Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[alibeau]

Morning!

Having briefly read a couple of posts on here it seems I could be a lot worse off, my best wishes to you all, however I am not feeling so great....

I am 45, started with irregular periods last year and also last June I experienced five weeks of severe hot flushes.  I made a doctors appointment but by the time it came around the flushes had gone.

They have returned again this month and are making me miserable, mainly because I can't sleep due to have anything between 2 and 10 flushes a night.  I am also suffering from headaches but don't know if these are due to hormones or tiredness.

Unfortunately I am the type of person that needs a good 8 hours sleep a night to feel good and so I am not feeling at all good about myself due to lack of sleep.  I just can't focus on anything other than getting through the day and then night.  If these flushes continue as they are I don't see I have any other option than to consider HRT.

I have tried a few supplements etc as well as the lady magnet but to no avail.

Given my only and main complaint is hot flushes can anyone give me any advice on my best options.  Last week I said to my husband that I really did't want to go on HRT but one week later I am an emotional wreck due to lack of sleep and can't think any further forward than getting through today...

Thanks in advance.

Ali x

[Dotty]

Go and speak to your GP about hrt. Don't carry on suffering .

[alibeau]

Thank you!

I have made an appointment - first available was in 3 weeks time.  This is fine as it will give me the opportunity to see if the flushes stop of their own accord as this is what happened last year.

I do have one question, when I speak to the Dr (regardless of where I am up to with my flushes) is there a 'favourite' HRT amongst members on here, perhaps one that tends to suit 'most people'.  Also any to avoid?  I would hate to have my appointment, come home and let you all know what he has prescribed only to find it might not be the best starting point?

Many thanks.

Ali x

PS I do feel better just for knowing i am not alone and that I have an appointment made :-) So Thank You!

[Dotty]

Femoston is a kind hrt. The progesterone in it is kinder than the progesterone in Elleste.

[Paloma]

Hi Ali from another newbie. I can't offer any advice on hrt as I'm also reluctant to go down that route but wanted to say that you're definitely not alone. I also struggle with less than 7/8 hours of sleep so can relate to how it makes you feel. Hopefully your appointment with the gp will be of benefit in the long run.

[Kathleen]

Hello alibeau and welcome to the forum.

Lack of restful sleep is a hard thing to endure so you have my sympathy ( btw both my husband and son were up until 3.30am watching the Superbowl and are consequently very tired and grumpy today and that's after just ONE night!).

Hopefully your GP can help you and in the meantime the lovely ladies of the forum will offer great advice.

Take care and keep posting.

K.

[Mary G]

alibeau, I know how you feel, I can't function without 8 hours sleep per night.

There are several popular types of HRT used by members, Oestrogel (you rub it on your skin) with a separate progesterone of your choice (usually Utrogestan) and Femoston as Dotty mentioned.  You are not yet post menopause so you will need to go on a cyclical regime meaning you will have regular periods. 

Have you ever had a Mirena coil and if so, how did you get on with it?  A lot of women use that for the progesterone part of HRT.  Do you know how well you do with progesterone i.e. the contraceptive pill?

Take a look at the HRT options on here and see if there is anything you like the look of and then come back and ask questions. 

[alibeau]

Thanks everyone, I really do appreciate your replies.

I have had a quick look around the forum but where will I find the best info on my HRT options - would it be 'HRT - good or bad?'  I am sleep deprived so forgive me if I have missed the obvious!!! 

I've never had a coil and haven't been on the pill since I was about 30......

My Mum who is 80 had a hysterectomy at 45 and was put on HRT.  She later developed breast cancer at around 65 (caught early and successfully treated but think this was put down to the HRT as we have no history of cancer in the family?) and also suffers with osteoporosis since she was in her late 60's.  She has looked after herself though and currently has calcium injections so it is being managed well at the moment.

I'm not sure if either of the above effect my options...

Thanks again.

Ali x

[CLKD]

Of course your Mum's BC would be put 'down to HRT' but unless it was properly examined etc., it could be guess work.  Things have come on in leaps and bounds and even those ladies with a relative who has had oestrogen dominant breast disease can take HRT if necessary.  Quality of Life should be considered 

Browse round.  Make notes. Some ladies find that keeping a mood/food/symptom diary is useful.

One could have a bone density scan as a starter to check on your bones.  Brisk walking 2/3 times a week as well as a balanced, good quality diet can stop osteoporosis.

[robotwars]

Click on the treatment tab at the top and have a read at all the different options

[Wendyshort]

I have been taking 300mg of magnesium daily and it has been a real help with my sleeping and with my anxiety.

[alibeau]

Thanks again all....

I had a much better nights sleep last night, only 3 hot flushes so I feel positively human today! Hurrah! 

My sage tablets arrived today so have started on those.  I am also seeing a lady who practices ‘Bowen therapy'. She is particularly interested in helping ‘hormonal ladies', my second session with her today so I'll see how that goes too....

Thanks again.

Ali x

[Bring me Sunshine]

Hi Ali

Good Luck with this journey.

it is a bit of trial and error till you find what works for you.  My mum died of breast cancer in her early 50s and I was always one of those who thought that hrt must be avoided at all costs.  That was until I started to read everything I could get my hands on when I started to feel ill last year with the menopause.  Reading, and this forum and the menopause specialists (Dr Currie £25 for advice----worth every penny) and lucky to be referred to an NHS menopause specialist in the area (had to insist though)  Sadly the GP wasnt great with menopause.

It has been a long journey but I am now well and I was suicidal last year.  Oestrogen saved my life.

I am currently on oestrogel which I rub in and the merina coil for progestorone xxx