Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Personal Experiences => Topic started by: corianne on April 28, 2020, 02:34:45 PM
-
Hi :)
I am posting this as hopefully it will help others starting the menopause journey who may be suffering and think they are alone, and also because if you'd told me this is what the menopause would be like I wouldn't have believed you! I'm Peri menopausal and cannot believe how much things have changed for me due to my damned 'hormones' :-\ (also any advice on dealing with Anxiety would be gratefully received too :) )
I am 47 and just over 2 years ago I started noticing some major differences in my health and general wellbeing.
I found myself sitting in front of my GP and just about managed to say 'I think I'm menopausal' before making an ugly face and start sobbing, she had never seen me like this, and was a bit taken aback by it. When I finally composed myself (several tissues later) I told her my symptoms - hot flushes, insomnia, hair loss (it came out in clumps in the shower!) severe lack of energy and a feeling sadness (hence all the tears!). She was going to prescribe an anti depressant, but I was already on one for migraines, so she said I should try HRT in the hope that would allieviate some of the worse symptoms.
I started on HRT patches and within a few weeks I felt fantastic! My hair was still falling out but not as bad, (I also changed to Loreal Low Shampoo which I found didn't aggravate my suddenly tender scalp - another symptom I had!) My energy came back, the hot flushes suddenly weren't so bad or as often as they had been. And best of all my mood improved! For 6 months I felt better, I still had some symptoms but nothing as bad as pre-HRT.
I continued to use the patches until they became difficult to get, which is when I came off them. I perhaps should have gone back to my GP then to get something else, but I honestly felt great, even without the patches and I began using more diet based and supplement products, soya milk, Estroplus capsules, that sort of thing and I remained pretty stable in all aspects of my health and wellbeing.
Towards the end of 2019 my periods started becoming more infrequent and sometimes a lot heavier, I began keeping a period diary (before this my periods had still been pretty regular) and as well as recording my periods I added some notes about how I was feeling on certain days and symptoms I was having.
This is the list of symptoms I have had over the past few months (most things I never suffered with before)
I should add - I've had regular blood tests done over the year for things like Thyroid function and all have come back normal so far.
Insomnia - I've always been a night owl but now I was finding it almost impossible to sleep, I'd be exhausted but as soon as I went to bed I'd be wide awake.
Itching and Allergies- awful and mainly at night (which didn't help the Insomnia It felt like ants crawling over me) I'd wake up with long, painful scratch marks all over my legs and arms. I also got allergies and rashes with things like Perfumes or strong shower gels.
Breast Tenderness - so painful I couldn't wear a bra at times let alone touch them, and for some reason my left breast was worse, it felt achey all the time and I had sharp shooting pains through it.
Loss of Libido - didn't want sex, didn't feel like sex, it was as though my whole sexual being just turned off overnight.
Itchy down below and had an UTI which required antibiotics (then Thrush caused be the Antibiotics! :( )
Heavy, painful periods - I had had these before but rarely, but now it was every period (when I did have one) big clots of blood and I once bled for 3 weeks out of 4.
Migraines - again something I have suffered from before but these were for 3 days after every period and they were horrendous, I was incapacitated by them.
Aching muscles - my legs felt like lead, the muscles ached deep inside, had to take painkillers fairly regularly just to cope.
Pins and needles - my legs would often feel wobbly and weak, like I'd run a marathon when all I did was walk up the stairs! I'd also get tingly hands and feet.
General 'weakness' - along with the aching muscles, things like my elbow would be painful and weak, then my knee, it was as though the feeling was moving around my body.
Dizziness - Feeling 'spaced out' like my head was detached from my body, inability to concentrate sometimes.
Brain Fog - forgetting things
Feeling sick, like my stomach was churning. I ate to stop it, but didn't really feel like eating.
Indigestion - When I did eat I'd get acid come up, even with foods I'd always eaten before with no problems.
Bowel Problems - IBS came back which I hadn't had for years.
Weight gain, especially around my stomach, it looked like I had swallowed a rubber ring despite the fact I wasn't eating as much as I used to.
Fatigue - both mind and body
Neckaches and Migraines after eating - for some reason my evening meal would be followed by severe neck aches and migraines (no idea what this was about!)
