Menopause Matters Forum
General Discussion => New Members => Topic started by: Conolly on November 15, 2017, 11:09:29 AM
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Hello,
I'm 50, last period one year ago. Hot flushes, foggy brain, anxiety, morning fatigue, itching, joint pains, mood swings amongst other things that come and go such as diarrhea (sorry) and headaches. I have fibroids and polyps, gp is not keen on prescribing hormones because of vascular disease that runs in the family. Loosing my mind here! Can't focus enough to work and my social and sex life are gone... Any advice is fully appreciated. I'm trying to read as many posts as my brain can handle but I'm finding it all a bit confusing, where is the right place to start?
Conolly x
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hi conolly .your in the right place on here .iv still got all those symptoms apart from fibroids and polyps i had hysterectomy so that got rid of that problem ..still got all the other symptoms tried hrt ,but get scared to cary on taking it after my sister died at 35 with breast cancer she would have been 70 now i started with severe symptoms of menopause at 46 im now 62 and still suffering only thing im on now is amitriptyline for the depression and anxiety theyr ok to help you sleep but not done anything for depression im hooked on them now tried a few times to come off them with no luck you could always go back to the doctor and ask again its your choice ask if you could try the patches.for a while you can always come off them if theyr not suiting you . or an antidepressant they do take a few weeks to take effect..x daisy
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Thank you very much, daisie. I'm sorry about your sister :'( sometimes I wonder if hormones aren't the culprit, I've always been a glass half empty person, maybe what I need is anti-depressants. My gp has mentioned it but I was afraid of the side effects, it's never a win-win situation and anxiety makes it all so difficult.
I was hoping this would improve in a year or so, you're 62 and still suffering... :(
Conolly x
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hi conolly..yes iv wondered the same about homones ..my sister died young she had never been on hrt ..my friends mum died at 52 with breast cancer ..she never was on hrt ..so did my aunt with breast cancer she died in her early 50s she was never on hrt it does make you wonder .plus all the women who passed away with breast cancer before hrt was even heard of ..yes im still suffering may be if i had the guts to stay on hrt ..i might be feeling ok now and living what i call a normal life.but that little voice in my head keeps saying no to hrt ..i also think it was not being on hrt which caused the 1st stages of womb cancer what i had 2 years ago ..i was bleeding every day for a long time .i wasnt taking anything to help stop the bleeding ..like a progestrone to keep the womb healthy .too much estrogen building up causing the bleeding and not enough progestrone to stop it .caused the cancer cells its what happens if estrogen is not supported with the progestrone.for the womb ..id try an antidepressant if i was you theres loads to try ..they do have side effects but they do wear off iventualy give it a try x daisy
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Sorry to hear about the womb cancer daisy, I suppose you have been cleared of it? I think you did the right thing, it's really hard to make a decision under such circumstances. I didn't understand the progesterone part... you mean your ovaries produced high oestrogen and low progesterone?
I think I will consider ADs, just need to look deeper into the details to avoid more panic. Thank you!
Conolly x
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hi conolly ..yes i was making more estrogen but not enough progestrone ..the progestrone levels seems to drop quicker than the estrogen when going through menopause that is why you get a lot of build on the womb which thickens it and you get prolonged bleeding if you dont take a progestrone to rid the build up on the womb ..i knew this was the case with me ..i was in 1st stages of womb cancer .. was caught early .then had everything took away ..so looking deeply into what happened to me being on hrt at a right time when i began the menopause might have stopped the prosess of getting womb cancer ..but ill never know for sure now ..just a personal thought x daisy
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Thank you daisy, I get it now. My womb lining was 6 last scan, is this thick?
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hi connoly that seems to be fine /i remember first time i went for a scan i was told mine was high at just over 8mm thick ..x
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Thank you again daisy, I should do some reading, it seems there's a lot to learn before making an informed decision. I wish you well!
Conolly x
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You are welcome conolly hope you get something to see you through I'm still searching I'm still thinking about taking HRT ..take care x daisy
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:welcomemm:
As oestrogen levels drop so the muscles may become lax = aches and pains. Also the body may become dry: eyes, deep in the ears, nostrils, skin, vagina ...... oh the JOYS of ageing - not ::)
Browse round. Make notes.
