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[Suzziep]

Hi Everyone
First post,however I have been using the forum for advice for about a year.Im 55 and postmenopause.After 7 years of absolute hell I finally got the opportunity to try hrt.My story is very similar to a lot of the ladies on here,failing health allsorts of weird and wonderfull problems and a GP who wouldn't consider it may be hormones,apparently I was too young and my hair was too shiny[I kid you not] it was actually pure white and dyed.I wont go into my list of health problems nor the list of stupid and insulting things said during those 7 years,it still makes me very angry.I eventually changed my GP ,I then had a bleed after 2yrs clear and finally got to see someone who new what they were talking about the bleed turned out to be nothing significant and I got my hrt.I am on Kliofem 2mg/1mg and vagifem,my life was transformed with most of my problems easing of within 2 weeks,my biggest problem was debilitating hip,leg and foot pain to the point I could barely walk this too disappeared after a couple of months.I have been sailing along merely for 14 mths with only slight aches and pains until about a mth ago,i hav noticed a few night sweats and my hip,leg pain is returning quite badly.from reading other posts I wonder have I stopped absorbing my hrt properly.If anyone has experienced this I wonder may it just be a blip for some reason and it may kick in again ie worth giving it a little while?
I have also discovered a private meno specialist not far from me and I wonder if other forum members have found this worthwhile as I may consider it an option rather  than going directly to my gp.Sorry about the lengthy post.

[CLKD]

Oh that's not lengthy at all    ......... as oestrogen levels drop off muscles may become lax = aches and pains.

As you have found GPs don't know much about menopause.  Many have found that taking a list of symptoms to a private menopause specialist: not a Gynea: is useful to go privately as the Specialist can then advise the GP as to which regime to try.

Some ladies find that keeping a mood/symptom/food diary of use.  To chart progress.  Keeping hydrated, having a good diet and regular exercise can be helpful.  Some find that some food stuffs become difficult to digest etc., reflux can be another problem due to a lack of oestrogen.

Your HRT may require a hike.  Maybe ring the local Clinic and see what the waiting list might be?  Let us know how you get on.

[Hurdity]

Hi SuzzieP

 

Sorry to hear about your peri-menopausal woes and problems since. Glad that overall you have improved taking HRT. It may well be that your oestrogen levels have now dropped further – they decline quite dramatically for the first two years following menopause, causing your symptoms to reappear.

So – firstly have you had the joint pains checked out just to make sure there is no other cause, and have you had overall blood tests eg thyroid function etc? Secondly what is your diet and exercise regime like and your weight. If you are overweight (above healthy BMI range) then this will cause extra pressure on your joints. Paradoxically sometimes increasing exercise (gently at first) can help with joint pains ( it did with me when it first started to appear in my 50's, as well as I presume, HRT). A good diet full of fresh ingredients with low sugar or refined carbs and lower fats – can help to keep you healthy and to make sure you're not vitamin deficient. Vit D can be a problem at this time of year if your diet is not rich in it.  You probably know this already!

If you have any problems with digestion or have had changes recently – then this can affect how much oestrogen you are absorbing from the tablet, so it might be down to that rather than your own oestrogen levels falling?

Unfortunately there is not a higher dose tablet so you might find absorption is better if you use a transdermal HRT - so there are patches or gel to choose from ( unfortunately combi HRT patches are unavailable at the moment), and you would need to take a separate progestogen or have a Mirena coil fitted. You do not need to go to a private menopause specialist to get these products – read up as much as you can on the main website (menus above) and everything is available from your GP. As you suggested – maybe give it a another month or so and see if the discomfort and sweats settle but if not don't hesitate to go back to your GP with your suggested changes, if any.

All the best and let us know what you decide and how you get on

Hurdity x

[Suzziep]

Hi,CLKD and Hurdity thank you so much for your replies yesterday i couldnt get back on re connection problems.CLKD i have started my diary which is a brillant idea and you mentioned reflux,oh yes i had all that prior to starting hrt,it has now magically disappeared thank goodness.
Hurdity,yes joint pains checked just normal wear and tear,blood tests done nothing out of the ordinary.Diet is pretty good,tweaked it and lost 1 and half stone since starting hrt so im now well within healthy BMI range.Exercise im not too bad no sports/classes etc but 2 good brisk dog walks daily and a lot of gardening.I do however smoke and love my chocolate lol.As mentioned earlier i had terrible digestion problems prior to hrt but everything settled almost immediately.
I think i might give it another mth and see what happens particularly since things had been going so well.Obviously changing is going to mean getting settled on a totaly different regime and the problems that can bring.I notice from your posts though Hurdity that you are a strong advocate of patches/gel etc as a safer option so if i have to go that route it may well be for the best.I am just fed up with all the hassle off it.My hormones have never been normal,i was prescribed Dianette CP for severe skin problems at 19 and was on that continuous until age 46 which i now read really wasnt agood idea,i often wonder could that have contributed to my severe meno symptoms,who knows.anyway onwards and upwards.Thank you both once again for your welcome and advice.I will let you know WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.now that is a long post with just the one finger lol
Suzziep xx

[CLKD]

Oh a whole finger  .........

Browse round.  Make notes ;-)