Changes in Body Odour - I'd joke I was going through Puberty again, under my arms smelt of sickly sweat (like a rotten Kebab!) no amount of washing and deodorant could stop it.
Skin Changes - again like Puberty! Acne, which I hadn't had for almost 30 years!
Hot Flushes - not as often as before, but when I did get them my glasses would steam up!
Heart Palpitations and pains - mild flutterings in my chest and the feeling I'd 'skipped' a beat as well as sharp stabbing pains which came and went.
Anxiety - nothing too bad just some irritability and agitation, sometimes things which never bothered me would become bigger in my head (if that makes sense?) and I would get short tempered over them, but this usually happened around my period so I put it down to normal Hormonal fluctuations.
(I didn't have all of these all the time, but they were regular enough for me to think they must be menopause related)
BUT... then the Anxiety started..
From someone who has always managed stress quite well (before the Peri started) I began suffering Anxiety, it was mild at first I would find myself worrying about little things, or getting irratable and agitated, but I just put it down to Hormonal changes through the month, but one night just after Lockdown had started my worries about Coronavirus (which were rational ones) seemed to trigger an almost irrational Anxiety in me, to the point where I thought I was going to die (and I am not exagerating that at all). I had a Panic attack which lasted almost 5 hours with the feelings coming on again as soon as I'd calmed down a bit.. It started as an irregular heartbeat and a slight 'fluttering' in my chest, like I'd had before and I worried about it, then the Anxiety and Panic went off like a rocket! I was sweating profusely, I had to have a cold shower as I felt my blood was boiling, my heart was racing, my chest was tight, my heart and left breast were painful, I had a lump in my throat which felt like it was choking me and I couldn't breath properly. I was pacing up and down the garden at 4 in the morning as I couldn't sit still, I could only drink water, but then would rush to the toilet as I needed to wee all the time, my bowels churning meant I had diahorreah, I felt disassociated from everything and all I could do was cry to my daughter (who was the only one awake) that I was dying. I googled my symptoms (yes, I know.. not the best thing to do!) and it came up with the same things, Anxiety and Panic or Heart Attack! In my irrational state I thought it was the latter. Part of me though knew enough to keep telling myself it was a Panic attack and the 'fight or flight' response and even though it was one of the longest nights of my life slowly my symptoms got better, though I still remained anxious.
the next day I phoned my GP who got me into the surgery straight away just to make sure I was okay. I had an ECG (normal) Blood Pressure (normal) and my heart rate was good, there was no sign of the fear and terror I had suffered the night before.
I was prescribed Propranolol to take when I felt the Anxiety again.
Without doubt the Anxiety has been the worst of my Peri journey so far, I fear it has now turned into a Panic disorder as I worry each day about the next Panic attack coming, and I am acutely aware of my heart skipping a beat or fluttering which starts the thoughts and feelings of doom and gloom again.
(Believe it or not, even writing about this I can feel the fear rising again!) When I go to bed at night and feel my heart flutter suddenly (or BANG in my chest) I am wide awake again and fearful. I know in all likelihood that there is (probably) nothing seriously wrong with my heart, but my head doesn't always listen to the rational side of me!
I still need the medication a couple of times a day a least just to stop my heart racing and calm myself down. I never knew Anxiety and Panic disorders were part of the Menopause, or that Peri-menopause is peak time for these conditions to start (or get worse) in women (I don't know how true that is, I am just going on the articles I've read) but it is something that seems to have hit me the hardest, I expected Physical Changes, but never the mental ones which I now have most of the time and are impacting my life now.
As I said at the beginning, part of the reason I wrote this is because I NEVER ever thought any of this would happen to me and that the Menopause would be something that I'd just sail through with the help of HRT, and if hot flushes were the worst of it then how bad could it really be? - I know now how wrong I was in my thinking!!
Finding this Forum and searching all my symptoms I have been so relieved! :) I am not the only one who has these weird physical ailments, I am not the only one who has laid in bed at night waiting for the next irregular heartbeat! I am not the only one who thinks they are going mad or losing their mind (and their hair!) and I am not alone in finding Anxiety has taken over a large part of their life! And for all that I am eternally grateful! I felt so alone before this and for the most part, suffered in silence.
