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[Lozzer38]

Having had another absolutely frustrating and typically uhelpful visit to my GP this evening I thought I would log onto this site to see if I can find some better advice from you lovely ladies out there and I wasnt wrong!

Although I am a bit confused and would welcome any advice - I'm just coming upto 40 and am currently taking Kliofem HRT and have been for about 3 years now.  I am suffering with crippling headaches every month on the right hand side of my head which feel like someone has their hand inside my head and is trying to push my eye out and even the top of my head is tender and also suffer with tenderness in the right hand side of my neck. After reading this thread I am coming to the realisation that other muscle tenderness and stiffness that I feel every day (wrists, fingers, cramp in my legs) is probably related to menopause not the general passing of time 

The reason I'm slightly confused is that I notice that a lot of people have recommended going onto HRT and said that this helped their symptoms but I've been taking it for ages and I just seem to be getting worse ....
The headaches I get are evil and are only relieved by taking co-codamol which I dont want to be taking on a regular basis but nothing else relieves the pain.

I've recently started taking glucosamine and cod liver oil tablets as well - I also have an under active thyroid and take levothyroxine for that as well (I try to convince myself i'm not fallling to bits  )

I am now wondering if there is a possibility I have fybromyalgia?? 

[Taz2]

Hi Lozzer - the headache you describe sounds like migraine to me. Has this been mentioned to you? Had you stopped your periods for a year before you began HRT? I believe Kliofem is a continuous one and wonder if it is the correct one for you at your young age. Migraine is listed as a side effect.

Taz x

[sandi]

Hi folks,

I am 55 and have been having severe pains in my feet, legs, hands and elbows for the last few months.  Had numerous tests - rheumatoid factors negative, bloods showed vit D deficiency and decreased kidney function last year, which have improved a bit,but GP has all but washed her hands of me because I don't fit into any category that can be 'proved'.  Also had major fatigue and was off work 8 weeks last autumn.  Steady improvement re: the fatigue, but recently knees have flared up big time, to the point where I couldn't hardly weight bear on my right.  I am a physio so have found all this very distressing and embarrassing, hobbling around at work (I now work in cardiac rehab leading exercise classes!!) Very difficult indeed to keep positive.  At night the pain is burning in nature, especially in my feet ankles and shins, and I can't lie on my side because of the right knee pain, so I am awake quite a lot of the time.  Anyway - I have been reading a book on self healing called 'How your mind can heal your body' by David Hamilton and it has really helped me.  It involves visualisation techniques, and also delves into quantum physics but is highly readable.  The scientific element really resonates with me.  I feel that my body has rewired the pain pathways to read PAIN PAIN PAIN when there is really no need to.
I also went to see a physio last week who has really helped me to focus on the right management of my knee by telling me what to do!  I was floundering around trying everything I knew from my 20 year toolkit, very hard to treat yourself I can tell you.  So . . . . .  I have started to lose weight (less stress through the joints can only help) I was about 3/4 stone over what I like to be -I have lost 5 lbs already, bought a bike to help me get generally fit, and give my dog some exercise, as she was missing her walks, which I am riding every day (with my dog trotting alongside) by the canal, and am starting to believe that I am going to heal, get strong and keep well. I am working on my nutrition big time, so that everything I have (apart from the odd glass of wine and some real ale occasionally) is good for me.  We grow a lot of our own veg, so I feel lucky in that respect.  Hope some of these things help, I am prone to negativity, so this whole 'poz thinking' exercise is really helping too.  Long may it last, will let you know!! 

[Lozzer38]

Hi Lozzer - the headache you describe sounds like migraine to me. Has this been mentioned to you? Had you stopped your periods for a year before you began HRT? I believe Kliofem is a continuous one and wonder if it is the correct one for you at your young age. Migraine is listed as a side effect.

Taz x

Hi Taz - when I went to the GP this week he said it sounded like a tension headache but it is so painful and all the joints on the right hand side of my neck are painful to touch - when my headache is at its worst it feels like someone has battered me round the bottom of my skull with a baseball bat it is that painful.
I'm thinking about asking my Gp to be referred to my local menopause clinic as my GP just doesnt bring menopause into the conversation at all when I'm there so I feel a bit in the dark and wonder if some specialist advice might help .......

[Lozzer38]

Hi Lozzer
Welcome to MM. You may have something like fibro going on as well so perhaps you could get your Doc to refer you to a rhumey to get it checked out, its easy to put every thing down to meno.

I'm with Taz on the Kliofem, I was on that for 6 weeks and am very post meno. Unless you have had a hyster maybe.

