This tiredness is bloody awful!!!

[chickensaresafehere]

Started with hot flushes last year.GP prescribed gabapentin,after taking it for just over a week I started getting crushing tiredness & constipation,although hot flushes were better,I assumed these were side effects but weighed it up & decided I would prefer the hot flushes,so stopped taking it & made another appointment with the GP.
Since then I had terrible PMT for nearly 2 weeks,after missing last months period.
Explained all this to the GP,she advised that I either give the gabapentin another try or she could give me some SSRI's (like citalopram).I told her I wouldn't be prepared to try these as I had taken them before for depression ( I don't suffer with it anymore after CBT) & I hated the side effects & the way they made me feel.She said that was fine & my choice.
So I agreed to give the gabapentin another try before we go down the hrt route.
But the tiredness is just awful & the total lack of libido.I am 45 & surprised to get these symptoms so early on.
I am aware of the risks of hrt,but have read reports that a low dose early on in the menopause is better than a higher dose after.
Have any of you suffered from such tiredness during the menopause & leading up to it & which medical route have you decided to go down & has it helped?

You need to find another GP.
What yours has prescribed goes against all medical advice including NICE menopause guidelines.

NICE has made it VERY clear to GPs that ADs should not be prescribed for menopause unless a woman is depressed (or has a history of breast cancer when ADs become one option.)

Here Do not routinely offer selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) or clonidine as first-line treatment for vasomotor symptoms alone.

Moreover, you are only 45 so you ought - routinely- to be given HRT to protect your bones and heart, up to the age of 52 (average age of menopause.) at least after which you can chose what to do.

The risks of HRT do not apply to women your age - only once we get to 50+ and even then they are tiny risks.

Clearly your GP doesn't know anything about treating menopause or is being a dinosaur and avoiding HRT at all costs, so you either need to educate them by showing them the NICE guidelines and advice for women having an early menopause, or find someone who knows what they are doing!

I can sympathise but can't advise sorry. I've not taken anything I am 51 and perimenopausal. I haven't had a period since August and been tired for years if I don't wake up with a hot flush, I'm thirsty, I need a wee and have an over active mind.
I also feel quite emotional from time to time and worry I'm
Not a good enough mum, wife, daughter etc. I have also lost interest in sex I am not too bad if I ever get going it's more it takes a lot to get me going.
I did mention most of this to a medical practitioner yesterday when seeing her about something else (you can never get to see a GP in my practice). She just side stepped:dismissed it and said yes it's probably your age.

Just a little p.s- the dose you need during peri is the dose that controls your symptoms. Not sure where you read low dose early= safer etc.

The guidelines are that women starting HRT over 60 start on a low dose to reduce the risks of strokes,( 0.5 to 1mg) but the dose for younger women is whatever they need- so that might be 1mg or 2 mg oestrogen.

Bright you need to decide what you want to do. If you want to use HRT then find a GP who is happy to work with you on this, or find a private gynaecologist who will prescribe. There is no need to put up with feeling as you do.

Pollyperky don't live in a central location so it would be GP but trying to get to see one at all is bloody hard work. It seems to be nurse practitioner for anything not immediately life threatening or Ambulance hospital if a heart attck. Goodness knows where the GP's are hiding up here let alone seeing the same one twice or finding out what they specialise in. Don't know if I am being a martyr or trying to avoid health risks I'm over weight unsure if could I take HRT or is it bit like the pill? Wouldn't mind discussing my options with a sympathetic GP but think they are all in hiding.

Surely your surgery offers GP appts- even if you have to book a couple of weeks in advance?

I don't know your location but there are also NHS menopause clinics.
This might throw up some options www.menopausematters.co.uk/clinicfinder.php

Or there may be a private hospital near you where you can self refer to a gynae who has an interest in menopause?

Being overweight is a risk factor greater than HRT for breast cancer, so presumably you are / will try to lose a bit? Being overweight is not a reason not to use HRT but being overweight does make peri menopause more difficult all round and can increase symptoms.

