause you may get more replies from more experienced ladies

Take care xxx

[SarahT]

Hello FLM,

This is my one and only forum as well. Desperation drove me to get all techy and join. I do  understand how hard it can be to ask for  help. I thought peri ( never heard of it before this forum!) and menopause meant your periods just stopped and that was it.... For me when perimenopause hit the huge range of symptoms, both physical and emotional felt overwhelming.

I agree in that I would  definitely discuss these symptoms with your dr. They can be helped. I fully understand it when you think people do not believe in your symptoms.  In ' real life' no women I know have experienced anything near to my own difficulties with peri.

 It is clear from the hundreds posts on this forum that you are no way alone in feeling way you do.

Take some time to read some posts and use the search bar for anything specific,  you are not losing your mind - but my very first post on here I wrote exactly that.
Make a few notes before you speak to a gp, as you do not like to go to the drs, so notes can help you  keep on track and get answers to your questions. Maybe see if your surgery has a gp that takes an interest in women's health?

[CLKD]

   sounds like peri-menopause, those months/years when periods wax and wane as well as other symptoms appearing.  Many of which we don't expect or recognise.

Some find that keeping a mood/food/symptom diary of use.  It's The Change - does what it says on the tin, with some surprises!

Browse round.  Make notes.  Ask away.  Do read the 'bladder issues' and vaginal atrophy threads: 4 warned is 4 armed.

Be prepared for your GP to not understand your symptoms: many still believe that a woman cannot be headed towards menopause unless she don'ts have periods and suffers hot flushes  or U may be surprised to find a GP or Nurse Practitioner who is up2date. Whatever, ask away and don't be put off, if you aren't listened to, come back to us.

Hormone blood tests can be reliably un-reliable  .  However, low VitD and thyroid function levels need to be checked in case they are contributing to symptoms.

let us know how you get on.

[FLM]

Thank you for the advice so far, not sure how to reply individually 🤔 🤣 currently sat here having about the 10 hot flush of the day 🫠🥵

How do I repost to all things menopause? Or is it just copy and paste as a new post?

How do you deal with emotions while at work? I had an internal interview the other day and tried everything in my power not to cry, I can't talk about how good I am at a job I've done for years without crying, it's horrendous!!

[CLKD]

U don't need to reply individually other than mention responders, i.e.

CLKD - tnx X, Y, Z
SarahT - tnx , A, B, C

U could make a new thread in 'all things menopause' : further to my thread in 'New Members or copy/paste. 

[AngelaH]

How do you deal with emotions while at work?

Hello FLM and welcome to the forum!

First of all try not to hide from yourself and others that you are going through a new period of your life, which actually affects not only your body, but your everyday life, including ability to work. Just accept that and let the right person at work know about it. Some companies have menopause policies and you need to find out if your company has as well. They can help you, but only if you ask for the help

[FLM]

Hi,

So the journey has now begun. I managed to get a doctors appointment yesterday, and have been signed off from work for a couple of weeks with Perimenopausal stress, blood tests booked for 4 weeks time.

While I'm waiting for the next phase is there any herbal remedies that people have tried to give relief in the interim period?

[CLKD]

Herbal remedies aren't recommended by the NHS, some find initial benefits but once hormones begin to wax and wane, those benefits may be lost.

Which blood tests is the GP suggesting and why wait 4 weeks?  Was it explained exactly why these may be necessary ?

How do you intend to spend the time off work?  I suggest lots of sleep.  Lots of sitting in the sunshine to top up VitD levels.  Do U have hobbies that would relax you?  Eating little and often and mayB go through your complete diet honestly to C if anything can be altered.  As a nation too much quick ready made food is eaten rather than cooking from fresh ....... batch cooking of mince mixtures, curry etc. can be defrosted to add to rice or pasta.  DH puts a mix of veg into his mixes then freezes in amounts that we would eat at one sitting.

Let us know how you get on.

[Penguin]

If your blood test isn't for 4 weeks then I'd advise not taking black cohosh at the moment as it may well skew your results. I took it for about four months at the start of last year and it definitely increased my estrogen levels.

Valerian works well for sleep and ypu can buy special sleep formulas that include valerian, passionflower, magnesium etc. These won't impact your estrogen levels so are fine to take with blood tests coming up.

[CarolineM]

Hi FLM,

That sounds like you've got pretty much all the unpleasant stuff going on. Lots of people I know in a similar situation, you're definitely not on your own with this.

I've had variable responses from my surgery - by far the most useful and supportive people are the HRT nurses not the GPs, so I'd make an appointment to see an HRT nurse if your surgery has one. I've not been pushed in any particular direction by mine, just been given lots of information and she's answered lots of my questions. And they will take you seriously.

Wishing you all the best x

[sheila99]

If you're in the UK they should start you on hrt based on your symptoms if that's what you want, you shouldn't have to wait for blood tests. Tinnitus can be a meno symptom but can also be an inner ear problem so possibly worth getting it checked out (though they often can't do anything about it).

[CLKD]

Is there a dedicated menopause nurse at your Clinic?  Why wait for 4 weeks, I would be asking the question 

As for tinnitus, this can as suggested begin in peri-menopause.  As oestrogen levels drop so muscles may become lax as well as the Eustachian tubes narrowing.  Sometimes I have an itch deep in the ears, my audiologist has suggested drops twice a day.

My bedside cabinet is beginning to look like a Hospital medicine chest  : ear drops, eye drops, VA treatments, Savlon, hand cream .........

[FLM]

I believe the blood tests are to see what direction to go in

My Doctors is a small surgery so there's no designated menopause nurse

Think I'll leave the natural remedies for the time being, I'll see what the results are first

No infection in the ears, and after nearly a week the tinnitus is still there

Due to lack of motivation and energy I haven't left the house for the past week, not done housework, not achieved anything really, I was aiming to go swimming but haven't, I rely on public transport and can't be bothered with the hassle

Thanks for the comments definitely lots of information there.