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Hi ckld .I'm suffering bad at moment with dry sore eyes and itchy ears .it's so anoying aches and pains ..there's no end to it ..x daisy
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Hello CLKD,
Thank you! You are so right... I feel like all moisture is being sucked from my body, and the itching comes out of the blue, it's so irritating and sometimes embarrassing. Joys!
I am trying to read as much as my poor eyes allow me and will start a postmenopause diary.
It's my second one, first was back in the 80's. ::)
Daisy, I hope it will end! I have been worse in perimenopause, the morning anxiety was so bad I thought of suicide many times.
Conolly x
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Hi Conolly
Can I just ask what tests your GP has carried out re the possibility of you having inherited vascular disease and which type of vascular disease it is?
Taz x :welcomemm:
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hi conolly ..morning anxiety is awfull ..i still get that. for me its one of the worst symptoms.and also the depression x daisy
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Hello daisy,
Same for me. Morning anxiety and depression stopped me from living, it's like being dead really. I wish you well!
Hello Taz2,
It's hereditary Thrombophilia. I have been referred to haematologist and had routine blood testing but not genetic testing as they said it wouldn't make any difference as family history was enough evidence. I've been offered low dose anticoagulants or aspirin before long trips and had been closely monitored during pregnancy as Grandma and Mum had clotting episodes, both died in their 50's, so you can imagine my anxiety levels! If that wasn't enough there is a vascular disease on paternal side called vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome...
I was told that transdermal oestrogen was safer for my condition but I'm still very scared to try it. I hope I can find some reassurance here!
Thank you!
Conolly x
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hi connoly ..i always think about all these diseases..our past family members died of .none of them was ever on the hrt my mums side of family had heart problems .it does make me wonder if being on the hrt can lengthen your life spam ..femail doctor at my surgery was talking me out of taking it last year because of my age ..couldnt believe she only told me she had gone on to taking it.bet theres a lot of professional females out there taking hrt there shouldnt be a cut off point in taking it ..if its making you feel well, we have been frightened into not taking it ,you right about anxiety.. does make you feel.you are not living x daisy
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Hello daisy,
I know what you mean! In the end it should be up to us to decide but unfortunately it's not that simple. There is also the possibility of lawsuits and suchlike if a woman would develop some nasty disease due to hormone replacement. Doctors have to follow the guidelines for their own safety, and ours of course, but they're never going to satisfy everyone. I'm sure you can continue your hrt if you want to assume the risks, or am I missing something?
Conolly x
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Hi Conolly
:welcomemm:
Sorry to hear about your symptoms and also about your mother dying relatively young, and the genetic condition you mention. I can understand your anxiety. I found some information here which I presume you know about anyway if it is in your family: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/thrombophilia/#lifestyle-advice - which gives all the different types of genetic thrombophilia. In your position I would want to know which type your relatives suffered from but also it does confirm that if you have it then HRT is not advised.
However there is also lifestyle advice given that help reduce the likelihood of blood clots - because it is not a foregone conclusion and I am sure you are doing all you can in terms of body weight, exercise, smoking, diet etc.
I'm not sure about lawsuits - I don't think this would apply - not in UK anyway? A causal link could never be proven. Also if a doctor has advised (have I read this right?) that you are OK to take transdermal HRT then presumably they feel that the risk in your case is not great especially as you are taking aspirin before long trips. Do you go on many of these, flying etc?
I think you are doing the right thing by being referred and I would also seek specialist advice re taking HRT on an ongoing basis.
If you are not able to take HRT and the docs/specialist recommends against this, then there are prescribale options available - mainly anti-depressants (even if you are not depressed) which at least have a high chance of working on hot flushes. I can give you a link to a paper which discusses these - with particular reference to breast cancer but the findings (re hot flush efficacy) will apply to anyone who can't take HRT.
Hope this helps and do let us know what you decide :)
Hurdity x
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Hi conolly .no I'm not taking HRT but I do think about taking it ..hope you get something to suit you sooner the better x daisy
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Hello daisy,
I hope we can sort this out soon. Take care.
Conolly x
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Hello Hurdity,
Thank you for the advice. Doctors told me it was not necessary to know the exact genetic type because my family history was enough and also because I had a DVT episode in my 30's. They said I could benefit from the lifestyle changes and the low dose aspirin, so I accepted it. I don't drink, don't smoke and have good eating habits (sort of). I need to increase physical activity though, that's my first priority. Unfortunately long trips are required in my line of work (multinational company consultant), quite ironic... if only I'd known back then... anyway, doctors have reassured me that my risk is just a bit higher than the average population. Now I have to address this again because of menopause, and that's why I have joined this forum.