Wow! Thank you Polly for all that information.I have printed off the NICE guidelines on menopause & will take it to my next GP appointment.
I am really glad now that I refused the citalopram,I could have quite easilt taken her advice,not knowing about the guidelines.
I will go to my next appointment a lot more informed & sure of what I want.
Thanks again.

This sounds so like me. 44. Exhausted. Feeling low. No interest is doing anything. It takes me forever to do house work and it feels like I'm on a 'go slow' mode all the time. Headaches, fuzzy head. I've been on HRT for around 6 months now (Prempak). Also have occasional anxiety issues. I've tried excersice and change of diet. But it's hard to put these things into everyday life when you're struggling with the basics of running a house and family.

Just a thought and might not be related at all but some of your symtoms were like me, ive got hypothyroidism. Taken years of changing meds to feel almost normal. Might be worth getting it checked.

Hypothyroidism?....thanks for the info.
Today is a 10 when it comes to my tiredness rating. House is a absolute bomb site and due 4 kids for dinner, showers, washing clothes, more feeding!
How do you organised mothers do it? I'm in aw.

www.btf-thyroid.org/information/your-thyroid-gland

There is a good symptom checker on here

I am peri menopausal, 51,havebt ha da period for a few months. I drink lots of water, have given up alcohol and get plenty of sleep. I also spend as much time as possible outside. Sounds a bit woo but I feel loads better. Not so tired, no hot flushes. Still no libido and weight gain, emotional and grumpy however!!

The consultant told me that under 50 (I was 40 at the time) the risks of not having HRT were greater than from having it. Never in a million years did I think I would take it, but I just couldnt continue normal life with crushing fatigue arriving at any moment. After a few months, HRT helped, but it wasnt strong enough to control my own severely fluctuating hormone levels. I eventually moved to a new low dose contraceptive with bio identical estrogen which really helped as it over rode my own crazy hormones (took several months to kick in though).

Someone recommended the website Menopause Matters to me - it's a fantastic resource. Worth taking a look.

I didn’t like HRT at all, I was on Prempak C for approximately a year, stopped it about 3 weeks ago, feeling a bit better already.
I'm absolutely exhausted even though I get plenty of sleep – Falling asleep at my desk in work daily, thankfully no one has caught me yet !
I drink lots of water and get plenty of exercise – Walk twice a day with the dog.
No libido, sadly I’m not really worried about this… He is !
Weight Gain – Probably due to menopause, giving up smoking and change of job so not too worried about this.
I feel like I just want to just spend my time alone 90% of the time as I am so grumpy and irritable with everyone, speaking my mind and upsetting others. Can’t seem to hold back spiteful words.
I've got to wait another 2 weeks for a Dr's appointment since my blood tests have just come back as normal. Not really sure what else to do except "Quitting my job and becoming a recluse is beginning to sound very appealing"

Prempak is really not the best HRT. It's old fashioned, made from synthetic oestrogen and should be chucked in the bin.
95% of HRT now is body identical estradiol. Additionally, it's got a progestogen in it for 12 days a month that may not suit you. There are many other types of HRT which use other types of progestogens (Norethisterone, Utrogestan, dyrogesterone..)

I'd not give up so soon- try another type.

I agree with everything Polly says. Prempak is synthetic and very dated!

Im 49 yrs old had hysterectomy at 24yrs old, put on a lot of weight,not slept in years went to Gp's many times as this has been going on for past 5+ years, ive had sweats for around 7 years. GP useless. kept saying symptom's above were related to other pain medication relating to other medical conditions arthritis nerve damage and back problems. I finally got GP to give me a blood test just to see, test comes back, told sorry but your done.. that was it, ive no idea how long I was actually going through it, if ive any damage to my bones because of it, ive had bone pains in hips thigh ankle for past 3 years, but GP is aware with my condition's.. should I insist seeing a specialist in Menopause? Or am I worrying for no reason.?
Cheers caz

Caz In the first instance, your GP should be able to guide you (ie without the need to see a specialist) but from experience, I know some GP's are more knowledgeable than others! I would recommend you look at the site Menopause Matters.