Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Rosie63 on March 27, 2019, 06:46:45 PM
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Hi ladies. I'm really sorry but I feel like I need to vent how I'm feeling and this is the only place I know I can come for a listening ear. I think I'm getting to the end of my tether with trying to find the right HRT for me. Over the last 18 months I've tried pills, gel and patches both sequentially and continuously. For the last 6 months or so I've been on Estradot and Utrogestan and although it all seemed well at the beginning, I was starting to get a lot more bad days than good and I ended up taking the patch off just to get a few days respite before symptoms started to return and putting a patch on again. I realise this wasn't doing me any good either and my poor body probably didn't know what was happening !! I think 6 months should be long enough for my body to adjust and so, sadly, I don't think this regime is going to work for me.
How can it be that I was on a regime for a number of years with very few problems and yet I just don't seem to be able to find something else that suits me.
The thought of trying to get another GP appointment feels me with dread and embarrassment to be honest as I feel I'm now becoming a nuisance to them :( On the other hand my quality of life over many months has been poor so I feel I still need help.
I'm so sorry to gabble on but just needed to get this all out. Thank you for listening...:-)
Rosie63xx
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Rosie pleased dont be embarrassed about seeing the gp about it. I've been on 3 different regimes in 6 months!!. It's not unusual and it's not your fault.
Dont put off seeing doc. That is what they are there for.
Have you been to a meno clinic?
Maybe ask be referred.
Sorry you are suffering.
Best wishes TC x
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Take a list of your symptoms to your GP and see whether your dose needs a hike? GPs are paid to help people. The other option is to see a local Pharmacist, they have private rooms these days.
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Hi Rosie63.
TC is right, don't give up, go back to the doctor, there are other options for you..
Ask to be referred.
I know what you mean about going back to the docs, I always feel insignificant, like my hormones aren't important, not like a ‘normal' illness. But you can't carry on like this, go see him/her, and ask for something else, or to be referred....
Good luck...xxx
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Sorry to hear you are suffering Rosie63. Don't feel bad about going back to the GP. Just make sure you take a list of your issues to get the best possible outcome. Meanwhile gabble away. We all need to vent from time to time and we will not be judged on here
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Thanks so much ladies for your kind, thoughtful replies. You made me want to cry.
I did pay to see a gynae privately last year but my GP said I was wasting my money as it was all trial and error and he could help me. He has been amenable to me trying different HRTs but I can see from the look on his face that he's not sure what to try next. He only works one day a week at my surgery so it's even harder to get an appointment with him. I phoned the private hospital yesterday but I was put off because the cost of seeing him has increased from £155 to £245 and I'm not sure I want to pay that much more ! I called into a local pharmacy this morning and she was very nice but said I should make an appointment to see GP.
Anyway, I've made a list of the side effects and symptoms tonight and will call the surgery tomorrow to make an appointment. Hopefully I won't have to wait too long.
Thanks ladies for spurring me on not to give up and I'll let you know how it goes with GP.
Wishing you all well.
Rosie63 xx
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That's a huge amount for a Private appt. ::)
Nowt to lose if you visit your GP? with your list. :foryou:
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Hi rosie63
I was just going to write a post and came across yours. I can relate totally. I have been deliberating returning to my go for weeks but keep putting it off. I like you have tried hrt tablets patches and gel but the side effects are so bad that I am unable to continue. I am simply ‘putting up' with all of my symptoms of the menopause at the moment as I am at a loss of what to try. I am really sensitive to all medications and have really bad side effects from AD's also. I am desperate to find something that works for me as my mental health is extremely poor and getting worse by the day. Could I ask what side effects you have experienced please?
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Can your GP refer you to a menopause clinic? I have to drive an hour away to get to one but it's been worth it as they have been 100% more helpful and understanding than my GP.
The GP did blood tests and told me I couldn't be peri menopausal and refused me HRT. The clinic prescribed based on my symptoms and have sent a letter with new blood results saying I can increase my Evorel patch dose.
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Thanks CLKD xx
Friendlygal - sorry you're also having a difficult time. The list I made tonight of side effects, or symptoms...not sure which is which anymore as they all seem to blur in together but they are nausea, headache, aching joints elbows, hands, knees, ankles and feet, fatigue, dry eyes up nose and mouth, aching throat and low mood :'( All this combined makes me anxious and it's constantly on my mind. Funnily enough I've never suffered with hot flushes or night sweats. What I find is that I get what I think are side effects from the hrt so that makes me stop taking it. Then I feel better for a few days but then the symptoms start to creep back so then I put a patch on again and then it becomes a vicious circle.
