Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Personal Experiences => Topic started by: LellyM on August 17, 2015, 03:51:19 PM
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OK, I have decided that I will record my journey through this wonderful world of Meno. You never know I may say something that helps someone else cope?
So to start - I am 48 yrs old, no kids. Had a major op for ovarian cysts about 10-15 yrs ago and the doc then warned me I could be in for a relatively early Meno. And here I am!
Last period was in April 2015. Since then I have noticed I am a lot hotter in bed and I am more sensitive to temperatures. Also, emotionally I am "touchy". Hubby is wonderful. I have warned him what to expect and he is being quite understanding.
Could do without the anxiety attacks but if that is as bad as it gets I will cope. If I need to I will go and get some ADs. Don't get me going about the tiredness - but again used to this. When I had depression I was briefly diagnosed with CFS due to the tiredness. This is not as bad as that.
Bit of dryness but again OH is being quite patient and takes his time a little more.
Not bothered the slightest with this latest change in my body. OK, so I won't be able to have kids - so what! Never wanted them anyway (hubby snipped a decade ago when surgeon told me I had too much internal scar tissue and it would be risky).
GP being as good as useless. We have a family trait of high hormone levels in the female side which has the positive side effect of us aging well. Me, my mum (and previously my nan) are always estimated to be about 10 yrs younger than we are. But the downside is when we have blood tests the levels look "normal" even when they are low for us.
Lelx
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Thanks for sharing LellyM and what a good idea to record things if only so you can look bad over time and see how things have progressed or changed.
One word of warning with this meno lark, just when you get used to something it moves the goalposts and it plays a sneaky game so be warned. things probably won't stay as they are now. Mine got worse before it started to get better.
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Hi LellyM
Glad you are able to share your story but sorry to hear about the issues you've had.
Have you thought of trying HRT of any sort, because if your anxiety is hormonal then HRT would be better for you to take than ADs and would have the added health benefits in addition to symptom control. This is what the experts now recommend. If you've had high oestrogen over the years then you may well end up being much more sensitive to the decrease, so if your symptoms get worse then you may well want to replace some of this oestrogen just to feel normal again!
In addition - topical oestrogen would help your dryness and the sooner you do take something for this, the less likely you will develop severe problems later on. Have a look at the information on this site about vaginal atrophy ( what a lovely term this is ::) ) and see what you think.
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/vaginalsymptoms.php
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/dryness.php
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/local.php
and an article by Dr Currie here:
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/article-vaginal-atrophy.php
Hurdity x
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Thank you for sharing your story too. I am finding the anxiety one of the toughest things and being this sort of 'hot stuff' is not what we had in mind for our future ;)
Great info Hurdity.
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Hello Kelly
I am very interested in what you say about the women in your family having higher than normal oestrogen levels.
I think myself and the women in my family are the same. All very fertile. We only have to decide we want a baby and we're pregnant within a month. We all look much younger than we are, my Mum and Aunt are now in their 70s but look no older than 60 etc.
But the flip side is that we have all suffered with PMS, and have struggled with anxiety/depression during peri menopause. My FSH levels all came back as 'normal' but clearly they weren't normal for me anymore because I suddenly felt dreadful when my periods became much lighter and of shorter duration.
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:thankyou: get thyself sorted with some local treatment for the dryness ;) [see our various atrophy threads] ……..
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GypsyRoseLee I get what you mean about hormone levels. I never considered they made us look younger. I have always looked much younger than my age as did my Mum. Never thought it was hormones though. I too was very fertile like you , think I want a baby and bam pregnant, but I too had PND with all mine and now Im so miserable its not true yet my last blood test showed I had oestrogen still floating around.
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what an interesting thought. Mum never looked her age and had lovely skin, I am the same. We also got pregnant within the first month of trying (three times in all) and I have not had the menopause from hell, it is just annoying and unpredictable. Maybe I still have a few hormones circulating. :)
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I think maybe we need more oestrogen Sarai, as we're used to having a higher amount than average. Just out of interest, can I ask if you are fair haired or dark?
I remember reading that fair haired women tend to have higher levels of oestrogen.
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Gypsyroselee I'm dark brown haired (well I was before grey sneeked in) my mother was black haired. Not of foreign descent either. I don't know what it is but I bloody hate it. I think even when I had PND I didn't feel this bad, in fact looking back if I had understood more and had help I may never have needed antidepressants. My docs first thought was to write a prescription and then send me on my way.
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Well, here I am again.
I am not anti HRT it just hasn't been suggested yet (as GP has yet to admit that I am peri! - I guess 5 months without a period will help the conversation). But I am now trying St Johns Wort; Black Cohosh and Evening Primrose. So far it does seem to calm me down a little. But I think I may end up going to the doc soon as the anxiety is getting annoying. Mum was on HRT for years and as I may have mentioned previously, she went from "She Devil" to relatively normal almost overnight.
But so far so good!
L
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Good luck lellym, you sound like a together sort of lady, quite proactive.
This is a good place to bounce ideas around
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What helps at the time gives us breathing space. However, our own hormones can over-ride some preparations so browsing here, asking questions, making notes will put you one step ahead if you need to see your GP!
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I do always try to be logical and pragmatic about things. If I can do something to change an outcome I will. if not I try not to worry about it.
