Hi. Hoping for some help please. I'm 51 and not sure how long I've been in the menopause ( I had a partial hysterectomy at 40 so no periods since then) I noticed I felt strange about 12 months ago but still didn't link it to anything I just seriously thought I was dying. ive diagnosed myself with everything and honestly didn't think I would see the year out. I've had a skin cancer scare and a breast cancer scare, I've thought I've got blood clots as I've had pains in my leg I've been to A&E thinking I was having a heart attack. I don't really have hot flushes but I get hot, I go to bed on a night and my heart is racing. My son is in the police and I can't sleep until I know he is home from a shift I'm convinced the worst is going to happen to him (I dont tell him this!) I have constant nausea and a churning feeling in my stomach. I have been back and forth to the docs and have numerous tests with nothing coming back so the last time I went he said he wanted to put me on anti anxiety medication. I really didn't want to go on them but he said he wanted me to try them. I did and felt worse so I came off them after a few days. I have friends on HRT who are doing really well but my doc didn't want to put me on them due to cancer risks but now I've read they help protect you against heart disease as anxiety puts a strain on your heart so I'm convinced I'm going to get that! I started taking before Xmas, zinc, magnesium, 369 cod liver oil tablets and menopace max. This really seemed to help for a few weeks but over Xmas I've felt the palpitations and nausea coming back. I just wondered if anyone else had found any herbal medications that work? If you've read to the end of this then well done! Just needed to get it all off my chest. Thankyou.
Hi Tracey B
Sorry to hear about all your menopausal symptoms.
When you said you've been back and forth to the docs with numerous tests - did they test your hormone levels ie FSH or estradiol? Although blood tests are not a reliable indicator, and cyclical changes + symptoms + age are the best way to tell if you are peri-menopausal - in your case you do not have periods so a blood test could help. However due to your age surely peri-menopause is likely? The fact that you are starting to get hot is the first sign - this is what many of us feel to begin with before the full blown flushes and sweats develop later.
Thing is in your position you don't need to take a progestogen and it is this aspect of HRT that has the biggest question mark over breast cancer risk anyway, although some breast cancers that occur will grow quicker in the presence of oestrogen even if not caused by it.
Because of this, if no medical contra-indication personal to you - that prevents you taking hRT - then it's a no-brainer as you don't need the progestogen which causes the most problems for many of us.
Personally I would ditch most of the supplements - make sure you have an excellent and varied diet with lots of fresh ingredients and few processed foods and sugary or refined carbs - and start a low dose HRT. Vit D is very important do you might need to supplement this but the cod liver oil will probably be enough! Make sure you get plenty of exercise and keep your weight in a healthy range - and you will be helping yourself through this stage and onwards.
Your doc is wrong to let his outdated personal prejudices re HRT determine what he prescribes and dish out anti-anxiety meds which are against NICE Guidelines as the first line treatment for menopausal symptoms.
In your position I would ask for a medium dose patch (some of these are in short supply at the moment but it's possible to get some) - say 50 mcg and take it from there. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Also - maybe go to a different doc in the practice but ideally educate this out of date one - it is your right to have HRT for your symptoms if you want it!
By the way I took Black Cohosh and went on a phtyooestrogen diet in early peri and intermittently - i thought it worked but actually it was my own hormones coming and going as my periods came and went and oestrogen levels rose and fell. Once I got to late peri it was downhill all the way and permanent flushes and sweats. I have (pretty much) never looked back (12 years later!) since startng HRT.
Good luck with the doc and let us know the outcome
Hurdity x
