Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Postmenopause => Topic started by: Northerngirl on February 03, 2025, 01:41:16 PM
-
Hi ladies, I could really do with your help/advice. I know this is a common topic during post menopause but the dryness is driving me insane at the minute. I've suffered a long time with dry eyes, dry scalp and vaginal dryness. But just lately my ears and mouth are so dry. My mouth is the main shock as I seemed to have avoided this one up until now.
As you may know I stopped HRT 14 months ago and haven't been too bad really but just lately it's been horrendous.
I don't really want to go back on HRT so any advice would be appreciated...especially regarding the ears and mouth.
Any suggestions ladies?
-
Well this is interesting. As oestrogen levels drop we know that the body may become dry: inside and out.
I've had an irritating clearing-throat type cough for years, my GP prescribed peppermint capsules [can't remember the name ::)]. Ear drops have helped that deep down: what we call 'spaniel ear' in this house ::)
I've had increasingly more belly boating until mid-November. We went away so I altered my breakfast menu from muesli with milk to white toast and butter. Within a week I noticed that the deep itchy ears had gone :o ......... don't think it's a co-incidence.
My bloated belly has improved too :o could I have had a lactose intolerance ? I am not prepared to go back to muesli to find out!
-
With severe and widespread symptoms of dryness it may be worth getting a blood test to exclude sjogrens and related conditions, for which specific treatment exists.
If it is simply down to loss of ovarian hormones then this would be the obvious fix, alternatively just using drops/emollients for each separate area/orifice is all you can do.
Another thing you could consider is dhea - I take this for androgen replacement and it has really helped replenish my skin's natural oils.
It converts to both estradiol and testosterone in the body, so postmenopausal women can gain estrogenic benefits as well.
-
Thank you ladies for your advice.....some things to think about.
Bombsh3ll is dhea a form of HRT? I'm trying not to go down that route again if I can help it xx
-
I can't remember whether U R using VA treatment Northergirl? Also a gentle scalp massage with baby oil, leave in a warm towel for 10 mins B4 rinsing may help, advised by my hairdresser several years ago. Then she retired ::). She also told me that the hair follicle becomes slower to put out the next hair as we age and not to wash the hair too often. Avoiding the hair dryer can help, I've always used a warm towel.
A gentle shampoo too, what's suitable for baby is suitable for me. ;) I swap products too. Rinsing with warmed water is soothing.
It was my insteps when I first went into peri, I would wake with one rough heel scratching the other foot! Also down my back would itch after my bath. Fortunately neither symptom lasted for many months.
-
Maybe talk to your GP about sjorgrens syndrome as this can cause excessive dryness
-
I can't remember whether U R using VA treatment Northergirl? Also a gentle scalp massage with baby oil, leave in a warm towel for 10 mins B4 rinsing may help, advised by my hairdresser several years ago. Then she retired ::). She also told me that the hair follicle becomes slower to put out the next hair as we age and not to wash the hair too often. Avoiding the hair dryer can help, I've always used a warm towel.
A gentle shampoo too, what's suitable for baby is suitable for me. ;) I swap products too. Rinsing with warmed water is soothing.
It was my insteps when I first went into peri, I would wake with one rough heel scratching the other foot! Also down my back would itch after my bath. Fortunately neither symptom lasted for many months.
Thanks CLKD some interesting points there....I've tried so many shampoos etc but never tried baby oil as you've suggested, might try that one. I don't use a hairdryer anymore but do wash my hair daily with sulphate free shampoos only.
I was prescribed ovestin over a year ago....I'd just started to use it and then I had all that mither with thickened womb lining etc so stopped using everything and never used it again. This menopause journey is a nightmare 🤦♀️
-
Maybe talk to your GP about sjorgrens syndrome as this can cause excessive dryness
Thanks Bungo....interesting that has been mentioned twice already. I put it down to menopause along with all the other many symptoms...but who knows 🤷♀️
-
DHEA is a prohormone, meaning it converts into active hormones in the body.
It is not classified as hormone therapy and is available without a prescription.
However it does increase the concentrations of active hormones estrogen and testosterone so if that would be problematic then it may not be for you.
I personally use it alongside oral estradiol (Zoely) to increase my testosterone levels which it has done nicely (clinical response and blood levels) however many people take DHEA alone.
-
There mayB - as there is in toothpaste - SLS - which might be drying. [sodium laurel sulphate]. It's the frothing agent. Used in toothpaste it makes my mouth burn with certain food stuffs: chocolate :o, bananas, butter ..........
-
DHEA is a prohormone, meaning it converts into active hormones in the body.
It is not classified as hormone therapy and is available without a prescription.
However it does increase the concentrations of active hormones estrogen and testosterone so if that would be problematic then it may not be for you.
I personally use it alongside oral estradiol (Zoely) to increase my testosterone levels which it has done nicely (clinical response and blood levels) however many people take DHEA alone.
Thanks for the information bombsh3ll.