You really need a HRT that gives you a bleed as you are only 39 and presumably peri not post?

xxx

Hi Susan

No I'm post I started going through the meno around the age of 33 - I havent had a hyster either and there is no history of early menopause in my family.  Think I need to push the subject with my GP more or like I've mentioned to taz, discuss whether i'd be better being referred as it feels like my gp is gropsing in the dark as well - i recently went there with itching symptoms and went through all the tests to see if i had an STD etc (which would have been embarrasing if it was the case as i've been with OH 15 years !) and it was only after reading this site and being referred to a gyno that I got pres for vagifem and thyroid tests done...

[elyons]

I was on Kliovance for around 10 years and came off it cold turkey - okay for three weeks and then the flushes came back as bad as ever.  Spoke to doctor who told me to wean myself off them, which I did for two years.  I stopped taking them around two months ago and get an occasional hot moment, but I can cope with that.  However, I noticed my knee quite sore, finger joints and shoulders stiff - not agony, but not nice.  Then when I was taking my antihistamine last night I saw my phial of Kliovance, and that started me thinking.  I decided to take one last night, and I actually feel a lot better tonight.  What can I do about this?  Should I visit my doctor to discuss?

[DaisyChain]

Ways I have dealt with the pain.


Pressure on muscles that have become tight
Ibuprofen and paracetamol together when bad
Exercise - lots of it – swimming, running, cycling, dancing , gym, pilates – getting my core as strong as I can
Sleep when I need it 
Massage
Osteopathy
Clicking joints helps in short term for me - exercise is the cure with HRT - getting stronger very slowly - I have decreased my pain by at least 70% Why didn't someone help me to get here sooner?

[palmagirl]

Hi Dr Currie
I've been taking Glucosamine for a few years now, having discovered it by chance one day. I was suffering from a tendon injury in my shoulder and was in the chemist to but (yet more) pain killers. The pharmacist gave me a free sample of glucosamine gel, which I appled as soon as I got home. The results were immediate. The pain lessened within a few hours and although it didnt disappear, it became manageable. I then researched it online and now take it every day. I also have low back pain, especially after the gym - although glucosamine doesnt entirely kill the ache, it certainly helps to keep it in check. It's good stuff!
PG

[Wiggles]

Sandi,

After reading you post I too bought the book, (well several actually) by David R Hamilton.  I am reading the Positive thinking one and you are right, fantastic book.  It does put everything into perspective, and makes it easier into how the body and mind work together.

[Firewalker50]

I was at a business session with David Hamilton as the speaker a couple of months ago.  His theme was The Contagious Power of Thinking - his new book - and he related it to business and personal life.  He was an excellent speaker and held the complete attention of the small audience (sometimes more difficult than a huge audience).  His work is very powerful and obviously backed by science - which some people need to get through the scepticism of trying to believe the 'unseen'.

If you get the chance to see him, please go along.  He is very motivational.

For those in Scotland, he has often attended at Tir na nOg, and is listed as one of their visiting teachers.  I don't think he is scheduled to be there this year, but worth keeping an lookout.

Fx

[Taz2]

Hi wiggles - 

[silverlady]

Firewalker50, thank you for telling us about David R Hamilton, I have just signed up for his newsletter and will investigate his books, he sounds my kind of man but seriously I had not heard of him but am interested in what he has to say.

silverlady x

[Wiggles]

I too have signed up for his newsletter, and Facebook.  His books are so good and very easy to read.  You can also find him on Youtube.

[gillybean]

I googled Menopause Forum and this popped up, glad I found it.  I have been trawling my way through this post but have not read all of it yet...

I am 49 and earlier this year started with the night time hot flushes which are now becoming more frequent in the day. I was horrified to read they may go on for another 10 years!  I haven't had a decent nights sleep in months, flapping the bedclothes on and off. It nearly always triggers a flush when I roll over it drives me mad!

One reason I'm writing this is around March this year I developed terrible low back pain/deep hip type pain which gets worse as the day goes on, also when I twist I can feel my spine clicking, almost like osteoporosis is setting in.  I was concerned as in June I had abdo pains, the doc did loads of bloods and I was convinced I had ovarian cancer, the CA25 test was negative and I had lots of internals all of which proved normal, my GP is ending me for a scan to reassure me.  I was convinced the back pain was linked to some gynae problem. I am now wondering if my back pain is a result of hormonal changes and it's part of the peri-menopause, I feel stiff like an old person in the morning but the back ache just is with me all day, worse at the end of the day and I often get a dragging feeling in my pelvis when emptying the shopping trolley or dishwasher, your imagination runs riot, I am now thinking it could be a prolapse but my internals were OK, I suppose the scan will tell me this.  I am getting paranoid thinking I have all kinds of things wrong with me but on reading others experiences maybe it's just the menopause? I can't take 10 more years of this I feel so old!

[Bette]

Hi gillybean
Have just welcomed you on your "Newbie" thread.
Just to say that paranoid thinking is a peri symptom too! 
Bette x