I hope to look back at this and update how my journey is going, and dare I say it I am looking forward to menopause if only to get some relief from the Peri side of it and finally be able to say things got better then! ;D
-
:thankyou:
I will read it later ......... any experiences shared have to be useful :foryou:
-
BUT... then the Anxiety started..
From someone who has always managed stress quite well (before the Peri started) I began suffering Anxiety, it was mild at first I would find myself worrying about little things, or getting irratable and agitated, but I just put it down to Hormonal changes through the month, but one night just after Lockdown had started due to Covid-19 my worries about Coronavirus (which were rational ones) seemed to trigger an almost irrational Anxiety in me, to the point where I thought I was going to die (and I am not exagerating that at all). I had a Panic attack which lasted almost 5 hours with the feelings coming on again as soon as I'd calmed down a bit.. It started as an irregular heartbeat and a slight 'fluttering' in my chest, like I'd had before and I worried about it, especially as I'd been referred to Cardiology - what if there was something seriously wrong with heart and I just didn't know it???. What If I needed hospital at this time when the Coronavirus was around? What If I caught it???!! Rational Thoughts soon turned into Irrational fear, then the Anxiety and Panic went off like a rocket! I was sweating profusely, I had to have a cold shower as I felt my blood was boiling, my heart was racing, my chest was tight, my heart and left breast were painful, I had a lump in my throat which felt like it was choking me and I couldn't breath properly. I was pacing up and down the garden at 4 in the morning as I couldn't sit still, I could only drink water, but then would rush to the toilet as I needed to wee all the time, my bowels churning meant I had diahorreah, I felt disassociated from everything and all I could do was cry to my daughter (who was the only one awake) that I was dying. I googled my symptoms (yes, I know.. not the best thing to do!) and it came up with the same things, Anxiety and Panic or Heart Attack! In my irrational state I thought it was the latter. Part of me though knew enough to keep telling myself it was a Panic attack and the 'fight or flight' response and even though it was one of the longest nights of my life slowly my symptoms got better, though I still remained anxious.
the next day I phoned my GP who got me into the surgery straight away just to make sure I was okay. I had an ECG (normal) Blood Pressure (normal) and my heart rate was good, there was no sign of the fear and terror I had suffered the night before.
I just wanted to say a massive thank-you for writing the fantastic post!! I relate to everything you have said.....and I could cry with relief that I am not going slightly crazy!
This anxiety account sums up my life at the moment.....and wanted to say you are not alone
Lisa xxx
-
You have been through it!
Panic attacks are awful. I had a therapist that told me that the body can't sustain a panic attack for more than 20 mins.. I walked out of the session, never to return. My longest lasted 2 days I shook so badly that our 4 poster bed. Moved :o.
4 me it starts in the gut with nausea, thighs go weak followed by calves then I'm curled up in a ball. Awful. The despair I feel I can't describe.
Browse round. Tnx for sharing.
HORMONES! I find that grazing helps rather than letting my body feel hungry.
-
Hi Corianne,
What a wonderful post, it is very informative, useful & written with a lot of compassion.
It reminds me of myself in some ways when I was starting off on the meno road to hell (12 years ago now). I'm 62 now & experienced a lot of what you did. Panic attacks, crying, etc. I hated not having any control over it, not having choices & not having any friends who understood. They seemed to be having a few hot flushes & that was it. >:(
If it hadn't been for this bloody brilliant forum & all the members on here (Poppyrose being one who was fantastic) I'd have been locked up.
It is a very hard time in a womans life. We have to carry on working, raising & supporting our families & friends. All whilst feeling absolutely awful. But we do it. It's hard, it's challenging but I am now a much stronger person than I was before the menopause. I am happier, more relaxed (well most of the time, bit stressed at the moment what with Coronavirus etc) ::)
You will get through it. Try not to be too hard on yourself - no one is perfect. Don't look too far ahead just take one day at a time. Be open with your family & close friends, tell them how you're feeling & ask them to be patient with you.
It's lovely to have you with us & I'm sure you will indeed come back & read your post & believe me it will inspire you & a lot of others.
Thanks again for posting.
Cazikins x :cat48:
-
I found years later when I opened up that many people had anxiety in varying degrees of severity.