I've googled sjorgrens syndrome and I don't think that I have many of those symptoms...obviously I'll keep it in mind . Thanks for the advice ladies x
-
There mayB - as there is in toothpaste - SLS - which might be drying. [sodium laurel sulphate]. It's the frothing agent. Used in toothpaste it makes my mouth burn with certain food stuffs: chocolate :o, bananas, butter ..........
Flippen heck I wish I was a teenager again....didn't even have a period pain.
My friends nanna used to say I'd suffer when I got older.....don't know how she knew but she was definitely correct 😂
The menopause nightmare continues!!!!
-
My periods were horrendous :'(. 10 days on, 10 off: excruciating pains, huge clots on movement, had to sleep on double bath towels with 2 pads and thick knickers. Even when taking The Pill >:(. Nausea ...... intense thirst.
DH uses Nivea on his legs, ears and my ears. I find 'vaseline' in the yellow bottle really soothing on legs ....... knees, elbows.
How often do you get your eyes tested? The Pharmacist may B able to recommend suitable eye drops.
-
My periods were horrendous :'(. 10 days on, 10 off: excruciating pains, huge clots on movement, had to sleep on double bath towels with 2 pads and thick knickers. Even when taking The Pill >:(. Nausea ...... intense thirst.
DH uses Nivea on his legs, ears and my ears. I find 'vaseline' in the yellow bottle really soothing on legs ....... knees, elbows.
How often do you get your eyes tested? The Pharmacist may B able to recommend suitable eye drops.
I have my eyes tested every 2 years as required. I use hycosan extra eye drops and the night gel ...they're really good. Apparently once you have dry eyes it's permanent, you can treat it but it never goes away.
I too use Nivea and Aveeno :)
-
I use aveeno shampoo
My dog had dry eyes: common in Cockers, Westies - it has a long medical name ::) which the Vets ran over their tongues without any problem at all. I treated the eyes with an expensive ointment which lasted about 4 weeks. Without applications her eyes may have dried up completely due to no tears .....
-
Northerngirl, thank you for your vocabulary 🤗. Nana and mither! My parents & grandparents were northerners and its lovely to hear those words again, I miss them!
Onto the topic: the only thing I am familiar with is the ears part. I'm presuming you mean inside the ear canal? I've had intense itching inside mine since I was little. Been to every GP and specialist but back then, and it's not as if it was the dark ages, no one ever seemed to know what is was. I've spent my life with either a finger of kirby grip or anything else down my ear to scratch!
Now we have a friend who has a hearing aid business and also does wax removal. She can't see anything visibly wrong but suggests using any type of natural moisturiser (I use the coconut oil I use on my bits) putting a little on a cotton bud and carefully getting it all round the inside, but obviously not deep. Then she said to use any type of local anaesthetic cream if it gets really bad, which it often does. She sees it a lot in people and if they're women she says menopause does make it get worse, I know mine has. So no permanent solution, just things to get relief. That's obviously providing you don't have condition suggested above. I also wonder if you were to treat your hair with a hair oil from time to time it might help your scalp? I've never read the ingredients so I guess if they contain any irritants, I do know a lady who uses olive oil once a week. Hope that might help a little.
PS: feel free to speak northern to me!! Do you know 'clemmed'?
-
Northerngirl, thank you for your vocabulary 🤗. Nana and mither! My parents & grandparents were northerners and its lovely to hear those words again, I miss them!
Onto the topic: the only thing I am familiar with is the ears part. I'm presuming you mean inside the ear canal? I've had intense itching inside mine since I was little. Been to every GP and specialist but back then, and it's not as if it was the dark ages, no one ever seemed to know what is was. I've spent my life with either a finger of kirby grip or anything else down my ear to scratch!
Now we have a friend who has a hearing aid business and also does wax removal. She can't see anything visibly wrong but suggests using any type of natural moisturiser (I use the coconut oil I use on my bits) putting a little on a cotton bud and carefully getting it all round the inside, but obviously not deep. Then she said to use any type of local anaesthetic cream if it gets really bad, which it often does. She sees it a lot in people and if they're women she says menopause does make it get worse, I know mine has. So no permanent solution, just things to get relief. That's obviously providing you don't have condition suggested above. I also wonder if you were to treat your hair with a hair oil from time to time it might help your scalp? I've never read the ingredients so I guess if they contain any irritants, I do know a lady who uses olive oil once a week. Hope that might help a little.
PS: feel free to speak northern to me!! Do you know 'clemmed'?
MrsMitch, thanks for the advice. I might try the coconut oil...I was always under the impression that you shouldn't put anything in your ears but I'll try it. It's not that they're itchy it's like earache in the right one sometimes. Out of interest which anaesthetic cream do you use??
This morning I've woke up with a really sore throat so think they're obviously connected...maybe caught something from darling grandson 😂.
Re the northern vocab ....I've not heard clemmed 🤷♀️I'm north eastern originally so might be from another part of the north.
