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[Mummytron]

Posted lots lately, seems my symptoms have really ramped up.
Brief history, peri for 9 to 10 years, almost 50 years old, not had a period for 5 months.
All the symptoms over the years but lately dizziness and nausea are horrific. They're affecting my days to a point I'm about to get sign off work.
Ive had lots of blood tests all ok, recent heart scans ok. Seeing GP in 2 weeks but honestly struggling.
Does this ever end? Do I hit menopause and start to feel better? How long does this last?
Really hard to accept there's nothing seriously wrong when I felt so poorly.
This really is the pits.

[CLKD]

U could have continued with your original thread and altering the subject line.

My periods waxed and waned for several years: regular then missed several then bled again.  I knew that it was the change so wasn't particularly worried.  Flushes happened after my periods finished = menopause.  U may go for months without then Nature will give you another period/s. 

Some don't get symptoms after their periods have finished for many years.  The ovaries can continue to pump out enough oestrogen to avoid symptoms. 

Take a list of symptoms to the appt. and if you don't feel supported then ask for a referral to a dedicated menopause clinic.

[Mummytron]

Sorry I didn't know I could do that.

I just find it hard feeling so ill most of the time.

Thanks for your reply.

[Dotty]

Hi Mummytron….I was exactly the same as you….I felt so ill, but the doctors couldn’t find anything wrong with me!

Are you using HRT ?

[CLKD]

In answer to your question: symptoms may last for months or years.  Or U may suddenly as your hormone levels even out, begin to feel better.  It's not easy to give any timelines sadly. 

[Mummytron]

Hi Mummytron….I was exactly the same as you….I felt so ill, but the doctors couldn’t find anything wrong with me!

Are you using HRT ?

I'm not, I tried it last year and didn't tolerate it too well. I have an appointment with a menopause clinic (I've had to pay for it) and I'm sure we will discuss it, i have multiple fibroids so I dont want the hrt to affect it.

What did you do on a daily basis? I honestly feel rubbish and feel like everyone must be so fed up with me.

[Dotty]

Hi I was very ill for a long time….HRT was the only thing that helped me. I had to try a few types and it took a while , but once I was on the right type and dose I began to feel well again.

[dangermouse]

I posted about this last week as I have had that question for the last 10 years too!

The pattern that I am seeing is a build up to last period and then a build down (potentially of a similar time-frame but that’s just my theory) - however, this can take months for some and years for others.

I think that us that suffer the dreaded nausea have a more turbulent experience which is linked to over stimulation from the only hormone that does that - oestrogen. HRT cannot help us as we are then adding to the oestrogen load. The combined pill, very high estradiol, or the POP that suppresses the cycle, may help some by overwhelming the hormones so that our own (and the volatility) hibernates in trying to redress the balance. Progesterone cream is also good for cushioning the oestrogen spikes, we have silly amounts of it when younger and then it dwindles from about age 35 until there’s barely any left 10 years later. However, oestrogen spikes can be gentle one minute and then like a tidal wave - which is a good analogy of the sea-sickness we feel too!

You could try some of the above suppression methods or wait it out. Beyond that, there isn’t much we can do as all the support out there is aimed at replenishing oestrogen but that’s of no help until it actually falls.

One day though. It will stop. Just hold on tight.

[Mummytron]

I posted about this last week as I have had that question for the last 10 years too!

The pattern that I am seeing is a build up to last period and then a build down (potentially of a similar time-frame but that’s just my theory) - however, this can take months for some and years for others.

I think that us that suffer the dreaded nausea have a more turbulent experience which is linked to over stimulation from the only hormone that does that - oestrogen. HRT cannot help us as we are then adding to the oestrogen load. The combined pill, very high estradiol, or the POP that suppresses the cycle, may help some by overwhelming the hormones so that our own (and the volatility) hibernates in trying to redress the balance. Progesterone cream is also good for cushioning the oestrogen spikes, we have silly amounts of it when younger and then it dwindles from about age 35 until there’s barely any left 10 years later. However, oestrogen spikes can be gentle one minute and then like a tidal wave - which is a good analogy of the sea-sickness we feel too!

You could try some of the above suppression methods or wait it out. Beyond that, there isn’t much we can do as all the support out there is aimed at replenishing oestrogen but that’s of no help until it actually falls.

One day though. It will stop. Just hold on tight.

This is interesting, thank you. What are the suppression methods?

[dangermouse]

Anything that is high oestrogen like combined pill or high dose HRT to subdue our own oestrogen OR some forms of prog only pill and prog cream to out-balance it. The latter only worked later though when oestrogen spikes calmed more.

When I was so sick I couldn’t take in any food, my old combined pill Brevinor put a lid on the nausea for a few months. I remember I felt worse for one week as it built up and then my appetite came back and I’ve never enjoyed food so much!

It didn’t last as my oestrogen surges broke through but it took the edge off and I never had to return to hospital for an electrolyte drip. I guess it’s getting to that eye of the storm and then a (very gradual in my case) calming to look forward to.

[Kathleen]

Hello ladies.

I have mentioned before that I experienced horrible daily nausea for about six months and then it resolved and has never returned. I was fifty four at the time, only just post meno and not on HRT.

I hope this is reassuring to anyone who is suffering at the moment and you have my sympathy.

Take care ladies.

K.

[Clovie]

How long does it last?
Sorry you're going through this Mummytron 

For me it has been/is over 12 years  -  SO FAR.
Started on HRT age 48 for hot flushes at night.
I'm 61 now and still having periods, which as you can imagine causes so many dramas and upheavals or me with the doctors saying I cant possibly still be perimenopausal. No idea how long this will go on but my periods are getting closer together and lighter, so , fingers crossed....
Beyond actual menopause itself I'm unsure how long we might still get symptoms.

Hope you get settled soon, sending lots of support your way...

[CLKD]

Menopause is for Life.  Ending of periods.  Symptoms however may disappear, not be present or begin to cause problems that we didn't expect.  Keeping a mood/food/symptom diary is useful and we shouldn't put everything down to hormones.

[Mummytron]

I do think that I am nearer to menopause and this is why my symptoms have ramped up. About 10 years in, lots of symptoms along the way that have come and gone and have been a pain for a while.
The dizziness is also debilitating at the moment.
I'm hoping things settle soon.

CLKD, you're absolutely right that not everything should be put down to hormones but when you've had lots of tests and they are ok, you have nothing else to go on. Its hard to think straight when the anxiety is high though.

[CLKD]

For reasons that have never been clear to me anxiety seems to be worse during peri-menopause and I think, in hindsight, that it was a lot of my problems.  Plus intense nausea I would know where every waste bin was in every shop I used regularly, even having to ask in the Phamarcy to use their bathroom.  She wasn't keen until she saw the colour of my face!   . I was actually OK once I had a safe place.

MayB get some Propranolol for the anxiety?  My GP prescribed a regime a few weeks ago to get me through last week's holiday - not 1 bleep of anxiety at all! 

Bachs Rescue Remedy mouth spray has worked for me too.  1 squirt on the way to an Event and I've been OK.  Never though whether it will/not work, placebo effect is OK.

Also: I may have said: eat little and often even through the night!