Menopause Matters Forum

Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Bracken willowshimmer on August 17, 2014, 08:52:16 AM

Title: Feeling rubbish.
Post by: Bracken willowshimmer on August 17, 2014, 08:52:16 AM
Hi ladies,

Really just wanted some advice and to see if anyone else is or was experiencing the same symptoms as me.

I am forty two and for almost two years, about ten days before my period, I start experiencing anxiety, hot sweats, heart palpatations and headaches.  I get waves of the horrible panicky feeling. For the first few days the symptoms are there most of the day, generally lifting by early evening.  Then I get small breaks in the day that get longer and longer in length.  I have tried a variety of herbal stuff, none of which I found worked.  I am on a low dose hrt.

I was finding my symptoms were under control and bearable but this month they are horrendous. I get quite frightened that the symptoms are never going to go.  It's a horrible feeling that you can't understand unless you have suffered with it.

Do you think the symptoms will ease the further into menopause I get?  Is a hysterectomy my other option? 

I would love to hear from anyone else, just feel rubbish and want the old me back.

Xx
Title: Re: Feeling rubbish.
Post by: Mrs January on August 17, 2014, 08:57:26 AM
Hi Sarah M

I have had some of the same symptoms as you honey. I understand how it makes you feel, I would just say hang on in there and although all these horrid feelings come they can't hurt you but juts make life hard.

I avoid, caffeine ands alcohol.....it does help me.

Hugs for now

Mrs January xx
Title: Re: Feeling rubbish.
Post by: CLKD on August 17, 2014, 09:03:30 AM
Yep.  HORMONES  >:(

It happened to me in my late 30s, I contacted NAPS and they advised eating every 3 hours, throughout the month to even blood sugar levels.  If our body lacks energy then it can cause anxiety surges, i.e. adrenaline ……… I grazed for years: packets of dried fruits and nuts, Dextrose tablets, ginger biscuits, bananas ……… the trick for me was to remember to eat before my tummy felt hungry to avoid that awful nausea/anxiety.

You have to remember to eat every 3 hours throughout the month ………. the idea being not to add extra to your diet but to spread your daily intake evenly.
Title: Re: Feeling rubbish.
Post by: Taz2 on August 17, 2014, 09:32:34 AM
Yes - I had this sarah for all of my fertile life and I just thought that it was pmt symptoms and that everybody got them. I found that one of the good things about getting further into meno was that they disappeared but then I had more meno symptoms so went onto HRT and for the last half of each cycle they reappeared which at least gave me the comfort of knowing that for all of those years it wasn't me making it up - it really was to do with  my hormones!

Not sure what to advise but you are definitely not alone.

Taz x
Title: Re: Feeling rubbish.
Post by: Bracken willowshimmer on August 17, 2014, 09:47:57 AM
Thanks for messages. 

Taz2, are you the lady that recently had the hysterectomy.  Did you have it because of the symptoms of meno and do you feel better for it? 
Title: Re: Feeling rubbish.
Post by: Taz2 on August 17, 2014, 10:41:03 AM
Hi Sarah - yes I've recently had a hysterectomy but for prolapse not any hormonal symptoms. You would need to remove the ovaries to make any difference to hormones anyway not the womb - unless it is purely to relieve heavy periods.

Have you seen this http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Premenstrual-syndrome/Pages/Introduction.aspx  It may be of help - especially the treatment section.

Taz x
Title: Re: Feeling rubbish.
Post by: nelliedee on August 17, 2014, 10:50:34 AM
i get palpatations, tearfulness  hot sweats and soles of feet continuously burning hot, crave chocolate, bad temper tantrums and anxiety 10 days before and a headache always day before period starts. I also get a very low depression about a week after my period starts and have always had this rough day thru my fertile years. My periods have been exceptionally heavy with clots for 10 years, I am almost 50.
Title: Re: Feeling rubbish.
Post by: Bracken willowshimmer on August 17, 2014, 10:59:37 AM
Hi everyone's mum,

Your symptoms sound familiar to mine.  How long have you had them?  What do you do to cope? 