-
I can relate to everything you have said, especially the mind games that the anxiety plays with you. You are not imagining it and definitely not alone. In a way it makes you anxious because you are anxious and sometimes I have to step back and think, ?yes this is happening but I am not causing it to happen.? I saw a CBT therapist who said that just because something feels bad, like anxiety, doesn't mean it is bad, it's those pesky hormones which will one day settle down.
-
Thank you so much to everyone who has replied :)
I haven't had a chance to read things properly as the kids have kept me busy, and unfortunately the Anxiety seems to have taken up permanent residence with me at the moment so I've been focusing on keeping that under control, but I will let you know how things are going, and reply as soon as I can xx
-
Hello corianne and welcome to the forum
I also wanted to congratulate you on your post and say that everything you are describing can be related to the menopause. Awesome buggers these hormones!
The lovely ladies of the forum are here to offer you support and advice so take heart and keep posting.
Wishing you well.
K.
-
Hi Corrianne!
What a journey, eh?! You described all so well that it took me back..
I am nearly 65 now, but I had what you are having and some more..
The thing that dealt well with my anxiety is Testosterone I am on now still.
Now, I don't know if one can get it while in Peri, but I know for sure that if I was given it much earlier I would avoid lots from that unpleasant stuff, so I'd call your doctor and ask.... perhaps?
Stay safe!
-
..and, I just remembeted..
Look into Progesterone that you are taking - side effects of it. In my case, it was producing flush-like surges of fear.
Also, since I am on lower dose of oestrogen I am calmer.
Generally, HRT is tricky at first. On one hand, one must find what suits her best, on other, switching from one to another can alone cause some of these unpleasant sensations. Like you, I was trying to detect some pattern, but there was none. Truth is, your body is changing, quite dramatically, and that is how this feels. HRT helps but does not make it go away. Synthetic hormones are very powerful drugs, they might change how you think and feel at times.
Life!
Best :-*
-
you are definitely not going crazy (from someone who thought they were going crazy too! ;))
I have read so much about menopause and Anxiety recently, (especially peri) and everything I read I could relate to, on one hand it made me feel better, and not so alone, but on the other hand when the Anxiety starts my body won't listen to my head, and I have to keep trying to remember that this will pass.
I *think* my Anxiety could be related to Provera - I still don't know for sure as I've only been on the Provera 3 months, but it does seem to coincide with the time my Anxiety started showing more severely.
I shall update things more as I go on, but you are not alone, and if I find anything that helps I will certainly pass it on.
Stay strong
xx
I n
BUT... then the Anxiety started..
From someone who has always managed stress quite well (before the Peri started) I began suffering Anxiety, it was mild at first I would find myself worrying about little things, or getting irratable and agitated, but I just put it down to Hormonal changes through the month, but one night just after Lockdown had started due to Covid-19 my worries about Coronavirus (which were rational ones) seemed to trigger an almost irrational Anxiety in me, to the point where I thought I was going to die (and I am not exagerating that at all). I had a Panic attack which lasted almost 5 hours with the feelings coming on again as soon as I'd calmed down a bit.. It started as an irregular heartbeat and a slight 'fluttering' in my chest, like I'd had before and I worried about it, especially as I'd been referred to Cardiology - what if there was something seriously wrong with heart and I just didn't know it???. What If I needed hospital at this time when the Coronavirus was around? What If I caught it???!! Rational Thoughts soon turned into Irrational fear, then the Anxiety and Panic went off like a rocket! I was sweating profusely, I had to have a cold shower as I felt my blood was boiling, my heart was racing, my chest was tight, my heart and left breast were painful, I had a lump in my throat which felt like it was choking me and I couldn't breath properly. I was pacing up and down the garden at 4 in the morning as I couldn't sit still, I could only drink water, but then would rush to the toilet as I needed to wee all the time, my bowels churning meant I had diahorreah, I felt disassociated from everything and all I could do was cry to my daughter (who was the only one awake) that I was dying. I googled my symptoms (yes, I know.. not the best thing to do!) and it came up with the same things, Anxiety and Panic or Heart Attack! In my irrational state I thought it was the latter. Part of me though knew enough to keep telling myself it was a Panic attack and the 'fight or flight' response and even though it was one of the longest nights of my life slowly my symptoms got better, though I still remained anxious.
the next day I phoned my GP who got me into the surgery straight away just to make sure I was okay. I had an ECG (normal) Blood Pressure (normal) and my heart rate was good, there was no sign of the fear and terror I had suffered the night before.