It sounds as though you need to get back to your GP Friendlygal if your mental health is deteriorating and you shouldn't have to suffer and just put up with all the meno symptoms. What symptoms are you getting ? Let's make a promise to each other that we will call our GP's this week.....agreed?
I hope you get some relief soonxxx
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Thanks Orangefoot. I will ask if there's a meno clinic I can be referred to when I see my GP. I'm pleased you are getting somewhere through your clinic :)
Rosiexx
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I felt as you describe without estrogen and that all went away with the first patches. I can't manage life with utrogestan so after discussion with the menopause specialist I've got an IUS that has less progesterone than the Mirena. One month in and I'm ok - much better than with the utrogestan.
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Thanks Orangefoot. Sorry to be dim but what is an IUS? Xx
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Hi Rosie 63
Yes I'm similar to you- aching joints, fatigue and low mood with some anxiety now to. ( that's without hrt) when I take hrt I get fluid retention, bloated, headaches and very little improvement with hrt to be honest. I am seriously considering AD's again as I do not want to feel any lower than I do but again the thought of the side effects are preventing me from trying. All AD's tend to give me fluid retention, I gain weight and extremely low labido which then causes other problems 😩. Good luck with your journey. Hope you feel more yourself soon 😘😘😘
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Hi Friendlygal. Not sure if you've seen the recent thread on here about taking AD's. A couple of the ladies are supporting each other and taking it very gradually. This may be the way for you to go if you decide to try AD's again.
Let us know how you go along.
Rosie xx
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An IUS is an intrauterine device or coil like the Mirena or the Jaydess. Orangefoot have you got the Jaydess (Skyla)? And glad to hear it's working for you. I've been given the go ahead to have one fitted in April after coming to the end of the road with Utrogestan and I'm cautiously optimistic x
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Thanks Stellajane. I've been brave and phoned the doctors this morning. Have an appointment for the 8th April so not too far out. It's not the doctor I've been seeing or one that I wanted to see but I'm going to take my husband with me for moral support and so that I don't get bullied out of what I want or being referred.
Thanks for info on IUS Perinowpost. I'm not sure I want to have something inserted as I'm so unstable at the moment, I would prefer just to be able to stop if it's not suiting me rather than having to wait to have it removed. I'm in my early 60's so I might just be being a bit old fashioned in thinking this....:-)
Thank you again to all you lovely ladies for taking the time to read my posts and your advice and support.
Rosie63 xx
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Good luck Rosie, (luv that name.) ❤️
For the 8th...
Xxx
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rosie. You might be surprised. After bad experience with gp I next saw one I hadn't seen before and she had a much much better attitude. It made a lot of difference. It's a good thing you are seeing someone different.
Good luck. Keep posting and let us know how you get on 🌷
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That's interesting Stellajane, I've never suffered with the hot flushes, sweating or dryness etc. For me it was all about the anxiety and mood swings.
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Thank you ladies 😘
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I had both, Stella.....not at the same time, sweats were the first symptom, they stopped, or rather eased, and the dreaded anxiety took its place!
Not sure if you meant at the same time, or ever, .......??
Either way, I lost....😳🙂
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Same time for me. But then everything happened at the same time after oopherectomy.
I do wonder whether hot flushes fool my brain into thinking I'm having a panic attack. With a panic attack I get very hot. It's hard to separate the two.
But the sweats are different for me than the flushes. They feel more like a cold sweat.
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Were you started on oestrogen after your oophorectomy TC? Both consultants I saw said a full hysterectomy + oophorectomy was the only guaranteed cure for reproductive depression etc.
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Gypsy. I had to wait a month to start hrt and in that month I crashed.my body and brain went into shock and it's been like trying to push water up a hill since.
It's only my personal experience but I have suffered anxiety disorder and depression on and off all my life but nothing compares to how bad it's been since the op.i didnt have a choice but if I had, knowing what I know now, I wouldve at least kept the healthy ovary and gone Into meno naturally. but the general rule of thumb for docs is over 50 years old take them both out for preventative purposes. I realy wouldve liked the chance to weigh up the risks and benefits myself and I'm furious at myself for not questioning it.
I feel my health has suffered because of it But then I didnt have any gynacological problems in the first place. The cyst on my ovary was discovered accidentally whereas I see some ladies periods make their lives such a misery they are only too glad to have it all gone and they feel better after.
