Menopause Matters Forum
General Discussion => New Members => Topic started by: Bluebell59 on August 17, 2015, 07:08:06 PM
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Hi everyone,
In May this year I had a blood test to find out my hormonal levels, I was told the normal levels for someone who isn't going through the meno is around 20 and I'm 30 plus ! Yikes !!. I am 56 years young. I wasn't offered any hrt at the time but now I am having night sweats, am emotional and exhausted, have palpitations for which I have beta-blockers. I don't have periods anymore as I had a hysterectomy in 1991 due to cervical cancer. I have to ring the surgery this fri to get an app with the only doc who is any good at the surgery, may have to wait a cpl of weeks but I'd rather see someone who knows what they are talking about.
The doc I saw in May told me to eat/drink soya as it is similar to hormones etc but this I have since learnt that soya interferes with thyroid meds. I have an underactive thyroid which has now settled so it's not this which is giving me problems.
What can I do about these night sweats until I see the doc?
Thanks for any advice :) :o
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Some women find sage drops help or perhaps red clover but you would have to research if you could take them with your current medication.
One thing you do have in your favour is if you do decide to go down the HRT route you don't need progesterone which some find troublesome.
I would suggest...if that is the way you want to go....gel or patches.. Easy to tweak gel to get the amount that controls your symptoms.
Let us know how you get on.
Honeybun
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:welcomemm: have a browse of the pull-down menus, top of screen …… make notes. Let us know how you get on!
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One thing you do have in your favour is if you do decide to go down the HRT route you don't need progesterone which some find troublesome.
Honeybun
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Honeybun, I still have my ovaries, does this affect the need or lack of need for progesterone?
Whatever treatment of HRT I have it will be cream or gel as you say, much easier to control the amount I have.
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If you don't have a womb then there is no need for progesterone.
Hope this helps.
Honeyb
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Thanks honeybun and CLKD, this forum is fantastic. Real people who know how I am feeling :)
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Hi Bluebell59
Taz x :welcomemm:
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Hello and Welcome Bluebell :)
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I've been reading all about all of you and your success with Vagifem. I'm getting impatient now to see the doc but the ONLY doc worth seeing isn't free until the second week in Sept. Going to call myself Miss impatient. I know it's not far off but seems it to me ! ::)
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Hi Bluebell59
:welcomemm:
Sorry to hear about your symptoms and also that you've been given beta-blockers for what may well be hormonally induced palpitations! From what I've read this seems to happen a lot!
In your position and especially as you've had a hysterectomy I would definitely consider oestrogen replacement (as well as Vagifem) which should cure the sweats, palpitations, exhaustion and a host of other symptoms - and you are lucky that you will not need progestogen as this is the bit of HRT which usually causes problems for some women.
In the meantime - re the sweats - it's so long since I had them ( I've been on HRT for over 8 years) - but I remember how debilitating they were and the lack of sleep was wearing. I am sure others have ideas but someone suggested a fan at night as well as nightwear of certain material but can't remember what exactly (or nothing!).
In the meantime read up as much as you can about it all...
Hurdity x
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Big/huge/enormous thanks to all of you ! :thankyou:
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Bluebell, hello and welcome to the forum.
I agree with Hurdity about a fan if you can sleep with the low droning noise it makes. But another excellent and instant help for flushes and/or sweats day and night I found was Magicool spray which could help you feel more comfortable until you can get to see the GP of your choice in a couple of weeks. You can get it at the major supermarkets, Boots, Superdrug and also on Amazon and ebay.
Hope that helps a bit. Enjoy looking round the pages :)
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I've got a space with the doc this afternoon. I've spent all morning feeling dizzy, palpitations and being emotional - can't stop crying , it just bursts/ erupts out of me. Am sat crying typing this. If there is such a thing as re-incarnation I'm either coming back as a male or not at all! :'(
My husband is coming with me coz we want answers !
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Take a list?
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I did CLKD, I've been prescribed not HRT but Sertaline ! which is also used for premenstrual and menopause symptoms. I was told they don't prescribe HRT like they used to as symptoms usually come back when having stopped them. I get lots of palpitations and I have ectopic heartbeats too. She wants me to go for gentle walks in the morning. I've to see her in a month. OK I'll try them for a month and see, I don't know until I try. I've also a lot going on with my underactive thyroid and I think she wants to avoid too many hormones at this stage. :-\
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'they' don't prescribe HRT :-\ …….. I consider that un-ethical, not in the hypocratic oath at all! and I would be sending an e-mail to the Surgery asking for References to Research which says that symptoms return - after all we can now keep taking HRT for ever, obviously your Surgery is unaware of recent 'guide lines'!
See how you get on. It can take a month before some medications kick in . Keep a diary. Also you might consider after your next appt. sending a private e-mail to Dr Currie for proper advice! the fee charged is on here somewhere ::)
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Thanks CLKD, I will keep a diary. I'm always ill, just one of those people and I need the surgery, but I do know where you are coming from and thanks, thanks for listening and responding :foryou:
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I used to always feel ill usually due to anxiety caused by the phobia I suffer with :-\ but my GP was always supportive. Without which I wouldn't be sitting here!