I just wanted to say a massive thank-you for writing the fantastic post!! I relate to everything you have said.....and I could cry with relief that I am not going slightly crazy!
This anxiety account sums up my life at the moment.....and wanted to say you are not alone
Lisa xxx
-
I think you could be right! :o
I never made the link as my GP said that they were similar to the HRT I had been on before, and coinciding with the Covid-19 outbreak I assumed that my Anxiety was a reaction to that. The last Anxiety I suffered (that was debilitating) was in 2016 when my son was seriously ill, so I understood the reason for that. But looking back this time it started around the time I started the Provera. I had forgotten one Panic Attack I'd had not long after I started the Provera, my OH reminded me as I drank for the first time in 20 years to try and calm myself.. so he said something must be wrong with me! ;D
After another Panic attack last night, and reading your post I am not going to take the Provera or patch for the next few days, just to see how things go, they are there if I need them, if things don't improve (or heaven forbid get worse!) but I don't think I can take more of the Panic attacks and Anxiety at this time. I just want my body to feel under my control again instead of in a state of permanent Anxiety..
Thank you so much for writing this
:) ..and, I just remembeted..
Look into Progesterone that you are taking - side effects of it. In my case, it was producing flush-like surges of fear.
Also, since I am on lower dose of oestrogen I am calmer.
Generally, HRT is tricky at first. On one hand, one must find what suits her best, on other, switching from one to another can alone cause some of these unpleasant sensations. Like you, I was trying to detect some pattern, but there was none. Truth is, your body is changing, quite dramatically, and that is how this feels. HRT helps but does not make it go away. Synthetic hormones are very powerful drugs, they might change how you think and feel at times.
Life!
Best :-*
-
Hi again!
Bad tolerance of progesterone is quite common. I went for Mirena coil eventually and it was the best option for me. Consider it, perhaps..? ..bit difficult now, with Covid, I know...
Keep safe! :-*
-
Thanks, much of what you said resonates with the bits that I'm experiencing. I'm convinced I've got adrenal fatigue following being ill but starting peri as well as I'm all over the place.
Had horrendous anxiety which now seems to have subsided this last 1.5 weeks. On day 11 of cycle and had awful migraine and jaw ache yesterday and last night was up at 3am needing to take an ibuprofen. Today I'm so drained emotionally and physically.
I'm trying to work and homeschool my 7yo daughter who is very very intense - but we've already had a huge tearful row as she's being really nasty to me (suspected Aspergers and struggles with emotions). Husband at work and all I want to do is have some time alone - as awful as it sounds I've been with my daughter almost continuously and she just doesn't allow me to properly recover from being ill. The current situation is exacerbating things and I'm sure making things harder for us all. :-( Sending strength.
-
I shouldn't laugh but 20 minutes - I wish!! ;D I really do wonder about 'Therapists' sometimes, If they suffered with it they would know how wrong they are.. :-\ I have had Anxiety and/or Panic attacks for most days now, It feels as though an alien has moved into my body and is slowly taking control of me.
Nausea - Yes! Weak thighs - Yes! (also weak legs they feel like Jelly!) and the bloody dizziness which won't go, I'll stop there as I sound like I'm ranting!
I am trying to come to terms with the changes, I accept they are going to happen, but it's how to deal with them that I am having problems with, I just don't know what to do for the best!
We Live and Learn!
Thank you
:)
xx
You have been through it!
Panic attacks are awful. I had a therapist that told me that the body can't sustain a panic attack for more than 20 mins.. I walked out of the session, never to return. My longest lasted 2 days I shook so badly that our 4 poster bed. Moved :o.
4 me it starts in the gut with nausea, thighs go weak followed by calves then I'm curled up in a ball. Awful. The despair I feel I can't describe.
Browse round. Tnx for sharing.
HORMONES! I find that grazing helps rather than letting my body feel hungry.