And some ladies dont have a choice.some a lot younger than me. So i shouldnt complain. Maybe If I felt well since I would see it in a different light i hope that day comes but it's hard to right now.but it has only been 6 months. Possibly other ladies further down the line might have a more positive experience to share
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I dont mean to scare anyone. It is only my personal experience. It's all about risks and benefits and that's a very individual thing.
Have you researched it at all?
Best wishes x
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Hi Rosie63
I've had the sort of same thing as yourself. I've tried quite a few hrt and it just makes me feel so ill. Firstly I tried the patches,then tablets and lastly and the worst was the gel. I would put it on and bam I would get a migraine within an hour and feel dizzy all the time and my anxiety was through the roof! I have no idea why this would be happening as I have the mirena and really thought that hrt would help me but unfortunately at the moment I just cannot tolerate it. I am now taking a low dose of citalopram which I started 9 days ago and like yourself I was terrified of the side effects but I started on 5mgs to get my body used to it and have just increased to 10 mgs. Yes I've had a some side effects as in slight dizziness,nausea,increased anxiety and insomnia but nothing as bad as I thought. I am feeling a bit better but I do fluctuate so one day I feel ok then the next not so good. I'm not expecting this to be a miracle cure but just to help me with the horrendous anxiety,the emotional crying for no reason and hopefully my insomnia.
I wouldn't rule out trying hrt again in the future but it's just not for me at the moment.
I really hope you find the right hrt and feel better soon.
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Thanks Catlover68. I have to say I have thought about trying AD's but I don't really suffer with anxiety or depression or hot flushes and night sweats so not sure they would help with my symptoms. I do get anxious but I think this is caused with worrying that I will never feel well again!
I'm pleased you are getting on ok'ish at the moment and it seems you are going in the right direction. Long may it continue :)
Rosie xx
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Thank you for telling me that TC, it's so interesting to hear other experiences.
With you saying you have suffered with depressive episodes on and off all your life I wonder if you have actually suffered with reproductive depression all your life, caused by the hormonal fluctuations of your menstrual cycle? Prof Studd explains it at length on his website and I recognised the pattern immediately. I always suffered with PMS and had severe PND after my first baby. I recovered and was well for over 10 years (just normal PMS) but then as I turned 40 my PMS turned into PPMD and for 2 weeks a month I found it hard to function.
By 45 the PMDD was virtually constant and I finally crashed completely and was signed off work for 3 months. Seeing Prof Studd saved me.
The crash you experienced after your operation is very similar to the crash new Mums experience after giving birth +baby blues) but for some it's more serious and turns into PND.
If it's been 6 months since your operation then I'm not surprised you're still struggling to find balance. After I started Prof Studd's regime it still took longer than that before I felt reliably well for any decent length of time. I think because I had sunk so low it took a very long time for HRT to repair the damage.
Three years later I still get the occasional relapse (had 3 brief dips last year, each only lasted 2 weeks) but no real idea why?
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Thanks gypsy.
Until meno I had never considered that my past issues with anxiety and depression might be hormonal. But I'm beginning to think it might well be the case. . I've not had children so realy this is the first big hormonal upheaval in my life. Apart from puberty but thinking about it that's when my problems began.
I'm sorry you suffered for so long. But it's great to hear how proff studd changed things for you and that you've stayed well. And even though you had some dips you got back on track it gives me hope.
Sorry my previous post was a bit negative. I'm struggling to come to terms with it all.
thank you for your kind reply.
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Goodness, your post didn't sound too negative at all. It's good to let it all out and this is a safe place to do it.
Have a read of Prof Studd's website about reproductive depression, you might well recognise yourself. I know I did. Just like you, my problems started at puberty with sudden swooping feelings of dread (despite having a very happy childhood) and I used to sob uncontrollably the day before my period was due.
As I went into my twenties I used to get dreadful PMS black moods and rages. Talking to my family it seems like we're all very, very hormonal sadly.
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Sorry to hear this rosie63 - remind us are you taking utrogestan orally or vaginally, continuously or cyclically and what dose oestrogen?
Hurdity x
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Thanks Hurdity. In the 6 months or so I've been using Estradot I've tried using it vaginally and orally both cyclically and continuously. I changed to continually because I was getting quite a big dip when I finished it sequentially. I've also tried adjusting my Estradot dosage between 50 and 75 but I don't seem to feel much different on the higher dosage so I'm thinking that maybe I'm not absorbing the patches as I should be. I had blood tests about a year ago and my oestrogen was a bit low but not massively so. Perhaps I should get it checked again. I'm just not sure what could be going on to be honest, Hurdity.
