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[Dorothy Gale]

Hi all!

So Im 51 and have now come through my hellish perimenopause which saw me hit absolute crisis.

I sorted my mental health and been doing much better.

However, I have M.E (since I was 18) since sorting my mental health, my physical health not surprisingly has improved  and I've really been enjoying life again.

However Im really noticing my fatigue has 'changed'...I wondered if any other ladies with M.E have noticed this during post menopause l? Having had M.E most of my adult life...I know my fatigue and how it feels and how relapses feel......

Currently in a setback and my fatigue although somewhat as per....it also feels 'different'. It's sort of tiredness right to my bones, all encompassing tiredness...like Im drugged!

Upon waking I literally feel I could carry on sleeping for weeks and find it hard to lift my head off pillow and get up.

You get to know your body....and I just feel sooooo tired. And having M.E I know tiredness.

Im thinking it has to be the menopause now mixed in. Or could be just a bad relapse but I'm definitely noticing a change

Im not on HRT and do not want to.

Anyone with M.E got any input?

Any thoughts on anything you've tried ( other than HRT) to help with this fatigue?

Not had any bloods done for a while. Think about 2 years ago.

Huge thanks for reading. Xxxx

[CLKD]

Morning.  Could it be low VitD levels ?

[Dorothy Gale]

Hi!

Thanks for your reply.

I know I'm low in vit D and have been a long time  but never had this feeling.
 
 I have a severe reaction to high doses. My gp put me on a high dose a few years ago and I had a huge reaction which caused my stomach to get so badly affected I couldn't eat solids for a long time.

I've tried a low dose and still the reaction there.

Xx

[CrispyChick]

I'm sorry Dorothy, I don't have any help. But I do currently have ME/CFC on my record since entering this awful state in my 40s - possibly just linked to my peri - but hideously severe.

I think our paths have crossed before. I'm intrigued with how you improved your mental health?

That's something I'm now trying to do, in the hope some physical will improve too. Can I ask how you achieved this?

And, in general, do you feel better post meno? 

Thanks. Crispy x

[Dorothy Gale]

Hi

Thank you for your interest in my reply.

I definitely definitely feel better post menopause  (so far anyway)

Perimenopause for me was the worst time of my life. I ended up in hospital which I won't go into detail about but I didn't want to be here anymore. the anxiety was absolutely horrific...I was a crazy lady! Genuinely lost my mind. Plus soooooo many other awful symptoms.

The change for me is down to mostly citalopram.

I did not want to take antidepressants. I fought it for 6 months but going into hospital it was literally do or die.

They have transformed my life. Saved my life.

I think regulating my nervous system had a huge impact on the lessening of my M.E symptoms. I still suffer with M.E. BUT helping calm my anxiety and depression and mind....my body followed. Im by no means cured of M.E but I'm doing better.

I was lucky that I had such amazing results from my first try on antidepressants. Its not a quick fix...it was a very difficult road....with ups and downs.....but 18 months in and I'm a different woman mentally and coping better when my M.E relapses as I no longer spiral into depression.

I've had to do a lot of work on myself. The mind/body connection. Working on my thoughts. Retraining my brain. Focusing on joy and getting rid of stress best I can. Setting boundaries. Not taking and crap from people. Less people pleasing.

But I do not know where id be without citalopram. Started on 10mg. Then 15mg.....then 20mg. This dose works for me best.

But...menopause is a journey. Much as I hate that phrase. New symptoms almost the time. I take it day by day.

Dealing with ME and menopause is so hard as the symptoms are so similar...brain fog, no energy, anxiety, rubbish sleep, aches and pains............
So its a double whammy for us.

But I definitely am loads better than the hell of 2023 I went through.

Xxxx

[CLKD]

I do remember your intense struggles.  Well done on accepting the change to try citalopram long enough to gain benefit.  Escitalopram works for me! 

[Dorothy Gale]

Thank you CLKD.

I remember you being particularly kind and there for me during many difficult times.

I've never forgotten.

Hope you're ok x

[CLKD]

   yep.  getting myself round ice cream in a cone 

[CrispyChick]

Thank you Dorothy for your very open and honest response.

I too am facing the AD route - but unfortunately I struggle so much to get on anything. I tried an ssri back in Dec - did a full 12 weeks of hell and ended up at our of hours phsychiatrist as it made my mental health so much worse!

I know without an AD I'm going to struggle to improve. But I'm so scared of trying again. My body reacts to every single thing - apparently I have central sevsitisation and central nervous system dysfunction. So the very things that can help calm me can also flare me. 

I find your story so interesting. So so interesting that you can manage ME and post meno better now on an AD.

I have no idea if I have ME or not. But my hell has been going on for 7 years now. Still friggin peri.

You've given me strength and hope to try the AD route again. Thank you.

I hope someone can help with your fatigue query. Xxx

[dangermouse]

Girls, also look into work by William G Crook on yeast being behind CFS, ME and Fibromyalgia. Systemic Candida can be very sneaky and hormone imbalance really escalates growth of the colonies in our organs and tissues. Past use of antibiotics, the pill, ant-acids/PPIs and steroids can all allow the yeast to set up home in your intestines.

One way to rule it out is to just buy some Caprylic Acid supplements and see if they make you feel better. After a week or so you would feel worse as the dying yeast give off toxins but the clue is in the first couple of days. It’s a real battle to get on top of but that will give you an idea of whether to go further into it.