-
You are so right! :)
It's the lack of control, that I struggle with..the choices (I feel like I have none!) And I don't have many friends who are going through it (and those that are seem to be sailing through ) I have been very honest with people lately, because I have turned into someone even I have difficulty recognising sometimes.
This Forum gives me hope, when I am alone, late at night and the Anxiety won't let me sleep I come on here and find a thread that helps.
I still have problems believing that this will pass, it feels like something must be terribly wrong with me and my body is often at odds with my mind!
But I do live in hope,
Thank you
xx
Hi Corianne,
What a wonderful post, it is very informative, useful & written with a lot of compassion.
It reminds me of myself in some ways when I was starting off on the meno road to hell (12 years ago now). I'm 62 now & experienced a lot of what you did. Panic attacks, crying, etc. I hated not having any control over it, not having choices & not having any friends who understood. They seemed to be having a few hot flushes & that was it. >:(
If it hadn't been for this bloody brilliant forum & all the members on here (Poppyrose being one who was fantastic) I'd have been locked up.
It is a very hard time in a womans life. We have to carry on working, raising & supporting our families & friends. All whilst feeling absolutely awful. But we do it. It's hard, it's challenging but I am now a much stronger person than I was before the menopause. I am happier, more relaxed (well most of the time, bit stressed at the moment what with Coronavirus etc) ::)
You will get through it. Try not to be too hard on yourself - no one is perfect. Don't look too far ahead just take one day at a time. Be open with your family & close friends, tell them how you're feeling & ask them to be patient with you.
It's lovely to have you with us & I'm sure you will indeed come back & read your post & believe me it will inspire you & a lot of others.
Thanks again for posting.
Cazikins x :cat48:
-
Hi Tootsie,
It sounds so familiar - Migraines and Jaw ache are linked to stress and Anxiety. I have suffered from migraines for 20 years now, and I was waking up with them and jaw ache, caused by general stress and clenching/grinding my teeth when I was asleep (I was never aware of it during the night) my GP put me on a very small dose of Amitriptaline which relaxed me as I slept, this really does help and I rarely wake up with migraines and painful jaw now, so if it continues for you it might be worth seeing your GP they might just have something that can help you :)
Please don't be too hard on yourself, anyone with children home at this time deserves a medal (2 medals if you are home schooling them too!) and working too - I am not surprised you feel drained! I have a child with ASD so I know how difficult it can be, have you had any help from the school? It's really difficult to access any help until the child has been formally diagnosed, but I am sure if the school is aware they might have some advice with the homeschooling that might help you?
Going through the Peri menopause takes a huge toll on your mind and body, so please try to have some 'you' time whenever you can, and don't worry if you miss a day or two of homeschooling, do something fun, go for a walk, watch a film or just play, these times are hard enough and having to be a teacher on top of everything else, I honestly don't know how anyone manages it!
Take care, and let me know how you are doing
:)
xx
Thanks, much of what you said resonates with the bits that I'm experiencing. I'm convinced I've got adrenal fatigue following being ill but starting peri as well as I'm all over the place.
Had horrendous anxiety which now seems to have subsided this last 1.5 weeks. On day 11 of cycle and had awful migraine and jaw ache yesterday and last night was up at 3am needing to take an ibuprofen. Today I'm so drained emotionally and physically.
I'm trying to work and homeschool my 7yo daughter who is very very intense - but we've already had a huge tearful row as she's being really nasty to me (suspected Aspergers and struggles with emotions). Husband at work and all I want to do is have some time alone - as awful as it sounds I've been with my daughter almost continuously and she just doesn't allow me to properly recover from being ill. The current situation is exacerbating things and I'm sure making things harder for us all. :-( Sending strength.
-
Thank you :)
I have looked at Therapy (online for now due to Covid-19) and I am trying to not let my mind and body work against me or each other!, I know I'm not dying really, but then the little voice in my head says "but what if you are?????" which then starts it all off again ::) - It's a battle of wills at the moment, hormones have a LOT to answer for...
I can relate to everything you have said, especially the mind games that the anxiety plays with you. You are not imagining it and definitely not alone. In a way it makes you anxious because you are anxious and sometimes I have to step back and think, ?yes this is happening but I am not causing it to happen.? I saw a CBT therapist who said that just because something feels bad, like anxiety, doesn't mean it is bad, it's those pesky hormones which will one day settle down.
