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[Asher]

Hi I’m new to this forum but not new to menopause, I’m 50 and have been going through this hell for 10 years now , been on hrt for 7 years at varying doses , it helps the night sweats but not a great deal more , what I struggle the most with is head pressure like a vague headache, heavy fuzzy feeling, and lightheaded hard to describe, almost like I’m drunk it comes in phases and can last months just horrible, debilitating and stops me enjoying anything.
Anybody else have similar and found anything to help ?
Had every test going all is normal, no dose of hrt makes a difference, actually thinking of just quitting hrt and see if that’s making it worse after 7 years I’m not really feeling any benefits.

[CLKD]

   my head feels fuzzy a lot and I don't take HRT.  Why did you begin HRT initially?

A drop in oestrogen may cause a feeling of light headedness. 

[Asher]

Hi CLKD, thank you so much for your reply, I guess I could have this annoying symptom without hrt it may not be side effects.
I initially started hrt due to an early menopause my gp referred me to a gynaecologist and he said due to my young age ( under 45 ) I was post menopause at age 43 ,hrt was vital for my wellbeing under the normal age of menopause he said I was at risk of osteoporosis, and should take hrt at least until the so called average age of menopause at 50/52 but he said I could stay on it forever if it suits.
My first symptoms were hot flushes and severe anxiety, but I’ve had a million other symptoms even on hrt , I know it’s not a cure all but thought I’d feel better than this .
This drunk feeling is just horrible ☹️
 

[CLKD]

I believe that some ladies use 'stugeron' from the GP to ease those woozy feelings . 

MayB list your symptoms, I am sure that many will be familiar to Forum members.  It mayB that you require a hike or a different regime.

[CrispyChick]

Hey, I think I share this same symptom.

I'd describe if as a woozy wooshing feeling in my head. It's horrible. Often I get motion sickness and a poisioned feeling. I'm still peri and I think it's the estrogen spikes for me.

But the woozy vile head feeling can be separate. It's horrid.

Sounds quite similar to what you describe.

That's interesting that you're post meno and on hrt. Maybe try reducing rather than stopping???

[Asher]

Thanks CLKD , will ask my GP about the sturgeon tablets.

Hi crispychick, thank you so much for your reply although I wish no one else had to suffer this symptom it is a comfort that someone else understands it , yes you describe it so much better than me it is a woozy whooshing type feeling and I can feel so sick at times with it, absolutely horrible, sometimes I just have to lie down.
I honestly thought being post meno my symptoms would calm down and the hrt would just give me a steady dose , but all my symptoms come in phases one calms down another comes back again, so sick of the rollercoaster, literally feel like I’m stuck in a perimenopause type state could this be the hrt causing it .
I think I’m going to reduce my dose and see what happens, thanks for your reply I feel less alone with this weird head symptom. X

[AngelaH]

I honestly thought being post meno my symptoms would calm down and the hrt would just give me a steady dose , but all my symptoms come in phases one calms down another comes back again, so sick of the rollercoaster, literally feel like I’m stuck in a perimenopause type state could this be the hrt causing it .

I thought the same, but in reality one symptom goes and another comes. I developed horrible nausea and fatigue during post meno and it happened after my hot flashes and night sweats stopped. Such a relief! I had my night sleep back. But I didn’t enjoy it for long, then nausea with fatigue came, I wasn’t able to get out of bed in the morning. Post meno is really full of surprises.

I wasn’t on HRT that time, so in my case it was definitely my body made the changes. You can always stop HRT to check if it causes the symptoms.

[Kathleen]

Hello Asher and welcome to the forum

I can't help you with your question but I understand how you are feeling.
My last period was in 2010 and I have been struggling with meno ever since. I tried to push through for three years but after six months of intense anxiety I decided to try HRT. Like you it has never really helped with all the symptoms and about a year ago a consultant said that I was definitely experiencing all the emotional and psychological symptoms of the menopause. Of course it's all very well him saying that but it doesn't really help my situation and he had no awareness of how debilitating this rollercoaster can be.

I weaned myself off all HRT a few years ago and the physical symptoms came back which just added to my problems.

I am currently on a low/medium dose of Sandrena gel and Utrogestan orally. I plan to stick with this for a while and hopefully my mood issues will sort themselves out.
It's a hard row to hoe and you have my sympathy.

Wishing you well.

K.

