Menopause Matters Forum
General Discussion => New Members => Topic started by: diva on May 06, 2015, 12:28:58 PM
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Hello,
I stumbled on this forum by accident and I am so pleased I did. For the first time I am hearing women talking about things I thought I was the only one to experience.
I am 53 and overwhelmed. I have put on weight, developed breathing difficulties, wheezing all the time, some form of IBS, constant headaches, my brain is mush - and I mean mush, I forget what I am saying mid sentence. I have bled for the whole of April, but before that nothing since last summer (and that was like a scene from CSI!). I am moody and irritable, my skin and nails are dry and flaky and I am doing pelvic floor exercises like mad to stop from having wet knickers everytime I sneeze. On top of all that the tiredness...... I can barely drag myself out of bed each day, and today I didn't, I stayed home instead.
I have an appointment with the doctor next week, and hoping HRT will help. I feel weak and useless, like this is a natural thing happening to my body and I should be able to cope. I am normally a strong, confident woman - now I feel like I am becoming someone I don't recognize.
Sorry - such a rant for a first message!!! Feel better to have got it off my chest though. Hopefully some of you will have sympathy with me, as it is hard to make other understand how this feels.
So glad to have found you all and looking forward to sharing the journey.
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:welcomemm:
You have come to the right place for support. Can I suggest you have a browse of the menus which will give you an idea of the types of HRT. It's generally better if you have an idea of what you want before you go to your GP.
Ask lots of questions as there is always someone here to help.
Nice to have you with us.
Honeybun
X
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Welcome !
I totally sympathise, I am suffering much the same things as you apart from I don't have periods (hysterectomy) and I hurt everywhere and I get horrendous dizzy spells and headaches
I hope you have a successful gp visit
Unfortunately for me 3 years on and I'm deteriorating and really at the end of my tether
Browse around and ask any questions you think you may need to know ready for your appointment, there are some very knowledgable ladies here
Annie
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Thanks for the welcome both of you.
I have been having a nosy round and googling the various types of HRT.
Honeybun, I wonder if there is one that is usually a good starting point for people, low side effects?
As you suggest, I am trying to make sure I am well prepared.
Annie, sorry to hear things are getting worse for you. naively, I had hoped HRT would sort things out - reading the posts here, it is clear it is more complicated than that.
xx
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It did, years ago when my ovaries failed, the first tablet (which I still take) got me back to normal and gave me a lovely life until 3 years ago, my oestrogen is high and progesterone rock bottom now, so that may be the problem
Annie
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I started off with Evorel Sequi combined patches. I found these were very good.
There are a couple of choices of patches available.
The patches are less likely to cause digestive problems.
It can take a couple of goes to find the right HRT for you but my personal preference is a patch. Change twice a week......stick it on and forget about it.
Honeybun
X
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Hi and :welcomemm:
As others have said it really is trial and error what suits one doesn't suit others unfortunately.
Getting a good knowledgeable gp is the first hurdle ! If you get no joy there asked to be refered to a meno clinic or specialist gynecologist,although there will be a wait,or you could go the private route ,I had to.
You would definitely be helped by vagifem I think to address your stress incontinence ,this is a local estrogen cream which can be used alongside full hrt ,this will help keep vaginal atrophy at bay.
At least now you are in good company welcome aboard.
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:)
Thank you for your replies, I am thrilled to get a response to my message.
I have spent my day off 'sick' reading everything I can about menopause, HRT, and all things related.
Interested to hear about patches as I was wondering what was the best way of administering the hormones. I have been reading also about bio identical hormones.
I will see what the GP says but may well ask to be referred to a menopause clinic, we have some private health cover through work, so this may help with that.
Dazned - thanks for the tip about vagifem, I did not know such a thing existed.
It is such a help to be here. Thank you for your support, I feel better already!
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It was the ladies on here that told me about vagifem, I'd never heard of it either
I had repeated bladder infections and terrible dryness and shrinkage , one gp I couldn't have it because on already on hrt and the ladies here said go to another gp as I definitely can have it so I did and I haven't had one bladder infection since!
That's my biggest success story so far and it's thanks to these ladies, not the docs
Annie
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Hi Diva ,
I have had practically all of the 34 symptoms of menopause and the worst for me are the brain fog and fatigue. Both of which are crippling . I am sorry you are suffering so much. In my experience so far after trying a couple of HRT 's is start on Femeston 1/10 or 2/10 as this seems to be well tolerated by most women as it is more natural and kinder. Therefore less likely to have side effects . The advantage of a pill is that its easy to take. There is the patch route also . It's personal preference , choice and trial and error for some. Not everyone gets side effects and if they do , they usually go within 3 months. Good luck.
Pepperminty xx
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Had lurked on forum before posting, was an eye opener. Never put joint pains as a symptom. Hips, ankles and shoulders seem to be taking it in turns to ache!
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Yep. Old Age doesn't arrive alone - :welcomemm:
Have a browse of the pull down menus top of screen, ask away ………
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Welcome sorry to hear about your symptoms you are in the right place. I too suffer many symptoms and always feel like I can then to friends for help on this site its been a great help to me so I dont feel alone and isolated good luck to you
Janine. X
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Hi diva
:welcomemm: from me too.
You mentioned bio-identical hormones - it is important to know that these are available on NHS ie hormones that are biologically identical to those produced in our own bodies. You do not have to go to a private consultant and pay lots of money for expensive compounded products like many women do in US at great expense.
