Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: marras on November 27, 2014, 08:20:00 PM
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I haven't posted for ages but had to tell someone that I have had a life changing experience. I have been suffering very badly with menopause symptoms for 14 years and dismissed HRT as I'm a migraine sufferer and my mum died of breast cancer. I have been so scared of HRT, worrying that it might make my migraines worse. However, over the last six months my symptoms have become so much worse and my quality of life was reaching zero. My aches and pains had become so bad I could hardly move around and I felt that my extreme symptoms were having a detrimental affect on my body. My hubby and I have bought a bigger house and I have been wondering how on earth I could cope with it, along with various other health problems. After doing some research, I went to see a private gynaecologist in Guildford, Surrey. She diagnosed insulin resistance and advised on my diet. I also came away with 25 mcg Estradot patches and 1mg Climaval (Oestradiol valerate). She said that I would need some 'kind' progesterone in the near future but to see how I go on the above regime.
Ju Ju, looking on the site, I believe that you may have seen the same gynae and been on a similar regime? I'm interested to know how you are getting on. To say that my life has changed is an understatement! I am 64 and I now feel that my life is worth living again and I wanted to share my joy with you . So much more to say but don't want to bore everyone!
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Oh your thread heading made my heart leap :o ………. so pleased to know that you are biting the bullet, have sought advice and are going to try HRT. Your Mum's cancer may be different to that which might be triggered by HRT ;) and after all, quality of Life is important.
Do you have Big Plans for your new property and garden?
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Thank you so much for your kind reply. Yes, my husband has been trying to project manage completely re-fitting the bungalow on his own because I haven't had the energy or the enthusiasm. But all change now as I feel I can now pitch in and help....wonderful!
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Don't take on too much too soon and burn off those newly energised feelings! Get him the tinnies, cuppas, gentle massage ;)
All workmen need a project manager …….
Gardening?
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What a lovely post to read marras. To hear that you are feeling so much better after such a long time feeling so ill is wonderful news.
So pleased for you. Hope you enjoy your new home and garden
Ariadne xx
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Hi Marras,
It sounds like you have been put on the same regime and saw the same gynaecologist as me. It has made a huge difference to me, apart from suffering from migraines. I used to suffer from migraines since puberty, particularly before a period, but was fortunate to find they subsided with the onset of menopause. Although there are common menopause symptoms, it is so individual how it affects you. I'm so glad you are feeling better. It does get to the point where quality of life becomes more important than quantity and you get to the point where the risks are outweighed by this.
The initial regime with progesterone caused some problems, but I have started a new regime that seems to suit me much better. It would be great to hear how you get on in the future. Enjoy your new house, but do pace yourself. Ju Ju xx
I started HRT in order to try testosterone therapy, but the testosterone hasn't appeared to help, but oestrogen made a huge difference almost immediately.
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Hi JuJu, so pleased to have heard from you. Only been on the regime for a week and feel so much better with no migraines so far; whether they will kick in later or not I don't know! Sorry to hear you are suffering with them. What a bummer. Are you still seeing the lovely lady at Guildford? Thank you to everyone for their good wishes and I am taking things slowly, don't want to interfere in hubby's good work!
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I have seen her twice and had a couple of telephone consultations and will probably see her again after a year. I do have the support of a lady GP at my surgery and at present, able to get my prescriptions from this doctor, apart from the testosterone, which is not licensed for women in this country and therefore not available on the NHS. I was told I could carry on 'forever' if I so wished. I still get very tired, but no where near as extreme as before. I was being offered the diagnosis of CFS by several medical 'experts'. It amazes me that a small amount of oestrogen could make so much difference. I do wonder if a higher dose would help even more, but this is where the risks may outweigh the benefit at age 60.
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hi marras reading your comment you sound the same as me .iv been suffering menopause symptoms for the same length of time as you ill be 60 in march and still suffering .the doctors here are hopless when it comes to the menopause they don't like giving homones out the reason I think is because they don't know enough about the menopause like you I lost my sister with breast cancer at the age of 35 her being so young realy scared me away from it there is one thing though she never took the hrt was fit and healthy till the breast cancer my symptoms seem to have got worse over the past few months I do realy need to try it as getting desperate now .iv tried it in the past sideaffects was bad so I gave up but I know theres a lot to try doctor did tell me not to be going on it at my age so walked away from the surgery again feeling depressed I was 46 when I started with the symptoms of menopause when I look back nothing as got any better had blood test homones showing they are low but still done nothing to treat me feel like im stuck with feeling like this forever x
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Marras and I saw a gynaecologist privately. I have been given support by my GP, who suggested who to go and see. Obviously this helped. The gynaecologist was matter of fact, kind and experienced in treating older ladies. Yes it costs to get appointments, but so far I have only needed two, plus two much cheaper telephone consultations. Worth every penny. But you do have to choose carefully. I saw another gynaecologist before who said all the usual things about 60 being too old, despite my giving all my information including my age and what I wanted to see her for, to the receptionist before making the appointment. That cost £140!
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Hi am just thinking about the insulin resistance bit. I keep getting feeling where if I dont eat something, will go spark out, dizzy and far away, cant concentrate on what people are saying, and sometimes worry that I cant get back home in time,then have to drink sugar in water straight away. Is this insulin resistance :-\
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Charliegirl make an appointment to see your doctor and tell her what you have said in your post.