This "wonderful" journey we are all on is simply part of life. Anything we encounter when above the grass is good and better than the alternative.
Overall I am embracing the freedom and will address any symptoms as they come along. So far they are mainly emotional (apart from the periods stopping).
I am also quite comfortable with the situation regardless of working in an office with only men. if I have a hot flush I just say to whoever I am talking to "hang on a tick, hot flush - it's my age!" and they just accept it.
Lx
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OK, have booked an apt at the GP for next week (earliest I can get there). The natural remedies are helping a bit but I am still struggling with the Anxiety side of things.
The annoying thing is I have always been good at handling stress. I didn't used to panic or anything. But now, my god. The slightest thing has my stomach in a knot and my pulse racing.
So, bugger it. if I need some drug to help me handle the symptom then I will do it. I just hope the doc doesn't do the old "writing the prescription for ADs before you even sit down".
Stupid thing is, I am not depressed. Been down that road before and this is completely different.
My coping mechanism is music. I am a semi-pro musician and I have always found that when I am playing I can't worry about anything. But now even trying to sort out a pile of music into instrument pads has my pulse going ballistic!
So I am going to get it sorted.
Lx
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Hi again LellyM (I am sure I saw you as LesleyM on another thread, either that or I am more koo koo than I thought.
Have you met our lovely organist Dulciana yet, she is also a musician like you, well probably nothing like you but you know what I mean :)
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Babyjane, you are not koo koo - I am both. Didn't realise I had an old account when I set this one up so now I will try to stick on this one as it is a name I feel comfy with.
I am looking forward to getting to know Dulciana. Will be interesting to see if she also finds music an escape.
L
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and less confusing for us poor old dears with meno brain :)
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Let us know how you get on! Some ADs can ease other symptoms ;)
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My coping mechanism is music. I am a semi-pro musician and I have always found that when I am playing I can't worry about anything. Lx
Hi, LellyM. Have you seen the "Music and Musicians" thread (in This-and-That section)? I'd be really interested to swap notes with you and if you were, too, what better place to do it than on that thread!
Dulciana
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I'm wondering whether I should take myself to the doctors. Aunt Irma hasn't visited me since March/April but I've never found my GP much help with the emotional side of things. I'm thankfully not really suffering too many of the physical symptoms but I'm wringing myself out like a rag with anxiety.
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:-\ Aunt Irma? :-\
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Well, went to the docs. No big surprise - ADs.
When I mentioned the other symptoms and that I thought I was peri he basically dismissed it all as "you are still young".
But the ADs are helping the anxiety so that is a good thing. The rest of it I can cope with - even waking up last night drenched in sweat (that was a 1st). ;D
He did order a whole raft of blood tests etc but mainly for kidney function (due to my BP meds). Nothing on there for hormones...... :-\
Hang it. If the ADs make me feel more in control then that is fine for me. If things get worse I will make an apt to see the doc who specialises in repro health. 8)
L
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Glad to hear you are settled on your ads and that the anxiety has abated . Hope it continues for you as you say if it works don't knock it. ;)
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Yep. Well it is a low dose at the moment and it is helping a lot. I have not had a panic attack in a week.
I still feel slightly anxious but I have an apt to see him again in 2 weeks when he may up the dose. it helps that his specialism was psychiatry! He must be ok - he called me "Young" and that doesn't happen often!
L ;D
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I'm on ads for anxiety,palps,etc as hrt did nothing to address those issues for me . ;)
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A woman is RARELY 'too young' for menopause to start. That's a way out for many GPs >:(
ADs can help lots of symptoms. But you may need HRT or at least treatment for vaginal atrophy so your GP :kick: needs to get on here and read, read, read
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LellyM may I ask which AD you have that is helping with your anxiety?
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He has put me on Setraline as my previous one (fluoxetine) could make anxiety attacks worse.
Still feeling OK. Have a review in a few days to see if the ADs are helping. Hot flushes seem here to stay and also the night sweats. But is not too bad.
Could do without the aching joints and tiredness tho.
L x
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Still plodding on. Slightly more moody but the anxiety has subsided so I think the ADs are working. Will keep on with the evening primrose and black cohosh as they may be having an impact.
Still no period (yay!). Had a blood test last week so will be interested to see what it says. Not sure if they are checking hormone levels as I am still "too young".
Just wish I didn't feel shattered all the time!
L
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I remember being really tired in my teens, so hormones do cause crashing fatigue etc.. >:(
Thanks for the up-date. Nice to know that you are less anxious. Didn't you ask what the blood was being taken for, in all my years as a Medical Secretary not 1 patient enquired ::) …….
As oestrogen levels drop so muscles become lax = aches and pains >:( ::)
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I did check all of the tests - but there were so many I don't remember!
L
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;D ……… we have a thread about memory problems here somewhere ;)
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When I googled the acronyms for the blood tests it was all kidney related.
That reminds me - I must phone for the results. I assume if I had something awful they would have contacted me!
L
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Yep - as suspected, all tests normal. So I am plodding along. Not been on here for a while as work got fairly full on and my musical 2nd life is also going mad.
Still on the anti-Ds. Still period free (yay). No real change. infrequent hot flushes, slight mood changes. But basically I am getting on with it.
I just wish I had some energy.
L