Although I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy, it's glad to know I'm not alone.  Xx
Title: Re: Feeling rubbish.
Post by: Bracken willowshimmer on August 17, 2014, 11:17:54 AM
Thanks taz2, very interesting article. X
Title: Re: Feeling rubbish.
Post by: Taz2 on August 17, 2014, 11:49:52 AM
Which HRT are you on Sarah?

Taz x
Title: Re: Feeling rubbish.
Post by: Kathleen on August 17, 2014, 02:58:00 PM
Hello Sarahm and sorry to hear that you are feeling so rough.

I know exactly how you feel and I do sympathise.  These feelings are awful and so hard to describe to anyone who hasn't experienced them.

I see that Taz2 has asked you about HRT and although I'm sure that is the answer, finding the right type and dosage may take a little work.

I became menopausal at 51 (I am nearly 58 now), and I wish I'd tackled these problems sooner as I am still struggling with the feelings you describe and reviewing my HRT dosage.  As you are so much younger you have plenty of time to find the regime that works best for you.

Wishing you well and take care.

K.
Title: Re: Feeling rubbish.
Post by: Bracken willowshimmer on August 17, 2014, 05:41:05 PM
Hi ladies,

I am on half a patch of evorel conti,  to cut a long story short I am on a trial being carried out to see if a low dose patch helps with menopausal symptoms.

I am confused about how do I know if I am perimenopausal or have bad pms or are the two linked?  I was reading information today, and I have symptoms of both? I never experienced these symptoms before I was forty, which makes me think it's perimenopause?

Kathleen, I agree it's definitely not going to be easy finding the right hrt dose. Do you feel any better on your hrt?

X

Title: Re: Feeling rubbish.
Post by: CLKD on August 17, 2014, 06:21:32 PM
Sarah - is this a double blind trial, if so you may be on a placebo.
Title: Re: Feeling rubbish.
Post by: Taz2 on August 17, 2014, 06:24:52 PM
Sarah - it's interesting that you are on Evorel as the progesterone in this (Norethisterone) is notorious for giving PMT symptoms and low mood and this is the reason I had to come off it and changed to Femseven which has a different progesterone. On that I had no PMT symptoms at all.

Peri menopause lasts for eight to ten years so if you are over the age of 41ish it is natural to assume you will be in peri-menopause. Peri just means the time leading up to menopause.

Taz x
Title: Re: Feeling rubbish.
Post by: CLKD on August 17, 2014, 06:26:09 PM
 :thankyou:  Taz
Title: Re: Feeling rubbish.
Post by: Bracken willowshimmer on August 17, 2014, 06:36:57 PM
Clkd, it's not a double blind trial, it's a trial where you either got to test patches or tablets.

Taz2, will discuss this at clinic when I go in November.  I don't think it's the patches causing the symptoms as I had them before I started the hrt.  Something to think about though. Feel like the hrt isn't working, but maybe need to increase the dose.

X
Title: Re: Feeling rubbish.
Post by: CLKD on August 17, 2014, 06:42:08 PM
Thanks.  How often are you in contact with the people running the Trial, is there an option to up the dosage?  A double-blind, Peer-reviewed trial is often better though may take longer to complete.  How long are you expected to be part of this?
Title: Re: Feeling rubbish.
Post by: Taz2 on August 17, 2014, 06:48:47 PM
All I know is that I had the symptoms before starting HRT and they worsened once on Evorel. I did try them for a year and my OH used to call the second half "your grumpy patches" which was true. Once off Evorel and on to Femseven (suggested by my doc) the symptoms subsided and I was on an even keel. However, confusingly, I have found on different forums that norethisterone is prescribed to combat PMT  :-\

Taz x
Title: Re: Feeling rubbish.
Post by: honeybun on August 17, 2014, 07:00:07 PM
I tolerate norethisterone absolutely fine.
I had pretty bad PMT in my younger years. Mood swings, temper was terrible and internal shakes for years and years.
I started on sequi and now on conti and am fine. I do have anxiety and did wonder if the progesterone was making things worse. After a few changes I discovered it made no difference.


Honeyb
x