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[Sunriser]

I had been ill before menopause hit me, I had been recovering and then meno slowly started an unbelievable decline. I have been tested for everything, if the test exists I have had it. Thyroid/all vitamins etc etc
All comes back normal. So I’m not looking for advice on any tests or remedies just looking for someone to tell me that they recognise my experience! I feel very isolated.
I now have to crawl to bed at 7pm and then lights out by 8.30. It takes me that time to feel my body relax and prepare for sleep. I maybe listen to radio or watch some restful tv. If I’m lucky I’ll then sleep to 5.30 which is ok. I sleep well enough as HRT helps with insomnia so don’t think I need magnesium or anything like that.
But if I don’t go to bed early or I miss what I call the sleep train by not closing my eyes by 8.30….(I joke that it’s leaving the station and if I don’t get on it I have had it!) I am in for a dreadful night.
But it’s not just that. I don’t mind this sleep schedule as I have found that it works.
I can’t really do very much any more. Can’t walk much, don’t really leave the house. My mood is mostly ok with this as I have accepted it but my already low energy levels seem to be deteriorating and I have done everything that I can to help myself. I have ruled out everything else. Been to a nutritionist, had expensive bowel tests done. You name it I’ve done it. Am now using Flow headset for low mood caused by exhaustion.
Life has been challenging and I am burnt out.
I am 55, meno started at 48. Success with Evorel conti. Tired the gel and utrogestan but gave me shocking migraines.
I did come off everything to see if it was the HRT that could be the cause but it isn’t. After a few weeks I had insomnia and sweats so  went back on it. That has settled but the fatigue still is getting worse and worse.
My GP is wonderful. But I can’t go back just to go more tests that will come back normal.
I’ve done a search of the forum and have seen other posts but they’re not recent.
Can anyone else identify? I think I need to stop trying to fix the unfixable and focus more on management strategies. My family are great, two kids 23 and 20 both working. Have a wonderful partner, met him 6 years ago. I don’t have many friends irl but have an amazing online community based around a couple of online radio stations so I have good support.

Sorry for this lengthy post!!

[CLKD]

U vent ........... how is your diet overall?  Do U take VitD daily?

Thyroid function may cause these symptoms and regardless whether your bloods return 'within normal imits', your GP should have requested further tests, I think T4 and T5 - someone will be alone if I'm incorrect.  GPs often refuse even when patients return repeatedly with symptoms!

Gentle exercise may help.  I suggest seeking the advice of a physiotherapist in order to learn muscle strengthening exercises because the thigh is the 1st 1 to disappear when people are inactive.  Which has a knock on effect ........

It's good that U have found a sleeping regime.  We are of course programmed historically to go to bed at dark and rise at dawn.  Something about circadian rhythm's? 

Did U have Covid-19, could you have long Covid after effects?

Let us k now how you get on!

[Sunriser]

Thanks CLKD!
my diet is very healthy, I am on a restricted diet which helps with histamine/migraine issues. I can't take Vitamin D as it ...drum roll please...gives me migraines.
I do try some gentle yoga, that helps.
I think I had covid 19 but due to my immune system it never tested positive, the vaccines really took it out of me.
Wonder if I should go back to GP and see about those further tests for thyroid, would that be a common problem for my age ? I have had years of huge stresses and wonder if my body and all its systems are stuck in high anxiety mode, using the Flow headset seems to help a bit. Going to see a holistic practitioner next week. Hoping she can provide some help.
UPDATE- just phoned, was checked last Feb T4 plasma etc but have asked to speak to GP about getting another test done.

[ElkWarning]

Like, I don't know, sounds as if life has got better and so you think you should also feel better???  It's interesting that you're wondering if your body and all its systems are stuck in high anxiety.

When I was 25 I had a kid with a life threatening and life limiting condition.  He's still around now but requires a lot of care.  I do believe that living through enormous amounts of unrelenting stress did for me.  The only way I cope is with weekly f2f therapy because my head's blown - 6+ years and counting.  Basically, it allows me to ring-fence my emotional labour and now I'm not pure exhausted all the time.

I also have a herbalist and a massage therapist.  While I'm aware this makes me sound like a princess, I reckon the cumulative total of 1,000s of hours in ICU over the years, watching other kids / people die, means that without support I wouldn't actually be here.

Severe anxiety and depression looks an awful lot like terrible fatigue.  Presumably, you've completed the GAD7 and PHQ9 questionnaires.

On a completely different note, you mention a restrictive diet, histamine issues and your immune system.  Are you seeing an immunologist?

Finally, obviously, it's possible for various conditions to be operating at the same time.  For me, the therapist and herbalist helped me to disentangle what was going on.

[SundayGirl]

Hi Sunriser
You say you don't want advice on tests as everything comes back normal. But......
The so-called ranges that the NHS use are very wide. This means that you could be one point over the bottom of their range and be told that it's ok. Ridiculous in my opinion. Sorry, rant over.

Thyroid problems and vitamin deficiencies have a nasty habit of rearing their heads at this time of life. Many GP's will only run basic tests for thyroid function which means they only test TSH levels. And your GP will probably refuse to do any further checks if your TSH is within the NHS ranges.    T4 is rarely tested unless your TSH is out of range, T3 testing is as rare as hen's teeth via the NHS.

No harm in asking for repeat bloods though. Make sure you ask for Vitamin D, B12, folate and ferritin to be included. The basics
If any of these are low, it can lead to tiredness, low energy, lack of motivation.

Is it just vitamin d in tablet form you can't take? There are alternatives such as mouth sprays and sublingual drops that you may be able to tolerate. Vitamin d supplements can also be absorbed through the skin so you could try a gel type capsule form, stick a pin in it, apply contents to skin. (There are also patches but I can't comment on these as I've never tried them.)

[CLKD]

   SundayGirl.

[Winterose]

Have you considered Lyme disease?

[CLKD]

Interesting suggestion !

[Sunriser]

Have you considered Lyme disease?

Correct! You win tonight’s STAR PRIZA 
I was recovering from Late Lyme and then meno made everything progressively worse. I can barely stand up today.

[CLKD]

Ahhhh - post viral syndrome?   Many medics don't know about Lyme disease 

Time for a review perhaps Sunriser?  If it's ongoing symptoms should be recorded.

[Sunriser]

I’m not going back into that, had to drive to Dublin from Co Down to get the treatment plus had to pay and I recovered. I had Lyme before it was cool (it’s not cool)
Meno then made everything slowly slide. I am going for bloods tomorrow so will find out about thyroid. Last one was last Feb and came back normal.

[CLKD]

Let us know how you get on?   Also, does Lyme show in blood tests ?  Active or otherwise. 


What we do :
Lyme Disease UK is a UK registered charity providing patient support and raising awareness of Lyme disease.

[Sunriser]

I think things have moved on since my experience, 10 years since I collapsed.
I had to get bloods done by a German Lab. more £££.
A neighbour got bitten in the summer and the doctor immediately put them on the standard antibiotics treatment as they had the EM rash. No blood test done. Or indeed necessary.

[CLKD]

Did U look at the support web site?

[Sunriser]

I have already looked at it many years ago and nothing helpful that I didn’t already know.
I was very disappointed with the lack of support for women who have pre existing conditions that are made worse by the menopause. I couldn’t find anything meaningful.