Any ideas you might have would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for taking the time of reply.
Rosie63 xx
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Rosie. I felt I wasnt absorbing eastrogel and when I had a blood test it showed I wasnt absorbing at all.
So maybe it's time for a blood test for you. Its been a year since your last one.
I know blood tests aren't the whole picture but they can indicate absorption problems.
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Thanks Tc. I think that's the thing to do. I just think that something's amiss to be making me feel so awful. We are going away with friends for a few days in a couple of weeks time and I'm dreading it at the moment because not sure I can muster up the energy or enthusiasm :(
Rosie x
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Rosie
I know what it's like when you feel you should be looking forward to something but you just aren't
It's a couple of weeks away. A lot can happen so put it aside for the moment and hopefully you will feel different when the time comes.xxx
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Yes, trying to stay positive Tc. Thanks so much for your support.
xx
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Hi ladies. Just an update following my appointment with GP today. He's sending me for more blood tests for B12, Vit D and Ferritin. I'm also having an ECG as getting palpitations. He admitted that his knowledge of menopause and HRT is limited, which I thought was fair enough, so I have a telephone call with a new lady GP on the 23rd. Hopefully, test results will be back by then. Depending on how the call goes, he thinks it would be a good idea for me to be referred to a menopause clinic which was what I wanted. He also asked if I wanted an appointment with a NHS counsellor so he was definitely trying to help as much as he could. I declined because although I feel quite low at the moment, I don't think I'm depressed.....it's because I feel so poorly all of the time that I get down in the dumps.
I'm still feeling pretty awful but I feel a bit more positive then last week....:-)
Rosie63 x
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Half a day at a time! ;) :hug:
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Thanks for the update. At least things are moving in the right direction now :bighug:
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Hi Rosie63, I hear ya. My dr recommended I speak to a therapist awhile back. No thanks...I get so sick of listening myself complain about how lousy I feel. Then, to have to recite it again to a therapist...nope! :bighug:
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Hi again ladies. I hope you don't mind but wanted to update again following my call with GP today. We have a new lady doctor and she was very nice and very open to my suggestions. My blood tests for B12, Vt D and ferritin were all fine so it would appear I'm not lacking anything there. I explained how I'm feeling at the moment, very achy joints and muscles, tiredness and this funny feeling I'm getting in the chest, which is hard to put into words, and nausea. I asked her if I could be referred to a meno clinic and she was agreeable to this. However, she did mention fibromyalgia and the possibility of being referred to a rheumatologist. I hadn't ever thought of this and no nothing about it so not sure if this could be a possibility. More confusion thrown into the pot !!
So, the current situation is that I'm going to carry on with current regime Femoston conti 1/5 and I'm going to try a low dose AD, Sertraline, and I have an appointment with her in 3 weeks time. We will then decide on next steps. Waiting list for meno clinic on NHS is about 5 months :-\
Rosie63 x
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Thanks for the update! I have been referred to a rheumatologist too... I go next month...only dr I haven't seen yet, so why not! ;D
Best of luck with the AD...keep us posted! :)
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;D. I know what you mean Rosie. Do you get a lot of joint pain too?
Rosie x
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Before going on HRT it was constant. Fingers and knees especially. I have Arthritis in my neck and back. I have raynauds, so my Dr wants me to see a rheumatologist in case. Not too worried as I noticed the raynauds 2 years ago...all of a sudden my GP cares :o I have vestibular migraine, so I figured it was because of that! I am also on nortripyline, however, just cut my dose in half as my heart was racing and Blood pressure went low. Was supposed to help migraines, yet created additional issues and does nothing for the migraines ::)
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Good to hear from you with an update rosie that feeling you get in chest which is hard to explain. A lot of us seem to get it and we all find it hard to describe. Its like a "swooping" sensation or a "surge". I've had anxiety before but I've never had that until meno.
Good that your blood tests were o.k and you're being referred
Are you using testosterone. It's supposed to help with muscle pain. I've only been on it a week or so so I cant comment on results yet
Also. I have read that some ladies find CBd oil good for joint pain obviously you dont want to be starting anything like that until you've seen rheumatologist .. But it .if might vbe something to think about in future for both of you.
Good luck with your appt. Rosie77.xx