For most of the time I've been on HRT I have only used bio-identical hormones.
Bio-identical oestrogen (as part of full HRT) is estradiol - and this is available as patches or gel transdermally ( through the skin) or as tablets. All the types are listed here:
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/treatafter.php
Bio-identical progesterone licensed for HRT is known as micronised progesterone and sold as Utrogestan - but cannot be made as patches. It is prescribed orally though many of us use it vaginally.
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/to_progestogens.php
Therefore if you want to go down the bio-identical route from the start you need to take your oestrogen and progesterone separately.
The Evorel patches contains a synthetic progestogen as do the Femoston tablets. The progestogen in Femoston (tablets) is the closest to our own progesterone.
All the peri-menopausal combi HRT types (which give a monthly withdrawal bleed like a period) are listed here:
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/perimeno.php
The vaginal oestrogen products available are all bio-identical oestrogen - either estradiol ( Vagifem) or estriol (Gynest cream or Ovestin).
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/local.php
Hope this helps :)
Hurdity x
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As for the wheeziness - I suffered this during the week prior to a bleed, I think partly due to excess fluid retention. The thing is to drink plenty otherwise the body stores water. Also exercising helps too.
How are you this morning?
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Hi Diva and welcome to the forum!
You will find loads of help and support on here - I only joined a few weeks ago and have so much advice and reassurance on here.
Puffin Mama
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I can't thank everyone enough for all your support.
I had a couple of better days, now suffering again. I am wondering if the wheezing could be some kind of allergy related asthma as I have read that hormones and the auto immune system are closely related.
I have begun to write down everything for my app on Thursday. I needed to go for a cholesterol blood test last week anyway as part of a health check, so I added FSH to the list of tests in the hope it will save time when I see the GP.
Thank you Hurdity for the info about bio identical hormones. I think I would probably feel more comfortable with this. Is it a problem wearing the patch when you go swimming etc? Have visions of it floating off across the pool towards some unsuspecting old man!! ;D
Was also interested to read pepperminty's advice about the Femeston. I am not sure whether to be advised by GP on the best choice or to insist on one or the other. I never usually go to the doctor, so have never met this one before.
Thank you also CLKD for you advice and care. I will be careful not to be fobbed off with AD, hopefully my blood hormone leaves will help with that.
Will let you all know how it goes.
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Hello and welcome from me too :welcomemm: .
I used to leak when I coughed or sneezed but since using Vagifem (used it nearly 5 years now) I haven't used any Tena Lady and I haven't had any cystitis or thrush either so I am a convert to its benefits. However I don't used systemic HRT (my choice) so I can't and won't comment on that as I don't know what I am talking about. Actually since menopause I don't make much sense anyway but that is another matter :)
It is a time when you can feel isolated and alone but this forum is a godsend for taking you out of yourself and making you feel less alone with it all.
I think my worst time was from the age of 53 until the start of this year when things started to level out a bit. I am now 58 so 5 years were difficult. Work was certainly very difficult because of the poor memory and concentration. I had to downsize my responsibilities and 18 months ago my husband retired and I just do a bit of work from home from time to time. I think that helped because the pressures were off. I realise not everyone is in a position to stop work but stress really does make everything a great deal worse I have found.
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Haha re the floating patch diva!
Yes fine to use when swimming although I don't go very often - I knpow there are a few regular swimmers on here - cubagirl and old sheep I think - and maybe they both use patches??? They are more likely to come loose in hot weather rubbing against something or if too near knicker line or waistline. Mine even sometimes stay on in the bath!).
Hurdity x
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Never mind the floating patch, how about an 'insert' which floated away from the 'bra :o - my friend calmly put her hand out, retrieved said insert and carried on swimming ;)
Let us know how you get on! :foryou:
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Glad to have found this site,
I have been suffering from peri menopause now for six years,my symptoms have been very severe .They have included the brain fog often mentioned,face swellings which are incredibly painful and accompanied by a headache- this can last for hours. Plus general tiredness and constantly needing to pass urine. It would be interesting to know if anyone has experienced these strange face swellings and vice like headaches. Ive been to every department in my local hospital and they've been great doing every conceivable test all pointed to fluctuating hormones.I am now having hot flushes and trying to help myself with natural herbal tablets one being Macafen.Im 48 and hoping these symptoms will one day dull down,just started the weepy stage which is totally unlike me. It feels like something else has taken control of my body,its very frustrating when you waste days in bed stricken down with these horrible facial swellings.Any advice would be gratefully received as i am totally out of ideas as what to do next.
Good luck to all those struggling out there and reading some of these stories us women are stronger then we think.
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Hi Babs and :welcomemm:
You would be better posting a new topic in new members as you will tend to get " lost " tagging on the end of an old topic .
You will get more answers that way.
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Hi Babs
:welcomemm: from me too. Hopefully you've had your GP check out the face swellings/headaches?
Hurdity x
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Goodness Babs5666,
Could the face swelling be an allergy of some kind? Menopause makes you more susceptible to allergies you never had before.
You poor thing, I hope someone here is able to offer advice. Maybe a new thread as dazned suggested?
Take care
x
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Hi Babs,
As Hurdity says , I hope your GP has been investigating. If its allergies antihistamines may help,
you must be feeling awful, I do hope you get some answers soon,
Peppermintyxx