-
Your account could have been written by me! I had awful anxiety 3 years ago which is more manageable now. Although I'm nearly 54 I am still peri. Hormones have been awful the last 3 weeks since my period - my first in 2 months. Before this, my cycle reduced to every 18 days which was hell. Recently I had a tension headache which lasted 2 weeks resulting in me taking this week off to chill. My GP says it's hormones with general tension and anxiety from working from home (in HR - very challenging with COvid). I'm feeling dizzy and spaced out which worries me and challenges my health anxiety. I'm contemplating HRT following discsuion with my GP who is an ex gynaecologist but not sure. Sometimes I feel shakey in my stomach - hard to describe. I lose my temper at the smallest of things and am very emotional. I just want ?me? back. Oh and I get cold hands and feet - not had hot flushes yet. Just night sweats around monthly cycle.
-
Welcome to the MM forum Spanspan 1966
It's not easy is it? only you can decide if HRT is worth trying. For me it was.
I was in my early 50's & working full time as an admin manager in a manufacturing company that exported fertilizers all around the world - I loved it but needed something to help with the hot flushes, tearfulness & brain fog. It took several different types of HRT to try but after about 3 months I found one.
I'm now 62 & still on a low dose conti tablet. I survived & got through it & so will you.
Keep posting & asking questions we are all in it together & we will get through it.
Cazikins x
-
Hi Corianne and other lovely ladies
This is my first post here so I hope it do this correctly ;D
Thank you so much for taking the time to write your original post. I've been in perimenopause hell for the past year and was managing ok until February when I started to get lots of the symptoms you've described. Just before lockdown I saw my GP and she checked everything and said I was ok and prescribed Omeprazole for annoying throat mucus/throat clearing but it just seems to be a new symptom every day. Today is pre period where I feel like my bra is crushing my ribs (just the strangest feeling). I've over exercised in the garden over the last two months and put my sacroilliac joint out (according to the chiropracter on the phone) so I feel really sorry for myself and upset and annoyed that I can't get anything checked. I'm trying not to think about the Covid situation as my family and I are at home (but if I think about it the panic is ridiculous) but my health anxiety is in overdrive normally at Christmas when everything is closed so it's now in hyper overdrive in case I need to see a doctor and can't. I'm sure we will all come out the other side ok but I'd really underestimated the perimenopause symptoms. In the past I'd always said "oh I'll be fine with hot flushes" I won't need HRT. I didn't factor in the other symptoms ... muscle aches, flushes/chills, dry eyes, dry mouth, dry everything, anxiety, migraines, IBS flare ups, crumbs the list goes on! Anyway, it's lovely to find this forum and your post has made me feel less alone Corianne so thank you! x
-
Thank you so much for sharing. I'm 45 in 5 days and have some of your symptoms. I hope you can get on the correct hrt regime to help you. The fluttering heart I had that tonight!! I said to my husband my heart is racing. He just raised an eyebrow.
I got my mirena out today and have been given a sequential oral progesterone. See how that goes along with my estrogen. All the best with this peri, it's a right kick in the guts :-\
-
Try not to analyse it too much corianne. Nothing is wrong with your body - it's Mother Nature (bless her) doing what comes naturally. We can't do that much about it apart from take it each day at a time, accept it as being normal for a woman of this age & don't look for someone to blame (not sure if any of that makes sense ???).
It will pass eventually, not very soon but things will get better. Just try to think of it like this:
It isn't a life sentence it's something that is "unique" to woman & that makes us very, very special
Love Cazi x
I still have problems believing that this will pass, it feels like something must be terribly wrong with me and my body is often at odds with my mind!
But I do live in hope,
Thank you
xx
Cazikins x :cat48:
-
Corianne, I know this thread is almost a year ago but gosh it’s hit home for me :'( not sure you will even see this but curious as to how things are now as you post was so well written for all us peri women x
-
Corianne, I know this thread is almost a year ago but gosh it’s hit home for me :'( not sure you will even see this but curious as to how things are now as you post was so well written for all us peri women x
Hi Itwillpass - I am still here! :) I haven't been on the Forum for a while due to things over the past year (mainly having the kids home from school!)I came back to check something and found a message from a wonderful Forum member who mentioned about my post, so I thought I had better reply before the kids drag me off again... I'll do it as a separate post xx
-
A year later....
