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[CS24]

Thanks Peana

I am just struggling with why I have this? 10 weeks ago I was fine and then all of a sudden I am not and I can’t eat all the foods I use to love. They increased my HRT quite high but before this I was fine. They have lowered my oestrogen levels but I am still stuck with this. I need the antihistamine to help me otherwise I am still not able to sleep through solidly. Just feel so alone and Fed up by all this. I just want to be like I was several weeks ago.

[CLKD]

So go back to the dose that U were taking in August, stabilise then C whether your body feels differently? 

[CS24]

Thanks. I have only in the last two weeks but I am not sure how long it’ll take to balance out. I suspect I had some minor issues with histamine but I feel like in just 10 weeks since my oestrogen jumped from 170 to 780 is when my insomnia kicked in.

I guess what I am not clear on is if this is longterm or once my hormones balance out whether life will go back to normal and I can go back to eating normal foods. I have been perimenopausal for 7 years so it’s odd that it’s now sky rocketed. I also have discomfort pain in my area of my ovaries.

I am having to take antihistamine to sleep as well as diet.

[Peana]

I'm sorry I don't really have answers for you.  Hopefully it's a 'flare up' and given time things will settle down again.  I've been watching my histamine for about 4 months now, but in the last 2 weeks I've only needed to use my antihistamines at night once.  Everyone responds differently, but you're doing the right things to get everything to calm down. I really hope you find your sleep and health improving soon.

[CLKD]

Morning. Is any1 able to tell me why histamine becomes a problem in peri-menopause? 

[CS24]

Hi Peana,

When things were at their worst for you and you were told to take antihistamine did they always work for you?

The night before last I slept through completely but last night I only slept until 4pm and after that could not go back to sleep.

Should the antihistamine not always work?

Thanks
Charlotte

[CLKD]

Some anti-histamines are non drowsy.

[CS24]

The ones I am taking are suppose to be

[CLKD]

 

Many years ago I used 'Kwells' an anti-travel sickness drug which worked well: taken for 2 nights when necessary meant that I had good quality sleep and returned to a better sleep pattern. 

Morning. Is any1 able to tell me why histamine becomes a problem in peri-menopause?

[Peana]

morning ladies, sorry I've been off radar having tripped in the garden and giving myself concussion!  All good now though.

I'm no expert, but histamine production is affected by estrogen (which is why I also had problems at puberty).  When I first started on HRT I was so relieved that so many symptoms were alleviated that I didn't pay so much attention to what else was happening - I only had the realisation that histamine was affecting me again once I'd got everything else under control.

I was taking 2 piriton every night - my GP wasn't thrilled, but said that if I really needed them she was happy for me to continue.  However, now I've moderated my diet I've been able to come off them.  I've been waking early (around 5 -6 am), but alert and ready to face the world (previously my husband was literally having to drag me out of bed at 0830).  I use the time to meditate, do my duolingo, exercise, see the sun rise, etc..  I'm starting to feel like one of those productivity gurus who say you can conquer the world by getting a headstart on your day!! 

I remember all too well how awful it is to wake at 4 when you know you're going to be shattered by the time morning comes.  For me, my anxiety was terrible at the time, and I think it was a cortisol rush (or something like that) that had me awake despite being exhausted.  If I could, I would play a yoga nidra on my phone so even if I didn't fall asleep again I would feel I was getting rest (rather than lie there thinking about how much I wanted to rest).  The app 'insight timer' has some free sleep nidras, but there are lots of other resources online.  CBT also helped me - I think there is even now a very effective CBT tool specifically for insomnia - if your GP hasn't mentioned it, maybe take a look online.  I also found Tapping really helped me calm my anxiety, maybe that would help you too?  Again, there is free stuff online (maybe also check out the proper name for it , EFT, Emotional Freedom Technique).

I'm so sorry that you're suffering like this, but I'm starting to come out the other side, and it's amazing to feel well and normal. 