[Asher]

Hi Kathleen,

Thank you so much for your warm welcome , I’m comforted to know I’m not the only one who hasn’t had the success I’d hoped for on hrt , like you I also suffer with ongoing anxiety it’s not severe like when it first started but I’ve never really been free off anxiety it’s like a background thing always there sometimes worse sometimes not so much I do take an AD , I’m still suffering the headache pressure and spacey lightheaded feeling which eventually leads to heightened anxiety.
I made the decision to reduce my dose in hope it will maybe improve that symptom I’m 2 weeks into the reduced dose and not feeling any improvement yet , I know I need to give it longer, you are so right it’s a hard row to hoe .
Thank you for your kind reply , I hope you get some improvement on your low/medium dose I’m hoping the lower dose works for me .
Take care  and wishing you well.

[JoannFran]

Hi - I've had exactly this.  Not like a headache that you could take pain killers for but a horrible head sensation.  Like a fullness/wooziness and I often feel it behind my eye and in my ear.  Weirdly mine is always on the left side of my head.  I also sometimes feel a popping sensation in my head/behind my eyes (very hard to explain and dr looks at me like I've lost it).  I've been on HRT for 18 months but definitely had this before I was on it and it went for a while when I had a few months of feeling 'ok' last year.  It's come back recently along with a load of other symptoms and I'm trying to figure out if I need less or more estrogen (although I think it could be the drop in estrogen rather than the actual levels).  Anyway, sorry you are experiencing this and I haven't got any advice except to say that you're not alone. Keep up updated with how the reduction goes xxx

[Asher]

Thank you joannfran for your reply,
It’s definitely nice to know I’m not alone with the strange head symptoms.
These symptoms are very difficult to describe and put into words, menopause is a very long and difficult journey with so many weird symptoms think I’ve had every single one of them on and off hrt .
Wishing you well and hope you find the right balance on hrt to make you feel well and happy, here’s hoping all of us struggling find that happy place we long to be in .

[cltk1972]

Asher,

Are you still suffering with the head pressure?  I’ve had it since July of last year.  Mostly the pressure is on back of head and I always feel like I’m on a boat.  I also have sore earlobes and warm tingling at times in head behind my ears.  It’s hard to lay down on ears since they hurt and it makes my pressure worse.  Almost like a sleepy feeling in my head.  I’ve had Ct scans and MRI, and nothing.  It definitely makes me question is they’re missing something.  I also found out I have hashimotos in August so not wire of that can be a part of this, or even if the Metoprolol for bp could be.  All I know is it is driving my anxiety sky high.  It’s totally very debilitating.  Does any of this sound like what you’ve dealt with or are dealing with?

Well, I hope you're feeling some relief by now.

[Asher]

Dear cltk1972,

So sorry to hear you too are suffering this horrible symptom.
After writing this post back in may last year i eventually got some relief not sure how it eased I lowered my hrt , I also went on blood pressure meds as my bp was high and the doctor gave me a prescription for sturgeon tablets which helped a lot , but unfortunately since November I’ve had a return of the headaches, head pressure and lightheaded feeling and it feels worse than ever it’s been on and off but for the last 3 weeks has been daily and to add to the misery I’ve had zig zagging in my vision which I know is migraines, but never had them this frequent.
Saw my doctor on Tuesday and they think it’s migraines which I do get the classic ones with aura but they now think I may have vestibular migraines mixed with chronic tension headaches I’m not sure about that , I’m waiting on yet another CT scan and a referral to a neurologist.
My anxiety too is sky high again has the health anxiety has taken over all rational thinking and I’m convinced they are missing a brain tumour.
Funny you mention the warm earlobes and tingling in the head as I too have this, I noticed you mention taking bp meds I wonder if it’s something to do with that as I’m on meds for that too.
I wish I could tell you I’m cured and how I cured it sadly I’m still battling it.
Really hope you find some answers if you do please let me know .
Take care x

[CrispyChick]

I'm still battling it too.

You should both have a look at pppd - it's a continuous dizziness where nothing shows up on scans etc. Most common in females in their 40s.

It's a functional neurological disorder. And often people with it suffer with anxiety. Then one feeds the other...!

[Asher]

Hi crispy chick ,

Thank you for your reply and really helpful information I’m going to bring it up with my doctor I’m so sick of having this just when I think I’ve found some relief it’s back again.

Agree about the anxiety I’ve got it and it definitely feeds the symptoms and the symptoms feed the anxiety just round in a never ending loop 😞.

Sorry to hear you are battling it too , I hope you find some relief soon it’s just debilitating having this everyday x