Fat, Flushed and Fed Up

[Pominoz1]

I am 51. Last very light period in January this year. 2 stone overweight. Insane hot flushes every.single.day. Embarrasing 'brain fog' which is a handicap when applying for a job.
Finally went to the GP to ask about HRT which turns out may not be an option for me as my father had a heart condition, as did an uncle and my grandfather. My maternal grandmother died of a stroke.

Dr suggested a blood test to see if I had gone through the menopause. This came back as positive but also highlighted high levels of something with my liver. 2nd blood test requested which was a bit better but showed high levels of alcohol consumption. So no drinking at all, no HRT, no homeopathic menopause stuff ... NOTHING !!!!!!
I am sweating buckets every single night, I wake at 3 am for at least a couple of hours, insomnia big time, tired in the daytime.
Went for my smear today and jumped on the scales and couldn't believe it when I had not lost one single pound ... so I gave up drinking and still didn't lose weight.
The worst of it is that I drank about 2 glasses of wine on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening and have done for about the last 7 years which I never thought of as excessive.
I know there is nothing else to do but ride this out but I just wanted to vent to others who may just understand this.

The medical history of your relatives, generations back, is not a medical reason to withhold HRT if that is what your GP is saying ( or are you? Confused!) Heart disease or stroke in previous generations is not an issue. My maternal grandma died of a stroke and had a heart attack at 60. It's not relevant except all the research shows that HRT started within 10 years of menopause protects against heart disease. This is confirmed in all the statements of the International Menopause Society.

Are you saying your drinking has been picked up as an issue? Or do you feel it is? A liver function test can show high enzymes but it won't link it to alcohol- it's not that accurate. There can be all sorts of reasons for elevated levels. How do you know it's down to your drinking? You could have 'fatty liver' which exists in some people who are overweight but don't drink much.

I think you need to see another GP and get some proper support for all of this - a health MOT kind of thing.

The GP said because of family history she wouldn't be happy prescribing HRT. The first blood test was to determine if I had actually gone through the menopause. It did show raised enzymes but as I had been ill the previous week with a virus the Doctor thought it may be due to that but wanted a second test to make sure. The second test showed that the enzymes were down but that a particular test which shows damage due to alcohol was raised. She said no drinking and have another test in about 6 weeks. I went back for that test and have an appointment to see her in a couple of weeks. I will ask about the 'fatty liver' thing and see what else she can suggest for HRT treatments. Thanks for responding. I lived in Australia for 7 years and every time I went to see the GP there about peri-menopause symptoms I was always told that I couldn't have HRT until I had completed a year without a period. I started getting hot flushes at 39 so am really over all this by now :)

Try Boots Menopause tablets - the one where there's 2 tablets to take - 1 is a multivitamin, the other is herbal.

They work for me.

I have also started going swimming. I can't get too hot when I'm doing that. You have to push yourself so you're out of breath.

The sad thing about all of this is that your GP is utterly wrong. This is no great surprise because if you read this forum and Menopause Matters forum (run by the Chair of the British menopause society)you will see countless examples of GPs who don't have a blinking clue about HRT. Yours is just another.

My dr is one of the best in the UK-meno gynae- so I'm fairly sure he knows more than the average GP and I'm passing on what I've learned in 8 years of meno treatment from him. Your family history is irrelevant here.

WORSE though is the fact you have been without HRT for 12 years after you had a premature menopause. Please read the NICE guidelines o menopause ( all online) and see how HRT is medically advised for menopause before the age of 45 to protect the heart and bones. You are at greater risk of heart disease by being without estrogen all these years.if your GP doesn't know this she ought not to be practising. Does she know about your premature menopause?

I've calmed down a bit now :)
Just re-read your first post and you said you had a period quite recently so you weren't fully menopausal at 39, just in peri then.

Seriously, HRT used before the age of 60 is considered beneficial . THis is all on the Menopause Matters website under the HRT section. It's really terrible that you are suffering like this when your GP is not clued up. I'd find a different GP or challenge her on her idea that your dad's and uncle's heart disease is somehow relevant- I'd ask to see the guidelines in writing that show that. she won't be able to find any.

:) Polly Perky ... It's ok I will get this sorted out. I'll give the Dr the benefit of the doubt for the moment, I think she's focussing more on the liver results. I am abstaining from the old alcohol for the time being which is harder than it should be, so there's a clue right there. I will read the Menopause Matters form though and familiarise myself. I lived in Australia for 7 years and was told repeatedly that as I was in peri menopause there was nothing I could take so I kind of gave up and sweated it out .. literally.