I could spit bricks at the lack of support ladies get :bang: :bang: :bang:
Have a browse round ;)
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I was expecting hrt but I'll try this for a month then review the whole thing sparkle.
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Hi Bluebell, so sorry to hear about your troubles. I too have also had thyroid problems to contend with having being diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Everyone thought my symptoms were down to my thyroid but after having it removed it soon became obvious that they weren't.
I have seen a specialist for my peri meno symptoms and although she was aware of me being on thyroid meds prescribed me hrt. She also said that if my GP tried to stop the hrt after 5 years then I should change my GP!
It makes me mad how little GPs know about menopause symptoms and how to treat them so we have to research things for ourselves and battle to get some relief.
Keep strong.
Marie xx
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EllaM,
I am pleased that you have a specialist who knows what they are doing. I think GP's do know how to treat someone with the menopause and actually choose not too - power and control you see :o
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Hi Bluebell59
This is terrible! You absolutely should not have been prescribed sertraline as first line of treatment for menopausal symtpoms unless your health means you are contra-indicated or if you strongly don't want it!!!!!!!
I would not take it! You were expecting HRT and this is what you should have been given. The new NICE guidelines (currently in draft and due to be relased in the autumn) say as much so your doc is out of date. It is so easy to take oestrogen replacement if you've had a hysterectomy too.
How dare they say they don't like to prescribe HRT!!! This is outrageous. Yet another example of women not being helped by the medical profession!
Please go back (with your husband if necessary) and see a different doctor in the practice - find out which one supports giving HRT. ADs are good if women are unable to take HRT or in addition if symptoms can't be controlled with appropriate HRT.
All you need is an oestrogen patch or some gel (not tabs if you have thyroid problem)...
I agree you need to get your thyroid symtpoms controlled and the meds right - but that doesn't mean you can't take HRT too. You may have to do some adjustment but it;ls worth the effort and you won't get hooked on ADs!
You can tell this makes me so cross on your behalf!!! >:(
Hurdity x
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Hurdity,
I was very annoyed when I got back from the chemist and discovered they are anti depressants. I'm not depressed, I going through the menopause. I took one yesterday and one this morning - am seriously thinking of not taking any more. I'm all light headed and don't like the feeling. :-\
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Bluebell - anti-depressants alter the way different receptors in the brain work.
They do not mean that whoever prescribed them thinks you are depressed.
I was prescribed them on separate occasions for MS related pain and fatigue.
My neurologist took a long time to explain that he didn't think I was depressed but that they might work.
The ones I took didn't work for me but they might have done....................
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Some ADs do relieve menopausal symptoms.
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In my early 50s I was offered SSRIs and different types of HRT for my ailments but it all made things so much worse. I didn't know what was wrong with me. Having read this forum and looking into it I was probably perimenopausal but back then I didn't know such a thing existed.
Anyway I didn't do at all well on the ADs or HRT. I remember waking up one night convinced my son was up in his bedroom plotting to come down in the night and murder us. I sincerely believed it yet I also knew it was probably down to the drugs and chemicals as I am so very sensitive to all sorts of concoctions.
I remember one night waking up about 3 am and tearing off the patch. By morning normal service had been resumed. I felt I had just been fobbed off with the easiest solution to get me out of the consulting room. I went and had a talk with my lovely lady GP and she listened and listened and listened and between us we managed what was happening to me. There were some iffy moments I don't mind saying, but I got through and I knew I was supported by her in my choice not to use these treatments and I found a way through that works for me. Six years on I can honestly say that things are calming down and I don't have so many symptoms and the ones I have are milder now.
The point I am making is that you do not have to take the first thing that your doctor gives you, especially if you do not think you have been heard or listened to .
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:thankyou: babyjane
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What are ectopic heartbeats?
Yes to palpitations and dizziness, and when I am worrying I get pins and needles in both my arms and I start thinking I am about to die.
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What are ectopic heartbeats?
Yes to palpitations and dizziness, and when I am worrying I get pins and needles in both my arms and I start thinking I am about to die.
Ectopic heartbeats is just another word for an irregular heart rate. Not all the time, every now and again maybe once a week my heart will do a sort of 'jiggle' and beat irregularly or miss a beat, this lasts about 5/10 seconds - apparently its harmless and quite common.
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Where have you gone Bluebell59? Sorry to see you felt you wanted to leave us so soon :(. Maybe someone said something that upset you? Everyone means well on here but sometimes things don't come across when typed as they are meant to! Please do reconsider if you found it generally helpful and supportive on here - I do hope so.
If not I wish you all the best on your menopause journey.
Hurdity :) x
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Yes Bluebell59 you really helped me last week and we have a lot in common. It would be good to chat again :)