Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Personal Experiences => Topic started by: alibeau on July 02, 2018, 08:18:01 PM
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More advice please ladies!!
So, I have tried Clonidine for my hot flushes, I will have been on them for four weeks on Friday and they have made zero difference. It can take 2 - 4 weeks to kick in, nothing yet, I don't know whether it would be a gradual improvement or would it suddenly kick in?..... anyway...
The only appointment I could get was a telephone appointment with a GP on Friday. I will ask their advice about continuing with the Clonidine or not...
I am at the point now where I do feel my only option is HRT. Hot flushes are currently ruling my life, main problem being lack of sleep...
However, I am due to go on a family holiday July 19th. Would you agree that I am best to leave HRT until I return? Not even sure if the GP would prescribe HRT from just a phone call? I am worried that starting in HRT may bring on unwanted side effects and possibly leave me feeling worse whilst away?
Given I'll be on holiday I'll hopefully be able to have a few lies ins to catch up on some sleep and then look to start HRT when I return?
Does that sound like a plan? Or is there a good chance I could start HRT and feel fabulous quite quickly?
Would really appreciate your thoughts.
Many thanks.
Ali x
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Give the medication more time?
We have a holiday thread somewhere ;) - enjoy!
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My GP wouldn't prescribe HRT until she had checked my blood pressure.
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I'd wait till you get back, most of us get some side effects for a while when starting hrt and it can take a while for the benefits to be felt so a couple of weeks won't make much difference. Enjoy your holiday.
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Just wanted to say alibeau,
Hope you have a great holiday,
and everything goes good for you, enjoy it,
Jd x
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Thank you all!
On reading my post back I do sound like I am rushing things! Just want to find a solution and get back to 'normal' (if this is even possible!) as I'm sure you'll all understand.
I had a much better nights sleep last night, Hubby put an AC unit in our bedroom so perhaps it was the cooler temp that helped but definitely feeling more human today!
Wishing you all a more 'human' day too! :-*
Thanks ladies, your replies are always appreciated.
Ali x
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It's 'the change' :-\ so don't expect to get back to 'normal'. Let the medication do it's work?
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Agreed CLKD.
Hmmmm I used the term 'normal' loosely!!! ;D
I will make an appointment with my GP for August and take things from there. Everything seems so much easier to deal with after a better night sleep!
Ali x
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Doesn't it just! Enjoy your break ........
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If you feel you can cope with your holiday as you are, then I wouldn't change anything now. Enjoy the break and sort out HRT when you come back.
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Hi,
I have been having similar worries about whether to try new medication before going on holiday, and if I didn't feel good after changing meds I wouldn't know if they were the cause, whether to stop them or not, and not able to see my doctor. I had doctor appointment yesterday and she said better to stay on my current meds - for all the reasons above and also it just gives them a bit more time and they might still work. Realised that although I don't think my current meds are making any difference (yet) it was a relief to know I wasn't going to have to deal with the worry of switching while away and that that had been one of my major worries recently (anxiety is my main issue )
Hope you get useful advice when you see your doctor, and that your holiday gives you a change to recharge
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Thanks for your replies.
I cancelled my GP phone appointment for tomorrow and am still trying to schedule a new appointment with my preferred GP for when I return from my holiday.
I had a bad night last night sleep wise but the previous three nights had been much better, I had hoped that perhaps the clonidine was kicking in and/or the AC unit had helped.... who knows but I am now decided that I will stick with the clonidine for now and review things when I get back.
Hopefully if I can grab a few lies ins whilst away, that will help me keep on top of things, there is also always the slim chance that my flushes might subside of their own accord as they have been intermittent up until now, wouldn't that be nice!!!
Thanks again everyone! A fortnight today I'll be on the plane, fan at the ready!! ::)
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Just a little update from me!!!
So I have scheduled a telephone appointment with my preferred GP two days after I return from my holiday, so I am pleased about that.
I have cut down the Clonidine tablets from 4 a day to 2. They did not help at all with my hot flushes and made me feel like a zombie. I have stuck with the 2 a day as I suspect I may have had fewer headaches but it could just be a coincidence....
So, when I speak to my GP I am going to ask that she prescribes me HRT, having read up on here I think I will ask for FEMOSTON 1/10. I believe this is a low dose oral tablet? If for any reason she says this is unsuitable what would be my next preferred choice? I would prefer not to have a coil fitted tbh.....
I asked my Mum to get further info on her breast cancer which she did - it was found very early at her mammogram - Grade 1 invasive ductal carcinoma. Not sure if this info is helpful/relevant to the GP or not?
I felt rotten on Sunday, very low and fed up of the flushes and lack of sleep. I'm feeling far more positive today, feel like a have a plan and am working towards finding a fix that works for me.
Any feedback welcomed and thank you all for your help so far.
Ali x
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Welcome back. Hope you had a good time.
Know what you mean about getting back to 'normal' but I think we have to except that it will be a new normal 😁
I'm currently doing the rounds trying out different hrt combos, though it was going ok but now the flushes are creeping back in. I'm still on tablets & like you are a bit against the coil, due to past experience, but am giving it new consideration.
Good luck with your appointment, personally I found tablets kick in quiet quickly like a week or two but I'm having problems with something building up over 2 mths plus. The one I'm on now has been the best but at 4 or 5 mths it's falling apart again, what joy 😂
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My Mum had a mastectomy at aged 65 after a routine mammogram. Her cancer was different to the one I had years later. Let us know how you get on.
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Hi Ladies,
I am back from my holiday now (9 hot flushes on a 9 hour flight - joy!) and had my GP phone appointment last evening.
GP was more than happy for me to try HRT but she needs to see me to check BP etc before doing so. I now have an appointment booked for this Monday.
A couple of questions have popped into my mind and I wonder if you can advise please?
I prefer the idea of taking oral HRT, is this an 'ok' route to choose to start off with? Might my GP recommend otherwise ie patches/gels etc and if so should I go with her advice?
Also I am peri and 46. I have been having blips in my cycle for a couple of years but have been having larger gaps and hot flushes for the past year. I am currently on day 75 of this cycle having had a couple of 'normal' cycles previously.
Over the past few days I have had cervical mucus (tmi? sorry!) which leads me to believe something is happening with my hormones at the moment?...
This leads me to my next question which is, as I am Peri and clearly my hormones are unsettled, how does the GP go about finding the right HRT dose? As surely if my cycles are going through a 'back to normal' stage, no additional hormones are required but then when I have these gaps and flushes I do need additional hormones?
Does the HRT balance things out somehow?
Sorry for all the questions.....
Thanks in advance.
Ali x
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You ask away.
How was your holiday? I can't help much with HRT ; some ladies prefer a patch as a gentle way of delivering the hormone, others cope with other medication. Some have problems with the progesterone part of the treatment cycle so maybe keep a diary of mood/symptoms/food? It is easy to forget how we feel on a day-2-day basis ::)
My Husband: a calmer person you will never meet : has White Coat Syndrome so his BP rises when the GP takes it. Maybe if your levels appear high, buy a home monitor and take the readings at the same time each day? He took his B4 breakfast at 7.30 a.m. Keep notes.
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Had a lovely holiday thank you! Apart from the flushes!!!! ::)
My BP is normally quite low so even if I am a bit 'nervous' at the Dr's my reading is just elevated slightly!
I have a few more questions but think I will start a new topic.....
Thanks for your reply, I appreciate it :)
Ali x