Can anyone help with my thoughts on things please?

[Hidillyhoneighborinos]

I really hope this is not going to be too long, but want to give all the info, please bear with me!

Main points - I am aged 47, had hysterectomy at age 39 (so no ovaries since then) I was put on Evorel 50 oestrogen only patches and have been on them ever since. One thing I have been wondering about is how do you know what is the correct dose to be on? Is there a blood test or something? Is this dose high enough? too high?

Anyway, I have a whole host of symptoms, but to be honest, I think it all started before I had the ovaries removed so may not be hormone related. Briefly:

Constant hair loss, (for around 10 years) its all over loss, constant shedding, the pillow is covered in hairs in the morning and if I lay my head on a cushion, I have to roller the loose hairs off afterwards.

Debilitating fatigue, aches, always cold, balance problems, tingling, numbness, brain fog (been investigated for MS, lumbar puncture clear, diagnosed with fibromyalgia)

I do have vitamin b12 deficiency, treated with injections for the past 10 years. I had a vitamin D deficiency, I am on long term supplements.

All other bloods tests have always been normal.

I have spent the last few years really suffering with all these symptoms and as such, had to give up work a couple of years ago. So I just got wondering, if all this could be related to hormones, or lack of? grasps at straws

Sorry if I come across as ignorant, I just assumed once ovaries were gone, hormones replaced and I would be as good as new, but apparently not

[babayjane67]

Have u had yr thyroid checked?
I can't really be of much help I'm afraid but hopefully Pollyperky or someone will be able to in the meantime.

[PollyPerky]

The most obvious and likely explanation is your patches are too low a dose. Even women with ovaries use a higher dose than that at time.

Ask for a higher dose or change to oestrogen gel which you can increase yourself (dose is 1-4 pumps daily) till you see improvement.

All your symptoms scream oestrogen deficiency.

[PollyPerky]

ps Also agree with baby that you need a thyroid test- feeling cold, hair loss and tiredness are symptoms. Have you had a google of symptoms of low thyroid?

[Hidillyhoneighborinos]

hi, thanks for the thoughts.

Yes, I have had my thyroid tested but not for about 4 years. They only test for TSH and it was 0.89. (REF 0.30-6.00) GP told me that they will not do any other tests unless TSH is out of range which it wasnt.

I meant to add that my boobs are tender sometimes so I just assumed the oestrogen I was on was maybe too high a dose?

I was considering going back to GP about it all as I have been having some episodes of sweating/hot sweats, mostly in the mornings (all other times I am freezing, even with the fire on, central heating on and a thick jumper) and I have absolutely no energy, sometimes it is a struggle just to walk upstairs and I look really ill, I am so pale with huge shadows/dark circles under my eyes, even when I have put make-up on, I will catch a glance of myself in the mirror and I am shocked how bad I look!

[babayjane67]

When u walk upstairs does yr heart feel like it's gonna beat out of yr chest?if so then u could be anaemic.I had this every time I walked upstairs but didn't realise until I was diagnosed that it was a symptom.
I was really tired,not a lot of energy&about 6 weeks into my recovery from hyst.also I've since read that excessive hair loss& some other things u describe can also be due to severe anaemia.so yes definitely worth a visit to yr gp either way.

[HealthySally]

Hi, I agree sounds very like low oestrogen. Have you thought about looking at your diet? PM me if you'd like to chat more