Conolly x
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Let us know how you get on.
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Hello CLKD,
Of course. I'm still reading and learning, there's so much information. I'm inclined to try the ADs route and I've read you've been taking them for some time. I hope you can help me!
Conolly x
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I had my first panic attack at age 3. I struggled over the years with events but somehow got through. Due to anxiety I was anorexic from age 5. Depression really struck in the 1980s so my GP gave me appropriate medication. I've had success with ADs each lasting for 13+ years B4 pooping out. I now take 5mg in the morning and 10mg at night plus 20mg of beta-blocka with that ...... and I have an emergency drug for when anxiety floors me.
Some ladies find that taking an AD regardless of the reason allows them to see the wood for the trees. Some ladies recognise that the depression is hormonally triggered so choose HRT. Some ladies find that they require both. It's the Trial and Error that I find so tiring at a time I want to be well ::)
Maybe decide which symptom you would like to ease first?
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Hello CLKD,
Hope you're feeling well.Thank you for telling me your story, I'm sorry you had to go through all that since childhood, but I'm glad you have managed to become such a kind person!
I was a depressed child but was very good at hiding it from family. Perimenopause just made it worse so I might give ADs a try.
Your question is interesting and a bit hard to answer... I think the worse symptom now is health anxiety which turns into fear. Would ADs help it?
Thank you for being interested.
Conolly x
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Health Anxiety seems to be a nuisance during The Change.
Some ladies find that keeping a mood/symptom/food diary useful. We can so easily forget how awful we can feel on our better days ::). I had various symptoms: dry skin and itchy insteps; itchy back; occasionally flushes ....... most disappeared after 12-18 months.
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Hi Connelly.
I have a condition that sounds very similar to the clotting condition you have been diagnosed with. Did your hematologist mention Factor V Leiden, Hughes Syndrome or Sticky Blood?
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Hello Nellymoker,
Sorry about your clotting condition, happy to have a fellow sufferer to talk to, though.
I had a thorough explanation by haematologist, he said my condition is probably genetically dominant, as Grandma and Mum both had it. Probably protein C deficiency type II or resistance as my levels are normal. I'm not savvy enough to understand the difference, though.
Are you going to try HRT and if yes, which regimem?
Conolly x
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Hi Conolly,
I've been lucky enough not to have a clot so far. I'm not a smoker and was very active and a healthy weight so I think that helped.
My only symptom was recurring miscarriage at 7-8 weeks and one loss of a baby boy at 6 months. Thankfully I was blessed with 4 (i know, I'm an Irish mammy ;D) beautiful babies.
Factor V Leiden was deemed to be the cause after 2 blood tests, and my last pregnancy when I lost one of twins at 10 weeks.My eldest daughter who also has the condition is now 7 months pregnant. All she needs to do is take a junior dose aspirin daily to protect her and little Beanie. To think that a simple aspirin might have saved my baby.
Due to exhaustion, insomnia and joint pain, mylifestyle is no longer as healthy. I've other symptoms of menopause and am hoping that if they're under control I might be able to get back on track.
I've a gp appointment on Monday. Im hoping he'll prescribe transdermal oestrogen. I've been doing a lot of research and I think it's worth the (slightly elevated) risk of dvt, so long as I can get my weight back in control and start exercising again.
I haven't heard of protein c deficiency. Does it affect you in ways other than thrombosis?. It you'd like feel free to message me.
Here's hoping we both get the treatment we need and feel better soon xxx
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Hello Nellymoker,
Bless you heart, Irish mammy! You're a brave woman, I had an awful time during pregnancy so my baby is one of a kind, literally ;)
I've been on small dose aspirin since I was diagnosed, ages ago, because my life and work demand long flights.
Regarding protein C, all I know is that it is an important inhibitor of the coagulation process and mine doesn't work properly. It only affects blood clotting as fas as I know.
Fingers crossed for your appointment.
P.S. I have no idea how to send you a message...?
Conolly X
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Oh An Irish Granny :foryou:
sending a PM is possible after a certain number of posts on the forum