It's funny you noticed nanna and mither cuz to me they're just everyday words 😂😂....lovely to hear from you 🥰
-
Morning. I get sudden, intense pains in the ears, enough to go OUCH! and then it's gone. >:(
Warmed olive oil for the ears? Long B4 olive oil was used at the table in the UK it was dropped into the ears/nose.
-
Ooh not experienced pain, that's a bit different. But yes, they do say never put anything bigger than your elbow in your ears! However, if I didn't I'd go crazy with the itch. You can put oil or cream in using the top of your finger if you'd prefer. I use Lidocain local anaesthetic available online. Or if you prefer you could try the olive oil they sell that in little spray bottles with a nozzle to fit in your ear. I can't remember the brand but they sell it in hearing aid shops, for wax. It's very thin so almost clear.
My parents were from Manchester so maybe slightly different words, but clemmed was my dad's favourite. He used to say he was 'right clemmed' when his mouth was dry and he needed a cup of tea 😆. Mum was always telling me to 'stop mithering' 😆 I'm going to try and think of some more. Lots of love ylto you 🥰
-
I believe we have a similar thread: mithering was used in the Fens: Trostle = threashold ; squit speaks for itself?
-
I tripped over the trostle back I the summer and my knee is still numb 😆😆 I like that one 😁
-
Thank you MrsMitch and CLKD for your advice....I will definitely be trying everything suggested.
Will have to search for this vocabulary thread and see what's there. Another word NITHERED ....do you know that one? Very apt atm....it means very cold 😊 xx
-
No I haven't head that one. How about donnies? That's hands 😆 and bowbees (I'm spelling it phonetically) is bed time. Jiggered is tired. Clacker is that little dangly bit at the back of your throat. TBH I think my dad just made up words for things half the time.
-
The olive oil spray is really good. Clears out any excess wax too. I think it's called Earol. I bought my last lot in Home Bargains so it was fairly cheap.
I'm loving all these northern words, I'm a northerner myself so feel right at home, or reet at wom. ;D
MrsMitch -- my kids always went bobies or bobos with their dody/dodo :D
-
So bobies is a word, not just one my dad made up SG! That's lovely. You don't hear those words anymore, it's such a shame. My nana was like Hilda Ogden with her 'murial', always mispronounced everything. It was hysterical!
Oh I do miss them all. Thanks for bringing back the memories, ladies.
-
"Earol" is recommended by our Audiologist.
-
Thanks for all the help ladies, I will definitely try Earol. I've literally just been home bargains so I'm annoyed right now I could have got it....hey ho next time I'll get it.
I've not heard bobies 🤷♀️
SundayGirl we would've said reet at yem 😂 you can see how the words get changed from area to area can't you 😊
-
Get it on line?
People didn't move far in the olden days so dialect was slow to evolve. My Mum and our Norfolk Pru Man spoke plain Norfolk which was a muddle to my ears ;D - which are treated every night with Nivea for dryness.
-
Amazon sell it.
-
Yep.
-
You could try cod liver oil capsules, or something similar?
I was reading that they lubricant very well.
Omega 3 is especially good, so they say. 🤷🏼♀️
-
Why not go the whole way and drink rose hip syrup as well :-X ;D reminds me of lining up at school ........ along with the cod liver oil on a spoon. :sick02:
-
Seabuckthorn capsules really good for dry eyes, quite expensive but worth it for me.
-
You could try cod liver oil capsules, or something similar?
I was reading that they lubricant very well.
Omega 3 is especially good, so they say. 🤷🏼♀️
Thanks jillydoll, I've been using omega 3 for years as advised by optician. Think they do ease things along with the hycosan eye drops but it's just a constant battle at the moment....I also use heated eye masks occasionally 😊...thanks again!!
-
Seabuckthorn capsules really good for dry eyes, quite expensive but worth it for me.
Thanks Jojo8765, I have tried these before in the past.....like you said they're very expensive to take long term aren't they. Didn't really see much improvement but I only used one boxes worth. Do they help with overall dryness or is it just eyes?
-
I would think that heated masks would dry the eyes :-\.
Mine often feel gritty.
-
I would think that heated masks would dry the eyes :-\.
Mine often feel gritty.
[/quote
CLKD the heat masks don't dry your eyes. The heat really helps loosen the ducts behind your eyelids and then you massage the eyelids afterwards.....I don't do it that often but it helps 😊
-
:thankyou:
-
Hi northerngirl, for me its just the dry eyes they help, sadly it doesnt help me with VA.
I use vagirux for that. Also have very dry mouth that can be so annoying especially during the night.
-
Jojo8765 - I have a bottle of water by the bed in the night.
-
Hi northerngirl, for me its just the dry eyes they help, sadly it doesnt help me with VA.
I use vagirux for that. Also have very dry mouth that can be so annoying especially during the night.
Hi Jojo8765, I'm exactly the same as you. I literally think my whole body is slowly drying out 🤦♀️. Thanks for your help
-
It may well be drying out as oestrogen levels drop. Inside and out >:(: legs, scalp, deep in the ears, eyes, vagina etc.. I won't go on though I could.