[CeCe]

Hi CS24,

I have quite a lot to say about the Newson Clinic and histamine intolerance. They diagnosed me with it too and I went through all the issues you have described re what to eat, what not to eat, what did I inadvertently eat on any particular day that made me feel so ill etc etc. it was hell. Turned out I didn’t have a histamine intolerance at all. There are tests you can do (Dutch tests?), or you can take the wisdom of your GP who quizzed me on whether I suffered with hay-fever, excema, skin allergies throughout my life and then told me to stop. My perimenopausal body just wasn’t ready for HRT. I stopped using oestrogen and continued very happily (relatively) throughout the perimenopause on progesterone only, with zero histamine issues. I knew when I hit the actual menopause because the night sweats, hot flushes, migraines were unbearable and then I went back on a 50mcg patch and life is good again. No histamine issues, no dietary changes required.

When your estrogen levels rise, you release more of your own histamine. Histamine then stimulates your ovaries to release more estrogen - setting off a vicious cycle. Adding high levels of oestrogen to your own oestrogen levels will create the issues you are having.

What menopausal symptoms were you hoping to relieve with HRT?

I hope by reducing your oestrogen intake the histamine problems subside. Good luck.

[Kathleen]

Hello CS24

Your  post has reminded me of a similar experience I had with Newson Health.

 I was prescribed a high dose of Oestrogen ( six pumps) and a very low dose of Progesterone ( one 100 mg Utrogestan capsule to be used vaginally every other night).  On this regime I felt normal some of the time but very wobbly and tearful at other times. I honestly can't remember the details but I was told that histamine might be an issue and I could try adding an anti histamine medication.  I didn't have any blood tests to look for histamine intolerance and I wasn't given any advice on my diet.  The Newson Health doctor told me to take an anti histamine medication but I didn't do this and I didn't overhaul my diet either.

I am now back with my GP surgery and using one 50 mg Sandrena gel sachet and one 100mg Utrogestan capsule orally every night.

I am very post meno and still not right,  my sleep is okay but I usually wake feeling tired and on edge and emotionally unstable.

 I have no idea if histamine is a problem but I eat a wide range of foods, some of which are high histamine and others low. I can't help thinking that in a meal the histamine effects may balance themselves out, for example a home made tomato sauce may include onions meaning high and low histamine foods would be consumed at the same time.
 
I assume that at 47 you are peri menopausal so your ovaries may well be responding to extra oestrogen, in my case this wasn't a factor as I was three years post meno before I began using HRT.

It may be worth adding in known low histamine and histamine blocking foods into your diet rather than excluding all manner of foods that are good for you? For example I understand that vitamin C helps to regulate histamine and all fruit and veg contain vitamin C.

As  you can tell I am no expert and other ladies may be along with much better information but I wanted to relate my experience of Newson Health and their advice on histamine intolerance.

Wishing you well and take care.

K.

[CS24]

Hi all,

Thanks for your message’s especially experience of the newson clinic.

I am ended up speaking to a specialist out of the US on histamine intolerance. He thinks it’s down to the spike in oestrogen causing a histamine intolerance. So I have reduce the oestrogen from a 100 patch & 6 pumps to just the 100 patch. I am also on testosterone and progesterone (100mg). He asked me to reduce my oestrogen to the dosage I was on for 2 years prior to the increase in dose and to not change it. After I started to have an impact on my sleep my HRT dosage was changed nearly 10 times and he things the body needs to be in balance. I am on a low histamine diet, anti histamine, active charcoal and something called DIM for a period of time but the intent is slowly take me off it all and strengthen my liver.

Kathleen - maybe try removing some of the big offenders of histamine intolerance and see if that helps a little.

I am not sure if it is histamine intolerance as I’ve not had any rashes or hives or allergies. But I am testing it out.

My GP thinks it is the spike in oestrogen and the constant change in dose.

Either way I am testing both out. Next week I am slowing reducing the antihistamine and will see what happens.

In a few months they will reassess my HRT dose. It’s a pity as on the higher HRT dose my anxiety disappeared.

I am not sure if a passed the menopause as I am sure I hit perimenopause early but I do have a period or bleed every month on the HRT.

I am so annoyed with newson as I didn’t have any of this before I went to see them.

Trying to be hopeful it sorts itself out.

[CS24]

Cece, what were your symptoms? Was it sleep problems like me?

I reduced from 100 patch & 6 pumps of oestrogen to just the 100 patch as I was on it for 2 years with no problems. I want to keep in this as my oestrogen levels on my blood test were low circa 180 on this dose so I don’t really want to go lower.