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Yes, see your GP. It would be worth checking. I do find I feel strange if I don't eat regularly. I was told I was insulin resistant, despite being slim. I didn't have a waist and I lost energy by 11 each morning. I was advised to cut out snacking, sugar and keep to a low carb diet. I took this advice seriously as I have a strong family history of type 2 diabetes. I have lost weight and have rediscovered my waist. I am now a bit less rigid with my diet as I don't want to lose any more weight, but my glucose levels are fine now. They were elevated a bit before. I was advised to eat an egg for breakfast ( I used to have porridge) . This prevents that energy dip. And I do try to eat 3 regular meals every day.
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I get a sudden feeling of intense hunger sometimes, it's awful. Dextrose tablets help as do dried mixed fruits and nuts …….. apparently I could be 'borderline' and have blood tests every couple of years.
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Hi Daisie, so sorry you feel so awful; I know exactly what it's like. Like you JuJu, I used to have porridge every morning but I used to add a lot of fruit to it especially cranberries. This loaded me up with sugar and the flushes were always much worse in the mornings. I now have salmon, bacon and/or eggs. Also like you, I'm quite slim and I've lost weight already. I realise that HRT is not going to be the cure all. My poor body has taken a lot of bashing over the last 14 or so years, but am feeling better and hope some symptoms will continue to improve. Having heard a lot about the 'dreaded' progesterone, I wonder what's in store for me when I have to have it!
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Some people get on very well with it. Don't worry if you don't. I don't seem to be having a problem with this regime I am trying now. It does mean I have a bleed, which I would rather not, but nothing like the periods I used to have. I was expecting problems which didn't materialise.
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Daisie, your post made me sad. Please don't give up and accept that you'll feel rotten for ever. There are many different HRT preparations to try, and yes, there might be side-effects but they might not last. It might not help at all. There might also be risks involved, but as Ju Ju says it gets to the point where quality of life becomes more important than anything else. If the GPs at your practice (have you tried all of them?) are resistant to letting you try HRT there's probably a health reason for it, I think that GPs can be in an impossible position - they want to help but guidelines and directives won't always let them. Can you ask for an NHS referral to a gynaecologist or see one privately? Have you made it absolutely clear to your GPs that you are desperate? Is it possible for you to see the practice nurse and see if she can think of something that might help or persuade her favourite GP on your behalf to think again? Good luck.
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Good morning marras. I too went to see the same consultant, she is lovely, and well thought of in the medical community, having excellent knowledge of HRT programmes, the only thing I have since come across with other clinicians, having moved too far away to see her again, although she does do telephone consultations, is her opinion on insulin resistance, as I was also told that all menopause women suffer it to a certain degree once the oestrogen levels drop, she prescribed Metformin, which is given to diabetics. I have no reason to doubt that it is absolutely fine, but another well esteemed Consultant I saw here, who knew her well, raised his eyebrows a little, as she is known for this! Absolutely wonderful with the HRT, and I am feeling a lot better as well, he agreed she had given me absolutely the right thing, and knowing that she is at the end of the phone is so reassuring. So glad you are feeling better, but just wanted you to be aware of differing opinions on other aspects of menopause treatment.
Take care.
WANDERER. XXX
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Thank you Wanderer for your kind response. I have to say that I am taking the insulin resistance opinion with a little bit of a 'pinch of salt' but giving it a go anyway. It's great to know that she is much revered in the medical profession as I am extremely nervous about putting my life in her hands so to speak. However, I don't feel I have a choice as I could not function anymore. The only side effect I'm getting at the moment is period like pains. I have phoned the clinic and they said this should pass with time. So glad you are well with the HRT. Never thought in a million years that I would start it at the age of 64!
Xx
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hi Freda thanks for your response..i have seen all of the doctors at the surgery but they all seem to work together on this one none of them like to give out homones. the only thing im taking is amitriptyline 50mg at night not been good on them as well they are all quite willing to prescribe antidepressants for me but nothing to treat me for the cause of my symptoms I just get fed up going back to the doctors all the time im going to have to go back again ,there is a gynaecologist who is at our surgery who I saw sometime ago he put me onto antidepressants as well the only problems I can see why they wont is that my sister died at the age of 35 with breast cancer she never took the hrt im also on betablockers for blood pressure been on them for about 19 years now apart from that iv no idea ..before the menopause I was fit and healthy living a normal life while all my homones were circulating round my body so why not put them back that's what I keep saying to myself x
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My sister died of breast cancer at 50 and I was told this was not a bar to taking HRT, as there are no other close family members, who had breast cancer. She didn't take HRT, but she did have several years of infertility treatment and many years on the pill before that.
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Daisie - are you able to ask for an appt with either a meno clinic or a gynaecologist at the local Hospital? You should not be fobbed off, point out that quality is important - Life cannot be 'lived' if 1 is suffering and if you are prepared to take a risk then maybe a chat with a Breast Surgeon might help?
I wonder how ladies with symptoms are treated if they have no family medical background, i.e. if they were adopted or have no sisters ???
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hi ju ju and clkd im going to give it another try at the doctors and see how I get on if there is no joy I will be ringing the hospital to see if there is a menopause clinic.. there isn't one localy ,my sister was on the pill she put that down to her getting the breast cancer that was in the 60s and early 70s she took it but things are different today they seem to know more than what they did back then.i thought when I got to this age I would be over the menopause but with this experience iv had you cannot put a time to it I suppose or if I was put on the right medication in the first place it might have been different but I thought ill keep on waiting and see if things get better ..fed up of waiting now x
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Daisie, I'm not surprised you're fed up of waiting! Days turn into weeks and into months frighteningly quickly while we wait for things to get better.