Most of the symptoms I had are under gone or under control and the Anxiety, which I think I feared the most - has almost gone :)
When the Anxiety Attack started I was on Provera and Estradot, and I am sure the Provera caused what I can only describe as a breakdown, mentally I couldn't cope and spent so much time lying in bed, I couldn't face anyone or do anything. Due to Covid I had to pay to see a Private Gynae who said that Provera contains a high dose of Progesterone and because it's taken orally only a small fraction of the dose reaches where it's needed (the Uterus) so it's not uncommon for women who are Progesterone intollerant to suffer extreme side effects on it.
I was then prescribed Estrogel and Utrogestan which certainly helped with the Anxiety side of things,
But I had to learn to accept the Anxiety was a common part of the Menopause, and believe that I wasn't going to die. I continued to use the Propanol when I needed them, they really did help - I tried other Anti depressants but didn't like the side effects, so stopped them. I did suffer some horrendous bleeding at this time which turned out to be Adenomyosis - which can be made worse by Estrogen, so I decided to stop the HRT completely to see where my body was naturally and stop the bleeding (which it did)
I think it was just a 'perfect storm' of the perimenopause and the problems that brings, Provera Intollerance and (maybe??) too much Estrogen at the time.
I am now sure I'm reaching menopause - my periods have become far more infrequent but my symptoms are also far less than what I was suffering a year ago, and I can manage them fairly easily now. I am on HRT but at a lower dose than I was first prescribed and my body seems to have levelled out if that makes sense? I still know I'm going through the menopause, I still get the odd reminder, but compared to where I was a year ago it's like night and day!
Reading through my original post I remembered exactly how I felt then and it was horrendous :-\ I honestly never thought I would get better. I never thought I would be writing the post I am now, so there is hope :)
I would just add that don't be afraid to contact your GP, and as many times as necessary - we tend to be given a prescription then left to it, or made to feel that it's 'just' the menopause and we should get on with it! But I know now that it is so much more than just a word - and how much we women can suffer from it!
xx
-
Hi Corianne
Thanks so much for posting your peri story. Many of your symptoms ring true with me. The peri/covid/home schooling combination is truly terrible for anxiety for me!
Thankfully my employer is fantastic at supporting women at work, and we have been provided with so much information and support. I've decided to go along the dietary route for now, and see how I go. I think just the thought of trying something out kind of helps keep my anxiety at bay.
I'm in contact with my GP too, and keeping a diary of symptoms.
Just hearing stories from others on the forum is reassuring. Thank you x
-
Hi Corianne
Thanks so much for posting your peri story. Many of your symptoms ring true with me. The peri/covid/home schooling combination is truly terrible for anxiety for me!
Thankfully my employer is fantastic at supporting women at work, and we have been provided with so much information and support. I've decided to go along the dietary route for now, and see how I go. I think just the thought of trying something out kind of helps keep my anxiety at bay.
I'm in contact with my GP too, and keeping a diary of symptoms.
Just hearing stories from others on the forum is reassuring. Thank you x
When I felt at my worst I think I lived on this Forum :) It was there in the middle of the night (and day) when I needed reassurance, an answer or just some hope! I didn't always post, but knowing I could search for something or find someone who had gone through what I felt only affected me, that was a godsend! I do hope things get better for you, it sounds like you have a wonderful employer which must help so much, I am self employed and my boss is a moody cow (I think she might be menopausal.. ::) ;D) xx
-
Corianne,
thank you so much for sharing your story, it has been exactly the same for me, awake in the middle of the night, racing heart, feeling panicky and disassociated from everything.
And extreme mood fluctuations. I am on HRT now and I really hope the anxiety will get better, I try to rationalize but cannot cope with it.
I would be very happy if my hair grew back too, I had thick luscious hair and now my hair looks limp and dull. That the hairdressers have been closed for ages does not help.
I knew menopause would come early for me, but I was not prepared for this.
I have got so much respect for all the women that have faced this and those who are going through this.
We truly are a force of nature.
Stay strong and hopeful!